can you tell me about....

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some of the other books related to LOTR? I am new here, but I have been enjoying LOTR and The Hobbit since I was introduced to them junior high (many years ago). I have been lurking around here and have seen the Lost Tails and The Simorillion (sp?) mentioned. What do these books have to do with LOTR? Thanks

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[Zoe]

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Re: can you tell me about....

The Silmarillion was put together posthumously(sp?) by JRRT's son, Christopher. It's what happened before the events of the LotR. Highly recommended reading.

Book of Lost Tales, Unfinished Tale, History of the Middle Earth etc are bits and pieces, drafts, that sort of thing. But I shouldn't mention History, or Lindil will get started... <img src=wink.gif ALT="">

"This sig is proudly quote-free." -Me.
(Also known as eoz, and now has a non-Tolkien forum, called http://pub57.ezboard.com/beverythingelse45161everything else</a>.) </p>

[Suldaledhel]

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<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/bluepal.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: can you tell me about....

The Silmarillion is the elven history of Middle Earth, if I may add that point. But it does contain the creation story, as I'm sure it must since elves are the elder children. It was also teh first book Tolkien began writing on, as well as his last (it was never acepted by publishers) and as Zoe said, his son wrapped up loose ends and got it published.

They all gazed at him. His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand. Between wonder, joy, and fear they found no words to say. 'I have passed through fire and deep water, since we parted. I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned much that I had forgotten. I can see things far off, but many things close at hand I cannot see. I shall tell you of my tales at <a href=http://pub58.ezboard.com/bsuldalskeep>Sûldal's Keep</a> ." </p>

[red]

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<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/bluepal.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: can you tell me about....

The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales are HIGHLY recommended, especially if you love the Elves and/or Men of Middle Earth. No hobbits in the Silmarillion though there is a bit about them in Unfinished Tales. I keep hearing people say that the Silmarillion is hard reading, especially at first. I don't agree. It is simply written differently, but it isn't difficult. So don't let them scare ya! <img src=biggrin.gif ALT="">

I recently read a commentator say that Tolkien moves from the epic scale of describing events happening to whole peoples and nations to the events in the life of an individual in the Silmarillion with ease. I agree!

I've only read bits and pieces of the 12 volume History of Middle Earth series. Some volumes are better than others. There is so much commentary and footnoting that it loses a lot of continuity. But maybe that couldn't be helped.

-réd

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"He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf-lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves, and as kind as summer."</p>

-A Short Rest, The Hobbit</p></blockquote></p>

[Mithadan]

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Re: can you tell me about....

Contrary to popular belief, the Silmarillion was not truly rejected by publishers. JRRT submitted manuscripts to Unwin consisting of drafts of the poems Children of Hurin and Lay of Leithien (found in HoME 3) plus his sketch of mythology (an early version of the Silmarillion). Portions of his poetry were sent to a reader for review but not the sketch though it was the latter JRRT wanted to publish in an expanded form. The reader liked the poetry but doubted that it was marketable and the sketch was never reviewed. They were sent back to JRRT who himself assumed they had all been read and rejected.

When JRRT wrote LoTR, he became disgruntled with publication delays and problems at Unwin and submitted LoTR to another publisher together with fragments of the unfinished Silmarillion hoping that both could be published in one huge volume or at least simultaneously. Given the unfinished nature of the Sil. and the size of LoTR, the publisher decided this was not possible. So JRRT stuck with Unwin for LoTR. Later, when LoTR began to become popular, it appears that Unwin was willing to publish the Silmarillion but JRRT never got around to finishing it. Indeed it was never at any time a completed work, suitable for publication in JRRT's eyes.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

[Elanor]

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Re: can you tell me about....

I must admit I found the Silmarilion a bit off-putting, and wasn't too tempted originally by the History of ME series. However, lindil recommended one of the HoME books for a certain reason, and I'm now hooked. I'm currently reading apace through volumes 6-9, which are fascinating. I love reading the early drafts and ideas, and thinking how the LoTR story could have gone...

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[Aldaron]

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Re: can you tell me about....

I recently finished reading The Silmarillion for the first time and agree that it's a must. One of the difficulties is that there are many names and most of them don't get to develop into a story, as is LotR. Making it sometimes more difficult, some of the names are given in two or three of the Middle Earth languages. But I would advise JSpearman to persevere. It's well worth it.


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[Barrel Rider]

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Re: can you tell me about....

Some other books not by j rr tolkien which are similar and pretty good books are Dune and the halmen of o series(half men of o, preists of ferris, mother stone)
they are pretty good books as well.

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[Calencoire]

I say u should read all of the books on the inside cover of the LOTR books, though I would read Sil and UT first.