New stories about elves?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Aurel

Is it possible to write a story about elves and not be compared to JRRT?

Would you have to follow the guide lines that JRRT set down?

Following the precepts of Tolkien would be totally dependent on whether or not you were using Middle-earth as a setting for the story. If the aim was a Middle-earth tale, then certainly the cosmological, ethical and aesthetical principles Tolkien set down would be required. As far as the larger picture concerning Elves, or fantasy tales in general, it is difficult to escape the immense shadow set by the Professor; it seems comparison to him is inescapable in the fantasy genre (with or without Elves).

That being said, a story regarding Elves does not require any precedence to Tolkien's work, as Elves (Alfar) can be found in Norse mythology and the Icelandic Eddas and Sagas, but they do not necessarily bear a resemblance to Tolkien's Elves. Much the same could be said of the Irish Daoine Sidhe or the Seelie and Unseelie Courts of Scotland.