The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - do you like fan-fiction?

davem · 09-09-2007, 04:06 AM

I don't read it. That said, I once tried my hand at a story (its over on the Downs fanfic section). I was fairly happy with the result (for what it was), but I wouldn't do it again. I think it comes down to how you think about it - do you see it as an addition to Tolkien's creation or as a thing in its own right (ie, as a 'secondary world' to Tolkien's 'secondary world'.

Now, you can look at other 'secondary worlds' which aren't the creation of a single author - everything from the Icelandic Sagas at one extreme, which are tales by different hands, set in the same historical epoch, using the many of the same characters, & which taken as a whole make up a 'secondary world' of incredible depth & power to something like the Star Wars or Marvel/DC 'universes', which, in a similar way, are a set of ever growing 'secondary worlds' utilising the same characters & settings.

Now, it could be argued that at some point Tolkien himself had a desire to start off something like that. He seems, however, to have rejected that idea later on, & jealously guarded his creation & strongly objected to others taking it up. I don't know whether it would be possible for anyone to add to the 'mythology' Tolkien anything that would be generally accepted.

My own feeling is that such an endeavor would be based on a misunderstanding of what Tolkien actually did. Tolkien's Legendarium is, actually, finished. By that I mean that by its very nature it is an incomplete thing, It never could have been 'finished' in the sense that while Tolkien lived, it 'lived'. It was always in a state of flux, changing & growing as he changed & grew. It was him, & in a real sense he was it. Just as when his life ended he (still imperfect, as we all are) was 'finished' so was his creation. (If he has continued on is some other state/place then possibly so has his creation. The work we have, though, is as it is & there is no way to 'add to' it or 'complete' it - anymore than we could resurrect him & 'add to', or 'complete' him.

So, fanfic as 'fun' for those who want it, is fine with me. Fanfic may even be a way to explore your own thoughts & feelings about the things Tolkien was concerned with (immortality, death, morality, power & the like). I won't say its necessarily all bad (I haven't, as I said, read very much at all) but I will say, it cannot be 'Tolkien'. It cannot add anything to what Tolkien produced any more that it could add anything to Tolkien himself. The Legendarium is what it is.

09-09-2007, 04:06 AM	#4
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I don't read it. That said, I once tried my hand at a story (its over on the Downs fanfic section). I was fairly happy with the result (for what it was), but I wouldn't do it again. I think it comes down to how you think about it - do you see it as an addition to Tolkien's creation or as a thing in its own right (ie, as a 'secondary world' to Tolkien's 'secondary world'. Now, you can look at other 'secondary worlds' which aren't the creation of a single author - everything from the Icelandic Sagas at one extreme, which are tales by different hands, set in the same historical epoch, using the many of the same characters, & which taken as a whole make up a 'secondary world' of incredible depth & power to something like the Star Wars or Marvel/DC 'universes', which, in a similar way, are a set of ever growing 'secondary worlds' utilising the same characters & settings. Now, it could be argued that at some point Tolkien himself had a desire to start off something like that. He seems, however, to have rejected that idea later on, & jealously guarded his creation & strongly objected to others taking it up. I don't know whether it would be possible for anyone to add to the 'mythology' Tolkien anything that would be generally accepted. My own feeling is that such an endeavor would be based on a misunderstanding of what Tolkien actually did. Tolkien's Legendarium is, actually, finished. By that I mean that by its very nature it is an incomplete thing, It never could have been 'finished' in the sense that while Tolkien lived, it 'lived'. It was always in a state of flux, changing & growing as he changed & grew. It was him, & in a real sense he was it. Just as when his life ended he (still imperfect, as we all are) was 'finished' so was his creation. (If he has continued on is some other state/place then possibly so has his creation. The work we have, though, is as it is & there is no way to 'add to' it or 'complete' it - anymore than we could resurrect him & 'add to', or 'complete' him. So, fanfic as 'fun' for those who want it, is fine with me. Fanfic may even be a way to explore your own thoughts & feelings about the things Tolkien was concerned with (immortality, death, morality, power & the like). I won't say its necessarily all bad (I haven't, as I said, read very much at all) but I will say, it cannot be 'Tolkien'. It cannot add anything to what Tolkien produced any more that it could add anything to Tolkien himself. The Legendarium is what it is. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."