The Soddit

[Encaitare]

Ah, Spinal Tap. A truly brilliant parody which teaches us that drummers are expendable and huge plastic body-enveloping pods are not to be trusted.

To remain on topic, a parody should not be pushed too far, otherwise it just gets campy and distasteful. As Lalwende said, Austin Powers is a good example. They're all funny, but the laughs are cheap and the same jokes over and over get tiresome. I think that a really great parody is something -- if I may even use this word to refer to a parody! -- original. It should play off the original but not rely on it or follow it word-for-word. I have read some parodies which are crossovers with LotR and usually a comedy movie, and it's just not funny after a while because the author simply replaces the names/places in the original movie with those from LotR. The jokes aren't funny anymore and it only serves to drive one ballistic!

[Sleepy Ranger]

To remain on topic

Thats ironic. The topic is what your thoughs are on The Soddit, yet people are now discussing parodies in general and what they think would make them better.

I opened this topic because I wanted to know what people thought of The Soddit not what they thought of parodies. I hate to stop your debate about parodies, I really do but it would be much better if you stayed on topic.

[Encaitare]

Beg pardon, Sleepy Ranger, I was just trying to stay somewhat on topic to LotR. Since I have not read the Soddit, I suppose I shall quietly withdraw.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Actually, Sleepy, sometimes threads take turns that make them more interesting than they started off. I've been debating moving this one to the Books forum, since the general discussion on parodies, as long as it stays Tolkien-related, is on a high level. But since you'd rather keep this thread exclusively on 'The Soddit', I will start a new thread in Books, copying the pertinent contributions to that one. Those who wish to continue discussing Tolkien and parody in general, please look for that new thread to open soon.

Here it is: Tolkien and Parody

[Saurreg]

Sleepy Ranger, I was the one that started the digression of the thread and for that I apologise. Rest assured I will not post here again.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Here's my opinion on The Soddit:

Visual impression - The book looks great! The dust cover has a red, leather-like background print (quite appropriate for an excerpt from the "Red Book of Westmarch" ), with a very amusing drawing of the characters on front. The map at the beginning is one of my favorite parts - I enjoy reading the names of the places! For example, there's Rororo Hryorboat, and a group of trees marked 'Tiger Woods'. The black and white drawings by Douglas Carrel are great.

The writing is amusing, though not side-splitting. At 328 pages, the story is a bit long, since it can't hold up to the original. There are funny plays on words and names, and the plot twists are interesting - the group of dwarves diminishes considerably during the trip, which has a completely different purpose than in the original story, though the dwarves staunchly claim that the purpose of the journey is only "gold". Though I enjoyed the book, somehow it wasn't able to fascinate me. I can't put my finger on any one thing that bothered me, but as a whole it lacked that special something.

Is it worth buying? Probably, for completists like myself, who want as many Tolkien-related books as possible. It'll look nice on my bookshelf, and I may take it out to page through it occasionally. I'm not sure I want to read it again though.

[Bêthberry]

I have not yet read The Soddit but have a question for Sleepy Ranger or Estelyn about its title (or anyone else who has read it). I know that the English use a phrase similar to this noun, as an interjection, rather freqently, but across the pond the term is regarded as very rude.

Is this a rude parody of Tolkien similar to some of the very weak secret diaries? Does it mean to insult Tolkien's values? Or is the title just chosen because it is a funny play on the word [i]hobbit[/]?