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I'm more interested in the exchange of ideas and clarification of thoughts and opinions.
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Well said, littlemanpoet. I agree. By using the words "you" and "your" toward the end of my last post I gave the incorrect impression I was speaking only to you. After I post this I will edit and correct that. I was trying to address what seems to be a view held by many people.
I have read work by most of the authors you mentioned. While I agree that they stand on their own merits, I do not think they escape the influence of Tolkien. To read Tolkien is to be irrevocably affected by him in any attempt to write in the same genre as he. I think that should be seen as a tribute to Tolkien's literary greatness, not as a failure on the part of today's authors.
I read McKiernan when he first came out in 1985. I was just a kid, even I could see what a "parrot" he was. The only good thing that can be said about that garbage going to print is that it's a perfect example of what not to do with your Tolkien influences.
George R. R. Martin is writing a series called "A Song of Ice and Fire" that I would recommend. You can clearly see Tolkien's influence on him (even in the way he writes his name), but he is no parrot.
[ November 15, 2002: Message edited by: Keneldil the Polka-dot ]