Who has read all the HoME? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morgoth Bauglir · 07-27-2002, 03:59 PM

i dont have too much money right now, but i was wondering if the books are insightful and are worth the read. what do they talk about?no one has really ever told me, so all help is appreciated, thanks.

obloquy · 07-27-2002, 04:07 PM

They're mostly about robots and animal cloning. I wouldn't bother with them if I were you.

Morgoth Bauglir · 07-27-2002, 04:22 PM

ha...thats funny

i was wondering what they tell you thats not in the lotr silm or Unfinished tales...

ive heard they are the first ideas tolkien had or something.

[ July 27, 2002: Message edited by: Morgoth Bauglir ]

Mhoram · 07-27-2002, 07:35 PM

lol oblo.

Dude, pick up HoME X

07-28-2002, 01:15 AM

HoME's basically a collection of Tolkien's early ideas and concepts of ME, unpublished stories and background notes on Frodo's journey.I found it a bit long (Tolkien had one heck of an imagination [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] ) so I just dipped in to the parts that I could understand, but it's definately worth reading if you have the time and patience [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Maédhros · 07-28-2002, 09:46 PM

What you can do is start by reading volume X, Morgoth's Ring and then The War of the Jewels.
Or you can go to the BOLT and read the Fall of Gondolin which is just amazing.

obloquy · 07-28-2002, 10:20 PM

The most essential volumes of HoMe are IV, V, X, XI, and XII. Volumes IV and V -- The Shaping of Middle-earth and The Lost Road -- contain the earliest sketches of the 'Silmarillion' mythology, including the first Quenta Silmarillion. These lay the framework for the later books, X, XI, and XII -- Morgoth's Ring, War of the Jewels, and The Peoples of Middle-earth -- which provide the latest Silmarillion revisions and entirely new, fascinating pieces.

The Books of Lost Tales are good reading, but too obsolete to shed any light on Middle-earth. Still, The Fall of Gondolin is incredible, as is The Nauglafring (which is, if I'm not mistaken, the only complete account by JRRT of the Fall of Doriath). Volume III provides lots of fantastic poetry, though they're all unfinished.

Volumes VI through IX are boring as crap.

Here's a useful page: Mellonath Daeron.

[ July 29, 2002: Message edited by: obloquy ]

Galorme · 07-29-2002, 03:11 AM

The Lays of Belieriand (Book Three i think) is amazing. If, like me, you enjoy Tolkien's work in a more artistic way, rather than a set of academic texts, then the Lays, which includes The Lay of Leithian (Release from Bondage) and the Lay of the Children of Húrin, will appeal to you. While they add very little to what is said in the Narn and the Sil, it is great to hear the stories told in a poetic way.

And that is what most of the HoMe is, retelling the same stories from different perspectives and different ideas. You can tell what kind of reader you are by the books you liked best. I liked 9 for the Notion Club Papers, but a lot of people didn't like it as it didn't add anything to the mythology. I liked the Lost Tales as they tell detailed and beautiful stories, but a number of people didn't like them as they were so old the information they held was pretty much invalid.

Basically I could recommend all of the histories, but 6,7,8 and the first 3rd of 9 is entirely retelling the LoTRs in different ways and showing the development of the 2nd and 3rd ages, so read it only if you would be willing to re-read LoTRs.

07-27-2002, 03:59 PM	#1
Morgoth Bauglir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 252	Who has read all the HoME? i dont have too much money right now, but i was wondering if the books are insightful and are worth the read. what do they talk about?no one has really ever told me, so all help is appreciated, thanks.

07-28-2002, 09:46 PM	#6
Maédhros The Kinslayer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Formenos Posts: 658	What you can do is start by reading volume X, Morgoth's Ring and then The War of the Jewels. Or you can go to the BOLT and read the Fall of Gondolin which is just amazing. __________________ "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy."

07-29-2002, 03:11 AM	#8
Galorme Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London Posts: 337	The Lays of Belieriand (Book Three i think) is amazing. If, like me, you enjoy Tolkien's work in a more artistic way, rather than a set of academic texts, then the Lays, which includes The Lay of Leithian (Release from Bondage) and the Lay of the Children of Húrin, will appeal to you. While they add very little to what is said in the Narn and the Sil, it is great to hear the stories told in a poetic way. And that is what most of the HoMe is, retelling the same stories from different perspectives and different ideas. You can tell what kind of reader you are by the books you liked best. I liked 9 for the Notion Club Papers, but a lot of people didn't like it as it didn't add anything to the mythology. I liked the Lost Tales as they tell detailed and beautiful stories, but a number of people didn't like them as they were so old the information they held was pretty much invalid. Basically I could recommend all of the histories, but 6,7,8 and the first 3rd of 9 is entirely retelling the LoTRs in different ways and showing the development of the 2nd and 3rd ages, so read it only if you would be willing to re-read LoTRs. __________________ Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! The day has come! Behold people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!

07-27-2002, 04:07 PM	#2
obloquy Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: WA Posts: 939	They're mostly about robots and animal cloning. I wouldn't bother with them if I were you.

07-27-2002, 04:22 PM	#3
Morgoth Bauglir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 252	ha...thats funny i was wondering what they tell you thats not in the lotr silm or Unfinished tales... ive heard they are the first ideas tolkien had or something. [ July 27, 2002: Message edited by: Morgoth Bauglir ]

07-27-2002, 07:35 PM	#4
Mhoram Dead and Loving It Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The land of fast cars and loud guitars. Posts: 361	lol oblo. Dude, pick up HoME X

07-28-2002, 01:15 AM	#5
Laureaelin Guest Posts: n/a	HoME's basically a collection of Tolkien's early ideas and concepts of ME, unpublished stories and background notes on Frodo's journey.I found it a bit long (Tolkien had one heck of an imagination [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] ) so I just dipped in to the parts that I could understand, but it's definately worth reading if you have the time and patience [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

07-28-2002, 10:20 PM	#7
obloquy Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: WA Posts: 939	The most essential volumes of HoMe are IV, V, X, XI, and XII. Volumes IV and V -- The Shaping of Middle-earth and The Lost Road -- contain the earliest sketches of the 'Silmarillion' mythology, including the first Quenta Silmarillion. These lay the framework for the later books, X, XI, and XII -- Morgoth's Ring, War of the Jewels, and The Peoples of Middle-earth -- which provide the latest Silmarillion revisions and entirely new, fascinating pieces. The Books of Lost Tales are good reading, but too obsolete to shed any light on Middle-earth. Still, The Fall of Gondolin is incredible, as is The Nauglafring (which is, if I'm not mistaken, the only complete account by JRRT of the Fall of Doriath). Volume III provides lots of fantastic poetry, though they're all unfinished. Volumes VI through IX are boring as crap. Here's a useful page: Mellonath Daeron. [ July 29, 2002: Message edited by: obloquy ]