One man's Orc is another man's Orocuen... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Anguirel · 03-29-2011, 04:04 PM

http://www.salon.com/books/laura_mil...rer/index.html

whadd'ya reckon?

I think it's probably quite badly written and I also expect it loses a certain amount in translation, but, supposing we leave lit aesthetix aside, things get rather interesting - both what this bloke has done, and why.

The souped up Barad-Dur sounds great:

"that amazing city of alchemists and poets, mechanics and astronomers, philosophers and physicians, the heart of the only civilization in Middle-earth to bet on rational knowledge and bravely pitch its barely adolescent technology against ancient magic."...

...especially intrigued by those Orcish poets. Or rather, Orocuen, for Orcs aren't a separate race after all, but an allied civilisation with a kool new name. It strikes me as quite a good one, a good ennoblement of the word "Orc" just as "yrch" is an excellent insulting degradation. I wonder if this version's linguistic skills are equally strong elsewhere.

Hobbits are out; Elves are in and the supervillains; Orcs are humanised. I can sort of understand where this is going. Oddly enough the kind of reader who feels uneasy with Tolkienian morality is often the kind who doesn't exactly get hobbits. I know because I am that kind of reader, and I find lots of hobbitry sentimental, mawkish, inappropriately comic, destructive to grandeur of tale &c. I know this is a fundamental misunderstanding, but I can see where this author is coming from. On the other hand Elves make very glamorous villains (as we see in the Silmarillion and most of the world's folk mythology) so they remain distinct, if inverted. Orcs are human to emphasise the (in any case tricky) genocide question.

Has anyone read this? I haven't downloaded it yet; I hope CTolk doesn't annihilate it. If you're reading, Chris, please slacken the frenzied basset hounds; thanks.

I think the reviewer's remarks on fan-fiction seem sensible and even quite encouraging...I suspect she's a closet sampler herself...perhaps even a writer...?

EDIT: have now downloaded; will return to this when have read some Actual Primary Material...

03-29-2011, 04:04 PM	#1
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	One man's Orc is another man's Orocuen... http://www.salon.com/books/laura_mil...rer/index.html whadd'ya reckon? I think it's probably quite badly written and I also expect it loses a certain amount in translation, but, supposing we leave lit aesthetix aside, things get rather interesting - both what this bloke has done, and why. The souped up Barad-Dur sounds great: "that amazing city of alchemists and poets, mechanics and astronomers, philosophers and physicians, the heart of the only civilization in Middle-earth to bet on rational knowledge and bravely pitch its barely adolescent technology against ancient magic."... ...especially intrigued by those Orcish poets. Or rather, Orocuen, for Orcs aren't a separate race after all, but an allied civilisation with a kool new name. It strikes me as quite a good one, a good ennoblement of the word "Orc" just as "yrch" is an excellent insulting degradation. I wonder if this version's linguistic skills are equally strong elsewhere. Hobbits are out; Elves are in and the supervillains; Orcs are humanised. I can sort of understand where this is going. Oddly enough the kind of reader who feels uneasy with Tolkienian morality is often the kind who doesn't exactly get hobbits. I know because I am that kind of reader, and I find lots of hobbitry sentimental, mawkish, inappropriately comic, destructive to grandeur of tale &c. I know this is a fundamental misunderstanding, but I can see where this author is coming from. On the other hand Elves make very glamorous villains (as we see in the Silmarillion and most of the world's folk mythology) so they remain distinct, if inverted. Orcs are human to emphasise the (in any case tricky) genocide question. Has anyone read this? I haven't downloaded it yet; I hope CTolk doesn't annihilate it. If you're reading, Chris, please slacken the frenzied basset hounds; thanks. I think the reviewer's remarks on fan-fiction seem sensible and even quite encouraging...I suspect she's a closet sampler herself...perhaps even a writer...? EDIT: have now downloaded; will return to this when have read some Actual Primary Material... Last edited by Anguirel; 03-29-2011 at 04:08 PM.