JohnH
October 8th, 2001, 02:59 PM
So who 'does' Tolkien well ('sides Mrs Tolkien - apologies to the more purient members - but I could not resist!)?
The only author that comes to mind is Deborah Christian whose dwarves and elves seem closely based on Tolkien's. At least in physicality and personality.
McKiernan does Tolkien but his best work is when he leaves the cloying warrows to the side and strays from Tolkien as much as possible.
Brooks also tried to do Tolkien to poor effort.
Feist does the elves and dwarves in close Tolkien approximation. His orignal story was fresh enough (before Pugalicious became the theme of every book) that the similarities were seen as familiar without being overly familiar.
Weis and Hickman -- also did the gaming route of Tolkien inspiration. Thibnk their work is horrid regardless of who inspired them.
Eddings took the whole idea of a talisman and pretty much bludgeoned it to death.
Rebecca Bradley went the Eddings route and ended up with a witty, entertaining intelligent series that puts Eddings to shame.
So who else took Tolkien and tried to run with him (whether they scored or dropped him without making a first down)?
I know that some consider all contemporary fantasy derivative of Tolkien, but this is more about following certain themesrather closely. Elves, dwarves, goblins and rings. That sort of thing.
The only author that comes to mind is Deborah Christian whose dwarves and elves seem closely based on Tolkien's. At least in physicality and personality.
McKiernan does Tolkien but his best work is when he leaves the cloying warrows to the side and strays from Tolkien as much as possible.
Brooks also tried to do Tolkien to poor effort.
Feist does the elves and dwarves in close Tolkien approximation. His orignal story was fresh enough (before Pugalicious became the theme of every book) that the similarities were seen as familiar without being overly familiar.
Weis and Hickman -- also did the gaming route of Tolkien inspiration. Thibnk their work is horrid regardless of who inspired them.
Eddings took the whole idea of a talisman and pretty much bludgeoned it to death.
Rebecca Bradley went the Eddings route and ended up with a witty, entertaining intelligent series that puts Eddings to shame.
So who else took Tolkien and tried to run with him (whether they scored or dropped him without making a first down)?
I know that some consider all contemporary fantasy derivative of Tolkien, but this is more about following certain themesrather closely. Elves, dwarves, goblins and rings. That sort of thing.