[Child of the 7th Age]

Littlemanpoet -- Please don't be put off by my crude exposition of the plot. There are ideas piled on top of ideas. It is actually very complex and, because of that, it's a book that I find extremely difficult to summarize or discuss. And unfortunately, I have not read the first book in the series which probably has the most to say.

To take it to another level, let me mention that, in the preface, the author makes reference to Richard Dawkins'The Selfish Gene as being the work which he is most indebted to. So, if I had to point to one concept that pervades the writings of Quinn, it would be the need for the human race to go beyond that supposed selfish gene. And Quinn believes that this is possible.

And I will say this, when I look at Tolkien, at least at the side which is struggling towards the light, the concept of "unselfishness" pervades all. Even Aragorn's "selfish" desire for possession of Arwen is transformed by Tolkien into his unselfish drive to free Middle-earth of the Dark Lord. In how many modern, "reality based" novels do you see that kind of a development of a love theme? A few, but not many.

Bird--Child tumbles in where others fear to follow! Sorry about the crude description of the gorilla. Obviously, he is a persona for the narrator, but the ideas are fascinating (though can't say that I agree with each and every one!)

Gandalf the Grey-- Yes, that is certainly the big "fall" or "turning away", and I thought of it as I wrote the post. The only problem is that, for me personally, if I dwell too long on that, I begin to get the sinking feeling that nothing can be done till the end of time except to fight a losing battle. And the real danger in that is that I may stop trying which would indeed be a disaster, at least on a personal level. It's hard to keep fighting a fight where you know you're going to lose in the short term, even if you're going to win in the long term!

So, one thing that fantasy does for me is to present the possibility of winning, and I mean that in the most elemental sense. It allows me to believe in a world where positive change can occur. I'm afraid there's not a whole lot I can do in the here and now about the last battle, but there is a great deal that I can do to try and perfet this little plot of earth (i.e. Arda) where I stand at this moment in time. And the one thing I like about Quinn is that he seems to feel those little victories are possible.

Tolkien certainly felt as a Catholic that one victory would invitably be followed by many defeats, and that is the way it will be till the end of time. I think much of Tolkien's personal pessimism stemmed from this view, as well as his own experiences in life. Part of me finds this bittersweet perspective both true and appealing. But I have to admit there are times when I need to focus on the here and now of purifying Arda as best as I can, or I end up not trying as hard as I can.

So what does this all have to do with escapism? We seem to agree that there was something, perhaps more than one thing, in Man's past which has alienated him from his true self. And fantasy is one way (but certainly not the only way) to get back to that hidden but true path. And the other question I referred to--how perfectible is the earth wthin time?--that seems to depend on individual persectives and beliefs. And fantasy certainly reflects a wide range of answers to that critical question.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ August 26, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]