Tolkien and Asimov - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Fordim Hedgethistle · 10-11-2005, 02:56 PM

Seems to me that there's one very definite similarity insofar as each author sought to create a fictional race of beings (Elves and Robots) which they saw as the idealised (but not necessarily ideal) form of humanity.

Not people-improved but people-as-they-ought-to-be in their fullest and most human(e) state.

What's neat is how alike Elves and (the very advanced) Robots are: immortal, enigmatic, withdrawn, absolutely committed to abstract ideals that are really rules engraved in the mists of time by their creators, helpers to humanity but not necessarily all that helpful (I am tempted to say "perilous"), and -- as Bethberry has noddingly indicated in her brief note -- both are absolutely anathema to change. They don't like it, they don't want it, they do everything they can to arrest it.

10-11-2005, 02:56 PM	#12
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Seems to me that there's one very definite similarity insofar as each author sought to create a fictional race of beings (Elves and Robots) which they saw as the idealised (but not necessarily ideal) form of humanity. Not people-improved but people-as-they-ought-to-be in their fullest and most human(e) state. What's neat is how alike Elves and (the very advanced) Robots are: immortal, enigmatic, withdrawn, absolutely committed to abstract ideals that are really rules engraved in the mists of time by their creators, helpers to humanity but not necessarily all that helpful (I am tempted to say "perilous"), and -- as Bethberry has noddingly indicated in her brief note -- both are absolutely anathema to change. They don't like it, they don't want it, they do everything they can to arrest it. __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.