[Dominus]

Has anyone ever come across one of these?

If anyone of you has ever read an author by the name of William L. McKiernan, then they know what I am talking about. One of his books (Dragonstone?) was so similar to the Lord of the Rings in parts of it, I'm honestly suprised none of Tolkien's family is suing his pants off. And, it wasn't until I read the Silmarillion that I saw that this guy should be begging for his life on Tolkien's grave (maybe that's a little extreme).
A few things he ripped off, are the Elves and Dwarves (WAY TOO SIMILAR), Hobbits (calls 'em little people), Moria, Melkor, Sauron, Valar, orcs, Balrogs etc.

Basically, everything.

Have you ever come on one of these?

Constitui

[Rob B]

In fact, members of this forum are copycat topic authors. They start a topic that has already been discussed! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif (just kidding, I couldn't resist)

Same topic from a bout a month ago:

Copy-cats and conformists? (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001030.html)

Anyway, it is Dennis L. McKiernan. He originally (like many aspiring fantasy writers) wanted to write a follow-up work to LotR, either before the events of LotR or a sequel, not sure. Either way, he wasn't given permission by the Tolkien estate to write in the world of Middle-Earth so he wrote tales in the world of the suspiciously similarly sounding Mithgar.

Having said that, I never read anything by him, but he keeps churning out books.

Hell Terry Brooks' Shannara was an intentional modeling of LotR, but I digress.

Pre-emptive strike
Folks, tough as it is, lets try not to let this topic degrade into yet another bashing or praise of Jordan. I say this only because there is enough of that going on in other topics.

[Mithfânion]

ABout Mc Kiernan, does he at least give them other names?

[Gooch]

Yes, McKiernan is pretty much a copy of LotR, but from what I read, it's at least an enjoyable copy! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Penumbra]

Even the imaginationally challenged deserve love. I'm not certain they merit sales or appreciation.

[LadyLuna]

I just finished a duology by McKiernan, although I thought it was Dennis not William? I'll check when I get the books out again, or we might be talking about a different author. It was very similiar. The Hel's Crucible Duology. On the other hand though I read his Darkest Day trilogy and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Tolkien. So some of his books are similiar but he's got a few originals too. I liked his Darkest Day trilogy quite a bit for a few odd reasons I won't get into because they aren't on topic. About Shannara being copied from Tolkien, parts of the first trilogy certainly are based on Tolien but nothing in the Heritage of Shannara or the new series is. I just recently read Lords of the Sky by Angus Wells and it was a real rip off and a bad one at that. He copied the entire idea and almost all the details of dragonriders from Anne McCaffrey's books.

[starcrzr]

I enjoy reading his books even if he did take some of his world from from tolkiens works and tolkien didn't create elves, trolls, dwarves, dragons or little people which have been around folk lore for ages. Atleast his books are good reads with interesting characters and good storys, even if he does burrow some from tolkien. I imagine if they had case to sue over, they would have everybody else seems to be suing somebody these days.

[estranghero]

Having read both authors, I have to agree that these two are 'Tolkien-derivatives'.

Just an example, there's a scene in Dennis McKiernan's "Iron Tower" Trilogy wherein a human, an elf, and a dwarf had to run a lot to chase something down.

On the other hand, Terry Brooks' "Sword of Shannara" has a lot of Tolkien overtones that it's hard not to think about LotR even though it has a different McGuffin, i.e. a sword instead of a ring.

A 'Tolkien derivative' to see are Tolkien elves, with their 'half-elven/less pure elven' and 'pure elven' categories. I remember seeing this in LotR movie and making that connection to other authors' works.

But starcrzr has a point that there is nothing new in the world anyway and that it's hopeless if we should be suing the hell each other for being copycats. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

P.S. I'm having a hell of a time trying to write this down and keep working at the office at the same time. Grrrr!

[This message has been edited by estranghero (edited January 16, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by estranghero (edited January 16, 2002).]

[Qin]

McKeirnan's novels are strangely enjoyable. When I read Into the Forge, I was conciously aware that it was a blatant Tolkien clone, and yet I found the book...pleasant. It was derivative, and of an inferior quality to Tolkien, but...for whatever reason, I found it enjoyable.

I suppose it's not unlike driving by a train wreck and glancing at it briefly to see if there're any bodies strewn about the grounds. I.E.: It's crap, but the attraction is purely morbid fascination.

[Coldfire]

Yeah most of McKiernan's work is blatant Tolkien ripoff but he's also one of my favorite authors. I can understand why he gets bashed so often by fantasy readers but still I find most of his work quite enjoyable.