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

Gwaihir the Windlord · 11-13-2002, 02:48 AM

I still hold to my original post. Just about all fantasy you read is set in a medieval world, with a hero who goes out to seek enlightenment and/or perform some great essential task. Whether this has got anything to do with Tolkien or not is debatable; but the fact is, it seems pretty damm close. It is impossible to read it without thinking about how much better Tolkien would be, I think anyway... someone mentioned that the only way to enjoy a fantasy novel, is if both you and the author have never read Tolkien. (or something like that.) Good call; very true.

This question is, however, entirely based on how each individual reacts. For instance, as I have already said, I cannot help classing the lesser fantasy work (i.e. all fantasy other than Pullman, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Alan Garner and Pratchett -- who isn't really fantasy anyway -- and a few others) as inferior to Tolkien in my mind, and fail to be interested in them because I also class them as rip-offs and, well, lesser. Which I think a lot of them are. Sort of try-hard.

That's just how my mind works with this respect. Maybe I'll get over it some time and start reading more fantasy; maybe not. (I read a lot, but not generally fantasy.) Actually, I don't think I will get over it, because the fantasy I read is of a subtly different kind to the average fantasy books. (Check the authors listed.)

Perhaps everyone else's mind workd differently?

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11-13-2002, 02:48 AM	#11
Gwaihir the Windlord Essence of Darkness Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Evermore Posts: 1,420	I still hold to my original post. Just about all fantasy you read is set in a medieval world, with a hero who goes out to seek enlightenment and/or perform some great essential task. Whether this has got anything to do with Tolkien or not is debatable; but the fact is, it seems pretty damm close. It is impossible to read it without thinking about how much better Tolkien would be, I think anyway... someone mentioned that the only way to enjoy a fantasy novel, is if both you and the author have never read Tolkien. (or something like that.) Good call; very true. This question is, however, entirely based on how each individual reacts. For instance, as I have already said, I cannot help classing the lesser fantasy work (i.e. all fantasy other than Pullman, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Alan Garner and Pratchett -- who isn't really fantasy anyway -- and a few others) as inferior to Tolkien in my mind, and fail to be interested in them because I also class them as rip-offs and, well, lesser. Which I think a lot of them are. Sort of try-hard. That's just how my mind works with this respect. Maybe I'll get over it some time and start reading more fantasy; maybe not. (I read a lot, but not generally fantasy.) Actually, I don't think I will get over it, because the fantasy I read is of a subtly different kind to the average fantasy books. (Check the authors listed.) Perhaps everyone else's mind workd differently?