New Middle Earth novel(ization)? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

zxcvbn · 02-02-2008, 06:54 AM

After Children of Hurin, many people are hankering for 'The Tale of Beren and Luthien' and 'the Fall of Gondollin' to be published but that won't be possible since they weren't finished to the same extent. However, there is still hope for a new Tolkien novel to satisfy their cravings?

What I'm asking is, how about a novelization of the unnamed second LOTR prequel, which covers the period between the Hobbit and LOTR? Provided it's written by a good author it should be an interesting read. Would anybody here buy such a book?

Sauron the White · 02-02-2008, 09:11 AM

I would be dead set against such a thing. To do a novelized version of a movie which is adapted from the books themselves seems akin to literary incest. It does not pass the smell test.

It would be like doing a novelized version of the LOTR films with all the changes and have two competing LOTR book versions. There should only be one set of books and those are the ones written by JRR Tolkien or authorized by the Tolkien Estate.

I am a big advocate for keeping the books and films as individual entities. Lets keep it that way.

Volo · 02-02-2008, 09:29 AM

I wouldn't buy it, I'd get it from the library.

But seriously, why not, I don't have anything the imagination of others. It feels unfair if a best-selling book is based heavily on something written by somebody else, but aren't most books that anyway.

I would regard such books as "Tolkien" because they're not, but at the moment I can't find a reason why I wouldn't touch them. If they're written, they might be worth reading.

Somehow this reminds me of Gone With the Wind's sequel, though I have read neither the original nor the sequel.

Beanamir of Gondor · 02-04-2008, 06:54 PM

See, the only problem I would have with this is that it smells distinctly of fanfic. That's not to say that I don't enjoy fanfic every once in a while: oh no, quite the contrary. But reading yaoi CharlesxSydney or an account of how Jay Gatsby really didn't get shot is a LOT different than reading A Tale of Two Cities or The Great Gatsby. Fanfic is not really very respectable, and it is always, always, always different than the author's original work.
Ahem. Anyway, that's my English-major view on it. While I might enjoy reading it for fun, it would never really be Tolkien, and therefore I just wouldn't see it as part of the Middlearth narrative.

Azaelia of Willowbottom · 02-04-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxcvbn

What I'm asking is, how about a novelization of the unnamed second LOTR prequel, which covers the period between the Hobbit and LOTR? Provided it's written by a good author it should be an interesting read. Would anybody here buy such a book?

I wouldn't buy that book, to be honest, though I could probably be persuaded to go see the movie.

I don't mind fanfic once in a while, if it's good and genuinely has something to say about the characters or their environment, but I wouldn't want to pay money for it. I don't even think I'd get it out of the library. When fanfic is put up online, imperfection is acceptable, since it's clearly just for fun, anyway--no one is making any money from it. I feel like there's something a little bit not right about this second movie idea. I'll probably go see it (depending, of course, on buzz and the trailer), but I wouldn't feel quite right reading a novelization of it. Middle-earth is Tolkien's. Best to leave it to the writer who knew it best.

MatthewM · 02-06-2008, 07:03 PM

No way. I hate fanfics. Whatever is not written by J.R.R. Tolkien is not Middle-earth. Period.

Beanamir of Gondor · 02-12-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Whatever is not written by J.R.R. Tolkien is not Middle-earth. Period.

Organized and footnoted by his son: okay.
Actually written by someone else: not okay.

zxcvbn · 02-14-2008, 08:45 AM

I am not suggesting that this novel be included in the 'official' canon. It can be a companion piece to the second prequel and a 'gap-filler' for those who want to know more about Middle-earth and don't mind that the book is only loosely based on the established LOTR book-verse(through the films). Think of it as something like Weapons and Warfare(a movie-based book about the peoples of ME and their weapons and armour), which was written from the point of view of Gondorian historians to give it a Middle-earth-ish feel.

William Cloud Hicklin · 02-14-2008, 09:43 AM

Of course, legally it can't happen, so it ain't gonna.

Tuor in Gondolin · 02-14-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

legally it can't happen

Why not?

William Cloud Hicklin · 02-14-2008, 11:05 AM

Because the movie rights do not extend to books and printed matter. The Tolkien family owns those.

02-02-2008, 06:54 AM	#1
zxcvbn Wight Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In front of my PC Posts: 164	New Middle Earth novel(ization)? After Children of Hurin, many people are hankering for 'The Tale of Beren and Luthien' and 'the Fall of Gondollin' to be published but that won't be possible since they weren't finished to the same extent. However, there is still hope for a new Tolkien novel to satisfy their cravings? What I'm asking is, how about a novelization of the unnamed second LOTR prequel, which covers the period between the Hobbit and LOTR? Provided it's written by a good author it should be an interesting read. Would anybody here buy such a book?

02-02-2008, 09:29 AM	#3
Volo Silver in My Silent Heart Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the great beauty Posts: 1,611	I wouldn't buy it, I'd get it from the library. But seriously, why not, I don't have anything the imagination of others. It feels unfair if a best-selling book is based heavily on something written by somebody else, but aren't most books that anyway. I would regard such books as "Tolkien" because they're not, but at the moment I can't find a reason why I wouldn't touch them. If they're written, they might be worth reading. Somehow this reminds me of Gone With the Wind's sequel, though I have read neither the original nor the sequel. __________________ Fenris Wolf The EVEN NEWER Barrow-Downs Photo Page

02-04-2008, 06:54 PM	#4
Beanamir of Gondor Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: the Shadow Gallery Posts: 276	See, the only problem I would have with this is that it smells distinctly of fanfic. That's not to say that I don't enjoy fanfic every once in a while: oh no, quite the contrary. But reading yaoi CharlesxSydney or an account of how Jay Gatsby really didn't get shot is a LOT different than reading A Tale of Two Cities or The Great Gatsby. Fanfic is not really very respectable, and it is always, always, always different than the author's original work. Ahem. Anyway, that's my English-major view on it. While I might enjoy reading it for fun, it would never really be Tolkien, and therefore I just wouldn't see it as part of the Middlearth narrative. __________________ The answer to life is no longer 42. It's 4 8 15 16 23... 42. "I only lent you my body; you lent me your dream."

02-06-2008, 07:03 PM	#6
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 628	No way. I hate fanfics. Whatever is not written by J.R.R. Tolkien is not Middle-earth. Period. __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

02-14-2008, 08:45 AM	#8
zxcvbn Wight Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In front of my PC Posts: 164	I am not suggesting that this novel be included in the 'official' canon. It can be a companion piece to the second prequel and a 'gap-filler' for those who want to know more about Middle-earth and don't mind that the book is only loosely based on the established LOTR book-verse(through the films). Think of it as something like Weapons and Warfare(a movie-based book about the peoples of ME and their weapons and armour), which was written from the point of view of Gondorian historians to give it a Middle-earth-ish feel. Last edited by zxcvbn; 02-14-2008 at 08:59 AM.

02-02-2008, 09:11 AM	#2
Sauron the White Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 903	I would be dead set against such a thing. To do a novelized version of a movie which is adapted from the books themselves seems akin to literary incest. It does not pass the smell test. It would be like doing a novelized version of the LOTR films with all the changes and have two competing LOTR book versions. There should only be one set of books and those are the ones written by JRR Tolkien or authorized by the Tolkien Estate. I am a big advocate for keeping the books and films as individual entities. Lets keep it that way.

02-14-2008, 09:43 AM	#9
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Of course, legally it can't happen, so it ain't gonna. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

02-14-2008, 11:05 AM	#11
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Because the movie rights do not extend to books and printed matter. The Tolkien family owns those. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.