[aragornreborn]

Tolkien doesn't have to be present in all fantasy. But, the best fantasy unites both the familiar and the unfamiliar. Tolkien took many common mythological creatures for his mythological/fantasy work. So, if one were to try to write another mythological fantasy of the history of the world, it would be hard because Tolkien used up many of the mythological creatures that people could identify with. Everyone knew a little about elves, dwarves, and dragons. Tolkien used those creatures and gave them a history. Of course, you can make up your own creatures, but creatures that already exist yet are mysterious are the most effective. Fantasy itself does not have to resemble Tolkien or Middle Earth at all. But any attempt at a mythological fantasy of the world would be difficult because many of the common mythical creatures have been taken. It would not be impossible by any means, but would take a bit of work.