Like most, you probably associate Tolkien’s name with The Lord of Rings Trilogy or The Hobbit, easily the most influential works in the fantasy genre and arguably in all of 20th century fiction. However, Tolkien’s work on this universe began much, much earlier. In fact, he started writing about Arda, the name given to our world in his legendarium, almost 40 years before The Fellowship of the Rings was published.

The Silmarillion was never finished by Tolkien it but his work was edited and published by his son Christopher in 1977, four years after his father died. I first read it when I was a teenager, after reading the LOTR trilogy and The Hobbit. At the time, I compared it to the Genesis in the Bible, a somewhat relevant comparison given Tolkien’s catholic faith. To give you an idea, here’s how it starts :

There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made.

The book covers how the world was formed by Eru, basically God, and by the Holy Ones, the Valar and the Maiar. It’s certainly not a perfect analogy and it might make some Tolkien fans angry, but you could compare the Valar to god-like beings with certain roles and responsibilities, a bit like the Greek or Roman pantheons. The Maiar, on the other hand, are akin to angels, each tied to his or her Valar. From very early on, problems arise when the mightiest of the Valar, Melkor, decides to go his own way against the wishes and plans of Eru. Doing so, he becomes the first great enemy of the World.

From here, the story focuses on how Melkor manages to trouble the peace of the world, acting both directly and indirectly against his brethen, the Valar, and the Children of Ilúvatar, Elves and Men. In fact, the Elves (then divided in various races) rapidly become the main actors in the story in their fight against Melkor, eventually named Morgoth by them.

Then Fëanor rose, and lifting up his hand before Manwë he cursed Melkor, naming him Morgoth, the Black Foe of the World; and by that name only was he known to the Eldar ever after.

I use the word “story” but it would be more accurate to say “stories”. It’s not exactly a continuous storyline like you might expect. It’s more like a collection of stories all taking place in the same era. Most are indeed focused on the struggle between Melkor and the rest of the world, but others take place on the periphery. Some of the stories are more developed and detailed than others. At other times, it’s short and straight to the point, as Tolkien didn’t have the time to flesh out the details. This might seem out of place if you have read his main works I mentioned earlier, as they are rich with details.

It’s not exactly an easy read. I think this was the fourth time I’ve read it and I still have to take my time and re-read many of the passages. It’s dense with information and Tolkien employs a very specific and sometimes unorthodox vocabulary. Also, many of the main characters have multiple names, sometimes in different languages. Another aspect that stood out is how much sadness and tragedy there is in those early eras of Arda. Conflicts abound, but you can tell that Tolkien doesn’t revel in it. Wars are not glorified. He rarely delves into much details about them. They’re presented as catastrophic events for everyone involved. There are certainly heroes here and there, but even the most heroic acts are surrounded by tragedy.

I’ll briefly mention two of the main themes here. First is how power and pride can corrupt even the strongest, no matter the status or race. It actually starts with the mightiest of the Holy Ones being corrupted by his own pride, and eventually the mightiest of the Elves is also led down a self-destructing path because of his pride. Another major theme is the struggle between fate and free will. Fate guides the overarching storyline, but some characters fight against that in exercising their own will. Add to that the large number of curses and promises, and you can appreciate why some of these stories still resonate with fans of Tolkien’s legendarium.

It’s an incredibly fascinating read and gives you a glimpse into the impossibly immense world that Tolkien has created. You can see how it would be tempting for anyone to use Arda as a canvas for so many different storylines, books, TV series or movies. There are seemingly infinite possibilities for stories, yet the book is barely over 300 pages long. It’s no wonder Tolkien is the unequivocal master when it comes to world-building and that his works have captured the imagination of millions over the past century.