tetsujin28
First Post
Yep: Peake.
As for others, I always think of E.R. Eddison.
As for others, I always think of E.R. Eddison.
The fantasy lit tradition -- what came right after Tolkien?
- Thread starter EricNoah
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Alcareru
First Post
Wombat said:Well, there is also the direct contemporary of Tolkein: Mervyn Peake.
The Gormenghast books, well the first one anyway, came out in the same year as LotR
The critics preferred Peake by a wide margin; time has show which tale had the real legs
Hmm what about TH White? He wrote among other things The Once and Future King as well as 4 other books in his Arthurian "cycle". Considered technically a "children's" book but fantasy non theless.
Ranger REG
Explorer
That seems apropos, considering that Tolkien and Lewis were colleagues that started up their own literary writing club.Claude Raines said:
BTW, who's Andrew Adamson, besides he is credited for all-CGI Shrek?
The Gormenghast books are so different from LOTR, I can see why they never quite reached the popular level.
In many ways I do think that Peake is a more giffted writter than Tolkein, his prose style just conveys through sheer structure the oppresive and closed nature of his world. Unfortunately sometimes he succeds all too well, and drives you away gasping for air.
In many ways I do think that Peake is a more giffted writter than Tolkein, his prose style just conveys through sheer structure the oppresive and closed nature of his world. Unfortunately sometimes he succeds all too well, and drives you away gasping for air.
Cthulhu's Librarian
First Post
Pre-Tolkien you need to include George Macdonald (late 1800s) & Lord Dunsany (early 1900s). CS Lewis frequently cited Macdonald as "my mentor", and Dunsany was a major influence on Lovecraft, and his influence is seen in Tolkien as well. William Hope Hodgson published The House on the Boarderland in 1908. A few others I don't have dates for are Arthur Machen, Lin Carter, and Algernon Blackwood.
Post-Tolkien, Poul Anderson published Three Hearts and Three Lions in 1953. I'm not sure of the date, but I believe Jack Vance published the first of the Dying Earth series in the 50s as well (but it may have been the 60s). I'm not sure when L. Sprague de Camp, Andre Norton, and Ray Bradbury started publishing, but they weren't long after LOTR.
I'll try to think of a few more and post them. I'm in New York for the holidays so I can't go to the shelves and look to see what else is contemporary with LOTR.
Post-Tolkien, Poul Anderson published Three Hearts and Three Lions in 1953. I'm not sure of the date, but I believe Jack Vance published the first of the Dying Earth series in the 50s as well (but it may have been the 60s). I'm not sure when L. Sprague de Camp, Andre Norton, and Ray Bradbury started publishing, but they weren't long after LOTR.
I'll try to think of a few more and post them. I'm in New York for the holidays so I can't go to the shelves and look to see what else is contemporary with LOTR.
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Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Some good mentions here. I loved Poul Anderson's fantasies. Along with Peake, Sprague De Camp and a few others.
I have however thought of a few more. Lynn Abby and Rob Aspirin. Mostly for Thieves World. Uhm another might be Hambly, Fiest, and of course the Grand dame herself, Marion Zimmer Bradley.
I have however thought of a few more. Lynn Abby and Rob Aspirin. Mostly for Thieves World. Uhm another might be Hambly, Fiest, and of course the Grand dame herself, Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Desdichado
Hero
Ursula LeGuin and Lloyd Alexander weren't too long after Tolkien, were they? In a lot of ways, they seemed to be earlier authors who could arguably be labelled as part of a Tolkienian tradition of sorts. Writers like Jack Vance, L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter and Fritz Leiber, for instance, were much more clearly part of the pulp Robert E. Howard-esque tradition that owed little or nothing to Tolkien.
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Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
LeGuin I would say so. Alexander...not sure. Yes the Black Caladron series was kind of epic. But realistically, it was just a water down Magnabonin(sp). LeGuin at least try to be original. Tolkien might have drawn on old Icelandic and other traditions but he made his own mythos in the process. Alexander just made up great characters and some good plots but it was essential just a rewrite.
tetsujin28
First Post
Those would all be way past Tolkein.Nightfall said:
Buttercup
Princess of Florin
I was curious about when Andre Norton started writing, so I searched my trusty public library catalog. Looks like the oldest book they own by her is a children's book published in 1934. There are some intriguing children's titles by her from the 1950s, like Space Pioneers, Time Traders, Space Police and Star Rangers. I'll have to investigate these and report back if anyone is interested.
Witch World, the first in her eponymously named fantasy series, was published in 1963.
And in case you're interested, check out this Andre Norton website.
Witch World, the first in her eponymously named fantasy series, was published in 1963.
And in case you're interested, check out this Andre Norton website.
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