Review of 'The Silmarillion Gift Set' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
this is absolutely outstanding. Tolkien's bible of his world
Mass Market Paperback, 458 pages
English language
Published March 6, 1979 by Ballantine Books.
The Silmarillion
- ISBN:
- 978-0-345-27255-3
- OCLC Number:
- 33075234
- Goodreads:
- 15751797
Copied ISBN!
4 stars
(198 reviews)
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R. Tolkien's other works, forms an extensive, though incomplete, narrative that describes the universe of Eä in which are found the lands of Valinor, Beleriand, Númenor, and Middle-earth within which The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place.
After the success of The Hobbit, and prior to the publication of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's publisher requested a sequel to The Hobbit, and Tolkien sent them an early draft of The Silmarillion. But through a misunderstanding, the publisher rejected the draft without fully reading it, with the result that Tolkien began work on "A Long Expected Party", the first chapter of what he described at …
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R. Tolkien's other works, forms an extensive, though incomplete, narrative that describes the universe of Eä in which are found the lands of Valinor, Beleriand, Númenor, and Middle-earth within which The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place.
After the success of The Hobbit, and prior to the publication of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's publisher requested a sequel to The Hobbit, and Tolkien sent them an early draft of The Silmarillion. But through a misunderstanding, the publisher rejected the draft without fully reading it, with the result that Tolkien began work on "A Long Expected Party", the first chapter of what he described at the time as "a new story about Hobbits", which became The Lord of the Rings.
The Silmarillion comprises five parts. The first part, Ainulindalë, tells of the creation of Eä, the "world that is". Valaquenta, the second part, gives a description of the Valar and Maiar, the supernatural powers in Eä. The next section, Quenta Silmarillion, which forms the bulk of the collection, chronicles the history of the events before and during the First Age, including the wars over the Silmarils which gave the book its title. The fourth part, Akallabêth, relates the history of the Downfall of Númenor and its people, which takes place in the Second Age. The final part, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, is a brief account of the circumstances which led to and were presented in The Lord of the Rings.
The five parts were initially separate works, but it was the elder Tolkien's expressed wish that they be published together. Because J. R. R. Tolkien died before he finished revising the various legends, Christopher gathered material from his father's older writings to fill out the book. In a few cases, this meant that he had to devise completely new material in order to resolve gaps and inconsistencies in the narrative.
jwentz reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
High Fantasy and Worldbuilding Love Letter
5 stars
The Silmarillion reads much differently than most books; it zooms out to an epic scale, including pantheons with numerous names, only to zoom back in on individual scenes and short stories. It's a bit more challenging and something you need to be "in the mood for", but if you want depth and breadth in the Tolkien universe this is your next stop!
Wild Woila reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Partly biblically dull, partly high drama
3 stars
Biblically dull in parts, making for a perfect sleep story. But some chapters were great standalone stories full of action & high drama. Otherwise, only for world-building nerds.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ-yRQ8_dw8&list=PLp6dwtXsi8Ps6A3vWuaOA9JFOULn-WLzI&index=3&pp=iAQB
VITI reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Lo he conseguido leer y es más entretenido de lo que esperaba
3 stars
En esta casa tuvimos otra nueva fiebre de ESDLA estos últimos veces. En mi cas me leí los apéndices del libro y me dije, ¿Por qué no me pongo con el Silmarillion a ver qué pasa?
Y ahí me puse, la creación, la Era de las Lámparas y el Despertar de los Elfos. La vida en Aman y los Árboles. Morgoth y sus maldades. El exilio a Beleriand y sus 5 guerras. Y la caída de Númenor. Será que no hay trasfondo en esta saga.
Hay muchas historias para elegir, con muchas mitología y diferentes narrativas. Algunas gustarán más y otras no. El mayor problema es que esto está contado como una gesta, como un Kojiki, un Beowulf, un Kalevala. Ríos de nombres en cada página y poca lírica en la historia, es casi un símil de una mitología como tenemos en otras civilizaciones, y de ahí que se haga …
En esta casa tuvimos otra nueva fiebre de ESDLA estos últimos veces. En mi cas me leí los apéndices del libro y me dije, ¿Por qué no me pongo con el Silmarillion a ver qué pasa?
Y ahí me puse, la creación, la Era de las Lámparas y el Despertar de los Elfos. La vida en Aman y los Árboles. Morgoth y sus maldades. El exilio a Beleriand y sus 5 guerras. Y la caída de Númenor. Será que no hay trasfondo en esta saga.
Hay muchas historias para elegir, con muchas mitología y diferentes narrativas. Algunas gustarán más y otras no. El mayor problema es que esto está contado como una gesta, como un Kojiki, un Beowulf, un Kalevala. Ríos de nombres en cada página y poca lírica en la historia, es casi un símil de una mitología como tenemos en otras civilizaciones, y de ahí que se haga realmente bola leerlo.
No voy a negar que me quedé sopa alguna vez leyéndolo por la noche.
Creo que se le puede dar una oportunidad, aunque ya dependerá de las ganas de cada uno. Es posible leerlo, y es disfrutable. Aunque los elfos puede que te caigan peor.
Norbert reviewed Das Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Das Silmarillion
5 stars
Was soll ich sagen? Ich liebe dieses Werk einfach .)
Doc Kinne reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Very good. Ashamed it took me 35 years.
Adem reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I know I read this a million years ago, but I remember almost nothing from it.
Taru Luojola reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Kuivaa ja unettavaa
1 star
Nyt on tämäkin järkäle kahlattu (englanniksi vieläpä). Aikakirjamaisen tiivis proosaluettelo kuvitteellisen maailman tapahtumista, välillä kerrontaa hidastetaan jonkin tärkeän käännekohdan ympärillä, mutta sitten kuitataan taas muutama vuosisata parilla lauseella. Jos tykkää aikakirjaproosaa lukea, suosittelen mieluummin jotain oikeita historiallisia aikakirjoja. Muut kuin hardcore-tolkienistit tuskin kostuvat tästä mitään.
nicknicknicknick reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on Goodreads
4 stars
1) "Do not laugh! But once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend, ranging from the large and cosmogonic, to the level of romantic fairy-story -- the larger founded on the lesser in contact with the earth, the lesser drawing splendour from the vast backcloths -- which I could dedicate simply to: to England; to my country."
2) "In the beginning Eru, the One, who in the Elvish tongue is named Ilúvatar, made the Ainur of his thought; and they made a great Music before him. In this Music the World was begun; for Ilúvatar made visible the song of the Ainur, and they beheld it as a light in the darkness. And many among them became enamoured of its beauty, and of its history which they saw beginning and unfolding as in a …
1) "Do not laugh! But once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend, ranging from the large and cosmogonic, to the level of romantic fairy-story -- the larger founded on the lesser in contact with the earth, the lesser drawing splendour from the vast backcloths -- which I could dedicate simply to: to England; to my country."
2) "In the beginning Eru, the One, who in the Elvish tongue is named Ilúvatar, made the Ainur of his thought; and they made a great Music before him. In this Music the World was begun; for Ilúvatar made visible the song of the Ainur, and they beheld it as a light in the darkness. And many among them became enamoured of its beauty, and of its history which they saw beginning and unfolding as in a vision. Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä."
3) "Then Manwë and Yavanna parted for that time, and Yavanna returned to Aulë; and he was in his smithy, pouring molten metal into a mould. 'Eru is bountiful,' she said. 'Now let thy children beware! For there shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril!'
'Nonetheless they will have need of wood,' said Aulë, and he went on with his smith-work."
4) "But in the north Melkor built his strength, and he slept not, but watched, and laboured; and the evil things that he had perverted walked abroad, and the dark and slumbering woods were haunted by monsters and shapes of dread. And in Utumno he gathered his demons about him, those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour, and became most like him in his corruption: their hearts were of fire, but they were cloaked in darkness, and terror went before them; they had whips of flame. Balrogs they were named in Middle-earth in later days. And in that dark time Melkor bred many other monsters of divers shapes and kinds that long troubled the world; and his realm spread now ever southward over Middle-earth.
And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north-western shores of the sea, to resist any assault that might come from Aman. That stronghold was commanded by Sauron, lieutenant of Melkor; and it was named Angband."
5) "It is told that at this time the Swarthy Men came first into Beleriand. Some were already secretly under the dominion of Morgoth, and came at his call; but not all, for the rumour of Beleriand, of its lands and waters, of its wars and riches, went now far and wide, and the wandering feet of Men were ever set westward in those days. These Men were short and broad, long and strong in the arm; their skins were swart or sallow, and their hair was dark as were their eyes."
6) "Yet not all the Eldalië were willing to forsake the Hither Lands where they had long suffered and long dwelt; and some lingered many an age in Middle-earth. Among those were Círdan the Shipwright, and Celeborn of Doriath, with Galadriel his wife, who alone remained of those who led the Noldor to exile in Beleriand. In Middle-earth dwelt also Gil-galad the High King, and with him was Elrond Half-elven, who chose, as was granted to him, to be numbered among the Eldar; but Elros his brother chose to abide with Men. And from these brethren alone has come among Men the blood of the Firstborn and a strain of the spirits divine that were before Arda; for they were the sons of Elwing, Dior's daughter, Lúthien's son, child of Thingol and Melian; and Eärendil their father was the son of Idril Celebrindal, Turgon's daughter of Gondolin.
But Morgoth himself the Valar thrust through the Door of Night beyond the Walls of the World, into the Timeless Void; and a guard is set for ever on those walls, and Eärendil keeps watch upon the ramparts of the sky. Yet the lies that Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days.
Here ends the SILMARILLION. If it has passed from the high and the beautiful to darkness and ruin, that was of old the fate of Arda Marred; and if any change shall come and the Marring be amended, Manwë and Varda may know; but they have not revealed it, and it is not declared in the dooms of Mandos."
Angrboda reviewed Silmarillion, the - Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'Silmarillion, the - Illustrated' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Well, I've listened to the whole thing. But I'm not really finished. This stuff is HARD, okay? You really really have to concentrate and I'm not sure I really got as much out of it as I could have done. I'm going to get the book out of the library and then I'm going to listen to it again WITH the book. That should get me the whole experience, I think. Withholding rating until then.
***
Have now read the book as well. I'll give it four stars because I liked it, but it was still a sufficiently difficult read that I don't really foresee myself re-reading it. At least not any time soon.
georgewhatup reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
This is crack for any history fan. A true masterpiece of fictional worldbuilding.
Although definitely noticed this time that possibly the most old fashioned British influence over this whole mythos is the complete avoidance of anything overtly sexual in Tolkiens stories. When you compare his myths to their obvious forebear, the Greek Gods, you realise how much sex has been left out.
This isn't in itself a bad thing, but you'd be hardpressed to find any genuine historical myth from around the world that so thoroughly ignored one of the biggest features of human nature.
drizzy reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
A nice way to know more about the world and history of Middle Earth. Especially nice to know how old some of the characters are and how some fables in Lord of The Rings are actually part of true history of that world.
mrkvm reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I've shied away from reading this for years simply because I thought it would be too dry. It turned out to be much easier and enjoyable reading than I had anticipated; I found it similar to reading classical myth and legend. Some of the tales here are quite beautiful though also quite tragic, and, of course, having all this backstory to Tolkien's world is quite enlightening.
Samuel reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
To me, the more I read this book, I know a little more about an entire world can be erected right from your imagination. The languages, the reasons, how the Middle Earth has come to be. The Music of the Ainur, the Iluvatar firstborns and why Tolkien sees the death as the mens' greatest benefit beyond all the other imortal races. You will need to read and reread this book. It's simply wonderful !
Curtis reviewed The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Review of 'The Silmarillion' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I read The Silmarillion as a young teenager, after having read [b:The Lord of the Rings|34|The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156043001s/34.jpg|3204327] through a few times, and recalled liking it, but did not recall very much of it--and, as I discovered listening to it this time around, the parts that I recalled were not quite accurate. I won't review the actual story here, but just the audio version of this work.
The narration is well done. It has the feel of a wise teacher relating history and lore to a throng of willing ears. Also, it allows one to focus on the stories rather than pondering the proper pronunciation of the names of characters and places mentioned in the text.
The hard part of listening to a book like The Silmarillion is that one can easily find one's mind wandering. Although mostly interesting, there …
I read The Silmarillion as a young teenager, after having read [b:The Lord of the Rings|34|The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156043001s/34.jpg|3204327] through a few times, and recalled liking it, but did not recall very much of it--and, as I discovered listening to it this time around, the parts that I recalled were not quite accurate. I won't review the actual story here, but just the audio version of this work.
The narration is well done. It has the feel of a wise teacher relating history and lore to a throng of willing ears. Also, it allows one to focus on the stories rather than pondering the proper pronunciation of the names of characters and places mentioned in the text.
The hard part of listening to a book like The Silmarillion is that one can easily find one's mind wandering. Although mostly interesting, there are some parts that, while adding to the respect one must give to Tolkein for his craft and perniciousness, are quite dull. I listened to the bulk of this book in my car while driving on the highway at night, which worked well because I did not have much else to distract me. However, the times when I listened while performing another task that required even minimal attention, I found that I had to repeatedly go back to an earlier part because the story had moved in an unknown or unexpected direction. While this is somewhat true of other audiobooks, the complexity of the story and the similarity of the names of some of the characters made it even more difficult to follow at times.
This is a definite "must-listen" for anyone who has enjoyed Tolkein's more popular works and has a taste for more Middle Earth.
