The Tolkien Template - Carrying on the torch of mythology and folklore

[Aiwendil]

I ran across most of that when I was trying to inflict the “Are you writing serious fantasy?” and the “Kalessin’s Rant” threads on myself.

As a participant in it, I feel I must defend the "Kalessin's Rant" thread (even though the reference occurred several days ago). The issue there was this: "Suppose we agree that pretty much the whole fantasy genre is far inferior to Tolkien. Why is this?" Of course, if you don't accept the premise (and it seems that Keneldil does not), the whole question ceases to exist. Naturally, you will find the inquiry pointless and boring if you don't think that the underlying question even exists.

However, I must also say this: the premise is correct. Robert Jordan is not as good as Tolkien. Terry Brooks is not as good as Tolkien. No modern fantasy author is as good as Tolkien. It's nearly impossible to prove that proposition, and I don't expect to have changed anyone's opinion with such a simple statement of fact. Nonetheless, it is fact (within the limits provided by both Descarte and Heisenberg, of course). It is completely valid for a group of people to start with this assumption and move on from there.

I realize I have not really addressed any of the issues with which this thread is concerned with, and I apologize. Carry on.