What order do you read Tolkien's Books?

blackrider · 12-01-2001, 03:14 PM

Hi all,
There is the hobbit, the silmarillian, the lord of the rings, the middle-earth series and the unfinished tales. What order am i supposed to read them in? and (if different) what order (storyline-timeline wise) do they come in?

Thanks very much,
Mark.

blinkuncut@hotmail.com

emplynx · 12-01-2001, 03:19 PM

Read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings first. After that...?

blackrider · 12-01-2001, 03:26 PM

thanks.

i have already read hobbit and LoTR but i've only just come across the silmarillion and the middle-earth series.

the silmarillion is supposed to come before the hobbit? or does it cover the whole of the "earths" past to future?

Mark.

Bacchus · 12-01-2001, 03:45 PM

My 2 cents on reading order:

1. The Hobbit
2. The Lord of the Rings
3. The Silmarillion
4. Unfinished Tales
5. Letters of JRR Tolkien
6. History of Middle Earth

THe Sil is primarily set in the First Age, (TH and LOTR are Third Age), although it has brief essays on Numenor and the Rings as well as a Creation myth. It was published posthumously by Christopher. Tolkien considered it as his life's work, and had not completed it to his satisfaction.

UT contains a number of fragmentary stories that give additional detail to various of the histories. Stories from the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Ages are represented. Christopher makes extensive editorial comments and gives alternate drafts.

LoJRRT is a compilation of JRRT's personal correspondence during his life. It contains numerous insights to various portions of ME.

HoME contains extensive early drafts of all of the published works.

ringbearer · 12-02-2001, 11:38 PM

Here is my favorite order...
1.Last part of the Sil..."Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
2.The Hobbit
3.LOTR
4.The Sil
The rest is "up to you".

***IronParrot*** · 12-02-2001, 11:57 PM

I think this order has always been the logical way of approaching it: Hobbit, LOTR, Sil, LOTR again. Reading The Hobbit first will make it easier to get through LOTR's prologue, which also covers enough to get you through LOTR before reading the bit about the Rings in Sil.

ringbearer · 12-03-2001, 12:03 AM

My favorite order is based on the fact that I had already read most of the material.

Bregalad, Ent of Fangorn · 12-03-2001, 06:01 PM

I read the ooks starting with th whole LOTR series then the Hobbit then the unfinished tales of JRR. Tolkien, and finnaly The Silmarillion. And then followed by the tolkien companion.

Wayfarer · 12-03-2001, 06:03 PM

Hobbit>LoTR>Sil>Unfinished Tales>HOME>other stuff

Thorondor · 12-03-2001, 07:32 PM

Bacchus has provided a good order, at least through the first four. Once you make it through Unfinished Tails you can pretty much dive in anywhere in the remaining works. You will also know a good deal more about Middle Earth than most Tolkien readers.

Even though the Sil concerns the ages preceding the Hobbit and LOTR, resist the temptation to read it first. Enjoy the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and then, if you're completely taken with Middle Earth and the lore of the elves, tackle the Sil and other works.

Finglas · 12-04-2001, 06:13 PM

I agree with IronParrot. Hobbit>LotR>Sil>LotR again>'Other Stuff'
For me reading LotR again after the Sil was very helpfull.

Selwythe · 12-05-2001, 12:04 PM

I read in this order.

LoTR
Silmarillion
HoME
Hobbit

tbrad28 · 12-13-2001, 08:15 PM

Well I like to reading... the hobbit, LOTR, the Silmarillion, adn then the other books that he wrote

12-01-2001, 03:14 PM	#1
blackrider Sapling Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Essex, England Posts: 8	What order do you read Tolkien's Books? Hi all, There is the hobbit, the silmarillian, the lord of the rings, the middle-earth series and the unfinished tales. What order am i supposed to read them in? and (if different) what order (storyline-timeline wise) do they come in? Thanks very much, Mark. blinkuncut@hotmail.com

12-01-2001, 03:45 PM	#4
Bacchus Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Houston TX USA Posts: 245	My 2 cents on reading order: 1. The Hobbit 2. The Lord of the Rings 3. The Silmarillion 4. Unfinished Tales 5. Letters of JRR Tolkien 6. History of Middle Earth THe Sil is primarily set in the First Age, (TH and LOTR are Third Age), although it has brief essays on Numenor and the Rings as well as a Creation myth. It was published posthumously by Christopher. Tolkien considered it as his life's work, and had not completed it to his satisfaction. UT contains a number of fragmentary stories that give additional detail to various of the histories. Stories from the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Ages are represented. Christopher makes extensive editorial comments and gives alternate drafts. LoJRRT is a compilation of JRRT's personal correspondence during his life. It contains numerous insights to various portions of ME. HoME contains extensive early drafts of all of the published works. __________________ Yet neither by wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by Dragon, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men. Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again. Last edited by Bacchus : 12-01-2001 at 03:47 PM.

12-02-2001, 11:38 PM	#5
ringbearer Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St. Louis, Mo. USA Posts: 561	Here is my favorite order... 1.Last part of the Sil..."Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" 2.The Hobbit 3.LOTR 4.The Sil The rest is "up to you". __________________ Ringbearer Hide Witch, hide! The Good Folks come to burn thee! Their keen enjoyment hid behind A Gothic mask of duty!

12-02-2001, 11:57 PM	#6
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	I think this order has always been the logical way of approaching it: Hobbit, LOTR, Sil, LOTR again. Reading The Hobbit first will make it easier to get through LOTR's prologue, which also covers enough to get you through LOTR before reading the bit about the Rings in Sil. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

12-03-2001, 12:03 AM	#7
ringbearer Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St. Louis, Mo. USA Posts: 561	My favorite order is based on the fact that I had already read most of the material. __________________ Ringbearer Hide Witch, hide! The Good Folks come to burn thee! Their keen enjoyment hid behind A Gothic mask of duty!

12-01-2001, 03:19 PM	#2
emplynx Self-Appointed Lord of the Free Peoples of the General Messages Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,214	Read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings first. After that...?

12-01-2001, 03:26 PM	#3
blackrider Sapling Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Essex, England Posts: 8	thanks. i have already read hobbit and LoTR but i've only just come across the silmarillion and the middle-earth series. the silmarillion is supposed to come before the hobbit? or does it cover the whole of the "earths" past to future? Mark.

12-03-2001, 06:01 PM	#8
Bregalad, Ent of Fangorn Sapling Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fangorn Forest, Canada Posts: 10	I read the ooks starting with th whole LOTR series then the Hobbit then the unfinished tales of JRR. Tolkien, and finnaly The Silmarillion. And then followed by the tolkien companion.

12-03-2001, 06:03 PM	#9
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	Hobbit>LoTR>Sil>Unfinished Tales>HOME>other stuff __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

12-03-2001, 07:32 PM	#10
Thorondor Sapling Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: California Posts: 10	Bacchus has provided a good order, at least through the first four. Once you make it through Unfinished Tails you can pretty much dive in anywhere in the remaining works. You will also know a good deal more about Middle Earth than most Tolkien readers. Even though the Sil concerns the ages preceding the Hobbit and LOTR, resist the temptation to read it first. Enjoy the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and then, if you're completely taken with Middle Earth and the lore of the elves, tackle the Sil and other works.

12-04-2001, 06:13 PM	#11
Finglas Enting Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: here, there, everywhere Posts: 88	I agree with IronParrot. Hobbit>LotR>Sil>LotR again>'Other Stuff' For me reading LotR again after the Sil was very helpfull.

12-05-2001, 12:04 PM	#12
Selwythe Elven Warrior Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 221	I read in this order. LoTR Silmarillion HoME Hobbit __________________ If I say you have a beautiful body, will you hold it against me?

12-13-2001, 08:15 PM	#13
tbrad28 Hobbit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: traveling Middle Earth Posts: 26	Well I like to reading... the hobbit, LOTR, the Silmarillion, adn then the other books that he wrote

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