[Mithalwen]

For me, I am not interested in Fantasy per se, I am interested in Middle Earth, its languages, history and culture. I didn't want particularly to read things like LOTR I wanted to read more about Middle Earth so I disdained things like the Sword of Shannara as poor imitations and when I exhausted the available stories of Middle Earth (up to UT at that point) I moved on to other things. I did get the early volumes of HoME as they emerged but they were relatively expensive and difficult and I had neither the time nor money as I pursued studies in literature at a time Tolkienophilia was a love that dared not speak its name in most english faculties. Tolkien is not my only literary love - and I think that is healthy, for what do they know of Tolkien who only tolkien know?.

Others include Wharton, Austen, Galsworthy, Maupassant, Orwell - unsurpassed to my mind as a writer of non fiction - Shute, St Exupery and I have an interest in detective fiction to the extent of having vague plans for a book. My latest favourite is Precious Bane by Mary Webb.

While I am not particularly interested in derivcative/imitave works - originality is a characteristic of greatnes though not it's sole requirement. I did quite enjoy Eragon. I think Pullman has originality and writes beautifully though the second two volumes were progressively more disappointing after the brilliance of Northern Lights.

Works may not be great like LOTR but may be great like themselves and not necessarily inferior.