Creation

J.R.R. Tolkien's primary professional goal throughout the course of his life was to create a whole world of myth, from characters to narrative to history to language. The texts that comprise The Lost Road and Other Writings show how Tolkien's conception of the broader mythology of his world developed from earlier ideas. Creation begins when Eru Iluvatar created the Ainur and brings them into (what was intended to be) an everlasting song. The song's harmony and beauty is broken by Melko; and while Iluvatar tries to turn Melko's disharmony into harmony, eventually he must stop the music. In the absence of the music, Iluvatar creates the world and some of the Ainur, what would come to be called the Valar, would enter the world, along with Melko. Some of the lesser Ainur, called the Vanimor and Valarindi would enter the world as well.

Iluvatar permitted the...