Να που βρήκα και Τόλκιν να με κουράσει, μετά από 20 χρόνια που είμαι θαυμαστής του.
Ένα βιβλίο που σε υπνωτίζει γρηγορότερα κι από Xanax ή Νοοτρόπ.
O χειρότερός μου Τόλκιν μέχρι στιγμής.

Όταν φυσικά λέω ο χειρότερος το εννοώ φυσικά σε σύγκριση με τα άλλα βιβλία του Τόλκιν, που είναι όλα βιβλία 5 και 4 αστέρων.
Άρα είναι πολύ καλύτερο βιβλίο από πολλά άλλα βιβλία που δεν ανήκουν στον Τόλκιν.


Ένας λόγος που δεν μου άρεσε το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο ήταν η εξαιρετικά μικροσκοπική γραμματοσειρά και ο αργός ρυθμός της ιστορίας.

Η γραμματοσειρά ήταν τόσο μικροσκοπική που μου έπαιρνε 4 λεπτά για να ολοκληρώσω μια σελίδα.
Με άλλα λόγια 40 λεπτά για 10 σελίδες και 1 ώρα για μόλις 15 σελίδες!
Αυτό επηρεάζει ψυχολογικά τον αναγνώστη.
Νιώθεις ότι δεν σημειώνεις καμία πρόοδο και δεν ανυπομονείς για μια ακόμη σελίδα που μοιάζει σαν να σκαρφαλώνεις το Βουνό του Χαμού χωρίς παπούτσια.

Επιπλέον, όταν δεν σε συνεπαίρνει ούτε η ιστορία, τα πράγματα χειροτερεύουν.
Μια ιστορία που ασχολείται με την Κοσμογονία και τη Θεογονία της Μέσης Γης. Θέματα πολύ απομακρυσμένα και απόμακρα την ίδια στιγμή από τον άνθρωπο αναγνώστη.

Αυτό που διάβασα θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε ότι είναι μια έκδοση Beta του Σιλμαρίλλιον.
Είναι τρεις φορές μεγαλύτερη και έχει πολλές ασυνέπειες στην πλοκή, με ονόματα, τοπωνύμια, και ιστορικά στοιχεία που δεν υπάρχουν στο δημοσιευμένο Σιλμαρίλλιον, με αποτέλεσμα να είναι πολύ, μα πάρα πολύ πιο αργή.


Έχω την ελπίδα πάντως πως οι υπόλοιποι τόμοι της δωδεκάτομης Ιστορίας της Μέσης Γης θα είναι πιο ενδιαφέροντες, ελκυστικοί, και φιλικοί προς τον αναγνώστη, ειδικά το κομμάτι που διαδραματίζεται στην Τρίτη Εποχή, την αγαπημένη μου Εποχή.
Αλλά αυτό δεν θα συμβεί πριν από τον τόμο 5.
Οψόμεθα!

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Χαρακτήρες: 4/10
Γραφή: 8/10
Αναγνωσιμότητα: 4/10 
Εμπειρία: 6/10
Ιστορία: 5/10
Σύνολο: 5.4--> 2.7 stars ★★★

Rating: 3 stars

The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1 is a great book to read before going to sleep, not because it was mind numbingly boring that you can't keep your eyes open after reading a couple pages, but because Tolkien's writing style is so calming. That being said, one really needs to grasp the earlier stories, because the vast majority flow on directly (so much so that they could barely be called separate tales). Not sure when exactly, but I will be getting to Part 2 sometime in the future.

Auch wenn ich für den Band verhältnismäßig lang gebraucht habe, bedeutet das nicht, dass ich keinen Spaß hatte. Vielmehr hat er so viel Inhalt, dass ich nicht zu viel auf einmal lesen konnte.
Sicherlich nur für Leute interessant, die die Geschichten im Silmarillion mochten und vor allem mehr zu Tolkiens Schaffungsprozessen wissen möchten. Ich bin beim Lesen so tief abgetaucht, dass es mir tatsächlich vorkam, als würde ich ein richtiges historisches Buch lesen. Mittelerde und Co. sind für mich nochmal um ein Vielfaches gewachsen <3

Per leggere questa raccolta deve prima essere piaciuto il Silmarillion.
Potremmo definire questo libro (e immagino anche il successivo) un approfondimento delle ricerche, gli studi di Tokien prima di arrivare alla bozza finale del Silmarillion (la Bibbia degli scritti della Terra di Mezzo).

L'ho trovato davvero interessante vedere come le varie storie e dinamiche del Silmarillion e non solo si sono evolute o sono cambiate negli anni nella testa di Tolkien.
Personalmente non l'ho trovato pesante o noioso (anzi!), ma ammetto di avere una venerazione per gli scritti di Tolkien.

Lo consiglio agli appassionati del genere.

This book, the first in the 12-volume History of Middle Earth series, is not a book for the casual Tolkien reader. In this book, Christopher Tolkien - the Professor's son - gathers together his father's notes, and presents tales from the earliest period of Middle Earth. Earliest in both being the very early days of Middle Earth, and early in being very early in Tolkien's career - most of these come from the early 1920s and before. Much of this formed the basis for the stories that were eventually included in The Silmarillion.

By necessity, Christopher Tolkien has provided extensive editorial notes. There are certainly sections where we get the beauty of Tolkien's prose, but Christopher has had to piece together these stories from drafts and re-worked drafts and notes to provide some coherence, so the book in many places does read a bit like a history text - which doesn't make it any less interesting.

If you loved Lord of the Rings, and enjoyed The Silmarillion, and want to delve deeper into Middle Earth, give this series a go. But if you found The Silmarillion a tough read, or a bit dry, be prepared to find this the same, but more so. Really, only recommended for hardcore Tolkien fans.

Early version of the Silmarillion, the focus being the episodes regarding the Valar and Valinor. Covers the story of creation, the fiefdoms of the Valar, the arrival of the Eldar and the flight of the Noldor, and ends with the discovery of Men. Corresponds well with the Silmarillion's version except for extraneous details. Prodigious pages are notes by Christopher Tolkien. Plot events are moving, dramatic or humorous at turns but are swaddled by thick swatches of setting descriptions or laborious high epic / high fantasy vocabulary, which depending on personal taste can be an additional appeal or additional Herculean labor of reading the book. The audience that abides with this book to the end can be somewhat limited.

I do not understand low reviews for this book at all. If you're in this deep, you know what you're in for: a literary analysis of the first half of an abandoned rough draft that was later repurposed and rewritten into a dense mythological history that was initially rejected for publication. And that is exactly what you get. Character names shift, contradictions in the lore arise; it's still all very early stuff.

And that's what's so cool about it. There are very few worlds as intricately thought out as Tolkien's Middle Earth and this book allows interested readers to get in on the ground floor of the early planning with Christopher Tolkien as your thoughtful guide. Is all of the material included always top notch? Of course not! It's an abandoned rough draft. Even Chris Tolkien comments on how long winded sections are or how the best stories aren't even in this volume. What you do get, though, is a very thoughtful look at mythology building and the ways that legends shift in the telling, even when it is only one person telling them. I loved it.

So if you've read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion and are looking to take a deep dive into Professor Tolkien's mythology and how it evolved in his writings then The Book of Lost Tales, Part One is for you. If you were put off by The Silmarillion then don't even give this a try.

In one sentence - I'm fascinated. This book is real gem and beacon to all blurred and unclear parts in the final version of The Silmarillion. This book is missing link to onset of Tolkien's creation of his own mythology. It's all about Valar and their deeds in creation of Arda. Also, Valar and their traits are much more developed than in The Silmarillion (but many details from The Silmarillion are unmentioned or were unknown then). Special part is devoted to Sun and Moon creation, after darkening of the Valinor, and of its hiding. From those tales, I finally found the origin and learnt about creation of the Door of Night, and Gates of Morn. Also, I recognized many Tolkien's inspirations from Norse mythology that he wove into this tales (e.g. when Orome created rainbow-bridge, or when Vanna cut off her hair for Gods to weave sails and ropes for the boat of Sun etc.).

This book is like a window into Tolkien's amazing mind. I really enjoyed it, and some of the tales were absolutely fascinating! I appreciated the commentary by Christopher Tolkien, though it was long in places. Overall, a great book for any ardent Middle-Earth fan. :)

The History of the Middle Earth was put together by Christopher Tolkien, JRR's son. The effort involved sifting through his fathers notes and organizing them, which in itself is a difficult task. Oft time names were changed from story to story and Christopher had to decipher outlines and light pencil markings. In many a case we have just outlines and scant poems thrown around. But this is the backstory to the Simarrilion. This is where Middle Earth according to Tolkien was created. The story line that comes out of this work is the same as that of Simarillion save that you will notice that names are different and there are multiple versions of the stories told. Look at the Simarrillion as the finished product. Bear in mind that as I give you the summary I will not remember most of the names the language is difficult to work with. More over I wish to add in that at the end of each tale Christopher Tolkien included some notes. This at times helped clarify things and at other times it was rather confusing to read.

Eriol, who was touched by the light of Earendel, is touched with a penchant for wandering. His marine adventures land him on the Lost Isle of Tol Erresea. While sojourning there he ends up befriending a goodly number of Elven folk. Going through the town he comes to the capital city of Kothirion which is named after the city of Kor in Valinor. It is there that Eriol comes to the Cottage of Lost play. To enter he must allow himself to become smaller. The Cottage is host to nightly gathering and revelry of story telling. Vaire and Lindo the hosts tell Eriol the history of the Middle Earth like his human ears have never heard before. Rumil tells him even more stories. At one point Eriol wishes to drink of the "Limpe" an elven drink that will give him elven immortality. but first he must hear from Queen Meril. To drink the Limpe is to side with elves until the end of time even if it means going against humans. Eriol becomes hesitant.

In the beginning Illuvatar created the Ainur and the rest of the universe by making music. Once the Ainur were created they were inputted a story and taught to make music. They make music and create the universe with Illuvatar. Illuvatar makes mansions and dwelling in the astral level for the ainur, but lurking in the outer reaches corrupting everything is Melkor.
Illuvatr though is able to counter Melkor. Eventually the Ainur stop making music and see the world they have created. It arda. Melkor with is dark designs goes down the arda in order to corrupt it. Several ainur choose to descend to Arada despite Illuvatar's not wanting them to. They descend.

They explore this twilight world and end up creating the Island of Valinor. This is done to give the Valar a home and as a defense against Melkor. As Melkor corrupts the planet with destructing and foul created beings. The Valar confront him. Tulkas a mighty warrior does not trust him, There is not fight at this point but Melkor is wily. He agree to taking Holy light and creating two poles of if to light up the Arda. Later when the Valar have crafted their hall, Melkor destroy the light. What is left is gather into two fountain called Kullkillion and Talimpe. From these two trees grow, called Laurelin Talpion. Gold and silver light they give off. Melkor still continues with his reign of destruction. This leads to a conflict where in Manwe and Tulkas fight and deceive Melkor. They chain him up for a period time and leave him in the Halls of Mando. (Sounds like the Loki story)

With the birth of the elves the Valar are happy. Simultaneously the Valar send someone to lead the first emissaries to Valinor. the three elves go back and Orome leads them through the Great Land to the shores of the West were Ulmo transports them on an island (which Tol Erresea). THe three families of elves are brought over. Some do get lost in the Great lands. At the same time Melkor is unchained a bit early and is put into the service of Tulkas. There are three families of elves the Noldori,Solimposi and the Teleri. The Teleri will learn poetry from Manwe, the Noldori will learn smithcrafting from Aule and the Solimposi become music makers on the shores.

Tol Erressea used to be Ose's island. Ose is a servant of Ulmo, the sea lord. When Ose anchors the Tol Erresea to the sea floor and stopping it's use this develops a mini feud. Some Solimposi remain on the island and play music with sea shells. Ose also teaches them how to ride swans and how to build ships. Ulmo uses this later to lead them to Valinor.

Unchaining Melkor might not have been such a great idea. he made some nasty friends down in Mandos and while in valinor he is prone to spreading vicious lies. He turns the Noldori and the Valar against each other. During a celebration Melkor and Ungoliant, a giant spider from the south, steal into Valinor and kill the two trees. Ungoliant drink the light from them. The silmarillion are also stolen. The Noldori are angry, under the leadership of feanor they head to Middle Earth, stealing ship from the Solimposi they flee Valinor.

The further tales recount the creation of the sun and moon and the concealment of Valinor. The book finishes off with the battle of tears. A battle where men and Avari elves goe against Melkor. The men learn to speak from an elf named Nuin. For those hard core Tolkien fans this book is a must read. I liked the Simarrillion better but this gives you the inside look at a subcreated universe.

I've been wanting to start this massive series, The History of Middle-Earth, for a long, long time. Because as anyone knows, I bloody love Tolkien and Middle-Earth.

However, it took me a while to start, mostly because I don't have more than the first two books yet and I have a feeling that I'll be wanting to read book 3 right after I finish book 1.

Now, book 1.

If you have read The Silmarillion, you'll know that it is largely the story of the elves, their origins and such. Way, way before the events of our beloved The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. And if you have read Silmarilion, you'll find that you might recognise the stories in this book, as they would later become The Silmarillion -- along with part II.

This book offers an insight into the crafting of the massive and historically intricate universe that is Middle-Earth. And as such, I can't help but like it. Even if I might prefer the eventual "finished" stories of The Silmarillion.

For more thoughts on Lost Tales, you can check out my review of Part II, here.
Also reviewed together on my blog Bookish Love Affair.