[Books] Questions about The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion and other works by Tolki

Ricochet J · 22 Mar 2013 at 22:29

Hi,

I'm really getting into reading a lot more books and I'm really interested in the Tolkien universe.

I've seen The Lord of the Rings movies, and loved them. I haven't watched The Hobbit.

What I want to do is buy the books and read:
1. The Lord of the Rings
2. The Hobbit
3. The Silmarillion

Which ones do I buy? On Amazon there are loads of different editions. Are any of them altered in any way from the original works by J.R.R Tolkien?

What order do I read them in?

I was told that there are a few other books based on the Tolkien universe that I haven't listed above. What are they?

Your advice is welcome!

Thank you

Vonhelmet · 22 Mar 2013 at 22:42

Read LotR and marvel at how long and descriptive it is, and how incredibly drawn out and pointless the last 100 pages are. I'm not saying it's not good. Well, actually, I'm saying the last 100 pages are not good. The rest is excellent, but looooong.

The Silmarillion... Yeah, that one gets mixed reviews for sure.

Salsa · 22 Mar 2013 at 23:05

Hobbit
LOTR
Silmarillion if you can really be bothered and want to learn more about the earlier ages. Think of it like the Tolkien Bible.

All very different books but each very good in their own way.

/Salsa

Ricochet J · 22 Mar 2013 at 23:26

So I take it no matter which version I buy:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Rings-...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363994701&sr=1-1

Or this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Towers-...=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363994725&sr=1-4

They still contain the exact same literature?

Darujhistan · 23 Mar 2013 at 19:38

Vonhelmet said:
Read LotR and marvel at how long and descriptive it is, and how incredibly drawn out and pointless the last 100 pages are. I'm not saying it's not good. Well, actually, I'm saying the last 100 pages are not good. The rest is excellent, but looooong.

The Silmarillion... Yeah, that one gets mixed reviews for sure.

That's my favorite actually, I liked the creation myth and the explanation of who what why and when, read like a history book, and I like history.

The Hobbit is slight and LOTR is too long as you say, I still like them all, but there's something ethereal about the Silmarillion which really appeals to me, it's weird mix of dusty academia and poetic imagination.

Rroff · 23 Mar 2013 at 19:50

Silmarillion definitely is some heavy reading but I do like how it conjures up a feel of ages past. Likewise as above LOTR was good for the first 3/4 or so but the last quarter felt tacked on.

RE: Those 2 links above the 2nd one is just one part of LOTR and not the whole story.

Nitefly · 23 Mar 2013 at 19:55

Not an easy read. You have been warned!

Fenris · 23 Mar 2013 at 20:31

The Silmarillion is probably one of the most laborious reads you will ever find, unless you are SERIOUSLY into the lore of LotR, don't bother.

edgedemon · 23 Mar 2013 at 20:36

The Silmarillion is hard work, but it offers a unique insight into stuff that was only adhered to or hinted at in LOTR. The first 50 pages are only worth scan reading as it is basically a history of who begat who and is hard going

Helios1234 · 23 Mar 2013 at 20:42

Unfinished tales is also good and isn't as hard work as the Silmarillion.

Somnambulist · 23 Mar 2013 at 21:09

I'd just read The Hobbit, then LoTR, then the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales (treat them like a reference book), then Children of Hurin if you're fussed. There's also a good book called The Atlas of Middle Earth which goes well with the Sil if you get all nerdy about the Tolkienverse.

King Damager · 23 Mar 2013 at 22:10

Ok, the hobbit is the easiest to read.
Start there.
Move on to the LOTR trilogy afterwards. I find the fellowship dull for quite a bit. The rest are good. Particularly worth reading ROTK in my opinion because the bit added in at the end, I feel it's a right shame they didn't include in the film.
Finally, if you wanted to I'd finish on the Simiarillion, but personally haven't read it yet.

kd

FutileBreadMachine · 23 Mar 2013 at 22:21

I love The Silmarillion. It's so epic and has so many memorable lines! It tells just how awesome Elves really were in their heyday.

MikeTimbers · 24 Mar 2013 at 11:25

Don't understand the comment about the last 100 pages of LOTR. Much better ending to the story than was provided in the film.

Vonhelmet · 24 Mar 2013 at 15:45

It's a pointless grand tour of all the places they've already been to. It's like saying "and they all lived happily ever after" and then going over the journey home in minute detail.

Lunatic Dreyfus · 24 Mar 2013 at 16:39

If you get properly hooked by the world Tolkien presented in LotR, then The Silmarillion is an essential read. It's not exactly the cheeriest of tomes and certainly isn't on my multiple re-read list like LotR is, but I think you appreciate the later books far more when you have some of idea of what has gone on beforehand.

It also highlights the fact that Frodo and Co. were all nancy boys compared to the hard as nails elves & men of previous ages.

hola_adios · 24 Mar 2013 at 16:44

Vonhelmet said:
It's a pointless grand tour of all the places they've already been to. It's like saying "and they all lived happily ever after" and then going over the journey home in minute detail.

It is a long wrap up I wouldn't class as bad, but it is colours.

My recomendations would be:

Silmarillion > Hobbit > LOTR

I wish I had read them in that order.

Salsa · 24 Mar 2013 at 18:57

hola_adios said:
Silmarillion > Hobbit > LOTR

I wish I had read them in that order.

I always found the Silmarillion the hardest going of the books and think for a new reader it might put them off a little. Plus reading in this order The Hobbit seems a little childish when read after the Silmarillion.

/Salsa

No1newts · 24 Mar 2013 at 20:10

If you really want to punish yourself read the Lost Tales

Shamikebab · 24 Mar 2013 at 20:15

Silmarillion is great, read it several times. It is a pretty hard read though. Lost Tales is in another league though, it's very, very heavy.