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Summary: *Pant pant* I can't believe I read the whole thing...
Review: The Silmarillion is for die-hard Tolkien fans, there's no doubt about it. It reads much like a Bible for Middle-Earth, but can help create an in-depth understanding of the background of Middle-Earth. Though there's few names you'd recognize from the Rings trilogy itself, (Elrond and Galadriel are probably the ones you would readily recognize) you can understand a lot more of the trilogy itself if you read this. You can get a better grasp on many of the poems and expressions used, such as in the first book, the Fellowship, Elrond says something to the effect of "Though you sit among Turin or Beren, you would be honored among them." or some of the poetry regarding Beren and Luthien. It's actually tough reading, and at times boring, but overall it's kind of fun.
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Summary: The Glorious Prequel to Tolkien's "Middle Earth" fantasies
Review: In writing "The Silmarillion", J. R. R. Tolkien set out to create a mythological prehistory for the War of the Ring chronicled in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, devoting much of his adult life towards this ambitious work. Left unpublished at the time of his death, it was subsequently edited and published by his son Christopher in the mid 1970's, and remains an essential part of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth sagas. Here is the origin of "Middle Earth" and the various tales chronicling the major events of the First Age, starting with the origins of the elves, dwarves and humanity. At the heart of these tales are the wars and battles fought for the possession of the Silmarils, fantastic jewels made by elves and subsequently seized by Morgoth, the original Dark Lord of Middle Earth. These tales are splendid introductions to Elrond and Galadriel and Sauron, Morgoth's chief lieutenant, who are major protagonists in the epic War of the Ring. And there are spellbinding accounts on the rise and fall of the human kingdom Numenor and the tragic love affair between the human Beren and the elf Luthien. All of this is told in Tolkien's graceful, lyrical prose. I concur with others who recommend reading "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" prior to "The Silmarillion", yet those entranced by Tolkien's Middle Earth will find "The Silmarillion" well worth waiting for.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: This epic masterpiece and LOTR stand as Tolkien's best work. The stories in the Silmarillion are at a much epic and grand scale than Lord of the Rings, and dialogue is very scarce. Nevertheless, this book fully entraps the reader in Middle-Earth. This book will not disappoint.
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Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: There are few words that can describe the immense nature of this novel. Spectacular, magnificent, grandiose...I do not have the skills to shower my praise in words. This is not for the regular reader either, this is for those who are truly interested and willing to sift through all the information of Middle Earth. For starters, the beginning is wholly beautiful and interesting, yet its boring. The creation of Middle Earth is one of the most intriguing and beautiful ideas that Tolkien ever had. Yet just the way it's presented can make any reader weary. After the creation, it only gets better. The treachery of Melkor in the beginning lays the foundations of the evils of The Lord of the Rings. The history of the Elves is by far the most interesting aspect. From their early days in Middle Earth to the Noldor uprising to the destruction of Gondolin, this will enchant any reader. The story of Luthien and Beren is spectacular to read. Then comes the early history of Men and their dealings with the dread of Morgoth in the East and in the West. Then the dealings with Sauron and the forging of the great rings provides a spectacular prelude to the Lord of the Rings books. If only Tolkien had lived long enough to finish this, then it could've been a 10 out of 5 stars. Definetely a classic read.
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Summary: The #1 Source
Review: As everyone should know, Lord of the Rings is the best piece of storytelling of our time. The Silmarillion is the #1 source for stories of Middle-earth beyond those of Lord of the Rings. This is a compilation of stories that tells the history of the elves. This book contains the stories that are alluded to in song among the great races of Middle-earth. Stories like that of Beren and Luthien. Reading this book will help you understand the importance of the items of lore referred to through out Lord of the Rings. So if you liked Lord of the Rings, this is the next book to get. It is a must-have for all Tolkien fans. I give it five out of five stars and highly recommend it to all who has read Lord of the Rings.
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Summary: One of the greatest books ever written.
Review: If like me you consider the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) one of the greatest books written in human history, then The Silmarillion is a must for you. LOTR can be read as a self-contained package, thanks to the detailed Notes that Tolkien painstakingly provides, but it still leaves many unanswered questions. After all, LOTR covers the 3rd Age of Middle Earth, telling us very little about the previous two ages. And it is full of tantalizing references to the past glories of Numenor, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, the origins of the elves, dwarves and men, the various Lays and so on. The Silmarillion is, if anything, on an even larger scale. Its chronology starts at the Creation of the Universe and builds to the events of the climactic Third Age that are described in LOTR. If LOTR is awesome, the Silmarillion is stupendous. A proper order would be to read the Silmarillion, followed by The Hobbit and then LOTR. But even reading them out of order (as most readers would have) is rewarding. The Silmarillion starts at the very beginning with the story of the creation of the Universe, (a fascinating tale in itself) and then lays the ground for the various players on this vast stage. It is in fact 5 separate books. First comes the Ainulindale which is the story of the creation of Tolkien's Universe - a veritable Genesis and Fall if you will. Then comes the Valaquenta, the tale of the Valar or Guardians. Third in the chronology is the Quenta Silmarillion itself - the tale of the Silmarilli. Fourth comes the Akallabeth, the tale of the rise and fall of the Men of Numenor in the First Age. And almost as a footnote, the fifth and last book, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age. Bear in mind that this is in fact a compilation by Christopher Tolkien from his father's papers so expect some discontinuities. The fabled jewels or Silmarilli give the book its name and are the thread that binds the various tales of the book together. Tolkien tells of the emergence of life on earth, the rebellion of some of the elves and their departure for Middle Earth, their efforts to build a new life for themselves in the teeth of the oppression and tyranny of Morgoth and his servants (like Sauron), the origin of the distrust between dwarves and elves, the creation of orcs as twisted copies of the elves, of the much debated "gift" of mortality to men. It is the tale of humanity all over again, of people striving in the face of difficulties to make a new life. The tales themselves are fascinating as Tolkien tells of love and war, of courage and treachery, of nobility and baseness. There are great battles and mighty warriors, bewitching romances and spellbinding intrigues, great victories and grinding defeats. And of course the lyrical prose: Tolkien is one of the very few writers whose very prose reads like poetry. The ring and cadence of names, the melody inherent in the lyrics of his songs: this is fine writing at its peak. A wonderful book, not to be missed.
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Summary: The Silmarillion -- A must-read for Tolkien fans
Review: I have never been a devotee of the Science Fiction or Fantasy genre, so I missed J.R.R. Tolkien when he was a cult favorite in the 60's. I was only introduced to his works through the "Fellowship of the Ring" film of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Since then, I have read, re-read and read again all three books of the LOTR trilogy and "The Hobbit". Through these readings, I have become thoroughly engrossed and deeply impressed with Tolkien's genius in creating an entire world complete with geography, animals, peoples, cultures, and fantasy languages based on solid linguistic principles. The "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy represents not just an adventure epic; it is an introduction to Tolkien's works -- a whetting of an appetite, which can only be sated by reading the works upon which this film trilogy is based. Fundamental to understanding the LOTR trilogy is knowledge of what preceeded it. "The Hobbit", which directly precedes the LOTR trilogy, is as fundamental to the "Lord of the Rings" as the Old Testament is to the New. However, the true breadth and depth of Tolkien's life's work cannot be fully comprehended without also reading "The Silmarillion". Our Old Testament's Book of Genesis starts with creation, but does little to explain the process of the creation of our real world. The Silmarillion, on the other hand, details the story of the creation of Middle Earth and the creatures that inhabited and departed from it. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Christopher Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien's son, for the diligent work he has done in gathering and editing his father's published and unpublished works and notes. "The Silmarillion" is billed as "...Tolkien's first book and his last." -- a life's work that was published four years after his death. Only through reading (and probably re-reading) this compendium of Tolkien's background work can one truly comprehend not only the history of the deities, elves, dwarves, men and other creatures of Middle Earth but also J.R.R. Tolkien's absolute brilliance in crafting this fantasy world. "The Silmarillion" is a must-read for those who would wish to fully appreciate Tolkien's work. It is not a light read and requires constant referral to the book's appendices and indices. Although the material mostly predates all of J.R.R. Tolkien's subsequent works, it is not a good introduction to Tolkien. It is best appreciated (and most useful) if read after "The Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings".
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Summary: The Silmarallion
Review: Tolkien at his best!
Reviewer: Eric Davis
I recently reread The Silmarallion, and it was absolutely spectacular! Never before have I better writing. The mix of emotions, the battles, the loves, and the betrayals is simply wonderful. The book tells about the creation of Middle-Earth, the coming of the different races, and their tribulations. The tome span is incredible as well. The timeline starts before the beginning and goes up to the end of the third age. I'd say more, but I don't want to give the story away.
I first read this book about three years ago. I loved it then and I love it now. If you really want to know the story behind The Lord of the Rings, I highly suggest you read this book.
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Summary: A very FANTASTIC book!
Review: If you have read Lord of the Rings and still want more adventures by J. R. R. Tolkien, you have to read this book! This book explains everything about the history of Tollkien's world, starting with the making of the earth, and finally leading to the events in the Lord of the Rings. It also answered many of my questions, including who Sauron and Balrogs are, and how Elves and Men were made.
The Silmarillion is mostly about the First Age, when elves were the most important beings in Middle Earth. Elves familiar in Lord of the Rings, such as Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn take part in it. The ending of the Silmarillion is sad and tragic, and yet beautiful. Because the entire book is history, it covers many years and generations, and very many characters appear.
Though I had a hard time memorizing the names of so many characters, I was helped by the Index of Names at the end of the book. I'm sure you will find it necessary when you read the story. There also are family trees of Elves and Men which I could use to locate ancestors of some important characters in Lord of the Rings. Like I said, this book is a must read to all true Tolkien lovers!
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Summary: Don't wait for the movie; get the CDs!
Review: There is an ethereal quality to THE SILMARILLION that invites the addition of the substance--the fleshiness--that can be yielded by a fine oral interpretation. The reading by Martin Shaw (who was terrific as Capt. R. F. Scott in THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH) has just the right sobriety and weight for this material. Even the (occasional) music isn't offensive. This presentation is, to me, far more moving than the printed page was.
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