[Gilgamesh]

Hi all,

As far as I can remember, a few R.A. Salvatore books, that I've read, were the only ones telling stories about a world dominated by Tolkienian races: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Orcs etc.

Can you recommend good books built on such an environment?

Thanks,

[Cranky Hamster]

Uh... it depends how you are defining "good."

Terry Brooks' Shannara books and Dennis McKiernan's Mithgar books are basically Tolkien knockoffs, which is generally considered a reason that they are not good books. But if you want a direct clone, that's as close as you're likely to get.

For better-than-average RPG novels, which are often set in worlds that have elves and dwarves and halflings, check that thread.

Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy is a bridge between Tolkien and GRRM (to a much greater extent than I had previously realized; he actually had the "angry warrior in snarling hound's-head helm" and office of the King's Hand first, among other things), and shows strong influences in the naming conventions and certain uses of language. His "elves" are Sithi and Norns, and to the extent that he has "dwarves" they're more like Inuit trolls, so it's less of a knockoff but overall a better series of books.

[Radone]

Magician by Raymond Feist is a good book that has humans, dwarves, and elves. It is definetely Tolkienesque. His later books are set in the same world, but don't have that same sense of wonder, like Magician. They are still good. Well, up-and-down, anyway.
I thought Sword of Shannara too closely resembled LotR for my taste. I happened to like the second book, Elfstones of Shannara, a lot, though. In his autobiography, Brooks noted a little ruefully that many people seem to feel that way.

[columbob]

Uh... it depends how you are defining "good."

Terry Brooks' Shannara books and Dennis McKiernan's Mithgar books are basically Tolkien knockoffs, which is generally considered a reason that they are not good books. But if you want a direct clone, that's as close as you're likely to get.

For better-than-average RPG novels, which are often set in worlds that have elves and dwarves and halflings, check that thread.

Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy is a bridge between Tolkien and GRRM (to a much greater extent than I had previously realized; he actually had the "angry warrior in snarling hound's-head helm" and office of the King's Hand first, among other things), and shows strong influences in the naming conventions and certain uses of language. His "elves" are Sithi and Norns, and to the extent that he has "dwarves" they're more like Inuit trolls, so it's less of a knockoff but overall a better series of books.

How can you say that Brooks' races are Tolkien knockoffs? They're as different from Tolkien's as Williams' are. In fact, Brooks' races only borrow their names from Tolkien.

In Shannara, Elves are mortal, they have about the same lifespan as humans. Trolls, gnomes (don't remember seeing any gnomes in LOTR) and dwarves are all descendants of the human race, and not some higher, older or created race. Dwarves live above ground and love gardening.

In fact, if it wasn't for the structure of the first book, The Sword of Shannara, which borrows heavily from LOTR, I wouldn't say that the Shannara books (of which there are 15 now and counting, in 7 distinct timelines) are direct Tolkien clones at all.

[Gilgamesh]

gnomes (don't remember seeing any gnomes in LOTR)

Mea Culpa :)... I had just mentioned "R.A. Salvatore" and that's probably why I got confused in the list (because he has Gnomes in his stories as far as I remember). But Gnomes are fine :), really... :)

[Abhorsen]

I'm sure Tolkien didn't name the races but used names people were already familiar with :)

I'd second Brooks if you can get past the SoS similarities to LotR.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant feature Tolkienesque elements thought can be a little hard going. Raymond E Feist and Tad Williams have Elves and Dwarves etc, as has been mentioned above, Magician is an early fave of mine.