[davem]

Originally Posted by Feanorsdoom

A) M-e, as written by Tolkien, never was intimately understood by anyone, even Tolkien. See HoMe for details.

M-e is not a place external to Tolkien's writings. Tolkien's writings are M-e. Who understands what is neither here nor there in this context.

B) Some of us actually love M-e, and a few can actually write well, to boot.

Agin, I can't see how this relates to whether there should be officially sanctioned sequels.

C) Tolkien scholars can study the Tolkienesque parts of M-e stories; scholars of Middle-earth can study all stories written about it.

There are only 'Tolkienesque' parts of M-e. The idea they are two different things is a misunderstanding, based primarilly on how successful Tolkien was in creating the sense of secondary reality.

There is no reason to equate Tolkien scholarship with Middle-earth necessarilly; in fact, there are Tolkien scholars who might only be interested in his other writings.

I think your second point is pretty much a non sequetur -

Also, who speaks for all or most fans of Middle-earth? I dare say that a good percentage of them are under 20, had never read any Tolkien before the movies came out, and could not get halfway through the Silmarillion. Who are we to consider our opinions more true or important than theirs?

Good point. I think the teenage movie fans who can't manage to actually read Tolkien's books should have the last word.

Really! If we're talking here about people who couldn't actually manage to get through The Sil, I can just imagine the quality & depth of these proposed new stories.

D) Middle-earth is no longer Tolkien's world. If you don't believe me, just ask him.

Let's form a circle & hold hands & see if we can channel him.....