"just a book" or "a descriptive treatise on an imaginary ecosphere " ?

[Imladris]

Any book that can make you feel that a fantasy country exists and that elves, dwarves (Tolkien Dwarves, that is), dragons, etc. are real isn't just a book. I get so depressed after I read LOTR because the elves are going away. I wish every day that ME exists. <sigh> I think what makes Tolkien's work so real is the history/myth he has weaved into the story (the poem that Bilbo wrote in Many Meetings, the song that Sam sang about Gil-galad (?), the song that Legolas sang about Nimrodel, you get the picture). The languages he made up also puts a touch of realism in it. The characters are human too! Every single hero had a weakness! I think the only series of books that come close to Tolkien are the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. Of course nothing can beat Tolkien...