Tolkien and Asimov - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aiwendil · 10-11-2005, 10:45 AM

An interesting topic. I've always enjoyed the fact that my favorite author was apparently a fan of second favorite author; Asimov is the only writer for whom my reverence approaches that for Tolkien.

But I must say that I've never seen any particular similarity or connection between the works of the two. In fact, I was rather surprised to find that Tolkien enjoyed science fiction. His own work, while I wouldn't call it anti-scientific, does not strike me as being particularly similar in spirit to the rational, scientific attitude of much (or most) science fiction. The rather absurd image of Mandos calculating the fate of Arda by means some complicated equation embodies this discrepancy perfectly.

But, then, I suppose there must be some reason that it is these two authors, and none other, that are my favorites. And judging from the response to this thread so far, I am not alone. Could it be, I wonder, that there is some very deep similarity between the two, difficult to discern but responsible for both their mutual regard and our apparent tendency to enjoy them both?

10-11-2005, 10:45 AM	#8
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	An interesting topic. I've always enjoyed the fact that my favorite author was apparently a fan of second favorite author; Asimov is the only writer for whom my reverence approaches that for Tolkien. But I must say that I've never seen any particular similarity or connection between the works of the two. In fact, I was rather surprised to find that Tolkien enjoyed science fiction. His own work, while I wouldn't call it anti-scientific, does not strike me as being particularly similar in spirit to the rational, scientific attitude of much (or most) science fiction. The rather absurd image of Mandos calculating the fate of Arda by means some complicated equation embodies this discrepancy perfectly. But, then, I suppose there must be some reason that it is these two authors, and none other, that are my favorites. And judging from the response to this thread so far, I am not alone. Could it be, I wonder, that there is some very deep similarity between the two, difficult to discern but responsible for both their mutual regard and our apparent tendency to enjoy them both?