The New Shadow

[bruce rerek]

What would really be an interesting tension is the element of doubt among the current generation with the almost fantastic accounts of the distant past. In an age with no fell beasts or Elves would the rumor of the Sauron Cults be dismissed as a bunch of crazies? Yet, the gold does hold sway over those who find themselves wanting more and their relationships suffer. The element of very odd occurences wieghed against the perfectly rational explainations would prove the nettlesome doubt of our next protaganists.

[Riv Res]

Who would your next generation of protagonists be Bruce? Would you still rely on the line of Elessar? Would the fantastical element re-enter by bringing some long forgotten character back from the West? Would you stick to modern day nemeses? With the cynicism in today's world, would your protagonists be flawed heroes, or would they be more Aragorn-esque?

It does tickle the imagination does it not?

[Lindariel]

[bruce rerek]

My take on the next clash of evil and good would find the great grandchidren of our heros facing both peril and a crisis of faith. The largest would be that of evil incarnate, or with the fantastic. Our main character (possibly Eowen's great graddaughter) is a scientist and maintains that demons and angels are truths of one's mind. She will have to re-think the nature of physics and that of enchantment.
Since I do not possess the talents of Tolkine, I can just make a few posible themes.

[Leggy]

I am just finishing The Return Of The King for the umpteenth time and I saw in it, (though because I had trouble getting in here for ages, I now can't remember whereabouts!! ) That Gandalf says that theirs is the fight with Sauron, but that Sauron himself is only a messenger and they may one day have to face bigger powers in the future.

I hope no-one has already posted this bit, but I'm so euphoric about getting in, I had to tell you what was on my mind at that time
I am so enjoying it again!!!

[Lindariel]

I found the Gandalf quote you refer to Leggy. It occurs in the chapter entitled "The Last Debate:"

[Leggy]

[bruce rerek]

It is a very important fact to remember that each generation must face its peril and know that if one tries to alter this fact for the future, it may well prove to be an aid to evil. The most direct way of knowing this is to be a parent. One prepares a young soul to be independent and responsible, their choices are theirs once they mature.

[Leggy]

[Riv Res]

So Bruce and Leggy and Iolanthe and Varda and Lindariel...and anyone else who ventures into this thread ...let's go back to our original premise and question.

Where do you think Tolkien would have taken his sequel to LOTR? Knowing Tolkien's letters and biography and other literary works...where are the clues that he left us to know what he would have created for his next story?

I have my own theory, but who would like to start out?

[Merry]

I'm not creative enough to guess at an answer, but there are some important things that we could point to that might give hints. Tolkien thought of history as 'the long defeat' and that all stories are ultimately about 'The Fall'. The new story would also have to deal with a Middle-earth in which elves had, for all practical purposes, disappeared. So what will the Age of Men look like?

[Philipa]

[bruce rerek]

I think the world would be much like ours and the tension of the piece is found in faith. The protaganists would have certainly heard all of the myths surrounding the origins of Middle Earth, for at this age we are thousands of years from the War of the Ring. In this time anyting that science cannot describe is thought of as foolishness and the wonder of the wild has been greatly deminished. For our heros, they must first realize that although much of the known world has been quantified by science, it has not qualitatively made meaningful statements about nature.
In my own imagination I can see the much sought and lusted after precious ore from the wastes of what was once Mordor explained as human greed and obession, rather than a malevolent entity. It is worn as a badge of status and many who wear it find themselves given to cruelty.
The Orc Cults would be much like the vicious gangs that have arrisen where poverty is at its worst.
As for elves? I think that those who stemmed from Aragorn's line would be of elf kind and they have inherited thier better natures and unusual talents as well. Let us not forget that the elves did create the Silmarillions and the Rings of Power, so they do tend to stir the pot a bit.
As for the Maia? That would be an interesting role to fill. Aule's servants could also be natural scientists and not necessarily given to domination, but some will have to stray into the dark arts. Elberth's servants will be present but in a much more understated form.
It would be alot of work, more than this pen could describe, but its fun to conjecture.