[The Silver-shod Muse]

Just about all fantasy you read is set in a medieval world, with a hero who goes out to seek enlightenment and/or perform some great essential task. -Gwaihir the Windlord

I won’t even try to date it, but the “great essential task” element is hugely overused among writers of all genres. The book cover summaries are usually terribly pathetic: “Can the Uncommon Hero save the world as he knows it, or will the entire universe fall to Evil Dude?” Oh my, the suspense is terrible. Often what makes this usage so cheap and unfulfilling is that the world itself isn’t one the reader feels particularly necessary for the Hero to save. The Hero’s world never quite becomes our world.

Most readers of Tolkien have felt that painfully gripping power of Middle Earth that compels us to love everything about it, artistically (one must admire the genius behind Ents and Trolls alike) and emotionally (the passing of the Elves, the self-sacrifice of the smallest for the greatest). By the time the story has been told, Middle Earth is ours too, and we can understand why the essential task is essential. It isn’t for the Hero to show what he can do, it’s for the world that the Hero loves.

Perhaps many problems arise from writers trying to create something wholly original, when no art is truly (at its very core) -ReededGoat

Tolkien's genius was in taking his influences and putting them together in a new way. -Keneldil the Polka-dot

The thing to do when you’re filled to the brim with the Tolkien Influence is to go to his sources and generate your own creations. Norse mythology isn’t a bad place to start at all. Really, any mythology is great. It is in mythology that one finds the beginnings of the Truth that makes brilliant fantasy. If I may quote Tolkien:

“Just as speech is invention about objects and ideas, so myth is invention about truth. We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Indeed only by myth-making, only by becoming a ‘sub-creator’ and inventing stories, can Man ascribe to the state of perfection that he knew before the Fall. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour.”

“This writer will have to be better than Tolkien, or else he (or she) will be "just another Tolkien influenced writer." It will not be an easy task for this writer, nor will it be an easy task for the die-hard Tolkien fans to accept him. Why? Because they (I should say "we") will have to accept him as a writer influenced by Tolkien who regarded Tolkien as a master, but who surpassed Tolkien.”

That a very commendable sentiment, Cúdae. I’ve seen far too many people here (especially writers, and that’s very disturbing) who say, “Tolkien is the master. No one will ever be as good as him. I’ve read him, so I’m stuck now. I’ll can try to be original, but Tolkien’s genius will always overshadow any work I’ll ever produce.” That’s like telling yourself to not think of elephants. Obviously, by trying so hard to not think of elephants (in this case the elephant is avoiding imitating Tolkien in your writing) you are. Take the benefit, take what you’ve learned and felt from reading Tolkien, and surpass it. Today we have the advantage of seeing all that has come since Tolkien's age. With the proper care and attention, every age should be greater in its perspective than the last. It's our turn now, and it will become whatever we make it.

There is no equaling Tolkien, we’ve seen that thus far in the list of modern fantasy authors, but there is, or will be, surpassing. Surpassing Tolkien's work would be greater flattery than imitation.

“The English curriculum had three wonderful books cut straight out of it. They are Romeo and Juliet, Lord of the Flies, and Beowulf. The Writers' Clubs (for Sci-Fi and Fantasy only) were destroyed as they promoted "anti-scientific, witch-craft like, and anti-religious" ideas.” –Cudae

Beowulf?
My God!
Anti-religious? The fools! Obviously the school board has never read Tolkien.

[ November 24, 2002: Message edited by: The Silver-shod Muse ]