Question re The Silmarillion

[Nowahs Notsnud]

Short Question:

I read LOTR for the first (and only) time about 4 years ago. I have never read The Silmarillion - it currently sits atop my "must read" pile. Is it necessary/preferable to re-read LOTR before picking up The Silmarillion?

Personal Note:

LOTR was the first fantasy I ever read, and remains my all-time favorite. Since reading LOTR about 4 years ago, about 75% of my leisure reading time has been devoted to the fantasy genre.

It was after reading LOTR, as I was looking for more good fantasy to read, that I discovered this site. The SF/Fantasy wall of books at Borders or B&N is simply too big. I had no idea at that time what authors/books/series to try after LOTR - I don't like slogging through bad books, but I also rarely put down a book (even a mediocre one) once I've started it. I needed knowledgeable recommendations to inform and guide my choices. Over the past few years, I have consistently found excellent recommendations on this board.

The question above is my first post to this forum, but I would feel remiss to ask it without, at the same time, also extending some measure of thanks to those of you who have introduced me authors/books/series I might not have otherwise found myself. In particular, I have enjoyed (almost as much, if not as much, as I did Tolkein/LOTR):

GRRM - ASOIAF
GGK - The Fionavar Tapestry (as well as GGK's stand-alone novels)
Williams - Memory, Sorrow and Thorn
Hobb - Farseer/Liveship Traders/Tawny Man

I've read and enjoyed others based on recommendations found here, but the above books/series are those I was most happy to have found. Thanks much.

 

[Mithfânion]

I would say that a re-read is not necessary. You can do it of course, but the stories stand apart enough for you not to need to that, for sure.

The Silmarillion is set thousands of years before the LoTR begins. It gives truckloads of background information on the what you see in the LoTR, but mostly it tales a lot of small tales in one book, which are linked by an overall plot.

It's a fantastic book, and since I am also a great fan of the LoTR, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Fionavar and GRRM, I guess your chances of enjoying it are big. But realize it's very different in style than the LoTR, and even darker.

 

[Spears&Buckler]

Mithfanion has hit it right on the head. Some of The Silmarillion reads a lot like a history book, and it even seems a little biblical at the beginning. This is in no way a bad thing; I hold The Silmarillion very highly on my "fantasy pedestal". It gives tremendous background to some LotR characters, and describes where some came from and a lot about their ancestors. It's a great read.

You don't have to re-read The LotR, but personally my 2nd time around with it was just as enjoyable as the first. And my 3rd.

No, you don't have to re-read it, but you want to, don't you?

 

[DarthZemus]

...

If you are going to re-read LotR anyway, I would read the Silmarillion first and THEN re-read it. It'll be a slightly different experience with your new insights...

 

[Nowahs Notsnud]

Thanks for the comments. I most certainly will re-read LOTR at some point (undoubtedly many times), but was wondering whether that was necessary before taking on The Silmarillion. Sounds as if it is not. And, in fact, given the historical background/perspective it provides, I like the idea of reading The Silmarillion first, then back to LOTR. Cheers.

 

[clockwirk]

I love the Silmarillion, but I think it can be easy to get bogged down in it if you don't know what to expect. The events of LOTR occur at the end of the book and there is a lot of stories and information that come before. If you are reading it because you want to know the history of middle-earth, the elves, and Sauron, you'll love it. It takes a while to get into territory that you'll recognize from LOTR though.

 

[Evil Agent]

Just don't go into it expecting anything like LOTR, because it is very different. As people have said, it feels more like a history text, or some kind of bible, retelling ancient legends. You don't really "get to know" any characters on a personal level at all, but the scope is much bigger and more epic than LOTR (believe it or not!).

Also, the events of LOTR are briefly outlined at the end of the book, which puts a new perspective on them. The Silmarillion actually makes LOTR seem like a minor footnote in the much more epic history of Middle Earth.

I've read LOTR 5 times, and the Silmarillion 3 times. Don't give up if it feels like work at first, because it's most definitely worth it.

 

[Nowahs Notsnud]

Postscript

No, you don't have to re-read it, but you want to, don't you?

Bumping this thread because I just finished The Silmarillion, and want to say that the advice I received here was spot on the mark.

First and foremost, I agree with those who said the book is fantastic. The short stories are great in and of themselves as stand-alone reads, but as parts of a larger whole, they are all the better. It is absolutely amazing to realize the breadth of the world that Tolkein conceived. The edition that I read had, as a preface, an excerpt from a letter that JRRT wrote to his friend Milton Waldman. I found it interesting that he wrote: "In order of time, growth and composition, this stuff began with me - though I do not suppose that that is of much interest to anyone but myself. I mean, I do not remember a time when I was not building it. Many children make up, or begin to make up, imaginary languages. I have been at it since I could write. But I have never stopped . . . ." The Silmarillion stands as proof that the creation of Middle Earth was truly a lifetime's work in progress.

I found that some of the names could be difficult to keep track of, particularly because many of the characters are immortal and therefore appear across the ages. For that reason, for those who have not read this book, I recommend reading an edition (like the one that I read) that has geneological tables, an index, and a map of Beleriand, all of which were exceedingly helpful (if consulting tables and maps sounds like work, I can only say that I did not find that to be the case).

Finally, I agree with those who suggested that a re-read of LOTR is not necessary before reading The Silmarillion, but rather re-reading LOTR now, after having learned so much of the back story, will be interesting.

 

[Sidmyster]

yup both books are amazing

essential reading for all

 

[zorobnice]

I agree with DarthZemus, I read the Sillmaralion and then re-read LoTR and must say it added a lot to the re-reading.

 

[vicki_girl]

....for those who have not read this book, I recommend reading an edition (like the one that I read) that has geneological tables, an index, and a map of Beleriand, all of which were exceedingly helpful (if consulting tables and maps sounds like work, I can only say that I did not find that to be the case).

I had a "Tolkien Companion" handy at all times. It had all the places and characters from Middle Earth. This was very helpful, especially at the beginning of the book, where I was getting a little confused.

 

[AgentRustyBones]

Of Sorcerors and Men...

That is the title of a great lecture series on CD that is available at Barnes and Noble.

It is taught by Professor Michael Drout.

If you liked the LOTR and the Silmarillion, you'll really like hearing about the background of Tolkien's life that set him on the path to creating that work. You also learn about how Tolkien influenced Fantasy as a genre and big of a shadow it is to try and escape from to create new and original fantasy works.

So much of what Tolkien did in the LOTR and the Silmarillion has become cannon in the genre...