Hatrack River Forum: More Middle Earth stories

This is topic More Middle Earth stories in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :

I was browsing in a bookstore a while ago, reading in a book about Tolkien. The intro was a letter from Tolkien to a friend in which he talked about his stories, and about the world they happened in. Tolkien made the comment that he hoped (forlornly, he felt)that other authors might, in the future, be able to use his creations as a basis for stories of their own. The stories would be founded in Middle Earth, and use at least some characters of Tolkien's creation. My recollection of Tolkien's words is hazy, as it was two years ago, but his intention was very clear.
I wonder why this has not happened. Presumably because the Tolkien estate has not authorised anything like this. Given Tolkien's hope, I think this is a shame. Isaac Asimov's worlds have been handled in this way, and I believe other authors' works have too.
Waddaya think of the idea? What stories would you like to see picked up on? For me, there's a whole untapped Second Age that would make wonderful reading. The stuff tantalisingly mentioned in the Annals is full of possibilities. The Dwarf-Orc wars, for example. The Wain-Riders. The capture of the last king of Gondor by the Lord of the Nazgul. Or is Tolkien too sacrosanct to be touched?
That's probably Christopher Tolkien's view. What do the rest of you think??

Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :

yeah, today Tolkein is almost untouchable in the fantasy genre. It'd be like saying, "I think I'll write in those years in Jesus's life that aren't in the Bible. Maybe his sidekick's a talking pie?"

I guess my point is that Tolkein is great, but in the fantasy genre there are abysmal, abysmal lows. I'd be afraid to open him up to those lows.

[ June 14, 2004, 08:56 AM: Message edited by: Book ]

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Actually, they did open it up, after a fashion. Iron Crown Enterprises was a gaming company that made the game Middle-Earth Role-Playing. They fleshed out a lot of the history, like the history of the 9 Nazgul. Of course, they didn't to it in novel form. [Dont Know]

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

quote:
Maybe his sidekick's a talking pie?