[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I find that the fantasy I have read that attempts to echo Tolkien invariably becomes little more than a pale reflection, and I share Diamond's exasperation with leather-clad warrior maidens with heaving bosoms and impressively-muscled square-jawed barbarian heroes, but there are some good writers within the genre. One of my favourites is David Gemmell, who doesn't even attempt the epic style so predominant in Tolkien's work, instead opting for a more intimate, personal approach. This only works if one is prepared to sacrifice the epic feel of the piece, something which Eddings is simply unable to do. He wants to use familiar language to describe epic events, which simply doesn't work. Gemmell, on the other hand, takes a completely different view of his stories, telling them on a very human, microcosmic scale, which fits much better with the greater intimacy of characterisation that he clearly prefers.

I suppose that what I'm trying to say is that people who try and fail to imitate Tolkien will never scale his heights. Each writer should find their own style, and it is those who do that rather than trying to imitate the Professor whose work I enjoy reading. This, I think, is the key to writing worthwhile fantasy as it is with any genre. Nobody else can write your stories for you.