One of the primary focuses of this site is the book known as The Silmarillion. The book was published shortly after J.R.R. Tolkien's death by his son Christopher, and represents his attempt to turn some of his father's notes into a cohesive story.

Most people will be familiar with Professor Tolkien's better known works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, being unaware of the rich history and mythology that he created for Middle-earth before the former stories were even an idea. All throughout his adult life he worked on these tales, writing and rewriting them. His purpose was nothing less than to create a unique mythology for his native England, like yet unlike anything belonging to any other nation or culture. It is to our great misfortune that he never really finished these notes and published them, but through the efforts of Christopher over the last 30 years we are able to look into that world that Professor Tolkien imagined.

The Silmarillion was the first story published by Christopher. It consists of many of the stories that Professor Tolkien had written down over the years, editted together based on notes, conversations, and letters to provide a coherent narative of the history of Middle-earth before The Hobbit. Over the years Christopher has time and again returned to his father's extensive notes, with the result of more than a dozen other volumes being published. These books, known collectively as The History of Middle-earth or HoME, have been far less editted by Christopher, permitting us to look into the Professor's mind as he was conceiving the stories.

Elsewhere on this site, in the Written Works section, you will find more information about all of these books—The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and more. In the Discussion Forums you will find many conversations relating to all these stories as well as people who can tell you anything you want to know about them. The links below provide the opportunity to read numerous essays about these subjects as well as means to connect to other fans of Professor Tolkien's writing.

Why 'Valaquenta.com?'

The Account of the Valar, known in Elvish as the Valaquenta, is the second chapter of The Silmarillion. Coupled with the Ainulindale, it tells the story of the powers that shaped Arda, and through whose intervention the course of Tolkien's history was begun and guided. The Valaquenta gives us our first real look at the characteristics and personalities of the Valar themselves. Of course that just tells you what the Valaquenta is, not why I chose it for the name of this site.

I always found that chapter to be very interesting, dealing as it does with the gods and demi-gods of Arda (the world). Combined with the Ainulindale it sets the stage for everything that will happen, as well as giving you the beginning of the story. I'm very fond of beginnings. Additionally, I find it to be a compelling word, easy to say and remember, so it seemed to me to be an ideal name for a web site. Since that chapter was so important to the founding of this web site, I've provided the complete text of it through the link below.