<Tr> <Th> Created </Th> <Td> August 1940 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Book (s) </Th> <Td> The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) The Two Towers (1954) The Return of the King (1955) The Silmarillion (1977) Unfinished Tales (1980) </Td> </Tr> <P> Saruman the White is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings . He is leader of the Istari, wizards sent to Middle - earth in human form by the godlike Valar to challenge Sauron, the main antagonist of the novel, but eventually he desires Sauron's power for himself and tries to take over Middle - earth by force . His schemes feature prominently in the second volume, The Two Towers, and at the end of the third volume, The Return of the King . His earlier history is given briefly in the posthumously published The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales . </P> <P> Saruman is one of several characters in the book illustrating the corruption of power; his desire for knowledge and order leads to his fall, and he rejects the chance of redemption when it is offered . The name Saruman (pronounced (ˈsaruman)) means "man of skill" in the Mercian dialect of Anglo - Saxon; he serves as an example of technology and modernity being overthrown by forces more in tune with nature . </P>

Who is the bad wizard in lord of the rings