What is the silmarillion?

me9996 · 01-02-2005, 01:09 PM

I've never read, it but I am considering geting it so I need help disideing whether to get it or not.

I need help!

brownjenkins · 01-02-2005, 04:02 PM

basically a prequel of sorts... much more "standard mythology" then LoTR... creation myths and such, and the early history of elves and men over a long period of time and through different character's stories

i can't see any reason not to read it, unless you really only like tight plot line character-type stories... the sil is more like reading a collection of norse or greek mythology

Pytt · 01-02-2005, 04:08 PM

it can be difficult, at least in the beginning, and there are a hell lot of names..
but it is great when you have finished abiut the valar and that sort. I recommend it, it is almost as good as LoTR, and some of the stories are atleast as great.

Manveru · 01-02-2005, 07:25 PM

its alot like reading a history textbook or something. a really good textbook. theres no narritives like in LotR, but the stories are still amazing.

Lefty Scaevola · 01-02-2005, 10:02 PM

30 or so years before LoTR, JRRT was writing a set of stories about Elves, Orcs, Demi-gods (which late were rewritten to be the Valar), etc set in acinet Britain. He later began to rewrite them set in a 'Middle earth'. After he wrote the Hobbit and Lotr, he started rewriting them again to be the prior events of the 'Middle Earth' that the Hobbit and LoTR were in. The published Silmerillion, only partly finished by JRRT and partly by his Son, and partly unfinished, has three main parts: The early chapters are about the creation of Ea, and Arda, and war of the Valar against Melkor; The main part is the War of the Noldor, Sindar, and Edain, againster Melkor/Morgoth, The last part is some material about Numenor and the Making of the great rings. It is a set of related short stories, rather than a novel.

Beren3000 · 01-03-2005, 08:57 AM

After all that has been said, I only have two words to add:
READ IT!

Elemmírë · 01-07-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manveru

its alot like reading a history textbook or something. a really good textbook. theres no narritives like in LotR, but the stories are still amazing.

A really, really, really, really, REALLY good textbook.

But like Manveru also said, it wouldn't make any sense at all without having already read LotR.

Honestly, me9996, you really should read it.

ItalianLegolas · 01-07-2005, 04:30 PM

definitly read it

Radagast The Brown · 01-07-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elemmire

A really, really, really, really, REALLY good textbook.

But like Manveru also said, it wouldn't make any sense at all without having already read LotR.

Honestly, me9996, you really should read it.

I agree! It's the best book written by Tolkien in my opinion. I would also agree that the books should not be read chronologically, as it would make confusion in the Sil... and maybe even make you not want to read any other books - because you wouldn't enjoy it.

ItalianLegolas · 01-03-2005, 03:56 PM

it is basically the mythology of middle-earth and arda and valinor, and the beginnings of sauron and the Ainur, logically, you should read the Silmarillion, then the Hobbit, then LoTR

Last Child of Ungoliant · 01-06-2005, 08:13 AM

trust me, it's better than lotr

Andúril · 01-06-2005, 08:28 AM

Repost, but what the hell.

The Silmarillan
By Andúril

I like the Silmarillian because it is nice I read it a while a-go and it took a long time because it was hard at first and there are lots of charachters and it is quite complex and confusing and it reads like my ensyclopaedia and I finally got through it and smiled and put it down and then I read the Lord of the Ring and I got new insites into who was everybuddy was and there historys and liniage and I think the Silmarilian is wonderful and brilliant and excellent and darn cool and it also has a lot of nice stuff inside like all about how the universe was created and the Vallar and Mayar and the dark lord Sauron and also Melkor and morgoth and Ingwe and all the types of Elfs and strange creatures like ungoliants and I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the Lord of the Ring and also the Hoppit but if you have only read the Hoppit then I advise you to go read the Lord of the Rings first before the Silmarrilan also you might want to practise reading your encuclopaedia before starting so that you won't be de-terred

The End

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 01-06-2005, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianLegolas

it is basically the mythology of middle-earth and arda and valinor, and the beginnings of sauron and the Ainur, logically, you should read the Silmarillion, then the Hobbit, then LoTR

Most have found it to be a more fulfilling experience to read LotRs first, then, the Sil, then LotRs again. Also, Tolkien followers from the 50's, 60's and early 70's had already read LotRs because the Sil had not yet been published. So many believe it better to read the books in the order of publication as compared to the order of the ages of Middle-earth.

Manveru · 01-06-2005, 05:46 PM

ya i think the Sil would be kinda boring if u havent read LotR first

ItalianLegolas · 01-06-2005, 07:22 PM

well chronologically, it would make sense to read the sil first

***Valandil*** · 01-07-2005, 08:13 AM

When I finally got around to reading it, I did it just before a re-read of 'The Hobbit' and LOTR. That was kind of nice, because it was still fresh in my mind when I read LOTR, so I understood all the historical references there.

You should definitely read LOTR first if you haven't read either it or 'The Silmarillion' (and 'The Hobbit' first of all, of course). But it can be very good to read the three chronologically, if it's a re-read for the second two.

Beregond · 01-07-2005, 04:18 PM

I have been trying to buy the silmarillion for some time now but cannot find it any where. From what i can it is a bit like the history of middle earth. Am i right and can some one give me the jist of what is in it.

ItalianLegolas · 01-07-2005, 04:28 PM

its more like the mythology of middle-earth, about gods and the beginning of the races

Beregond · 01-07-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianLegolas

its more like the mythology of middle-earth, about gods and the beginning of the races

Does it have anything about numenor in it

Minielin · 01-07-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beregond

Does it have anything about numenor in it

Yes.

01-02-2005, 04:02 PM	#2
brownjenkins Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Reality Posts: 3,767	basically a prequel of sorts... much more "standard mythology" then LoTR... creation myths and such, and the early history of elves and men over a long period of time and through different character's stories i can't see any reason not to read it, unless you really only like tight plot line character-type stories... the sil is more like reading a collection of norse or greek mythology __________________ Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever.

01-02-2005, 04:08 PM	#3
Pytt The Supreme Lord of The Northern Eagles Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: trondheim, norway Posts: 1,388	it can be difficult, at least in the beginning, and there are a hell lot of names.. but it is great when you have finished abiut the valar and that sort. I recommend it, it is almost as good as LoTR, and some of the stories are atleast as great. __________________ Don't Panic!

01-02-2005, 07:25 PM	#4
Manveru Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 256	its alot like reading a history textbook or something. a really good textbook. theres no narritives like in LotR, but the stories are still amazing. __________________ Earendel arose where the shadow flows At Ocean's silent brim; Through the mouth of night as a ray of light Where the shores are sheer and dim He launched his bark like a silver spark From the last and lonely sand; Then on sunlit breath of day's fiery death He sailed from Westerland

01-02-2005, 10:02 PM	#5
Lefty Scaevola AngAdan Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boerne, Texas Posts: 856	30 or so years before LoTR, JRRT was writing a set of stories about Elves, Orcs, Demi-gods (which late were rewritten to be the Valar), etc set in acinet Britain. He later began to rewrite them set in a 'Middle earth'. After he wrote the Hobbit and Lotr, he started rewriting them again to be the prior events of the 'Middle Earth' that the Hobbit and LoTR were in. The published Silmerillion, only partly finished by JRRT and partly by his Son, and partly unfinished, has three main parts: The early chapters are about the creation of Ea, and Arda, and war of the Valar against Melkor; The main part is the War of the Noldor, Sindar, and Edain, againster Melkor/Morgoth, The last part is some material about Numenor and the Making of the great rings. It is a set of related short stories, rather than a novel. __________________ Gaius Mucius Scaevola Older, richer, and wiser than you "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor, but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, ... And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me,"

01-07-2005, 04:30 PM	#8
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	definitly read it __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-03-2005, 08:57 AM	#6
Beren3000 Fëanorophobic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the pages of a book Posts: 1,417	After all that has been said, I only have two words to add: READ IT!

01-03-2005, 03:56 PM	#10
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	it is basically the mythology of middle-earth and arda and valinor, and the beginnings of sauron and the Ainur, logically, you should read the Silmarillion, then the Hobbit, then LoTR __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-06-2005, 08:13 AM	#11
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	trust me, it's better than lotr

01-06-2005, 08:28 AM	#12
Andúril The Original Corruptor Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,881	Repost, but what the hell. The Silmarillan By Andúril I like the Silmarillian because it is nice I read it a while a-go and it took a long time because it was hard at first and there are lots of charachters and it is quite complex and confusing and it reads like my ensyclopaedia and I finally got through it and smiled and put it down and then I read the Lord of the Ring and I got new insites into who was everybuddy was and there historys and liniage and I think the Silmarilian is wonderful and brilliant and excellent and darn cool and it also has a lot of nice stuff inside like all about how the universe was created and the Vallar and Mayar and the dark lord Sauron and also Melkor and morgoth and Ingwe and all the types of Elfs and strange creatures like ungoliants and I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the Lord of the Ring and also the Hoppit but if you have only read the Hoppit then I advise you to go read the Lord of the Rings first before the Silmarrilan also you might want to practise reading your encuclopaedia before starting so that you won't be de-terred The End

01-06-2005, 05:46 PM	#14
Manveru Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 256	ya i think the Sil would be kinda boring if u havent read LotR first __________________ Earendel arose where the shadow flows At Ocean's silent brim; Through the mouth of night as a ray of light Where the shores are sheer and dim He launched his bark like a silver spark From the last and lonely sand; Then on sunlit breath of day's fiery death He sailed from Westerland

01-06-2005, 07:22 PM	#15
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	well chronologically, it would make sense to read the sil first __________________ What was lost is now found.

01-07-2005, 08:13 AM	#16
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	When I finally got around to reading it, I did it just before a re-read of 'The Hobbit' and LOTR. That was kind of nice, because it was still fresh in my mind when I read LOTR, so I understood all the historical references there. You should definitely read LOTR first if you haven't read either it or 'The Silmarillion' (and 'The Hobbit' first of all, of course). But it can be very good to read the three chronologically, if it's a re-read for the second two. __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

01-07-2005, 04:18 PM	#17
Beregond Hobbit Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 28	I need help I have been trying to buy the silmarillion for some time now but cannot find it any where. From what i can it is a bit like the history of middle earth. Am i right and can some one give me the jist of what is in it.

01-07-2005, 04:28 PM	#18
ItalianLegolas Tolkien-aholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: somewhere in the solar system... more specifically NJ... Posts: 712	its more like the mythology of middle-earth, about gods and the beginning of the races __________________ What was lost is now found.

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