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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Desdichado" data-source="post: 5801198" data-attributes="member: 2205">To quote Tolkien's original British publisher: "One does not edit Tolkien!"Nothing can appeal to everyone.  Tolkien himself allowed for that in his Forward--curiously, saying that he didn't really prefer the kinds of works that his critics did, so to each their own.  You're right, it isn't fair to dogpile on non-Tolkien fans for pointing out what they don't like.  It's also not exactly fair to say that they are "flaws" though--the long-windedness was done very deliberately.  In fact, all of the prose in Lord of the Rings is extremely deliberate and highly crafted and somewhat stylized in nature.I guess for me it works because I'm enough of a kindred spirit to Tolkien (or something, I dunno) that I can "see" what he's done with his text, at most junctures, and can appreciate it.  I don't see his "flaws" as flaws, I see them as style choices that add tremendously to the work.That said, even I don't have much use for the poetry.I don't think that's necessarily true, although ironically I don't know that Tolkien would have always appreciated the effect his work has had on contemporary culture, and those who coopted it in the 60s.  In any case, it's pretty undeniable that Tolkien had a huge impact on the fantasy genre, as well as having a huge impact on the gradual "mainstreamization" of fantasy--in the latter regard, he's probably only bested by George Lucas.  And since this is a D&D messageboard...  well, it may not be fair to jump on Tolkien's critics here, but it also shouldn't be unexpected.  Tolkien criticism on a D&D messageboard is a somewhat perilous venture, I'd wager, at the best of times.What he's getting at--or at least, how I interpret it--is that his cynical side has overwhelmed his romantic side.  He can no longer accept the romanticization of Medievalism and monarchy without it continually jarring his ability so suspend disbelief.  As I said, I find that approach extremely cynical, but there you have it.  I personally wouldn't want to live in a monarchy, but I can appreciate a romanticized vision of it nonetheless.All that said, as much as I love Tolkien, I wish more writers would step out of his shadow more.  The genre needs to go some different directions (and lately, it very much has been, which is good), and those who imitate him too closely risk being compared to him, which is not likely to be a favorable comparison.  Leave the Tolkienisms to Tolkien, I say.  Base the ranger on a more generic outdoorsman archetype--a Robin Hood, perhaps, or a fantasy version of Davy Crockett, or even Bear Grylls.</blockquote>

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