Tolkien, Overrated?

[GrimTuesday]

I'm a pretty big fan of fantasy yet I hate the Lord of the Rings books and most of Tolkien's other books. To many of my friends who are also fantasy fans this is like blaspheme and I have on quite a few occasions had to defend my opinion in heated argument form.

My problem with Tolkien is I feel that he draws things out, especially descriptions. Also he has gone so in much detail that it kind of ruins the experience for me. It's one thing to develop you're world but there is such a thing as over developing it. It makes it so the reader is less involved in the telling of the story, you can't even think about what the rock looks because he has already spent half a page describing it.

How do you feel about Tolkien? What other writers do you feel are overrated and why?

Edit: I'm not refuting Tolkien's contribution to fantasy as a genre In fact I have admitted that he was a major influence to many of the best authors of our time.

 

[Jazzyjazz2323]

DEMS FIGHTIN WORDS BOY!!!
OT:I absolutely adore Tolkien I've read everything by him and The Silmarillion is absolutely my favorite piece of literature.Everything about his world and what he's done with it just fascinates me.

 

[Kimarous]

We all have our dislikes, but you still should acknowledge major figures. Tolkien was practically the father of modern fantasy stories, just like how Shakespeare was for theatre or Freud was for psychology. You may think their works are crap, but you can't deny their influence.

 

[impcnrd]

a weebit over-rated

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

Tolkien's work can admittedly be a bit dry at times, but I rather enjoy it. There are some books that take me awhile to get engrossed in, but once I am, there's no pulling me away. The Silmarillion and the LotR are the perfect examples.

 

[Judgement101]

You have just opened the box of NERD RAGE!

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

We all have our dislikes, but you still should acknowledge major figures. Tolkien was practically the father of modern fantasy stories, just like how Shakespeare was for theatre or Freud was for psychology. You may think their works are crap, but you can't deny their influence.

This. You ever listen to, say, the Beatles and wonder what made them so popular? Influence. They changed things in music forever. That's what Tolkien did for the fantasy genre. Watch Yahtzee's "Dragon Age: Origins" review. Most of the things you associate with fantasy races was created by Tolkien.

 

[lovest harding]

Personal preference.
That's the great thing about art (and almost everything else to be honest).
I haven't really read Tolkien. There's a bit too much of it everywhere. So it makes reading the books a tad boring/uninteresting.
I have a book of his, though. Filled with lesser known short stories (something about Miscellany).

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Much of it comes from over saturation. Tolkien is the inventor of the modern fantasy archetype. Nearly every high fantasy work that has come out since the LOTR trilogy has borrowed in at least one way from his work.

The reason why people who have read other works before his seem to think this way is because they've seen the same story.

There is not one element in Tolkien's epic that has not been reproduced a dozen times over. It is much the same as Half Life 2. It set the bar for modern shooters at the time. The Lord Of the Rings is the literary equivalent. You've seen everything before, this guy just did it first.

 

[esouhnet]

Your very reasons for disliking Tolkien are why I like him. The man knew how to build a world, that was full of impossible elements but it all felt real at the same time. I'm currently working through The Silmarillion and loving it all.

 

[GrimTuesday]

We all have our dislikes, but you still should acknowledge major figures. Tolkien was practically the father of modern fantasy stories, just like how Shakespeare was for theatre or Freud was for psychology. You may think their works are crap, but you can't deny their influence.

Of course I agree that he has been a huge influence on moderen fantasy writers, in fact I'm a huge fan of George RR Martin who has many time said that Tolkien was a huge influence on his writing. I just don't like Tolkien's style.

 

[Fumbleumble]

He's certainly not over-rated.. by virtue of being the father of modern fantasy, and the impact that has had on our society, that alone lends him all the credence he'd ever need.

I will say that he can be rather long-winded, but that in no way detracts from his contributions or talent... His writings are not only stories but exercises in literary excellence.

 

[Nouw]

We all have our dislikes, but you still should acknowledge major figures. Tolkien was practically the father of modern fantasy stories, just like how Shakespeare was for theatre or Freud was for psychology. You may think their works are crap, but you can't deny their influence.

Ooooo /thread.

Without Tolkien, we'd have no elves at all! And maybe even less!

 

[Jazzyjazz2323]

Grim i like you man and normally agree with you but not this time!!!!

Tolkein is one of the greatest, if not the greatest fantasy writer of all time. As good as the Trilogy and The Hobbit were his greatest book was the Silmarillion. I think I have read that book like 15 times or so it is that good.

The LOTR Universe is so well described and full of rich details it is mind boggling.

Yes I am a LOTR fanboy and proud of it!

As far as other writers being overrated I am not sure. I have read plenty of books but no single writer has ever held my interest quite like Tolkein.

Sir I salute you for reading the Silmarillion just about as many times as me.

 

[ManicMedic]

Is he over-rated hmmmmm, depends how highly you rate him I guess. He's one of my favourite authors but I don't think he's a literary god, like some people do.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I don't blame people who think he's overrated. I like his stories, but I hate how he describes every fucking detail of what's happening.

You have to give him credit, without him none of the "elves, dwarves, dragons," fantasy genre would exist today.

 

[GrimTuesday]

You have just opened the box of NERD RAGE!

I know, I just needed to get this off my chest.

Grim i like you man and normally agree with you but not this time!!!!

Tolkein is one of the greatest, if not the greatest fantasy writer of all time. As good as the Trilogy and The Hobbit were his greatest book was the Silmarillion. I think I have read that book like 15 times or so it is that good.

The LOTR Universe is so well described and full of rich details it is mind boggling.

Yes I am a LOTR fanboy and proud of it!

As far as other writers being overrated I am not sure. I have read plenty of books but no single writer has ever held my interest quite like Tolkein.

Someone needs to read A Game of Thrones. That book and it's sequels will ruin most fantasy for you it's written so well. That and it will kill your optimism when reading fantasy books, George RR Martin is not afraid to piss off his readers by killing favorite characters.