Kevin's Watch

There are couple of references to Donaldson in Shippey's latest Tolkien book. I was impressed.

Well, I shall live out my life happy in that knowledge, thanks.

Who is Shippey and what kind of Tolkien books is he writing?

That's what I'd like to know.

I suppose the question then would be: Did he have a good word for SRD?

Shippey is the author of a book entitled JRR Tolkien: Author of the Century

Or not

Now, i do not mean to demean tolkiens work, because i am of opinion that he is an amazing writer.
However, I also think that tolkiens characters are not as interesting as donaldson's, and also tolkien tells his story like a third persons point of veiw. unlike donaldson, whom tells the story as the character perceives it. i think this gives donaldson the edge.

Shippey is the premier Tolkien scholar. He's written a couple books about him. He was Tolkien's successor at Leeds University I believe. Yes, of course he had good things to say.

First Mark Tuvor wrote:Now, i do not mean to demean tolkiens work, because i am of opinion that he is an amazing writer.
However, I also think that tolkiens characters are not as interesting as donaldson's, and also tolkien tells his story like a third persons point of veiw. unlike donaldson, whom tells the story as the character perceives it. i think this gives donaldson the edge.

Yeah, I would have to agree. While I havn't read the entire LotR series yet, Tolkein's characters seem to be a lot more pale when compared to Donaldson's. I mean, it's easy to see, most of Tolkein's characters are pretty one-minded. Frodo is all about being a goody goody, ect. It's very clear cut between Good and Evil. But Donaldson makes his characters much more real. They all have flaws, there are no purely "Good" characters. Just look at Covenant. Heh. And with the depth that Donaldson gives his characters I believe his stories are much more interesting to read.-jay

Since I read Shippey's book not long ago... As I recall, Shippey mentions Donaldson two or three times in chapters in which he defends fantasy's place--and LOTR's place--as "serious literature." Historically, fantasy has been seen as lesser writing, excapist opium for the masses and etc., and not given serious due by many critics. Shippey uses Donaldson (and other notably good, significant fantasy and/or SF writers) as an example of someone who is a serious "literary" writer who also happens to write in fantasy or SF.

I believe Donaldson is also mentioned in reference to the debt that many writers owe to Tolkien's creation. Terry Brook's Shannarah series is mentioned unflatteringly because it is so derivative, while I think Donaldson is remarked as owing Tolkien a debt, like about every other fantasy writer, but also as doing something interesting and original and therefore being worthy of merit. However, Shippey does not discuss any of Donaldson's work in-depth, or even superficially (that I recall), but he is mentioned positively.

You can also see Shippey in the LOTR extended DVD in the "about the book" segment.

In terms of the two authors in comparison, I remember reading someone's comment elsewhere on the web that Tolkien was interested in language and culture (on which point critics seem to agree) and Donaldson is interested in character. To that I'd add "moral and philosophical ideas, to a much more overt degree than Tolkien." But both do have some interesting takes on the nature of evil, the power/efficacy of the individual, etc. Donaldson just never wrote anything in Elvish. <g>

Two of my favorite authors!
If I had to sum up their styles quickly I would say that Tolkein writes more in the style of an historian, whereas Donaldson is more of a storyteller.
Love 'em both!
And I wonder if George R. R. Martin could populate his world of Westeros with such a cast of "gray", flawed characters if Donaldson hadn't come along first??