[j. d. worthington]

While the bulk of Tolkien's fictional work is related (there are exceptions, such as "Leaf by Niggle", "Farmer Giles of Ham", "Smith of Wootton Major", etc.) it isn't necessarily through character connections, but as a history of Arda. The Silmarillion (not the best place for most Tolkien newbies to start) actually begins with the creation of Arda, gives the major tales of the First Age, and a brief overview of the others. Unfinished Tales has longer, more developed versions of tales from the First Age (though, as the title says, incomplete), as well as some wonderful tales from the Second and Third Ages (the Second Age tales add a lot to an understanding of the complexities behind the Third Age). And so on....