I think the article writer misses how much of it is really about The Silmarillion, rather than about Lord of the Rings. Tolkien put a lot of work into First Age geography, an entire (interminable, excruciating) chapter of The Silmarillion. Very little of it would be familiar to viewers of the films, and a lot of it opaque even to readers just of LotR.
Tolkien himself didnt “write” the Silmarillion the way people might assume. He spent decades writing and iterating on mythology, world building, creating languages. He had multiple versions of many stories and ideas, many drafts in various states, but he never pulled it all together into a single book or officially canon narrative.
After his death his son Christopher took on that monumental task, with great care and understanding of his father’s work. Combing through who knows how many mountains of notes, unfinished stories, and contradictions to create what we know as the Silmarillion. Tolkien himself often said of things in the LOTR canon “I don’t know” or something loke “I havent translated/uncovered that yet”. He looked at it all as if he was a literary archaeologist, translating passed down texts. So with that came lots of uncertainty and hearsay. The fact that his son tackled that, maintained that mystique, and created the Silmarillion is really exciting and lucky in my opinion. Good kid, I guess!
Some of the in–progress versions of the stories are quite hilarious. In the earliest drafts of the story of Beren and Luthien, Beren sets off to cut a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth and is more or less immediately captured by one of Morgoth’s lieutenants, Tevildo. Who is a talking cat. With a whole castle full of talking cats that mostly laze about on the terraces but occasionally waylay passersby and make them serve as scullery maids. Christopher Tolkien calls him “the appalling Tevildo”.
By many changes small and great Tolkien went from Tevildo, Prince of Cats to Sauron, Lord of the Rings. If you ever write a book, keep that in mind when you hesitate to cut or rewrite what seems like your best ideas.
I’ve read The Silmarillion easily more than 20 times and I swear Of Beleriand and its Realms gets longer every time I read it.
It could be replaced on first read with a decent map. Or even a mediocre map. Or nothing; you just don't need it.
I was a casual reader, but then I picked it up.
It was; it wasn't even published.
I think Tolkien appeals to people because it has the feel of mythology, legend and ancient history, but still is a literary creation which satifies modern need for logic and modern morality.
The article (almost) footnotes her other work which was equally impressive:
* She also created atlases for the worlds of fantasy authors Anne McCaffrey, creator of the “Dragonriders of Pern” series, and Stephen R. Donaldson, who wrote “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant” series.
I wonder quite frequently whether he had photos or views of actual places, or a strong and consistent imagination for each area, or perhaps just that this was something that mattered enough personally that he put in the detail where others did not.
the deverry series did come close, and to some extent the wheel of time books (though it's been a while since I read those).
I've heard of the Atlas of Middle Earth but never knew this amazing story behind it. Thanks for posting it, bookofjoe!
Also, really cool to know she did D&D maps too. Maps are just rad
Just ordered this book and can't wait to start reading LOTR again!
Map making is such an amazing skill.
If you do not consider these things, you get Monster Hotels and general ridiculousness. If it falls too close to reality, it is boring. At the same time, things can be Too Much. So, for my philosophy, you want the mountains to be taller and the valleys to be deeper ... but only sometimes. Spaces to breathe for the beleagured traveler, but then drips and splashes and slashes of Tolkien, The Black Company, and even a little whimsy to break it up.
Heartening to see amidst a time of attacks on higher education.
