J.R.R Tolkien passed away in 1973 18 years after The Return of the King was published. During these 18 years he didn't stop working on his universe of Middle Earth. After he died his son Christopher Tolkien gained the rights to publish under his father's name. All of these books were gathered by Christopher Tolkien from his father's notes and drafts that he had written over the years. Christopher Tolkien published many books after his fathers death, a significant one being The Silmarillion in 1977. The Silmarillion is a history of the first two ages leading up to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It details the creation of the world, the strife of the elves and men during the first age, and the rise and fall of the Numenorians and Sauron during the second age. Other books that were published are Beren and Luthien, The Fall of Gondolin, and The Children of Hurin. These three books go into more depth in some stories in the Silmarillion. There have been other books published which also go into more of the technicalities of the world.
