Is Sauron a minion?

[Sam Vimes]

Since reading through Lord of the Rings for the first time (up to the last book now). I've noticed that some wording in the book mentioned that Sauron was merely a emissary or servant for some greater overlord. Was wondering what everyone else's views were on this, as Tolkien could of been working on a sequel for the Middle Earth series but passed away before he could finish or begin it.

Yes, Sauron was the minion of Morgoth Bauglir (Aka Melkor). Who was the supreme bad guy in Tolkiens Middle-Earth series. You wouldn't really be familiar with him, unless you read the book the Silmarillion, which at times can read sort of like the bible. But, it's pretty good, most of the battles/wars iterated within, are like Gods fighting each other.

Btw, Shelob was also the daughter of an even more nasty Spider, The Ungoliant.

Or "the tales of Middle-Earth" series (I translated the name from the french so it might be a bit different in english) wich are a lot more interesting because it's about telling stories, not about making the encyclopoedia universalis of Ëa...

 

[Darth_Dude]

Nobody knows what Tom Bombadil is. At the very least, I believe he was there before the elves came.

I remember reading somewhere that he is the physical form of middle-earth or something.

 

[imnot]

Sauron was a minion of the 1st dark lord Morgoth

Morgoth was (like Satan) orginally an an Ainur (think Angel) called Melkor in the sevice of Eru (God) before he caused a schism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgoth

why does everyone in LotR have confusing names!
i think i remember seeing something about him bieng a minion when i read it a few months ago.

 

[Doclector]

Yes, he was a minion. To this guy:

Spoiler

 

[Sam Vimes]

Since reading through Lord of the Rings for the first time (up to the last book now). I've noticed that some wording in the book mentioned that Sauron was merely a emissary or servant for some greater overlord. Was wondering what everyone else's views were on this, as Tolkien could of been working on a sequel for the Middle Earth series but passed away before he could finish or begin it.

Yes, Sauron was the minion of Morgoth Bauglir (Aka Melkor). Who was the supreme bad guy in Tolkiens Middle-Earth series. You wouldn't really be familiar with him, unless you read the book the Silmarillion, which at times can read sort of like the bible. But, it's pretty good, most of the battles/wars iterated within, are like Gods fighting each other.

Btw, Shelob was also the daughter of an even more nasty Spider, The Ungoliant.

Or "the tales of Middle-Earth" series (I translated the name from the french so it might be a bit different in english) wich are a lot more interesting because it's about telling stories, not about making the encyclopoedia universalis of Aria...

Nice, I'll have to take a look at that, it must've flown under my radar (That and the Silmarillion was in my step-father's personal library when I was growing up, but I don't recall seeing this one). It was definitely worth reading though (The Silmarillion), especially imaginging the scope of what Tolkien's universe encompassed.

Thanks for the heads up btw, I really appreciate that.

Damn that's a shitload of quotes...
Anyway, if you're not familiar with the other books about Middle-Earth you should really check out The Children of Hurin (this time I'm sure about the title) wich was released by Tolkien number 2 like three years ago but written by daddy... anyway it's really really great, fascinating, enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed The Hobbit...

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

Damn that's a shitload of quotes...
Anyway, if you're not familiar with the other books about Middle-Earth you should really check out The Children of Hurin (this time I'm sure about the title) wich was released by Tolkien number 2 like three years ago but written by daddy... anyway it's really really great, fascinating, enjoyed it as musc as I enjoyed The Hobbit...

It's damn depressing though. I had to eat some trifle afterwards to cheer myself up.

 

[Dark2003]

he's a minion, everybody has a boss

 

[Sam Vimes]

Damn that's a shitload of quotes...
Anyway, if you're not familiar with the other books about Middle-Earth you should really check out The Children of Hurin (this time I'm sure about the title) wich was released by Tolkien number 2 like three years ago but written by daddy... anyway it's really really great, fascinating, enjoyed it as musc as I enjoyed The Hobbit...

It's damn depressing though. I had to eat some trifle afterwards to cheer myself up.

Yeah, well... Yeah. But damn good book.

 

[Nocta-Aeterna]

Nobody knows what Tom Bombadil is. At the very least, I believe he was there before the elves came.

I remember reading somewhere that he is the physical form of middle-earth or something.

That does make sense, especially since Middle Earth has been dimming for eaons and Bombadil now only has power within a very small area.

Is it just me, or do the stories of Middle Earth become more and more depressing with better understanding?

 

[Gabanuka]

Sauron was Moroth AKA The Evil Dark Lord Of Everything 's *****, then He kills him (in his sleep I think) and assumes direct control of the empire (dont quote me on that, haven't read The Silmarillion in ages)

 

[Lucifron]

As many others have pointed out, Sauron was a servant to Melkor.
I shall point you towards this;

Sauron & Morgoth​

+20 internets for Blind Guardian!

Anyone who's read the LotR trilogy should definitely pick the Silmarillion. It explains absolutely everything there is to know about the backstory, and it's a bloody awesome read to boot. Sweet lawd! If they ever made a movie out of that...

 

[Woodsey]

If it's from the Silmarillion then I don't want to know.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Nobody knows what Tom Bombadil is. At the very least, I believe he was there before the elves came.

I remember reading somewhere that he is the physical form of middle-earth or something.

That does make sense, especially since Middle Earth has been dimming for eaons and Bombadil now only has power within a very small area.

Is it just me, or do the stories of Middle Earth become more and more depressing with better understanding?

It actually becomes pure awesome because there is so much in the backstory that we whom try to create our own fantasy world can use.

As many others have pointed out, Sauron was a servant to Melkor.
I shall point you towards this;

Sauron & Morgoth​

+20 internets for Blind Guardian!

Anyone who's read the LotR trilogy should definitely pick the Silmarillion. It explains absolutely everything there is to know about the backstory, and it's a bloody awesome read to boot. Sweet lawd! If they ever made a movie out of that...

If they made a movie about Silmarilion, I bet they'd wreck it.
The LOTR movies are good, but when you've spoken to someone whom actually read the books, you suddenly realize that they've taken a huge liberty with the movie and basically half-butchered LOTR :/

Yes they did take a lot of liberty with the movies... BUT movies and books have different codes wich you have to obey to make your audience interesting in what you have created. It is okay in a book about an oddissey to spend chapters and chapters about random strange encounters in the wild like Bombadil or the elven rangers wich names I can't remember... But you can't spend the same amount of hours in a movie !! I mean come on, the movies are already 4 hours long !
I give a lot of credit to Peter Jackson for the way he made the Shire, Rivendell, the Moria... live and believable... And the cast is very well chosen too, Viggo Mortensen is not acting like Aragorn, HE IS Aragorn !
So yeah, the movies are far more epic than the books, yes there's some stupid scenes like the drinking contest scene in The Return Of The King that are not interesting at all, but that doesn't change the fact that the Lotr movies are seriously awesome. And that's from a Tolkien fan-boy

 

[Fithakk]

Sauron was a minion of the 1st dark lord Morgoth

Morgoth was (like Satan) orginally an an Ainur (think Angel) called Melkor in the sevice of Eru (God) before he caused a schism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgoth

I'd post my own answer but this is the most concise and accurate answer here. Good work!
(And I read The Silmarillion every year since I was 13...)

 

[Blue Musician]

I would say yes and no, as he was a Minion of Morgoth, but the events of LOTR make me think he wasn't at that time, since Morgoth didn't make an appearance...