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skip spence · 09-11-2008, 10:39 AM

This is a debate I've never partaken in before and to be quite honest I find the little I've seen of it rather silly.

I suppose the only real canonical works would be The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Ring as they are published by JRRT himself. Then again there are many things in TH that in all likelihood made the author himself cringe afterwards, like for instance having Bilbo read a newspaper in the opening scene. This probably goes for LotR as well. Some of the ideas of JRRT's later writings might on the other hand contradict what was already published but still be better conceptions according to the author. So although JRRT appeared to have felt bound by what he already published, I don't think we readers must feel this way.

When there is a contradiction, I tend to "believe" in the version I like best, regardless of what others think is canon or not.

09-11-2008, 10:39 AM	#6
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	This is a debate I've never partaken in before and to be quite honest I find the little I've seen of it rather silly. I suppose the only real canonical works would be The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Ring as they are published by JRRT himself. Then again there are many things in TH that in all likelihood made the author himself cringe afterwards, like for instance having Bilbo read a newspaper in the opening scene. This probably goes for LotR as well. Some of the ideas of JRRT's later writings might on the other hand contradict what was already published but still be better conceptions according to the author. So although JRRT appeared to have felt bound by what he already published, I don't think we readers must feel this way. When there is a contradiction, I tend to "believe" in the version I like best, regardless of what others think is canon or not. __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan Last edited by skip spence; 09-11-2008 at 10:47 AM.