[Boromir88]

However, Unofficial expansions of the Canon are already in full swing, and are only likely to grow. Fanfiction is widespread to the point of pandemic (much of it is utter trash and should be burned, but there are some well-written and awesome fanfics out there).~Formendacil

And that's the thing, I would hate to see LOTR turned into another Star Wars with these "fanfics" of mumbo that has no continuity, no basing whatsoever, just a spin off the original to try to take in money.

I can also see a certain burgeoning of "personalized" Legendariums. I think it is the deep ambition of many serious fans to have their own, codified, idiosyncratic, Silmarillion. I know I do. I would not, however, ever present my Silmarillion as THE Silmarillion. Insofar as ANY Silmarillion is THE Silmarillion, it is Christopher Tolkien's Silmarillion- which he himself has admitted with regret is not perfect. The way I see it, if Christopher Tolkien can have a Silmarillion, so can I. But my Silmarillion will be mine, privately. I don't think that the official, core, canon will ever grow beyond what J.R.R. Tolkien wrote and what Christopher Tolkien has extrapolated from that.

And what's interesting is, first speaking about Christopher finishing up his father's story, and tying up some loose strings, I don't mind it. Christopher is an avid fan of the books and knew his father's intentions well, though admittingly not perfectly and if it's in contradiction to "The Master" than the ladder should be the one accepted. But, I just have trouble with people thinking Chris' stuff should not be accepted. He above anyone else would probably have the best insight to his father's story.

What's interesting Formendacil, is you bring you "your Silmarillion." It's interesting, because (and this is probably why I love Tolkien) is Tolkien allows his readers to experiment freedom of reading. Which is why he did not like using "allegories" and denied using them. Allegories sets strict meaning on the text, and Tolkien did not want that, he wanted his readers to interpret and come up with their own reasonings and form their own ideas:

Of course the L.R. does not belong to me. It has been brought forth and must now go its appointed way in the world, though naturally I take a deep interest in its fortunes , as a person would of a child.~Letter # 328

I much refer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers~Foreward to LOTR

And as Christian Skull points out:

Practically speaking of course, none of the Matter of Middle-earth was ';finished'; but continued to evolve, and was open to second thoughts while Tolkien lived.~The Development of Tolkien's Legendarium- in Tolkien's Legendarium edt, Flieger and Hostetter

And to Billbeaux, this is probably why most of all I would not want even someone well versed in Tolkien's story to write some more. Though it would be interesting, Tolkien left freedom for his readers to interpret and sort of let his story grow over the years, which is probably why I enjoy LOTR so much.