Kevin's Watch

Although a poet (W.H. Auden) admired The Lord of the Rings I think Tolkien's poetry is mediocre. I think the whole trilogy suffers from an excess of ethereality. This is probably what the critic Edmund Wilson meant when he said the war's are bloodless, etc. I think Lewis's Narnia books are more substantive, have more grain and texture in the realization of this world then does Middle Earth. I think this holds true for Covenant as well (in a differant way) the battles therein are certainly bloody. When one of the Ramen is disemboweled by the wolves one has empathy for the character. Dare I say that Edgar Rice Burroughs or Robert E. Howard were better at imaginative vividness then Tolkien? Of course it's posssible to over do it, ala the absurdities of John Norman.

First off, you should check out The Library, down at the bottom of the main page. I imagine this topic will be moved to there by a moderator.

Second, Rorschach's gonna kick your butt!!!!!

Third, welcome to the Watch. Welcome and true!

Blood and viscera don't necessarily make good fantasy. In fact, I'd say the ethereal can be very compelling when done well.

But I am amused by the suggestion that LOTR is "effete". I have a mental image of all the characters mincing.

I certainly have room in my heart for both. For true down n' dirty nothing yet beats George RR Martin, though.

I agree ASoIaF can get very brutal at points.

CovenantJr wrote:But I am amused by the suggestion that LOTR is "effete". I have a mental image of all the characters mincing.

Try reading the Very Secret Diaries of the LotR characters if you want to reinforce that image.

Legolas wrote:Day One:

Went to Council of Elrond. Was prettiest person there. Agreed to follow some tiny little man to Mordor to throw ring into volcano. Very important mission: gold ring so tacky.

Ah, thanks all the gods for parody.

Those diaries are great!

Every Very Secret Diary wrote:Sam will kill him if he tries anything.

Some TC ones would be very good, we should attempt to make some.