The Silmarillion by tolkein

The Silmarillion

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The Lord of the Rings

Think of The Silmarillion as the prologue to The Lord of the Rings.

It tells how light was created, corrupted by Morgoth, and fought over—establishing the first great evil and the long history of resistance. From that chaos rises Morgoth’s servant, Sauron, who carries that same will to dominate into the later age.

By the time The Lord of the Rings begins, the world is smaller, quieter—but the conflict is the same: power versus humility, control versus sacrifice. The Silmarils held the pure light; the One Ring twists power into domination.

In one line: the ancient wars over stolen light become the final struggle over a single ring—same story, smaller stage, decisive ending.