The Tolkien Template - Carrying on the torch of mythology and folklore - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gwaihir the Windlord · 11-12-2002, 03:21 AM

You have a point. The thing is though, fantasty, because of Tolkien, is a particular genre that contains a lot of spin-offy type novels. Rather like Star Wars, except these fantasy books have nothig to do with Tolkien but are inspired by it.

Anyone who is inspired by another author to go and write a book is bound to be somewhat trashy; their story is going to be too close to the inspiring author. You can be inspired by other authors to write, kind of write in general, but if you follow them too closely you're bound to look fake. You have to have your own unique world to set fantasy in.

Having said this, the problem may be in your own mind. Perhaps you are sort of comparing fantasy you read with Tolkien? Well, since Tolkien himself is insurpassable, you get a bit of a problem there, you see? Personally I don't tend to read fantasy for that reason; I find it too generally be a poor imitation of Tolkien. Once you've read the works of the Prof, everything else is naturally going to seem rather inept.

I make one exception. Philip Pullman and his 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. I spose you'd call that fantasy, although it isn't the usual, run of the mill crude imitation stuff. In fact he bears no resemblance to the Great Man at all. He's very good though. Incredible imagination.

11-12-2002, 03:21 AM	#4
Gwaihir the Windlord Essence of Darkness Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Evermore Posts: 1,420	You have a point. The thing is though, fantasty, because of Tolkien, is a particular genre that contains a lot of spin-offy type novels. Rather like Star Wars, except these fantasy books have nothig to do with Tolkien but are inspired by it. Anyone who is inspired by another author to go and write a book is bound to be somewhat trashy; their story is going to be too close to the inspiring author. You can be inspired by other authors to write, kind of write in general, but if you follow them too closely you're bound to look fake. You have to have your own unique world to set fantasy in. Having said this, the problem may be in your own mind. Perhaps you are sort of comparing fantasy you read with Tolkien? Well, since Tolkien himself is insurpassable, you get a bit of a problem there, you see? Personally I don't tend to read fantasy for that reason; I find it too generally be a poor imitation of Tolkien. Once you've read the works of the Prof, everything else is naturally going to seem rather inept. I make one exception. Philip Pullman and his 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. I spose you'd call that fantasy, although it isn't the usual, run of the mill crude imitation stuff. In fact he bears no resemblance to the Great Man at all. He's very good though. Incredible imagination.