Silmarillion Companion Guide

[Varda-Me]

A long, long time ago, back in college, when I was going through my second Tolkien craze (the first was in high school), my mother bought me a used copy of The Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler. It really helped me get a lot more out of the book. I would like to know if there a similar book for The Silmarillion? I never did read The Silmarillion before now, and would appreciate something like the Companion to help me through it. Thanks!

[Ñólendil]

The best book you can buy for what you're looking for is The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster. It's the absolute best guide available for The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. Make sure it's the Complete guide, the revised edition.

[Bacchus]

Foster is indeed the best chronicler. Whatever you do, avoid David Day like the plague.

[Comic Book Guy]

Ñólendil, does Robert Foster's guide have support for HoME? I ask this because I know Christopher Tolkien used it when he was writing Unfinished Tales.

[Ñólendil]

I don't know what you mean. None of the HoMe books (or Unfinished Tales as you have perhaps guessed) had been published when the Guide was. Robert Foster's Guide is a Guide to The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

[Bacchus]

I have heard a rumor that a revised version was coming. I have absolutely no knowledge of the veracity of this.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I have heard conflicting reports on this Bacchus.

[Ñólendil]

I've seen the new edition of the Guide at Barnes & Nobles. It does not appear to have been revised at all.

[Earenya]

How many companions/guides are there? I have the original Tolkien Companion but it is from 1976 (I inherited it from Dad :)) Is there a newer version I should invest in?