A short review on "The Simarillon": A Detailed and Illustrated history of Tolkien's Middle Earth

Tolkien had created a great compelling world with a variety of intense characters. I met many of them for the first time in the "Lord of the Rings" series. Here there are far too many great characters to pen down. The characters like Hurin and his son Turin, Beren and Luthian, the Valars, Feanor and not to forget Morgoth or Melkor and his disciple Sauron are fantastically described and had been displayed in all their flavors. 
Mithrandir always has been my favorite and still it

IMAGE by http://greev.deviantart.com/art/Mithrandir-348547257

remains the same. Though I would love to read about all the characters far more than it is given here. These are only some of the immortal characters that one will come by in this book.

 

THE VALAR
Photo source: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/File:Tumblr_n2cn1tJpre1s3svhbo1_1280.png

The book gives us a rich set of tales that explain in minute details the mythology behind Tolkien’s fantasy world. The book seems to be telling in short the entire

MELKOR
Image by http://formenost.deviantart.com/art/Melkor-89869290

history of the Middle Earth or Arda.

Tolkien's descriptiveness of the experiences and scenery are picturesque (quite similar to The Lord of the Rings but short). There are much fiercer battles in the history which I think the readers would have loved to read in details. It would have been even better if we could have got it in the form of a novel like Lord of The Rings and Hobbits.  The books seemed to be more of a history book though full of stories appropriate for Novels.

This is a must read book for all the Middle Earth & LOTR Lovers.

The book primarily is comprised of 5 parts:

1. The Ainulindalë - the creation of Eä, Tolkien's universe
2. The Valaquenta - a brief description of the Valar and Maiar, the supernatural beings
3. The Quenta Silmarillion - the history of the events before and during the First Age
4. The Akallabêth - the history of the Second Age
5. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

In short let me jot down what one will get in this Tolkien creation:

• Ilúvatar, the creator
• The Beginning Days and the creation of Middle-

  

  Feanor against the lord of Balrogs
  Image by http://orig01.deviantart.net/0306/f/2015/307/e/6/feanor_against_the_lord_of_balrogs_by_evolvana-d9fdobn.jpg

  earth and the coming of the Ainurs or Valars, Elves, Men, Orcs and so on.
• Rise of Melkor(also known as Morgoth), the first Dark Lord, and the primordial source of evil in Eä, who was the mightiest among the Ainurs (“mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor”).
• The war of the Ainurs(Valars) and the captivity of Melkor
• Unchaining of Melkor and rise of Feanor(Elf), the High King of the Noldor
• Thingol "the tallest of all the Children of Ilúvatar”, the King of Doriath, High-king and Lord of Beleriand, War of Jewels between Thingol & Morgoth.
• The rise and fall of Noldor and their eternal struggle against Melkor, the valiant death of Feanor and his sons
• Coming of men and their flight to west to save themselves from darkness as Melkor was ruling in the East
• The grief-stricken story of Hurin and his son Turin

  

  City of Gondolin
  Photo Source: http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/images/img00005.gif

  Turambar, fall of Gondolin the great city of the Elves
• The war of Wrath and the banishment of Melkor, Middle-Earth at last became free of the shadow of darkness
• Rise of Sauron, the chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth (Melkor)
• The third age and the Rings of Power
• The Great war, defeat of Sauron, Mistake of Isildur

Isildur and the Ring of Power

This is where it all ends with the mistake of Isildur after which the story of the Hobbits begins. I have just mentioned the points there are lots more so do read it.

The Entire family tree mentined in Simarillion
Image by http://origamist.deviantart.com/art/The-Silmarillion-Family-Tree-135560649