Keneldil: You mis-take me, for which I hold you in no offense. I hold LeGuin in very high regard; also Guy Gavriel Kay; and Pullman; Lawhead has some great moments. McKiernan is unbearable; I attempted Katherine Kerr and found her frustrating. The little bit of McCaffery (sp?) I have read I found delightful. Meghan Whalen Turner is a wonderful read. I enjoy them on their own merits, because they stand on their own merits, making no claim to be "in the tradition of Tolkien" or as good as Tolkien, because they don't need to. The Mists of Avalon was breathtaking, though I had problems with the out-and-out paganism when I read it years ago (I probably wouldn't anymore).
I hope you see the distinction I am attempting: Tolkien-parrots versus fantasy genre artists whose writings stand on their own merits. Perhaps Kerr is no Tolkien parrot, yet her choices irked me; perhaps that has little to do with this thread.
I'm not going to belabor the "who is guilty of what offense" thing. I'm more interested in the exchange of ideas and clarification of thoughts and opinions.
Peace! [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]
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