The Silmarillion as it was published is very, very different from the pre-Hobbit writings that Tolkien had made, which are largely seen in Books I-III of the History of Middle Earth (Book of Lost Tales I and II and Lays of Beleriand). Calling that "The Silmarillion" is highly misleading at best.
As for the timing, the fact that Guy Gavriel Kay came in and helped finish the book explains how it came out quickly. After all, Brandon Sanderson got a book out pretty quickly after Robert Jordan's death.
Even looking at the later version of the Silmarillion published in the History of Middle Earth Series as Books XI and XII, it is clear that there was substantial editing by Kay and Christopher Tolkien.
As a result, I think the Silmarillion should be discounted (at least in its published form) as "Tolkien". It's "Tolkien plus his son Christopher plus Guy Gavriel Kay".
As for the timing, the fact that Guy Gavriel Kay came in and helped finish the book explains how it came out quickly. After all, Brandon Sanderson got a book out pretty quickly after Robert Jordan's death.
Even looking at the later version of the Silmarillion published in the History of Middle Earth Series as Books XI and XII, it is clear that there was substantial editing by Kay and Christopher Tolkien.
As a result, I think the Silmarillion should be discounted (at least in its published form) as "Tolkien". It's "Tolkien plus his son Christopher plus Guy Gavriel Kay".
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Tolkien as a sacred cow of fantasy
- 28/07/2010 10:02:39 PM
1914 Views
Nonsense, at least in part
- 28/07/2010 10:19:19 PM
1520 Views
I know there is a polite difference of opinion here
- 28/07/2010 10:40:42 PM
1287 Views
Have to agree.
- 28/07/2010 11:38:37 PM
1402 Views
It seemed to be that way with Harry Potter just when after it had started to get big.
- 29/07/2010 09:44:53 AM
1189 Views
*cough* Twilight *cough*
- 29/07/2010 10:15:13 AM
1271 Views
I was gonna mention that one too.
- 29/07/2010 10:35:17 AM
1363 Views
Mmm. I read an interesting article actually...
- 29/07/2010 08:24:04 PM
1140 Views
That's a fair point, I guess...
- 29/07/2010 09:18:13 PM
1377 Views
mmm, except it's relevant to Bella too.
- 29/07/2010 10:43:03 PM
1264 Views
That's my point, it's pretty much only relevant to Bella - only there is it shown prominently. *NM*
- 29/07/2010 10:59:54 PM
586 Views
Of course, since she's the main character, it matters rather a lot, yes? *NM*
- 30/07/2010 09:39:07 AM
571 Views
How much do you have to read to form an opinion?
- 29/07/2010 12:23:28 PM
1289 Views
To the end
- 29/07/2010 12:59:25 PM
1188 Views
my reading time is too scarce to think that way
- 29/07/2010 01:21:26 PM
1348 Views
I agree, but HP is a good example of something you should keep reading
- 29/07/2010 08:27:20 PM
1366 Views
and I will
- 29/07/2010 09:13:03 PM
1094 Views
The books mature as Harry does. You should really give it another shot *NM*
- 29/07/2010 03:00:37 PM
652 Views
He doesn't want to, so why should he? It's not like you or he is losing anything now
- 29/07/2010 06:15:58 PM
1159 Views
It is a case of the "someone is wrong on the internet" thing, only much older
- 29/07/2010 06:27:07 PM
1139 Views
well you have not failed completely
- 29/07/2010 06:50:15 PM
1120 Views
Re: well you have not failed completely
- 29/07/2010 06:53:38 PM
1160 Views
one quick question
- 29/07/2010 07:38:00 PM
1187 Views
how many books do I have to read to get to the grown up books?
- 29/07/2010 06:42:37 PM
1120 Views
None of them are "geared towards grown ups" - it's still a YA series.
- 29/07/2010 07:03:24 PM
1138 Views
They're all "light reading" for adults, geared towards YA readers.
- 29/07/2010 08:29:01 PM
1129 Views
Re: It seemed to be that way with Harry Potter just when after it had started to get big.
- 29/07/2010 08:45:58 PM
1257 Views
it's not supposed to be on par with adult fantasy.
- 29/07/2010 08:49:16 PM
1234 Views
I'd argue it's better than Jordan and others from a literary standpoint.
- 29/07/2010 09:14:07 PM
1184 Views
I have always thought Jordan had some interesting themes but they were often ignored...
- 29/07/2010 09:27:12 PM
1354 Views
I agree Tolkien should not be a sacred cow or put on a pedestal overmuch.
- 28/07/2010 11:10:37 PM
1328 Views
I completely agree that there should be no sacred cows, and that applies to Tolkien.
- 28/07/2010 11:13:39 PM
1249 Views
all art forms have sacred cows
- 29/07/2010 01:38:26 AM
1323 Views
Yeah, it was the line about women waiting at home while their men went to war that made me laugh.
- 29/07/2010 06:44:34 PM
1195 Views
Disappointing.
- 29/07/2010 04:41:34 AM
1299 Views
I think you are ignoring the key fact that the Silmarillion was never published by Tolkien.
- 30/07/2010 01:48:14 PM
1503 Views
The Silmarillion was actually one of Tolkien's first works
- 30/07/2010 06:12:31 PM
1622 Views
No it wasn't.
- 30/07/2010 06:37:19 PM
1302 Views
I find the Tolkien lovers to be obnoxious in their never ending masturbatory praise of his works.
- 30/07/2010 06:09:42 AM
1324 Views