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Trond
Registered User
Oct 6 2016, 4:00am
Post #51 of 76
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I saw what you wrote about Ted Nasmith above, and I agree, he is very good at what he does, and particularly for the Silmarillion. I actually received an email from him a while back when he explained why one of his best Silmarillion illustrations never made it to the book: it contains nudity so the publisher didn't dare to include it, even though it is very respectful of the original story (if interested, look up Turin and Nienor by Ted Nasmith, it is very good).
I also like John Howe's dragon cover for Silmarillion, which was my first English edition.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 6 2016, 12:27pm
Post #52 of 76
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And I might have seen that image on the TolkienGateway before, a lot of his artwork is published on that website. I haven't seen John Howe's dragon cover of the Sil, but my family has the Paintings of Middle-earth book which includes a lot of beautiful artwork from different artists, including Mr. Howe.
I have the illustrated edition of the Children of Hurin, which Alan Lee had done. I love the artwork in that book, but I am also fond of the gray illustrations he has featured on the beginning of each chapter of the book.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Trond
Registered User
Oct 6 2016, 8:22pm
Post #53 of 76
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I guess I could have called it the Fall of Gondolin cover by John Howe :)
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 6 2016, 9:51pm
Post #54 of 76
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That is a amazing cover!
This is the cover of the one I own, not as pretty as some of the other covers, but I like the old feeling look to it. :)
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
(This post was edited by OldestDaughter on Oct 6 2016, 9:54pm)
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a.s.
Valinor
Oct 6 2016, 11:41pm
Post #55 of 76
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As soon as it was published (1977). 3 Times. Maybe. Maybe 2.5.
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In the olden days of yore (1977) one had to order books and pick them up at the bookseller's or get them in regular mail. I don't remember anymore how I pre-ordered it, but I do, in fact, have a first American edition.
I have read it three times, although if I'm honest, maybe more like partially read that last time. Once when I held the precious in my hands (oh boy, I was disappointed), once more a few years later just to make sure I hadn't dreamed about how badly I thought it read, this new and eagerly anticipated book by my hero JRRT, and once more (skimming heavily) for a long-ago read-through in the RR.
I realize this is a personal opinion not shared by many, and that many enjoy the book and find it enjoyable.
I would not be one of them. Give me hobbits.
a.s.
"an seileachan"
"A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds." JRR Tolkien, Letters.
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a.s.
Valinor
Oct 6 2016, 11:45pm
Post #56 of 76
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huh--should have read this first!! my sentiments, exactly!
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Well, but also I find it boring.
I mean, capital B, boring.
But yeah, that part about the sore spot from my youth deeply buried? EXACTLY!
a.s.
"an seileachan"
"A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds." JRR Tolkien, Letters.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 7 2016, 12:02am
Post #57 of 76
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Your opinion is perfectly fine!
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 I love the book, but it is really hard to get through, so it can make it not as enjoyable as you would like it to be.
I was happy to read familiar faces such as Galadriel and Elrond in the book.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Trond
Registered User
Oct 7 2016, 12:30am
Post #59 of 76
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It took a while to get into for me...
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Particularly when I first picked it up, and read the Music of the Ainur. I was very confused. But I must have liked it even the first time around, since I managed to get through it in Danish . I read it in English later, and since then I have looked up some of the stories here and there. I also read the shorter "Quenta" not so long ago.
Actually, the Quenta was very interesting (see History of Middle-Earth Vol 4), since it is the only Silmarillion that Tolkien himself finished. It is definitely shorter though. Tolkien added much detail later, and Christopher Tolkien put it all together in the published Silmarillion. I would not say that it is better than the published version but the Quenta it has a charm of its own. Just be aware that it looks patchy because Christopher inserts comments everywhere, and Tolkien changed some of the names later, most notably abandoning the word "gnomes" for the Noldor.
One more thing about reading Tolkien: his three main works, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are written in three very different styles. I'm amazed that they were made by the same person. Some people only like one or two of those styles, while others enjoy all three.
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a.s.
Valinor
Oct 7 2016, 12:49am
Post #60 of 76
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OK I need the whole thing now...
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I don't have that ode saved anywhere--what's the rest?
a.s.
"an seileachan"
"A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds." JRR Tolkien, Letters.
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a.s.
Valinor
Oct 7 2016, 1:21am
Post #62 of 76
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thanks for the whole shebang. I hope the Top Men
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and, of course, the Top Women, as I'm sure you meant to say, get the old thing working again. Y'all (well, us all, I remember that discussion) were a talkative bunch in those days.
Miss them like crazy.
a.s.
"an seileachan"
"A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds." JRR Tolkien, Letters.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 7 2016, 12:18pm
Post #63 of 76
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Yes, it took me a bit of while as well.
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I have not read the Quenta in the History of Middle-earth collection. I own the Return of the Shadow, but haven't finished it yet, (still need to though.) I have read the End of the Third Age, or a shorter version of Sauron defeated. I probably should read those some time, because they are all very interesting on Tolkien's original ideas of his stories.
I have read and enjoyed the Children of Hurin, because I feel that compared to the chapter in the Silmarillion, it's almost easier to get through. I almost felt that the Children of Hurin was written in a writing style that came almost in between the styles of the Silmarillion and the LOTR's. I enjoyed it so much when I read it!
His three works are written very differently, and I loved how they were. He put his three Middle-earth tales to paper with the different styles that belonged to each of them. And it truly did belong to each of them. The lightness of the Hobbit complemented the LOTR's, which got darker and darker by each chapter. And the Silmarillion served as a dark prequel to the LOTR's, which ended up fairly heavy by the ROTK.
That said, Tolkien was a genius by his works, and not just his Middle-earth books, but also by his minor works such as Farmer Giles of Ham, or the Father Christmas Letters, which are both lighter and more innocent than even the Hobbit!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Trond
Registered User
Oct 7 2016, 4:36pm
Post #64 of 76
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I really should read Farmer Giles of Ham someday soon.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 7 2016, 6:59pm
Post #65 of 76
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I know I did!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Meneldor
Valinor
Oct 7 2016, 8:03pm
Post #66 of 76
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IMO, Farmer is the funniest thing JRRT ever wrote. //
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They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Oct 7 2016, 8:29pm
Post #67 of 76
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Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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dormouse
Half-elven
Oct 7 2016, 9:41pm
Post #68 of 76
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For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood and every spring
there is a different green. . .
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Trond
Registered User
Oct 9 2016, 3:14am
Post #69 of 76
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OK will find it in the library :)
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Thinking about it, some of my favorite parts of the Silmarillion are the story of Thingol and Melian (another romantic story), their forest and cave home, and some of the people they interact with.
And, a very different one, I find the the story of Eol and Aredhel intriguing. Eol, the "dark elf", is weird and gloomy, and probably abusive, and he made Turin's cursed sword Gurthang (though it was in Thingol's collection first). This is one of the stories where the published Silmarillion is definitely the best version (it is very sketchy in the Quenta and even more so in Lost Tales)
Picture removed - too large! - entmaiden
(This post was edited by entmaiden on Oct 21 2016, 11:03pm)
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 9 2016, 3:58pm
Post #70 of 76
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I also find the story of Eol and Aredhel very interesting.
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It's one of the stories in that book that gives you a creep edge feeling. But it's interesting all the same! Also, Eol's curse on his son before his death is creepy too. Eol was just a creepier individual, (maybe even more so than Grima Wormtongue, who was creepy.)
Thingol and Melian are good characters in The Sil, and they are probably some of the only ones that are connected with so many of the characters in the book.
For Turin's part of the story, Mim and Petty-dwarves were interesting characters, and were pretty much the only antagonistic dwarves in Tolkien's legends.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Calenleya
Bree
Oct 21 2016, 3:24pm
Post #71 of 76
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I listened to the german audio book of the Silmarilion before I even tried to read the book itself (which I have done, I must have been around 25). I quite like how it's read and I'm now thinking I should get the english version as well (any suggestions?). I imagine it would be great to listen to it while I drive to work!
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 21 2016, 4:14pm
Post #72 of 76
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I haven't listened to it audio, but you can find it on Amazon, but it's a little expensive. For book version, I would recommend the illustrated version with Ted Nasmith's paintings. The artwork is beautiful and it fits the stories as you read them!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Calenleya
Bree
Oct 21 2016, 10:36pm
Post #73 of 76
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I´ve seen the audio version on amazon, might be good christmas present?  I was thinking about buyinganother book version, I just have a simple one without any illutsrations.
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Oct 22 2016, 2:02pm
Post #74 of 76
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excellent Christmas present!
And yes, the illustrated version of the Silmarillion is wonderful. I actually own a version with no paintings, but I when I first read it, I had borrowed the illustrated one from the library, and it's very beautiful.
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Calenleya
Bree
Oct 22 2016, 2:43pm
Post #75 of 76
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for your recommendation. I will certainly look it up . Certain drawings just boost your imagination even more (not that Tolkien writing doesn't do that already) , but you get the feeling 'yes, that's exactly how I thought it would look like'.
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