The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Tolkien Template - Carrying on the torch of mythology and folklore

littlemanpoet · 11-16-2002, 09:53 PM

I think we are in agreement. I don't scorn any authors for being influenced by Tolkien. Would that more were, as long as they don't succumb to the parrot thing.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Raymond Feist was another enjoyable read, though I thought the final ending to his myth was so democratic that it ruined the ending.

Eddings is okay, but I grew tired of him. Right now I'm reading a book called "The Mammoth Book of Fantasy", published in the late 90's. It has about two dozen short stories, and traces the influences of not only Tolkien, but of Robert E. Howard and Lord Dunsany, and H.P. Lovecraft. I had forgotten how wide the vistas are in fantasy. So your point is well taken that there's a lot of good stuff out there that isn't Tolkien. I do agree that if someone has read Tolkien and is going to write fantasy, JRRT's influence will be there.

11-16-2002, 09:53 PM	#24
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	I think we are in agreement. I don't scorn any authors for being influenced by Tolkien. Would that more were, as long as they don't succumb to the parrot thing. Thanks for the recommendation. Raymond Feist was another enjoyable read, though I thought the final ending to his myth was so democratic that it ruined the ending. Eddings is okay, but I grew tired of him. Right now I'm reading a book called "The Mammoth Book of Fantasy", published in the late 90's. It has about two dozen short stories, and traces the influences of not only Tolkien, but of Robert E. Howard and Lord Dunsany, and H.P. Lovecraft. I had forgotten how wide the vistas are in fantasy. So your point is well taken that there's a lot of good stuff out there that isn't Tolkien. I do agree that if someone has read Tolkien and is going to write fantasy, JRRT's influence will be there.