The_Gneech
Explorer
Tolkien is full of orcs, of course; the word itself is old or middle English if I remember correctly. So I kinda take it as read that the Professor's work is the primary source of the orc as a fantasy creature, as with the hobbit/halfling.
(In this context, I mean the term "orc" as opposed to the more-commonly used "goblin," and "hobbit" as opposed to references to "wee folk under the hills" or whatever.)
Anyway, I'm curious ... aside from D&D and other gaming-related material (including Elmore's "Sovereign Stone" setting, which is kinda-sorta gaming derived), is there any fantasy literature out there that uses the term "orc?" I've seen plenty of elves, a smattering of dwarves, a few very-deliberate "hobbits with the serial numbers filed off." But I've rarely seen the orc make a literary appearance. Generally, non-human, evil humanoid creatures I've seen in fantasy books are referred to as trolls or goblins, or some world-specific "darkling" or something similar.
So. What's up with the orc? Any thoughts?
-The Gneech
(In this context, I mean the term "orc" as opposed to the more-commonly used "goblin," and "hobbit" as opposed to references to "wee folk under the hills" or whatever.)
Anyway, I'm curious ... aside from D&D and other gaming-related material (including Elmore's "Sovereign Stone" setting, which is kinda-sorta gaming derived), is there any fantasy literature out there that uses the term "orc?" I've seen plenty of elves, a smattering of dwarves, a few very-deliberate "hobbits with the serial numbers filed off." But I've rarely seen the orc make a literary appearance. Generally, non-human, evil humanoid creatures I've seen in fantasy books are referred to as trolls or goblins, or some world-specific "darkling" or something similar.
So. What's up with the orc? Any thoughts?
-The Gneech
