Well, I haven't read the Silmarillion, but I did a report on Tolkien a while back. What I got about it at the time was that it's a really good book. The stories are great. It's a great world and setting and collection of events. The writing, however, is hard to get through. It's written, at least in the beginning, like it's a poor translation. Many people say it reads like the Bible.

So, it's a good book, if you can stand the writing.

I wouldn't reccomend it over any Dragonlance book.

Oh, and if you like Douglas Adams, which it seems you might by having his books, get Tea Time. It's great.

What is it they say about silence being golden?