The idea of some new author coming out with parallel histories or continuations of Tolkiens work makes me very uneasy. The nature of Tolkien's monumental solo effort at creation of myth - his lifetime's work - is very different from Howard's primarily episodic (and NOT epic) Conan scenario, or the original Star Trek etc.
Can you imagine it : Rivendell Revisited by P L Agiarist, published by Bandwagon Books Inc. The blurb - "... arriving at the Grey Havens, Frodo finds a scene of devastation. "Time to get busy" he said to himself. We bring one of the Greatest Stories Ever Told back to life with a whole new chapter, featuring your favourite heroes and villains along with some all-new characters - Eminemo, the hard-talking, hard-fightin' Dwarf, and Clinto, the smooth-talking wizard with his hypnotic wand of power ( [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] ) - can you trust him?"
Or even worse - I can see it now - the dreaded crossovers ... "aieeeee!" cried Xena, Warrior Princess, as she dodged the fireball from the self-styled Son of Sauron! "Elrond! Get back!" shouted Hercules, his voice trembling ... "that Orc wants to own your ring" ( [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] )"
Oh well ... anything's possible these days. The brand recognition is high, and nothing is sacred, so watch this space.
Peace [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
[ May 23, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ]
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