every time I see the words āTolkien ripoffā in reference to fantasy I laugh, because while thereās a lot of Tolkien ripoff in worldbuilding it almost never crops up in plot or theme or characterization
like
where are my stories about the decay of the world from the glory of days gone by?
whereās the motif of limb loss?
whereās the longing for the return of something worth following?
where are the bloodthirsty oaths that tear sanity to shreds?
where are the evil spirits who try and destroy the gods with steampunk V-1 buzz bombs (looking at you, The Lost Road)?
whereās my continent-wide dialectical shift ending in massive arguments over the proper pronunciation of a name? whereās my family drama centered around sparkly rocks? where are my dragons the size of mountain ranges?
Tolkienesque Fantasyā¢: thereās a quest, the elves are bitchy, the dwarves drink a lot, farm boy hero.
Tolkienās Actual Writing: absolute power corrupts absolutely, a little bit of power corrupts a little, to what extent are people responsible for their actions? does God/the gods really answer our prayers? and pacifistic undertones.
@reeve-of-caerwyn @oldshrewsburyian
Also actual Tolkien: The world is full of hope even in dark times. Kindness and friendship are what heroes are made of. Absolutely do not fuck with nature or you will regret it.
Also actual Tolkien: actual heroes are little people who band together because it is right, and because they must.


















