So The Fall of Gondolin Book released, the final Middle-Earth book to be released.

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

If you ask me, everything that Tolkien has written is boring as hell.

Quite likely.

Tolkein's prose is somewhat ponderous and leaden, even by the standards of the time he wrote. (Even more so nowadays, as fiction writing has become more refined towards faster pace and ease of reading.) The other thing is that because Tolkein was the principal influence that caused the genre of fantasy to flourish, people who've already read lots of fantasy before Tolkein have probably ploughed through 20 million of the derivative tropes he started, so they're not even experiencing much that's new.

And yet the sheer hypocrisy when people refer to other Fantasy works as just ripping off Lord of the Rings


So make up your mind internet reviewers, do you like Tolkien, or do you like Fantasy stuff that came afterward more?

And regarding Tolkien's prose, do I have to write an entire paragraph example of a chapter to prove Tolkien knows how to write an epic?

 

[Satinavian]

No one here has read Tolkien's books other then the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings?

Read most of them and actually liked them. But that was a long time ago and i had little other exposure to fantasy, only to fairy tales, so most of the stuff was still new and exciting.

 

[cathou]

Seconded. The Simarillion has a handful of decent short stories, but the vast bulk is boring fluff.

Indeed; The Silmarillion is pretty much a framework to hold and contextualise some more detailed stories (e.g. Fall of Gondolin, Tale of Beren and Luthien) and the background of LoTR. It's thus a kind of a history book, in a sense; or one of those cash-in encyclopedias which modern fantasy series seem to spawn with an ongoing plot.

yes, reading the silmarillion give you a lot more context when you get to other books. Like who's Tom and what is really gandalf... I'm glad i readed it, but it was painfull for almost the first half. i've read unfinished tales too which are interresting until you realised why the book is call unfinished tales...

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Because you haven't read the good parts yet.

I find the whole Middle-Earth setting dull.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Because you haven't read the good parts yet.

I find the whole Middle-Earth setting dull.

What fantasy setting you don't find dull?

Unless you find it all dull because judging by your avatar you prefer Science Fiction?

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

As i understand, there's a reason "Silmarillion" is called The Bible of Middleearth. It follows a chronicle structure, rather that of a normal story, no? That's why i was always hesitant to start it. Fun for picking up bits and pieces of lore. Not so much for actual reading.

BTW: That, do a degree applies to most of Tolkien's works. He was great at creating a setting, but there were better story writers than him.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

What fantasy setting you don't find dull?

Unless you find it all dull because judging by your avatar you prefer Science Fiction?

I love fantasy. I just have a problem with Tolkien.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

What fantasy setting you don't find dull?

Unless you find it all dull because judging by your avatar you prefer Science Fiction?

I love fantasy. I just have a problem with Tolkien.

Does your love of fantasy still include a Medieval like setting with Castles and Knights and Wizards and Rogues and Dragons? Of course with aspects of it that makes it different from Tolkien mind you.

Or you like the different kind of fantasy like Harry Potter or A Christmas Carol?

 

[09philj]

The Hobbit and The Lord

No one here has read Tolkien's books other then the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings?

Or only just watched the movies?

Why are Tolkien's other Middle Earth books not as well versed than Harry Potter and Song of Ice and Fire?

Because they are really boring, originally intended as being a setting for him to play around with invented languages, rather than stories people want to read? That'd be my first guess.

Also to amuse himself with real languages. Every character's name has a really on the nose meaning in old English or a contemporary European language. We are eternally indebted to Tolkien for further building on Edward Plunkett, Lord Dunsany's earlier innovation in the field of fantastical world building, but The Hobbit is his only work worth reading for pleasure.