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christianoliverio 's review for:
The Silmarillion
by J.R.R. Tolkien
When someone says they read Tolkien for the lore, picture this book as "the lore" as that is all this is. All the rich lore, themes, cultures, myths, and legends compacted into a single book. This is how you know Tolkien was truly devoted to his own worldbuilding. The Silmarillion is a freakin' history textbook for a fictional world! And I love it! Don't get me wrong, that glossary is necessary for understanding this, and it certainly is a dry read. BUT the lore behind it and the story told across millennia is truly awesome. Satan--I mean Morgoth--rebelling and plunging the world into a darkness that lasted centuries and the races of the world, even united couldn't stop this without the aid of Heaven? Yes. Immortal spirits (elves) rebelling against the gods to gain vengeance against Morgoth? Yes, please. A civil war waged over centuries for precious heirlooms, drawing in multiple races and countries, culminating in the fall of all the free kingdoms until a mortal man; who was forced to watch his children tragically die after they learn they have committed the unforgivable sin of incest but, hey, they killed a dragon on the way; this mortal man is able to overcome his grief, take up his sword and march against the forces of darkness, uniting the free peoples against this shadow that has forced the land into darkness for centuries?! YES, PLEASE! If you like learning about lore, mythology, and history, this is certainly a must read after Lord of the Rings. But if you didn't love Lord of the Rings and can't stand history or mythology, you'll probably hate this.