The Greatness of J.R.R. Tolkien

[Inarus]

How great do you see Tolkien, the man who seems to have more power in this forum than moderators (Simply because someone says "LORE" and everyone realises they are leaving behind Tolkien's Work and entering their OWN fantasy)?

He created one of the most successful works of fiction since the Bible* but he surely did more?

He created the world of fantasy fiction as it is now. He possibly introduced many people to reading after they saw the films and wanted to know more.

And he never knew how strongly appreciated or great he was, they will remember Tolkien long after any other fantasy writer.

Perhaps Tolkien was so great because he did not write of the tales of the Arda, he translated them.


Sorry, I apologize to all Christians, I do not doubt that Jesus existed in any way
[this spoiler may hurt Christians, I apologize in advance and also warn them]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Just that he never turned water into wine, etc.

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[Jack Sparrow]

[sturmdg]

He is good; he knew what he liked to write and he persevered even if it was not succesfull for many years. He wrote some of the most enjoyable books I've read. But I dont really like the 400 pages of backstory as a direct entertaiment. I appreciate their importance for the deph of his world, but I like fiction being readable. Because Silmarillion is not like the Bible ony due to the richness of its content, but the non-literary form its told.

Anyway I'd say Robert E. Howard created the world of fantasy fiction as it is now. He did first.

[Swanny777]

I honestly did not care for his writing style at all.

I like the storyline, but how he wrote it kills me. I am an avid reader, but I always put off reading his books whenever I start, because they bore me. He over-details EVERYTHING, making it hard and boring to follow the storyline. I appreciate what he did for the genre, but how he did it is not my style. However, I understand and respect the people that do like the way that the books are written.

[Pacifist]

Yes, he is a pretty bad writer as a writer. No-one really insults him as making bad story-lines, but as it is reading his books is nigh impossible unless you have lots of time and patience.

[Jean=A=Luc]

Yes, he is a pretty bad writer as a writer.

Are you kidding? Maybe you don't like his style but you can't say he's a bad writer.

It was like 60 years ago and naturally the style was perhaps different than today but the amount of detail is an important part of what makes the books so great.

[Tokus*Maximus]

I work as a commercial artist and dip into the audio books from time to time. The chapter in the Silmarillion which covers the time leading up to the War of the Ring is very good; kind of a summing up. Tolkien can be slow and winding in the explaination, but that is what I like about his writing. His story wanders around like a Ranger's wee - it's all over the place! LOL

Seriously though (and personally) My Dad - when a young man - spent some time at the university Tolkien was at in his later years. Dad was well read on the Norse sagas and pre Anglo Saxon Britain. When I was a kid, he presented me and my bro with old bound copies of The Lord of the Rings (we'd already happily consumed the Hobbit as small children). He said the story was a fantastic (made-up) form of British Mythology we never really had (lost due to various continental intruders over the years which brought prosperity but also addapted or destroyed a lot of our older handed down culture).

In a way, seeing the popular films reminds how much everyone can relate the story to their own belief system and outlook. That's why I beleive it is such a powerful story of hope and standing together in the face of total dispair (like sub-modding!)

Hope this finds you all well,

Tokus*Maximus

[Inarus]

Writing styles have changed over the years and many have passed.

I was referring more so to LotR not the Silmarrillion. The Silmarillion is certainly an "odd" book simply because of how it was written. LotR is far more widely recognised, if only because of the films. I understand what you say of his writing styles but that is certainly nothing in the face of the STORY.

Perhaps if you had read this at the time of its creation you would have said different.

P.S. I had never heard of Robert E. Howard before you said his name, I wonder who else?

[Vhaelor]

Are you kidding? Maybe you don't like his style but you can't say he's a bad writer.

It was like 60 years ago and naturally the style was perhaps different than today but the amount of detail is an important part of what makes the books so great.

Captain Picard has spoken. That makes it final.

[TheXand]

That's BS, H.G. Wells wrote his books even longer ago than Tolkien and H.G. Wells was still a much better and more interesting writer than Tolkien. The writing style of Tolkien was dusty and boring 60 years ago too

[OfficerJohn]

How great do you see Tolkien, the man who seems to have more power in this forum than moderators (Simply because someone says "LORE" and everyone realises they are leaving behind Tolkien's Work and entering their OWN fantasy)?

Uhm, that never worked for me. When I say "LORE" someone comes along saying "you said "lore"? That means you're wrong, don't you know that?"

[Aeglos]

Well I agree with the OP. Tolkien has created an immensely rich and detailed world which has and will survive the test of time and from which most modern fantasy writing burrows from. The sheer scope and brilliance of his work will probably not be equalled for a very long time.

[Beregond]

I've read Howard for some years before I became mature enough to read Tolkien...

and as I always liked myths and legends at that time I liked Silmarillion more than LOTR (I think mine is a unique case)
LOTR was like a discovery for me at around the age of 15 ,though I only recently started to read it in English(the language is just magnificent to me),and I still have to buy the Two Towers and Hobbit ,English books are hard to find here...

[Inarus]

I've read Howard for some years before I became mature enough to read Tolkien...

and as I always liked myths and legends at that time I liked Silmarillion more than LOTR (I think mine is a unique case)
LOTR was like a discovery for me at around the age of 15 ,though I only recently started to read it in English(the language is just magnificent to me),and I still have to buy the Two Towers and Hobbit ,English books are hard to find here...

Where is here (Although there is probably some thing I have overlooked that answers that question).

I wonder how Tolkien compares to J.K. Rowling. Certainly she is not as good but her books certainly are well written, well plotted and in the end everything comes together.

[Aeglos]

Certainly she is not as good but her books certainly are well written, well plotted and in the end everything comes together.

You have to be joking. I'm sorry but while her books have an interesting plot and overall idea, her writing skills leave a lot to be desired to say the least.

[OfficerJohn]

I wonder how Tolkien compares to J.K. Rowling. Certainly she is not as good but her books certainly are well written, well plotted and in the end everything comes together.

I like Tolkien's writing style much more, and I like all the lose ends Tolkien places around.
Harry Potter explains everything, and doesn't leave any of the thinking to you. Sure, that's cool for a child, but I find it way more interesting to have some big questions not answered. (Like Tom... who is Tom anyways?).

And before you say anything, I am a child.

[Inarus]

Hey I'm sixteen. My favourite author - after Tolkien of course - is Jeff Lindsay or J.K. Rowling (who can in no way be compared).

Once again you people mention names I have never heard of and I tend to look at bookshelves a lot.

But you must say that Tolkien's characters are well devised in that they all have a purpose of importance, especially the Hobbits, from Bilbo to Sméagol.

[OfficerJohn]

Hey I'm sixteen. My favourite author - after Tolkien of course - is Jeff Lindsay or J.K. Rowling (who can in no way be compared).

Once again you people mention names I have never heard of and I tend to look at bookshelves a lot.

But you must say that Tolkien's characters are well devised in that they all have a purpose of importance, especially the Hobbits, from Bilbo to Sméagol.

Tom Bombadil? You've heard of him, right?
Right?
And I'm fifteen

[Inarus]

I like Tolkien's writing style much more, and I like all the lose ends Tolkien places around.
Harry Potter explains everything, and doesn't leave any of the thinking to you. Sure, that's cool for a child, but I find it way more interesting to have some big questions not answered. (Like Tom... who is Tom anyways?).

And before you say anything, I am a child.

Thing was that Tolkien never was able to explain every end, if he still lived we may know all of merry Tom. Harry Potter can not really be continued but Tolkien's world could.

Of course I know Tom, I read the books when I was ten and again right now.

[OfficerJohn]

Thing was that Tolkien never was able to explain every end, if he still lived we may know all of merry Tom. Harry Potter can not really be continued but Tolkien's world could.

Of course I know Tom, I read the books when I was ten and again right now.

Good...
And, well, maybe he would have explained more if he'd lived longer, but he didn't. And I still like it