Each of you are probably well aware that Christopher was an integral part of JRR's creative process from early on. A sympathetic reader before publishing, which Christopher was, was essential to the development of LotR, it seems to me. Christopher's map of Middle Earth is the one that made it into the published version of LotR. So at the very least, Christopher has acted as one who reflects back to the subcreator something about the subcreation, namely his own enjoyment and relation to it. Talk about a special father-son bond! So for Christopher to become heir to the legacy and become publisher of his father's works continues that reflection that has been the son's legacy from early on. It doesn't seem to me that that compares cleanly with Smith.
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