In What Order Should You Read The TOLKIEN BOOKS in 2022? | Middle Earth Lore | Hobbit Day 2021

Happy Hobbit Day 2021!!
Today we take a look at all of Tolkien's Middle-earth works and discuss the different reading orders and which of these may be best for you after taking several different thoughts and options into account!
Don't forget to check out the Hobbit Day Playlist here too!
kzbin.info/aero/PLSSf8JTB0Nrqdd1U_JmGQcTTWFrihAN_u
Don't forget out the Tolkien Society website too! -
www.tolkiensociety.org/
His books include (but are not limited to):
The Hobbit (1937)
The Lord of the Rings
- The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
- The Two Towers (1954)
- The Return of the King (1955)
The Silmarillion (1977)
Unfinished Tales (1980)
The Children of Húrin (2007)
Beren and Lúthien (2017)
The Fall of Gondolin (2018)
The History of Middle-earth 12 Volume Series (1983-1996)
- The Book of Lost Tales, Part I (1983)
- The Book of Lost Tales, Part II (1984)
- The Lays of Beleriand (1985)
- The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986)
- The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987)
- The Return of the Shadow (The History of The Lord of the Rings Volume 1) (1988)
- The Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings Volume 2) (1989)
- The War of the Ring (The History of The Lord of the Rings Volume 3) (1990)
- Sauron Defeated (includes The History of The Lord of the Rings Volume 4) (1992)
- Morgoth's Ring (The Later Silmarillion Volume 1) (1993)
- The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion Volume 2) (1994)
- The Peoples of Middle-earth (1996)
The Nature of Middle-earth (2021)
We hope you enjoy the video and have found it helpful! :)
Timecodes for the video:
0:00 - Introduction / HAPPY HOBBIT DAY 2021.
1:26 - Order 1 - by publication year.
4:10 - Order 2 - by year written. (from Tolkien Society website)
5:40 - Order 3 - chronological order.
7:47 - Order 4 - my personal recommended order.
13:51 - Bonus Addition - The Letters of JRR. Tolkien.
14:49 - Things to consider.
16:21 - Outro
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Also check out our other channels!
The Tabletop Alliance - (For all things LotR Gaming!)
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The 6th Ranger - (For all things Power Rangers!)
kzbin.info/door/ScfG2CfbSh_LUzkGJ_p-aA
History of Dragon Ball - (For all things Dragon Ball!)
kzbin.info/door/pgaqH-cKuqvfKr1NL-yudg
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Any future news and updates regarding the show or anything else, we will be sure to let you guys know ASAP!
Also, if you have any suggestions for future videos too, then please leave a comment below!
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We do not claim to own the rights to any of the art work used throughout this video. All credit must go to the talented artists. If we have not credited an artist, it is because we could not find an owner of the art. Please message us if we have not credited you!
If any artists would like us to remove their artwork, or add anything additional to credit you, please contact us and we will sort it straight away! Thank you!
CK Goksoy - www.artstation.com/ckgoksoy
Ivan Cavini - www.ivancavini.com
Ted Nasmith - www.tednasmith.com
Peter Xavier Price - www.deviantart.com/peet
Magali Villeneuve - www.magali-villeneuve.com
KipRasmussen - www.deviantart.com/kiprasmussen
RalphDamiani - www.deviantart.com/ralphdamiani
Matthew Stewart - www.matthew-stewart.com/middle-earth
Anato Finnstark - www.artstation.com/anto-finnstark
Art throughout the video is a collection of different Tolkien Book art covers and also including:
The Fellowship of the Ring - New Line Cinema
Frodo and Sam - bakarov
Tolkien - Chernin Entertainment
Hobbit or There and Back Again - Andrei-Pervukhin
J.R.R.Tolkien Tribute - Ivan Cavini
Middle Earth - Klaradox
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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.
In the event I use art of yours or you have any questions, please contact me and we'll get it sorted straight away! :)
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#LordoftheRingsLore #TolkienBooksReadingOrder #TolkienReadingOrder

[@TheBrokenSword]

Happy Hobbit Day everybody!!

[@RichardSekmistrz]

Thanks for this, I been re-reading (listening to audio books while walking every day). That brings me to my question - what are the very best audio recordings for each work?

[@Anu_Sol]

@@RichardSekmistrz The new Audible versions of The Hobbit and TLOTR with Andy Serkis narrating are probably the best.

[@RichardSekmistrz]

@@Anu_Sol I been meaning to check them out, thanks!

[@user-jw8fm8sf7q]

thank you

[@annatar6453]

Day 2 on requesting a video on the men of the east

[@andygrams6344]

Highly recommend: read Silmarillion with "The Atlas of Middle Earth" (by Fonstad) open - incredibly helpful to keep locations, travels, and names straight.

[@Enerdhil]

Great advice. Those maps are so helpful. I photocopied many of the maps and folded copies in all the books. I always referred to them.

[@albussr1589]

I love that Atlas! It´s also very helpfull for writing Fanfictions, because now you actually know where and when to place Characters to have a believable Impact on the Story. Battles can be a bit complicated to sort out on just the Text alone, and Distances are a Nightmare

[@AmaraJordanMusic]

When I was about 15 I was lucky enough to find a first US edition Silmarillion with its dust jacket (that is a bit messed up around the corners, and i don’t dare try to remove the sale sticker for risk of damaging it more!) and red edging to the pages, and it has a giant four page fold out Atlas. I’ve never fully opened it, because it hadn’t been and I wasn’t about to break that streak! I’ve always just hopped back to photos on my phone or laptop to get reference points. I can’t believe that as a teen, in a normal used book shop, not really looking for anything, I found that. So cool.

[@Enerdhil]

@@AmaraJordanMusic That is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it. And take good care of that treasure of yours. It should be a family heirloom.

[@AmaraJordanMusic]

@@Enerdhil Thanks. ☺️ I hoped it didn’t come off in a way I didn’t mean for it too; I just am still aghast that I was that lucky! My fiancé and I are definitely going to have any kids exposed to Tolkien when the time is right, so hopefully this will be cherished through the ages. 😊

[@NarutoJK-jh7tr]

If you start with the silmarilion. You have officially abandoned reason for madness 😭

[@jamesh2514]

How so?

[@anaugrinoska1836]

I did.. And you're absolutely not wrong but i really really wanted to know about the history 😅

[@miguiPR21]

Madness it is

[@christopherfelipe60]

😂🤣I like that

[@Shizzzzzza]

Sorry but ima do just that

[@MenoftheWest]

Happy Hobbit Day James and Jake, and great job here brothers! It's always an interesting question, both for the first-time read and repeats, because part of me just wants to simultaneously read them all! Cheers guys!

[@suzannewilliam-james9744]

Although the Silmarillion is a difficult read it's still one of my favourite books ❤️

[@geistersound937]

Its the best work, I think.

[@maxmercer1931]

Silmarillion > actual Lord of the Rings book More Magic > practically no Magic

[@denizkenger52]

Oh my i remember reading this in year 9, and we would read for the first 10 mins in English class. My teacher would sometimes pick random people’s books to read them aloud. He picked silmarillion up, started saying all these elvish names and places and he was so confused. And its kinda older english at times but he was good with that, although he out it down faster coz obviously the elvish stuff were just random words to him without any context as well.

[@Myohomoto]

Meeeeeee too!!!!

[@artmur1]

@@Myohomoto i had a heard time with this book to first reading around 1980 I've read and reread it many times since long before the movies or all of these KZbin videos

[@TimothyHuffGuitar]

The Silmarillion is probably my favorite of all, but there's a catch...it wouldn't be without the knowledge of The Hobbit and LOTR.

[@env0x]

i've only read the silmarillion but it's still one of my favorite books of fiction. then again i've always been more a fan of non-fiction/history/theology/mythology. i think that's why i like the silm so much. it reads like the bible but more interesting.

[@user-hn9fr7mn3x]

Facts

[@someguy42093]

I’m rereading hobbit and Lotr just because I want to read the silmarrlion and actually understand it. Maybe.

[@kodaboren7145]

The Simarillion, "difficult to read" is a nice way of putting it. I currently reading it, but I still have to read each page twice just to understand all of the details. Still it's awesome.

[@KittenishgirlJess]

Finally finished Hobbit/LOTR/Silmarillion this year so definitely needed this for further reading, thanks! 👏

[@JackiSins]

I have been looking forward to this (I’m the otter). My reading order: The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings The Silmarillion The Great Tales Unfinished Tales History of Middle Earth series The Adventures of Tom Bombadil Bilbos Last Song The Letters of J.R.R Tolkien (I haven’t read The Nature of Middle Earth yet so yeah)

[@denizkenger52]

My reading order, Lotr 3 Hobbit Silmarillion Children of Hurin Unfinished tales (still reading)

[@denizkenger52]

I want to start the lost tales after unfinished tales but i couldnt find them in my library for a long time. Got unfinished tales after moving house for uni to a different country because my country doesnt have it in english which is my preferred language.

[@jessicaalas-fought5593]

The adventures of Tom Bombadil, such a fun, light-hearted read...I would definitely incorporate it. Happy Hobbit Day!

[@davidgoldsworthy1640]

I'm proud to say I started my book journey with the silmarillian

[@TheChef420]

Happy Hobbit day. I thought the silmarillion was a tough read in the beginning but once you get through all the descriptive stuff and then when the elves coming into being it becomes a very great read after that

[@jean-lucalexander4719]

Im a chronological order type. But i absolutely love the Silmarillion so its hard for me to not turn to it. Im a lore buff though and the Silmarillion is THICC with lore. Happy Hobbit day everyone!

[@ryanol]

This was my personal reading order. I do not recommend how I went about it. 1. The Hobbit 2. The Children of Hurin 3. LOTR - The Fellowship of the Ring 4. LOTR - The Two Towers 5. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil 6. LOTR - The Return of the King 7. The Silmarillion 8. The Fall of Gondolin 9. Beren and Luthien 10. Unfinished Tales

[@i_do_stuff_ig]

LOL reading children of Hurin after the hobbit would be so weird

[@ryanol]

it was@@i_do_stuff_ig

[@aran2457]

1) The Silmarillion 2) The Children of Húrin 3) Beren and Lúthien 4) The Fall of Gondolin 5) Unfinished Tales 6) The Hobbit 7) The Adventures of Tom Bombadil 8) The Lord of the Rings 9) Bilbo’s Last Song ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10) The History of Middle-earth (12 volumes) 11) The Nature of Middle-earth 12) The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien This is my own go-to list (which is made by myself), and it is in chronological order until you come to The History of Middle-earth, The Nature of Middle-earth and The Letters of J.R.R, because, in my opinion, you should read them after you have read all the other works. You're welcome ;), and I wish you good luck with your journey, because it is a quite difficult and long read - namárië! ADDITIONAL: 13) Peter Jackson: A Film-Maker's Journey 14) Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth

[@user-hn9fr7mn3x]

This needs to be updated. I believe more has been released

[@unicornfarm1]

Children of Hurin does not come before Beren and Luthien

[@cuchulain55]

beren and luthiien should come before children of hurin.

[@luckystars1632]

Amazing! Thank you so much for this video. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I started my collection of Tolkien’s works and wanted to take an in-depth dive into the stories. Thank you!

[@brettsanto4543]

“As long as you are enjoying it, no one can say you are wrong” - profoundly beautiful and important to state. Thank you for such a comprehensive response to that question.

[@jameshughes525]

I don't understand for the life of me how this channel doesn't have a million subscribers you guys are awesome

[@GirlNextGondor]

Happy (late) Hobbit Day! I love that you give different options depending on how people want to organize their readings.

[@Pigboy-fg4pr]

Thanks i've been trying to find this out for a long time

[@haroldasraz]

Cheers for such great introduction to Tolkien's Magnus opus. And yes I do consider all the books surrounding LOTR, as just that. Really apreaciate the work you guys put in for the first time readers.

[@anonymoususer208]

Thank you for bringing this back

[@urfacecalling101]

Happy Hobbit Day, guys! Thanks for all the work you do to keep us entertained

[@tomfrost6049]

Hey Broken Sword, in the last day or so I've found your videos but so far yours is one of the best narrated. All the others are lovely but I've enjoyed yours most thus far. I'm glad for this video as I'm a major fantasy buff. I've read the silmarillion a few times but never the main titles... this video gives me a good guide to everything. Ty.

[@nfragala]

History of Middle Earth series is a GRIND!

[@HopeEsthiem15]

this is def coming to me a a perfect time, thanks!

[@lokitheremnant]

every year this day makes me smile.

[@MsMelyjean]

Love this post. There were a few of the later books that I didn't know about.

[@Huskytabby]

What-if video idea for you to do: What if Gandalf never fell at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and continued with the fellowship to Lothlorien and forward?

[@keylawarburton5787]

That’s a really good idea !!! I would love to see that

[@keylawarburton5787]

Get this to the top so they could do ig

[@SuperPAC130]

If I could re-read the compilation, I would read 1) Hobbit 2) LOTR 3) Silmarillon TLDR Hobbit as appetizer. LOTR, the chunky main meal. Then end with a memorable dessert, Silmarillon. As mentioned in the vid, The Hobbit is a good intro. It's not as engaging as the other two, but it gives you a good warm-up onto Tolkien's writing style and vocabulary wealth. I made the mistake of reading LOTR first. Contemplated on giving up several times. It took me several years to finish all three books, had to reread many paragraphs to understand it's true sense. Having watched the movie helps make it digestable. I'm glad I left Silmarillon last. Each race is at its most OP version. Battles are EPIC! Despite being the origin book, it suit well to be the 'climax scene' through my readings. Also, as I already know the ending, I don't find the fall of Beleriand all too depressing, rather a mixed sense of dread & hope. I find this book the most engaging. I remember one time staying up until 2AM, so eager to know outcome of The Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

[@harishchoukikar2704]

I just started to read The fellowship. I am also re-watching the movies and I can tell the verbal and non verbal references. Its just surreal.

[@LycaonsMemories]

reading order the hobbit the lord of the rings everything else start with the hobbit because it is the "easiest" and the "most fun" you will fall in love the lord of the rings because it furthers the difficulty a little but keeps you hooked

[@Loreseekervids]

I love this! doing a full reread soon!

[@ladislavschweiner853]

I'm not kidding, just yesterday arrived my new Tolkien's book collection... This is absolute sorcery! Obviously I really apreciate the vid, thank you! :))

[@NarutoJK-jh7tr]

Must be the necromancer of dol guldur

[@SageKronsell]

I've read everything Tolkien or his son published and I have to say I agree with your reading order.

[@FantasySci5]

Yes, the audiobook really helped get me through the Silmarillion!

[@beccijanemc91]

Brilliant job on the video ❤️

[@lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615]

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! I always yell 1 of 4 things after your videos 1.) ELENDIL! 2.)ECTHELION! 3.) BARUK KAZHAD, KAZHAD Ai-MENU 4.) BUILD ME AN ARMY WORTHY OF MORDOR!"(While rolling my eyes like the Undertaker)But today I shout "Proud-Feet!" P.S. Happy Hobbitt Day!

[@joebrown455]

I was looking for this video yesterday to see if it had been re-uploaded lol. I'm looking to start the audiobooks, there seems to be multiple versions, but i will give Andy Circus's a try based on this video, Thanks 👍.

[@erikavalentina4940]

Reading Silmarillion was quite easy for me because I read the translated version first (English isn't my mother language). Once I familiar with the story and some characters, then I bought the English version. It helped me a lot not to get confused and lost in translation 😅. It is a difficult book, but it worth the effort.

[@anthonycunningham8116]

I do wonder how much of some of Tolkien is lost in translation - one of the things about the Silmarillion and some of the more recently published work such as Beren and Luthien, is not just what it says but how it says it. it is a very lyrical, semi poetic and specifically English form of Epic writing

[@beneisen6982]

Happy Belated Hobbit Day! Although I was too busy to watch this yesterday, this is a great look at different reads. I read the Silmarillion first and as a young child in the late 80's. Rereading it, I know a lot went over my head, but there was definitely a lot of captivating stories that took my imagination soaring. After my dad saw me reading it, he had me read The Hobbit followed by The Lord of the Rings. I didn't discover The Unfinished Tales until early 2000's. Then picked up The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and The Fall of Gondolin as they were published.

[@logansfury]

This didn't hit my suggestions until 2 days before Hobbit Day 2022. I think this was a fascinating watch. I've lost count of my rereads of everything up to Unfinished Tales. I was gifted with The Book of Lost Takes 1 & 2 when they were newly released but only read them once each. While I found Tolkien's original vision of his world as a great ship interesting, I just never enjoyed the stories of Kortirion and the Hall of Fire tales as much as the later published works. Due to this I never followed up purchasing the series of books Christopher published of his father's original drafts and oldest writings. I've had a re-spark of my interest in Tolkien and decided to at least get The Children of Hurin, Beren and Luthien, and The Fall of Gondolin for my library. I've got amazon open on my other monitor and am ordering The Children now. I have to complete a sci-fi series I recently started reading first, but I'm really looking forward to 3 Tolkien books that are new to me.

[@Aurora-qn2dx]

Awsome video...very very helpful. Happy Hobbit day all🧙👸🧝🏻‍♂️🧚✨👑

[@legionarybooks13]

Love the thoroughness of your lists! 😊I'm currently listening to the audiobook version of the Silmarillion, which is actually helping quite a bit (I first read it about ten years ago, and struggled to make sense of it all). I tried reading The Children of Hurin a few years back and just could not get into it; though seeing the audiobook is narrated by the late Sir Christopher Lee, I will be giving it another go! I did recently listen to Andy Serkis' narration of The Hobbit, which was fantastic, and am looking forward to diving back into Middle Earth with his reading of The Lord of the Rings! I first read The Hobbit and LOTR from ages ten to twelve, and they bring me as much (possibly more) joy now than they did then. #happyhobbitday

[@cuchulain55]

whats so hard to understand i first read it as a young kid in early 90's the first thing i ever read by tolkien. its about high elves and ranger men chiefly at times and lots of high elves.

[@tristan9648]

Already almost at 70k 😂 keeping track of when to stream has to be tough lol

[@bedlaskybedla6361]

My first Tolkien's book was Childern of Húrin. And honestly I am glad that this book was my first. I already knew something about the first age from youtube videos and this story work as some sort of anchor for these informations a helped me put them together.

[@jbmboy]

A lovely video. A read the hobbit as a child and I'm reading the Lord of the Rings for the first time now. I'm typically not much of a reader so I think I need a lighter read next before I attempt the Silmarillion.

[@h3nrg]

I’ve only recently read the Lord of the Rings and am currently working through the Silmarillion. I vaguely know the story from all the videos I’ve watched but want to say I’ve read it myself and carry on with the Unfinished Tales afterwards! Happy Hobbit Day!

[@rangerofthenorth1970]

Happy Hobbit Day to all of Arda!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guys another great video, cant wait to start reading all of this again!!!!!!!

[@TheBrokenSword]

Thanks! :D

[@NevermissaPoint]

It was Perfect thank you

[@conorcassidy9552]

I wish you could doa Yi-Gi-Oh channel haha. So many stories and ideas behind it but keep it up :)

[@jamesaron1967]

I came to Tolkien with the LOTR first, then I read _The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales_ and lastly, _The History of Middle-earth_ series. I also have _The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien_ in my collection but never read it cover to cover. i only use it as a reference source yet do consider it essential to complete a Tolkien 'library' if a fan of this author ever wants to own all his writings dealing with Middle-earth. I don't necessarily recommend reading Tolkien's legendarium in that order but I'm so glad I did. Had I read the Hobbit first, I might not have been captivated enough to continue on to the LOTR, etc., knowing myself in my youth. If I read any of the other works instead of the LOTR first, I'd likely never have continued further at that age. Thus, I wouldn't change the order I read these books at all; they forever changed my life.

[@magatetus]

Happy Hobbit Day! Currently reading The Silmarillion.

[@aislinrose1]

As a child I read the lord of the rings first and loved it but I don't think I really appreciated the story until I was a adult and saw the movie adoptions for the first time as it prompted me to revisit that old childhood classic with 'grown up eyes'. I knew about the hobbit but had never read it until much much later. I have only recently taken and interest in the silmarillion and unfinished tales so I picked them up a couple weeks ago and will probably read them this year. I loved how you gave various versions of the reading order. If I chose to expand out even more definitely know what to look for now

[@caseyparker7967]

Very interesting!

[@coreyr.1012]

Thank you for laying out a cannon chronological order. I’ve been scouring the internet for like an hour and you’re the only one who lays out a coherent statement. I’m irritated that many of tolkiens books are incomplete and outside cannon and it’s barely mentioned and I’m really glad I discovered that before I bought all those books. Maybe I’ll be a super fan one day but I just want the complete stories. I’m on the fence about unfinished tales of numanor but everyone says it’s a critical part of the lore even though it’s unfinished.

[@CSionni]

I prefer to read in lore order, or in other words the “much less common” way to read these. In fact, I always tend to read this way, rather than in publication order. Comics, books, etc.

[@chrisandreas3142]

Well some things are GREAT to read or watch as a prequel. You have this great moments when you go “oh, That’s what i was asking myself” or you just see some Epic moment that make sense etc. Its great for example to read History of Middle Earth last cause its epic. If you read it first than what can you do with all that knowledge? Nothing. Same is with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Better Call Saul is before Breaking Bad in Cannon BUT it does not have depth if you watch it first and than Breaking Bad. You dont understand how great Masterpiece is Better Call Saul if you start with it before Breaking Bad.

[@yimboninja7415]

Loving this channel get some old time!

[@ryansyler8847]

Some great recommendations based on the nature of the reader's interest. I can tell you put a lot of thought into this. In reply to your question at the end, I think I would place Unfinished Tales, The History of Middle-earth, then the Great Tales. My reason is that the unexpected success of Unfinished Tales was the spark that launched the History of Middle-earth but in the writing of the History Christopher Tolkien had time and resources that were not available to him in the pressure to get The Silmarillion into a publishable form. He was able to consider from a broader perspective what The Silmarillion might have been had his father realized his intentions before his death. The Great Tales as they were eventually published are with this perspective in mind and the experience of editing, assembling and (by Christopher's own admission, sometimes of necessity inventing) the Great Tales in the form in which they were originally published in The Silmarillion. I think that having the background of the originally published versions of the Great Tales, then the drafts and explanations of how and why the originally published versions came to have the forms they did, then the realization of each tale between its own covers makes for a richer experience, especially as each tale is presented in a different mode. One other omission that I notice in this and other reading order recommendations has to do with Tolkien's work outside the legendarium. I'd appreciate hearing your ideas on other works like Tolkien's translation of Beowulf, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, The Story of Kullervo, The Fall of Arthur, Leaf by Niggle, Smith of Wooton Major, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Farmer Giles of Ham. I'd also be interested in how you would integrate some of his more academic projects such as Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, On Fairy-Stories, A Secret Vice, and other works of that nature.

[@Realmofdarkdance]

Listening to the audio books is what makes things supper helpful as it can always be heard for me ton sit down an read. But listening to the audio books before you read i find is even better. I did that with silmarillion makes it even easier to read. At that point

[@timbotook6447]

Great video, Gents. Happy Hobbit Day my friends!

[@offroader9965]

Idk why the 300 thousand subscribers that were on the old channel didn’t come back and subscribe here! It’s growing slowly but surely

[@user-pg3pe4gx4p]

Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales. (Children of Huron, Bergen and Luthien, Fall of Gondolin)

[@Machinationstudio]

The Silmarillion as an audiobook is a huge help.

[@micahp.4356]

HAPPY HOBBIT DAY TO YOU ALL!!!

[@sendit9214]

I need a print out now

[@americaneric2183]

I read the Hobbit when I was 8. Then The Lord of the Rings, and then The Silmarillion.

[@cwopre]

The publication order really makes sense in terms of gradually ramping up in lore with each book.

[@ravenhill_firelord_1968]

i must put, i always prefer old editions of books as opposed to modern printings.

[@elleditsilver]

I recommended a friend of mine to read the Children of Hurin before the Silmarillion, since the story is quite focused on the family and not entire Beleriand. It did not disappoint.

[@blackmetalerik962]

i actually started with the silmarillion after watching the movies of course

[@sonokawaray]

The Silmarillion can definitely be a tough read with all the history, names and events it covers (kinda inevitable when you write a story about the creation of Middle-Earth and the several busy millennia that follow, and pack it all into a book the length of *one* LotR volume). When I first read the book as a kid there was only so much of it my brain could absorb. Personally I love how dense the content is, though; every few years I come back to it and find something else in it that stands out as really interesting. Will second the recommendation of getting it in audiobook form; been recently listening to it that way here and there, and something about the format just helps the details come more to life for me, if that makes sense.

[@thomasvlekke5365]

I'm just about to start reading the Hobbit and the LOTR (a 4 book box set) and I'm still so interested as to how the Silmarillion and the Fall of Gondolin will play out! Also: In what book does the origin of the Orcs get explained the best/most interesting?

[@WMfin]

When next I finish current book series I am reading, I will reread all of Tolkien in chronological order, adding those expansive books in the middle of Silmarillion read through, then continue pretty much as you listed. I still have Morgoth's Ring and Lays of Beleriand unread so they are extra if I am still hungry.. I finished Wheel of Time this summer and now I have been reading some Sanderson but I was thinking Tolkien would come after that.

[@denizkenger52]

Read silmarillion in year 9, got it out the way early lol, took me a long time, a few months. Definitely good read. Definitely one to sometimes get a bit lost, especially places so i had to sometimes just stop and remember where certain things places were. Then, character names were a bit messy because there are similar names, especially amongst the elves, but that was fine as well after just checking back a few pages. Its good and im happy to have read it, its like a must do on the tick list for a fan of Arda, and the legendary feats in silmarillion are just amazing. My favourites: Fingolfin marching up to the gates of Angband by himself and demanding single combat with Morgoth. After Morgoth is forced to accept his challenge, he permanently injures morgoth’s foot and even though he does die, he proves to Morgoth’s servants that he too can be damaged. Its such a great detail by tolkien to mention no orcs talked about this duel, none boasted off Morgoth’s victory which just shows although Fingolfin died, he was successful and he must have fought so good that Morgoth’s servants couldn’t boast of such victory. This scene being made into a film could make one of the greatest scenes in movie history, with the right buildup and the right aftermath as well. It was legendary. Also, feanor’s fall against all those balrogs. Its just such a great way to go. Even Gandalf faces one balrog, but in the books it states there were multiple balrogs against feanor. I know there’s a lot of question on the exact amount of balrogs so i will not go into this and leave it at “multiple”. And i know comparing to Gandalf may not be appropriate because the book of lost tales does say “The early conception of Balrogs makes them less terrible, and certainly more destructible, than they afterwards became”, so i guess it could be argued that durin’s bane was a more powerful balrog than the ones feanor fought, the truth to this is unknown obviously but i doubt durin’s bane would be better than Gothmog king of balrogs.

[@MrFido7up]

Where you got all the books from ? They look amazing I want to buy them @7:49

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Literary geek order: LOTR, Hobbit, Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, Further Writings. Pulling in a bright child reader: Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion - and more if they really geek out. Absolute obsessive geek order: every single piece of writing in order of fictional timeline, though this takes the wonder out of it in my view.

[@franzrogar]

12:53 "The Nature of Middle-Earth" is not "just an index" of History of TLOTR. Yes, it includes excerpts from the History, but includes "unpublished" texts he published in journals (for example how many of you have "La Feuille de la Compagnie vol. 3 in 2014" or "Parma Eldalamberon in 2007" to read three of them?) and unpublished new ones too. I will quote the introduction that explains each part: "Part one, “Time and Ageing”, is almost entirely composed of materials from the collection of the same name described above, though it is here and there supplemented with material from Tolkien’s linguistic papers. Part two, “Body, Mind, and Spirit”, and part three, “The World, Its Lands, and Its Inhabitants”, are composed of materials from three chief sources: a) the bundle of “late philological essays” sent to me in 1997; b) material drawn from Tolkien’s linguistic papers; and c) particularly in part three, material collected by me over the years from the two principal archives of Tolkien manuscripts at the Bodleian in Oxford and at Marquette University in Milwaukee."

[@hanagara1907]

I found your channel like yesterday. I only read The Hobbit, LOTR and the first 12 or so chapters of The Silmirillion (I think 12. Not all anyway). I really do think I should go again bc I find your channel and the world Tolkein created fascinating. My question: do you think I should start the whole series again or just go (well, in either case, I will start The Silmirillion again as I forget EXACTLY where I left off) A thing I found when reading, the first chapter of TS sounds very bible-ish and (please don't kill me but also correct me if you think I'm wrong) as we are basically given that info again in chapter 2, I think it might be okay to skip the first chapter at first (my mum advised me to do that. I went back later and I don't feel like I lost anything)

[@LearnRunes]

It was very considerate of you to consider different options for the books' reading order.

[@theunnaturalformula]

What is your opinion on the rings of power on Amazon?

[@taniarobles4222]

Hi!! Could you help me find the best editions of LOTR and the rest of the books, perhaps in a box set

[@satana8157]

I'm reading Silmarillion and honestly the biggest challenge for me is the geography. I read Hobbit and LOTR so I was quite familiar with the geography of ME and didn't need to look up maps anymore. But this started and it gave me two new continents which I've never heard before. I found 3 different maps online and I have to jump through them and weirdly enough I have not found a good map that covers the whole area and is human readable yet.

[@falseking989]

I’m not really fan of the Hobbit or LOTR but I do enjoy some of your videos. If you were to recommend a book to best spark an interest in the Tolkien stories, what would it be?

[@annaroselarsen4218]

Happy Hobbit day!

[@sammakkotonttu]

Lord of the Rings is so full of references to Silmarillion and it’s characters, places and events that I would really read the Silmarillion first

[@Bradford.C.Wallsbury]

I think the poems are a definite essential - Tolkien's life was studying poetry! And they are brilliant pieces. Too many scholars and readers look over them! While not exactly middle earth, The Smith of Wooton Major, Roverandom, and Farmer Giles of Ham are all great children's stories.

[@OneTrueNobody]

The way I like to describe reading "The Silmarillion" is that it's a bit like reading the Bible. The story isn't presented in the same way that a traditional novel might do, as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit would, and that can make it quite challenging to connect with the events and the characters until you shift into a mindset appropriate for this kind of format.

[@ipoulter9765]

What order chronological wise do you read the elder days tales

[@RyanGr33n]

Any recommendations on where to get nice hardcover copies of these books? Possibly boxed sets? Bookstores are notoriously under stocked and online you’re lucky if you can find a used newsprint copy of some of these.

[@Yesica1993]

Try ebay?

[@AmaraJordanMusic]

My advice on The Silmarillion is to sip on it. I will often just inhale like a third of a book at once. But for denser reading, sipping on it makes you enjoy and appreciate it more. ☺️ My fiancé and I are reading through Beren and Luthien right now. I’m going to have a few elven inspired details on my wedding dress, and at the very least he’s going to have brass buttons, lol. Maybe not the full on Aragorn sword he WANTS (sigh, we’re going full on Tolkien at our five year; just hints for the real deal!), but hints at hobbitiness here and there. ☺️

[@rong7496]

What is the only authorized biography of J. R. R. Tolkien? (And as far as reading along with the audiobook version, I completely agree. That’s how I was finally able to get into another series that would constantly reference J. R. R. Tolkien’s works. Then I was able to get into the writing on my own. That series, and-of course-the films are what brought me to Tolkien and your channel.)

[@leonardofaber5823]

If by "authorized" you mean one that the author had access to letters and writings, met Tolkien in person and had the Family's blessing, then go for Humphrey Carpenter's book. It's not perfect, it needs some updates here and there, but that's the one.

[@rong7496]

@@leonardofaber5823 Yes. Then that’s the one I will get. Thank you, Leonardo.

[@rayden120]

I was finally able to get the Silmarillon on audible I have all four books now it nice to listen to. I do have all four books hard copy especially the really big one with all Three books of Lord of the rings in one lol. Yes I read them first before getting them on audible lol.

[@tattoofthesun]

Hey which book besides the Hobbit and the LOTR contains the most magic? You know, the stories that contain the elves, rings, wizards. Something that contains the storytelling as gripping as the Fellowship etc thanks

[@rlk54]

I always started with Tolkien's biography, then the Silmarillion, the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. I read them all 20 times.

[@Vercingetorix061983]

I liked the recommendation by difficulty. It's important for me because english is not my native language and I'm going to read it in the original language. Thanks!

[@ivoicehard1802]

I started with The Silmarillion after spending quite some time reading internet articles about all things First Age. Then I got into the Unfinished Tales, reread The Silmarillion, next were Beren And Lúthien and The Fall Of Gondolin (I'm WAY too familiar with the story told in The Children Of Húrin, that's why I've skipped this book for now; still gonna read it tho). I'm currently reading The Hobbit, next is LOTR and, hopefully, The Nature Of Middle-earth. The History Of Middle-earth is gonna be the icing on the cake.

[@tobyreads]

Where would the New the Fall of Numenor book fit into this?

[@theblueknight9746]

Last time I was this early, the Elves were still in Middle-Earth.

[@luckystorm6986]

What if i want to read as the timeline go and i go with Silmarilion-Hobbit-3 lotr?