The return of Sauron

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

So what may be the new evils that could arise?

Have you read Histories of Middle-Earth? In Volume 12, I think, there is a kind of a sequel to LotR called The New Shadow. It is set in the 4th age and it tells about some evil men and orc admirers. Anyway, Tolkien ended up abandoning the idea of making a book about a new evil of which I'm quite glad.

Here's what Tolkien said about the story: "I did begin a story placed about 100 years after the downfall of Sauron, but it proved both sinister and depressing. Since we are dealing with Men it is inevitable that we should be concerned with the most regrettable feature of their nature: their quick satiety with good. So that the people of Gondor in times of peace and justice and prosperity would become discontented and restless - while the dynasts descended from Aragorn would become just kings and governors - like Denethor or worse. I found that even so there was an outcrop of revolutionary plots, about a centre of secret Satanistic religion; while Gondorian boys were playing at being Orcs and going around doing damage. I could have written a 'thriller' about the plot and its discovery and overthrow - but it would be just that. Not worth doing."

You can read The New Shadow here.

[davem]

Probably not Sauron, but I've always been intrigued by the fate of the WK:

'Eowyn! Eowyn!' cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang. Eowyn fell forward upon her fallen foe. But lo! the mantle and hauberk were empty. Shapeless they lay now on the ground, torn and tumbled; and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up and was never heard again in that age of this world.

Should this be taken to mean that he was heard again in a later age?

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by davem

Probably not Sauron, but I've always been intrigued by the fate of the WK:



Should this be taken to mean that he was heard again in a later age?

I wouldn't say that it should be taken to mean that he will appear later on. I think it opens the possibility of a return though I don't agree that it would happen. I was under the impression that all the wraiths power was due to the ring and Sauron and with their destruction the wraiths were destroyed too. Perhaps they live still as servants of the shadow of Sauron but even a lesser shadown than he.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by davem

Should this be taken to mean that he was heard again in a later age?

The text may be referring to an appearance in the last battle, the Dagor Dagorath - if Morgoth gets to come back, then why not Sauron and subsequently why not the Witch-King?

Or it was referring to the PJ movies...not sure .

I think Tolkien must have thought long and hard about how to stir up disorder in ME again, or for a new (or old) enemy to arise. In the end he probably thought that he would end up with a much poorer version of parts of LOTR.

Still, the idea behind the lost secrets of the Rings of Power being studied again by a lord of Gondor, or the appearance of another hidden Balrog, disturbed from his rest, could be good starters. the WK making a dramatic return in another but lesser form would be interesting.

Or is THIS ALL wishful thinking?

[mormegil]

If if there were more Balrog's (which is possible) I don't see them as that great of a threat as say Sauron or Melkor were. They cannot lead their minions. Their power is much more limited so to speak.

Maybe some of the men of ME would turn to evil, and worship a Balrog as their lord?

[Gurthang]

I've always thought that an interesting sequel would be the Blue Wizards coming back from the East, leading the Easterlings and Southrons to wage war on Gondor again. I've always been fascinated by the Blue Wizards, and the lack of information about them. Bringing them in as main characters/evil lords would be pretty cool.