The Silmarillion
Christopher Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien
Readers rate it 4.0 (1.2K on Hardcover)
386 pages · Released Sep 3, 2026 · Houghton Mifflin
Content report card
The Silmarillion parent’s guide: what’s inside
Language
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
A note for parents
The Silmarillion is a dense, mythology-like collection of creation myths and ancient histories set in Tolkien's Middle Earth. While not graphically violent, it contains battles, betrayals, and dark themes including curses, corruption, and tragic fates that align more with classical mythology than accessible fantasy. The prose is archaic and scholarly, making it challenging for younger readers; it rewards mature readers who appreciate complex worldbuilding and philosophical reflection over character-driven narrative.
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From the publisher
A number-one New York Times bestseller when it was originally published, The Silmarillion is the core of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing, a work whose origins stretch back to a time long before The Hobbit. A number-one New York Times bestseller when it was originally published, The Silmarillion is the core of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing, a work whose origins stretch back to a time long before The Hobbit.
Shelved under
- Weak Character Development
- Plot driven
- Unloveable Characters
- Diverse Characters
- Not Diverse Characters
- Loveable Characters
- A mix driven
- fantasy
- classics
- fiction
- Adventurous
- challenging
Books in the Middle Earth series
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ISBN 9780618391110 · Houghton Mifflin