Posted: November 29, 1999 at 09:36:33: by shadowfax
: Yes, you MUST read the Silmarillion. Don't skip anything, just skim the first couple of chapters if you feel the need. The First Age stuff is fascinating, and quite sad. You'll see things at least as great as the events in LOTR. You also have to read the chapter on Numenor to fully understand the events of the Second Age. After Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales is also a must, although the stories are somewhat fragmentary. The History of Middle Earth is probably best ignored unless you're an absolute Tolkien fanatic, since it mostly consists of fragments and alternate versions of things. I enjoyed the last volume of HoME, though, since it contains bits of a Fourth Age story, a story on the beginnings of Rohan, and a Second Age tale from the point of view of an Eriadorian man who meets a Numenorean landing party.
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: : I would like some advice on what Tokien book to read next.
: : I've read LOTR and the Hobbit twice each and would like to get a little deeper into it. What I've heard about the Silmarilion scares me a little though because i like the narrative stories.
: : Any suggestions?Sorry to contradict, but I think th first chapters of Sil shouldn't be skipped or skimmed, many of those in the middle are more suitable for skimming on a first reading. The vast number of characters introduced confuse and put off first time readers. The first chapters concerned with the song of the Ainu, Morgoth's rebellion, the two trees, the making of the Silmarils and the rebellion of Feanur are beautiful and great and do not equire as much background knowledge as the later parts. Also not to be missed is the story of Beren and Luthien, voyage of Earendil, and the destruction of Numenor. If you hvae read those you have grasped the essence of the mythology of ME. If you are still burning for more, and only then, take the Sil again and read it through from beginning to end. You'll soon be hooked.
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