Sillymarillion vs. Sellamillion - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-30-2005, 07:16 AM

A parody of the Silmarillion? No, two of them! Independently of each other, two authors wrote these, one an American, the other British. Both were published in 2004; I bought and read both this summer. For those who are interested, I'll compare them briefly and hope that those of you who have read one and/or the other will join in.

The Sillymarillion, by D. R. Lloyd, is the type of parody that sticks fairly closely to the original work, deriving most of its humour from parodic names and twisted details of the events. Readers can recognize the original characters despite the changes.

The Sellamillion, by A. R. R. R. (actually, Adam) Roberts, also uses parody names for persons and places, but changes the story so that it is not precisely parallel to the original. The further the tale goes, the more it veers away from the book on which it is based.

There are some similarities, inevitably, since they're based on the same book. For example, both use the name "Blearyland" for Beleriand, which is a coincidence, I'm sure. "Morgoth" becomes "Mostgoth" in one book, "Moregothic" in the other. Both contain a map with amusing location names.

There are even amusing similarities to some posts in the second part of our own parody RPG, The Reunification of the Entish Bow - The Saucepan Man and Mithadan, especially, have produced excellent Sil parody posts! Lloyd's book picks up on the same idea of making the Valar beach dude-type characters.

So which of the two would I recommend? Well, only the Elves' "yes and no" answer will serve - it all depends on which style you prefer. Both are amusing to read, each has some strengths and weaknesses that the other does not have - and since they originate in two different countries, with their linguistic differences, you may not understand some references. But then, that's part of the nature of parody; there will be plenty of chuckles in either book for anyone who enjoys reading parody!

Here are links for more information about both books:

The Sillymarillion
The Sellamillion

Bêthberry · 04-05-2013, 07:37 PM

I have remembered this thread all these years. Pity I never got back to posting about it.

Belegorn · 06-14-2013, 10:46 AM

Looks interesting. I never knew about this stuff.

Mithalwen · 06-14-2013, 11:57 PM

I haven't read this but Adam Roberts was a speaker at the event at the British Library for the Hobbit anniversary laat year.

07-30-2005, 07:16 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Sillymarillion vs. Sellamillion A parody of the Silmarillion? No, two of them! Independently of each other, two authors wrote these, one an American, the other British. Both were published in 2004; I bought and read both this summer. For those who are interested, I'll compare them briefly and hope that those of you who have read one and/or the other will join in. The Sillymarillion, by D. R. Lloyd, is the type of parody that sticks fairly closely to the original work, deriving most of its humour from parodic names and twisted details of the events. Readers can recognize the original characters despite the changes. The Sellamillion, by A. R. R. R. (actually, Adam) Roberts, also uses parody names for persons and places, but changes the story so that it is not precisely parallel to the original. The further the tale goes, the more it veers away from the book on which it is based. There are some similarities, inevitably, since they're based on the same book. For example, both use the name "Blearyland" for Beleriand, which is a coincidence, I'm sure. "Morgoth" becomes "Mostgoth" in one book, "Moregothic" in the other. Both contain a map with amusing location names. There are even amusing similarities to some posts in the second part of our own parody RPG, The Reunification of the Entish Bow - The Saucepan Man and Mithadan, especially, have produced excellent Sil parody posts! Lloyd's book picks up on the same idea of making the Valar beach dude-type characters. So which of the two would I recommend? Well, only the Elves' "yes and no" answer will serve - it all depends on which style you prefer. Both are amusing to read, each has some strengths and weaknesses that the other does not have - and since they originate in two different countries, with their linguistic differences, you may not understand some references. But then, that's part of the nature of parody; there will be plenty of chuckles in either book for anyone who enjoys reading parody! Here are links for more information about both books: The Sillymarillion The Sellamillion __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 07-30-2005 at 07:23 AM.

04-05-2013, 07:37 PM	#2
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	I have remembered this thread all these years. Pity I never got back to posting about it. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

06-14-2013, 10:46 AM	#3
Belegorn Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Henneth Annûn, Ithilien Posts: 462	Looks interesting. I never knew about this stuff. __________________ "For believe me: the secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is - to live dangerously!" - G.S.; F. Nietzsche

06-14-2013, 11:57 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I haven't read this but Adam Roberts was a speaker at the event at the British Library for the Hobbit anniversary laat year. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace