books after LotR

[Gandalf Jr.]

Hi, I finished the Lord of the Rings, and I liked it alot. I know there are many more books on the history of Middle Earth. Which one should I read first. I've heard the Silmillarion is a good starter. What is the Silmillarion like, is it just information like in the appendixes after the Return of the King? or are there stories in it? And do you think a 16 year old would get into it?

thanks for the imput

Devin

[Cinderella]

Welcome to the Downs Gandalf Jr.

As a fellow 16 year old ( smilies/biggrin.gif ) I strongly, strongly recommend The Silmarillion, which I am in the midst of reading currently. Yes, it has actual stories and though it can get confusing, it is defintely worth reading. Also, have you read the hobbit yet? smilies/wink.gif

[ July 22, 2003: Message edited by: Cinderella ]

[StarJewel]

Definitly read the Silmarillion, the Hobbit, and the Books of Lost Tales if you can find them. Those are a bit hard to come by in books stores. For those, Amazon.com is probably your best bet. Free shipping and discounts. Thats where i got mine

Happy reading!

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

As a 14 year-old, I found the Sil very good. Also, look for Unfinished Tales, as it gives a LOT of detail on Middle-earth.

[Imladris]

I found a book of Lost Tales at the library, so if you can't find anything else, look there. I, personnally, have never read them. smilies/frown.gif

[elven maiden Earwen]

As a 12 year old I say The Silmarion was a wonderful book. I also strongley rcomend the Hobbit and Unfinshed Tales. The Lost Tale are kida confuzing but are a good read also.

Welcome to the downs. Enjoy being dead. smilies/wink.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

(odd)Forever~Earwen

[lindil]

Welcome to the Downs Gandlaf Jr.

The general consensus on most Tolkien boards is to approach them in the order released to the public [more or less].

The Hobbit LotR (one or 2 times at least) The Silmarillion [ again 1 or 2x's]personally I was 11or12 when I read it, and it only sank in on the second effort, but it is more than worth the effort. The LotR can not be fully appreciated with out THe Silm and UT as a minimum. Also with the Silm - avail yourself of the index and glossarry frequently, and the genealogies! They are truly there for a reason. Unfinished Tales and or Letters by JRRT.

Personally, after the above and before the History of Middle-Earth Series, H. Carpenter's Tolkien:A Biography is fascinating, as is Shippey's Road to Middle-Earth

Armed with these and another read or so of LotR after all of the above and you will probably be salivating at the thought at the 12 volumes of the History of Middle-Earth.

It all may seem like alot, but it actually turns out to be a pretty common and organic experienceof entering Middle-Eart, with out too much repetition and without overloading [a distinct possibility, especially with the Silm].

The History volumes, are really kind of like College, the Silm and UT High School, LotR middle/Junior high, The Hobbit = Elementary.

That is my take anyway.

However you do do it - enjoy! they are some of the finest and deepest writings ever composed.

[Gandalf Jr.]

Wow guys, thanks for all the help and info! I have read the hobbit (twice) so I should be able to start the silmillarion. I'll see how it goes smilies/smile.gif

[Duncariel]

Yup. Totally different books.

[Gandalf Jr.]

Well thanks to you all, I picked up the Silmarillion and will probably start it tonight. I cant wait! Its nice when your book store has a whole section dedicated to tolkien! It sounds like people are having a hard time getting a hold of some middle earth books... not so in Stevens Point Wisconsin smilies/smile.gif

[Iargwath]

This is a bit off-topic, but are the Book of Lost Tales and Unfinished Tales different books? So far I've only seen Unfinished Tales.

Those two books are very different. Here is a summary of the content in each book...just so you get an idea of how much they differ smilies/smile.gif

The Book of Lost Tales 1

The beginning of it all. Tales included are 'The Cottage of Lost Play', The Music of the Ainur', 'The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor', 'The Chaining of Melko', 'The Coming of the Elves and the Making of Kôr', 'The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor', 'The Flight of the Noldoli', 'The Tale of the Sun and Moon', 'The Hiding of Valinor' and 'Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind'.
Poems included are 'You & Me', 'Kortirion', 'Habannan', 'Tinfang Warble', 'Over Old Hills', 'Kôr', 'A Song of Aryador' and 'Why the Man in the Moon came down too soon' (some in different versions).
Maps included are "The earliest map" and "The World Ship".
Written: c. 1916 - 1918, poems both earlier and later

Appendix - Names in the Lost Tales Part I
Taken from the first "lexicons" of the Elvish languages and includes word in "Qenya" and "Goldogrin or Gnomish".
Etymologically-connected words are given under an important name that contains one of them.
The complete Goldogrin and Qenya Lexicons has been published in nos. 11 and 12 of the journal Parma Eldalamberon (http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma9.html).
Written: First layer c. 1915, second uncertain but belong to the period of the Lost Tales.

The Book of Lost Tales 2

The beginning of it all. Tales included are 'The Tale of Tinúviel', 'Turambar and the Foalókë', 'The Fall of Gondolin', 'The Nauglafring', 'The Tale of Eärendel' and 'The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales'.
Poems included are 'Éalá Éarendel Engla Beorhtast', 'The Bidding of the Minstrel', 'The Shores of Faëry', 'The Happy Mariners', 'The Town of Dreams and the City of Present Sorrow' and 'The Song of Eriol'.
Written: c. 1916 - 1920, poems both earlier and later

Appendix - Names in the Lost Tales Part II
Taken from the first "lexicons" of the Elvish languages and includes word in "Qenya" and "Goldogrin or Gnomish". Also includes word from 'The Namelist to the Fall of Gondolin'.
Etymologically-connected words are given under an important name that contains one of them.
The complete Goldogrin and Qenya Lexicons has been published in nos. 11 and 12 of the journal Parma Eldalamberon (http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma9.html).
Written: First layer c. 1915, second uncertain but belong to the period of the Lost Tales

Unfinished Tales

Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin
A very detailed version of the story of Tuor that ends with his first sight of Gondolin from the Last Gate.
Written: c. 1951

Narn i Hîn Húrin
'The Tale of the Children of Húrin' is in places very detailed and in others only outlines and fragments.
A small sketch map of the Crossings of Teiglin and Nen Girith is included.
Written: During the 1950s

A Description of the Island of Númenor
A short treatise on the geography and flora of Númenor and of the lives of its people.
Contains several tree-names in Elvish.
A map of the island is also included.
Written: Probably c. 1960

Aldarion and Erendis
'The Tale of the Mariner's Wife', the only story from Númenor. Mostly only different plot-outlines and fragments and is therefore in parts rewritten by the editor.
Written: Probably c. 1960

The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor
A dynastic record, with short outlines of the history of the different kings. Introduces some chronological puzzles, but also clarifies apparent errors in "The Lord of the Rings".
Written: No date given, perhaps during the 1960s?

The History of Galadriel and Celeborn
Contains different writings concerning the Second Age in Middle-earth. Some of the writings are taken from late philological essays, others from longer narratives.
Also includes serveral interesting appendices, mainly of a philological nature.
Written: Mostly late writings from the late 1960s and early 1970s

The Disaster of the Gladden Fields
A version of the tale of the death of Isildur, together with 'The sources of the legend of Isildur's death' and some information about Númenórean linear measures.
Written: Probably c. 1969

Cirion and Eorl
Fragments probably intended to form parts of a more substantial history of Gondor and Rohan. Very disordered and full of variants.
Includes Cirion's Oath in Elvish.
Written: Probably c. 1969

The Quest of Erebor
Gandalf's account of the quest of Erebor. Originally intended to be a part of Appendix A in "The Lord of the Rings". Extracts from earlier versions are included.
Written: During the early 1950s

The Hunt for the Ring
Various text concering events during the year 3018 and related matters.
Written: c. 1954 - 1955

The Battles of the Fords of Isen
A narrative concering the battle, together with an account of the military organisation of Rohan and a short history of Isengard.
Written: Probably c. 1969

The Drúedain
An account of the Drúedain in Beleriand in the First Age together with the narrative 'The Faithful Stone' drawn from a late essay concering the interrelationships of the languages of Middle-earth.
Also included is a short text about the Púkel-men from a late essay concerning river-names.
Written: The late 1960s and early 1970s

The Istari
Contains an essay on the Istari that were to have been included in the index to "The Lord of the Rings", together with various late texts concerning the Istari in general and Gandalf in particular.
An alliterative poem about the Istari is included as is a short etymological note on olo-s.
Written: Essay c 1954, the rest during the late 1960s and early 1970s

The Palantíri
Contains some writings on the Palantíri associated with the emendations to the second edition of "The Lord of the Rings".
Written: c. 1965

Sources:

Book of Lost Tales 1 (http://forodrim.letsrock.nu/daeron/md_hm.html#blt1)

Book of Lost Tales 2 (http://forodrim.letsrock.nu/daeron/md_hm.html#blt2)

Unfinished Tales (http://forodrim.letsrock.nu/daeron/md_hm.html#tales)

[Gandalf Jr.]

Wow, thanks Iargwath!