Identifying with TC and LA

[Wraith seeker]

I spent years listening to how CTC was just a weak LOTR rip-off (e.g., how the Haruchai were a rip of the Fighting Uruk-Hai). My argument was that Covenant was very much the "anti-Frodo" - there was nothing heroic about him at all, especially in the First Chronicles. He was the loner who found himself thrust into a situation that: a) he didn't want; and, b) he couldn't handle (i.e., the rape of Lena).

Through a life of medical fun myself, during which I found myself the single parent of four children, YES...I IDENTIFY.

What I also find very interesting is how Linden is in many ways the anti-TC; by the end of Fatal Revenant she is utterly confident in wielding her power; whereas at the end of WGW Covenant wins by pure submission to his own weakness. It is difficult for me to identify with Linden other than her devotion to her son.

[aliantha]

Psst, Wraith seeker, you don't want to be going around saying stuff like that here. There's a band of misanthropes that call themselves THOOLAH who prey on people like you.

[Cagliostro]

I have to say that I really thought it was a rip-off at first too, with a few more elements (real world, leprosy, anti-hero), but as the books continued, it moved very far from this. I was thankful for The Power That Preserves as I identified almost nothing from Lord of the Rings in there.
And yes, by the time we meet Linden, the story has definitely moved way beyond a "rip-off."

[High Lord Tolkien]

Psst, Wraith seeker, you don't want to be going around saying stuff like that here. There's a band of misanthropes that call themselves THOOLAH who prey on people like you.

Linden sucks.
The Chronicles are great in spite of her not because of her.

THOOLAH only points that out.

And this:

[wayfriend]

Fortunately, most times you can ward off a THOOLAH by waving a Staff-shaped stick of some sort. If you're properly prepared, the danger of obtaining a soul-withering disease from one of these pests is minimized.

[Menolly]

I think Wraith seeker would be more comfortable within the ranks of OPAL than either THOOLAH or Linden's Army.

It is difficult for me to identify with Linden other than her devotion to her son.

Right on.
Save your judgment of Linden until she gives us a true reason to either embrace or despise. Until then...

OPAL! OPAL!! OPAL!!!

[aliantha]

Not that we have factions here or anything...

[Orlion]

This seems to be the next battleground! I know THOOLAH's position is all ready fishy, but

[Furls Fire]

Hail and well met, Wraith Seeker

Uh, try not to take the Linden haters too seriously, or the Linden lovers. They really are harmless albeit extreme in their feelings. Me? I'm on the fence. She bugs me at times, but at other times I'm going..."Yeah! You go girl!!" The story isn't over with yet...

Altho, Covenant is still my hero.

[Savor Dam]

I'm on the fence. She bugs me at times, but at other times I'm going..."Yeah! You go girl!!" The story isn't over with yet...

Thus, OPAL -- those of us who are Opinion Pending About Linden. Let's trust SRD to tell us the story and not make up our minds prematurely.

Really, Wraith Seeker, it's the only rational choice unless you are destined to be one of those dogmatic denizens of the Tank (a contentious forum here, formally known as Hile Troy's Think Tank. Venture there at your own risk.)

[matrixman]

I spent years listening to how CTC was just a weak LOTR rip-off (e.g., how the Haruchai were a rip of the Fighting Uruk-Hai).

Readers who would make such a baffling comparison as that have no understanding of either TCTC or LOTR at even a surface level, or have never actually read them. Or they just want to start an argument for argument's sake. It's best to just shrug and move on.

I'm glad you weren't turned into a Donaldson-hater, Wraith seeker.