LOTR vs. Other Fantasy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

AragornII · 09-11-2005, 06:05 PM

Yes, Alcarillo, they are from the second book. I think their might be another one too, but I forget.

BTW Alcarillo, you against Paolini and other writers using Tolkien allusions? That's kinda the impression I got from your post. I'm not really against it, but I'm not really for it, so I guess I'm just neutral. I just noted those things.

Another thing is that the elves live in a big forest (Du Weldenvarden vs. Lothlorien and Mirkwood) and the dwarves live in mountains (Beor Mts. vs Misty, the lonely Mt)

Alcarillo · 09-11-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AragornII

BTW Alcarillo, you against Paolini and other writers using Tolkien allusions? That's kinda the impression I got from your post. I'm not really against it, but I'm not really for it, so I guess I'm just neutral. I just noted those things.

I suppose that little allusions are okay; they're like little hidden nuggets for LotR fans. Too subtle for the movie-goer to pick up, but like bold neon lights for avid readers of the books.

But when you begin to take major themes, such as elves coming from across the sea, that's when I feel that a line has been crossed.

Elladan and Elrohir · 09-11-2005, 10:04 PM

I'm afraid that outside of LOTR and the rest of the Tolkien Legendarium (great word BTW), my experience in reading fantasy is limited to Lewis' CoN, Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy, Michael Warden's Gideon's Dawn, Gilbert Morris' Seven Sleepers series, and Brian Jacques' Redwall books. None of which are really comparable at all with LOTR.

As an aspiring writer, one of my long-term goals is to someday write a fantasy/mythology/epic, that rivals Tolkien while being as independent from his work as I can get. Quite possibly an impossible task. I don't think even the great Greek, Roman, Finnish, Norse, etc. myths compare with the Silmarillion. Just IMHO, though.

AragornII · 09-12-2005, 04:50 PM

I guess, Alcarillo, that this just proves that no one can write anything greater then or equal to LOTR without using at least some of the ideas.

P.S. They both have dragons, although Inheritance centers more around dragons than LOTR.

Alcarillo · 09-12-2005, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AragornII

P.S. They both have dragons, although Inheritance centers more around dragons than LOTR.

And dragons have been around for hundreds of years. Dragons are not pure Tolkien, and are a common element in fantasy.

Elladan and Elrohir · 09-13-2005, 09:36 PM

And, of course, elves, dwarves, goblins, and giants (in The Hobbit, anyway) are not unique to Tolkien either, although his elves and goblins are QUITE different from how most people think of them.

Thinlómien · 09-14-2005, 08:14 AM

I read quite a long time ago the first part of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and got really irritated with it. I don't remember all the similarities but the monsters (I don't remember what they're called) are just like orcs and the place where the main character is from is too similar to the Shire, eg. the emphasized mention that doors are not usually locked and so on, and then there were kind of nazgul (somekind of undead black riders).

(I know that in the downs there are lots of WoT fans so I didn't mean to insult anybody or anybody's favourite book; this is just my opinion...)

09-11-2005, 06:05 PM	#1
AragornII Wight Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Concluding negotiations Posts: 103	Yes, Alcarillo, they are from the second book. I think their might be another one too, but I forget. BTW Alcarillo, you against Paolini and other writers using Tolkien allusions? That's kinda the impression I got from your post. I'm not really against it, but I'm not really for it, so I guess I'm just neutral. I just noted those things. Another thing is that the elves live in a big forest (Du Weldenvarden vs. Lothlorien and Mirkwood) and the dwarves live in mountains (Beor Mts. vs Misty, the lonely Mt) __________________ From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken; The crownless again shall be king.

09-11-2005, 10:04 PM	#3
Elladan and Elrohir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Halls of Mandos Posts: 332	I'm afraid that outside of LOTR and the rest of the Tolkien Legendarium (great word BTW), my experience in reading fantasy is limited to Lewis' CoN, Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy, Michael Warden's Gideon's Dawn, Gilbert Morris' Seven Sleepers series, and Brian Jacques' Redwall books. None of which are really comparable at all with LOTR. As an aspiring writer, one of my long-term goals is to someday write a fantasy/mythology/epic, that rivals Tolkien while being as independent from his work as I can get. Quite possibly an impossible task. I don't think even the great Greek, Roman, Finnish, Norse, etc. myths compare with the Silmarillion. Just IMHO, though. __________________ "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door." THE HOBBIT - IT'S COMING

09-12-2005, 04:50 PM	#4
AragornII Wight Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Concluding negotiations Posts: 103	I guess, Alcarillo, that this just proves that no one can write anything greater then or equal to LOTR without using at least some of the ideas. P.S. They both have dragons, although Inheritance centers more around dragons than LOTR. __________________ From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken; The crownless again shall be king.

09-13-2005, 09:36 PM	#6
Elladan and Elrohir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Halls of Mandos Posts: 332	And, of course, elves, dwarves, goblins, and giants (in The Hobbit, anyway) are not unique to Tolkien either, although his elves and goblins are QUITE different from how most people think of them. __________________ "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door." THE HOBBIT - IT'S COMING

09-14-2005, 08:14 AM	#7
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	I read quite a long time ago the first part of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and got really irritated with it. I don't remember all the similarities but the monsters (I don't remember what they're called) are just like orcs and the place where the main character is from is too similar to the Shire, eg. the emphasized mention that doors are not usually locked and so on, and then there were kind of nazgul (somekind of undead black riders). (I know that in the downs there are lots of WoT fans so I didn't mean to insult anybody or anybody's favourite book; this is just my opinion...) __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris