re: Who is the greatest fictional spider (spoilers

Most of the events in silmarillion take place long before LOTR. It's been awhile but I think some of LOTR is referenced. I think reading it makes LOTR more enjoyable because there are tons of references to events and people in the silmarillion.

Just know that it reads more like an interesting history book than a novel. Some of the stories in it are great and you realize just how much of this world Tolkien had fleshed out.

Just a few examples: what are elves, orcs, dwarves, etc and where do they come from? What does it mean to go into the West over the sea? What are the wizards? What was that balrog? What are Sauron's origins?