The Sources of Lord of the Rings and The Children of Hurin by J.R.R.Tolkien, Series I: The Worm Ouroboros J.R.R. Tolkien's books did not come out of thin air. Tolkien, an academic linguist, drew on the following source materials to inspire him.
The Worm Ourorobos by E.R. Eddison is second only to the Lord of the Rings in the pantheon of 20th century English fantasy.
E.R. Eddison, who moved in the same literary circles as Tolkien, was praised by Tolkien as "The greatest and most convincing writer of 'invented worlds' that I have read."
The Worm Ouroboros is a thoroughly enjoyable book which will satisfy anyone who has finished the Lord of the Rings and wants to discover a new universe.