Middle-earth Journeys

Posted: **Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:57 pm**

Telperion's Children

Tolkien in General

Tolkien General is here to catch the discussions that do not fit in any other of our threads here at Middle-earth Journeys. If you are unsure of where your post should go you can always PM any of the staff here. We have provided a list of links for all our threads so you can check for topics before posting.

Tolkien in the News
Tolkien Trivia
Questions About Middle-earth Journeys
Discussing The Lord of the Rings Chapter by Chapter
Concerning Hobbits/Prologue of LoTR
The Hobbit
The Silmarillion
Tolkien’s Letters
Tokien Biographies and Biographers
Discussions of Tolkien Languages
Tom Shippey
Maps of Middle-earth
J.R.R.Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator
Art & Artists Inspired by J.R.R.Tolkien

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Posted: **Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:42 am**

I'll start us off with a very general discussion:

Thesis: J. R. R. Tolkien was the greatest author of the twentieth century.

Discuss.

(not that we're biased here or anything!)

Posted: **Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:33 pm**

Sorry, 5 minutes on a computer isn't enough to discuss that.

Instead sth that will cheer you all up:
Early this morning I saw a person going home on bike. S/he was dressed in a long, wide, light green, woollen cloak, flowing beautifully in the wind. S/he managed not to get this lovely cloak stuck in the wheels, which as everybody knows is nigh on impossible.

So all ye good people: an elf sighting.

My first ever in the city.

Good news isn't it?

Must have been an elf

, law-abiding, as it was, waiting for green lights. A student would never do that six o'clock on a Sunday morning.

Sorry for my silliness, I think I'm a little sleep-deprived, will get over it after the film festival, in a week or so.

But I DID see the elf.

Off to see Brothers Grimm

Posted: **Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:09 pm**

Hi Estel

. If that was an elf you should have caught it and asked it if Tolkien was the greatest author of the twentieth century

.

Which is a neat way of steering us back to Merry's interesting question!!!!

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:42 am**

Iolanthe wrote:Hi Estel . If that was an elf you should have caught it and asked it if Tolkien was the greatest author of the twentieth century .

It was on a bike and I was on foot.

I actually have an opinion.

Trying to be unbiased by my love for Tolkien I would say that Tolkien probably wasn't the greatest author when it comes to language, composition etc, but he is the one with the greatest impact and an entire genre has been created following in his footsteps. Not that I read other fantasy books, really

, I prefer Tolkien because of his supreme knowledge of the sources and the beauty of his language.
And I don't think I would have noticed that elf on bike hadn't it been for Tolkien's elf descriptions.

Otherwise I would only see the "normal" Swedish elves that dance on meadows in the mist.

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:17 pm**

So, Estel, if not Tolkien, who?

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:54 am**

I don't think any author qualifies as THE greatest...even Tolkien.

I don't like to lump different genres together and say one is better than another, which trying to say one author is the greatest would do. I adore ANN RICE, but can't say she is better than Margaret Atwood, or Barbara Tuckman,( some of my favorites) or any of the big best selling authors.
What sets Tolkien apart from so many others is as Estel posts ..."because of his supreme knowledge of the sources and the beauty of his languages..." and the depth to which Tolkien gave his characters.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:19 pm**

We interupt this current conversation for one of great importance.

bruce rerek wrote:So shall we in honor of the 22 of September join Bilbo for 111th birthday?

Hmmmm, it must be a party big enough for a Hobbit.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:07 pm**

Philipa wrote:We interupt this current conversation for one of great importance.

bruce rerek wrote:So shall we in honor of the 22 of September join Bilbo for 111th birthday?
Hmmmm, it must be a party big enough for a Hobbit.

Hmm, a shame it is on a Thursday. I am up for most anything. Fireworks would be appropriate. Dinner out. Anything, ... but please, no magic rings. Even if you found it in a Cracker Jacks box. You never know ...

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:05 pm**

No, no rings. But If everyone brings something to this party...they'll be enough food and drink for all.

I shall like to bring the wine. Only the best Elven wine that can be found. How many casks should we need? Any proferences...white or red?

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:59 pm**

Isn't there a description in FOTR of the wine that Gildor's folk gave the hobbits? I think it was colorless, but went straight to their heads!

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:01 pm**

Exuse my ignorance. I guess it's clear then...

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:12 pm**

Oh, Philipa, I bet that was just the wine from the Rivendell valley. Maybe there are different varieties!

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:14 pm**

OK that seems resonable. Middle-earth is a big place. However, thus far no one else is coming to Bilbo's party and you know that is not going to go over well.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:36 pm**

Philipa wrote:OK that seems resonable. Middle-earth is a big place. However, thus far no one else is coming to Bilbo's party and you know that is not going to go over well.

Well of course, don't forget to bring some of the Old Wineyards. That is supposed to be some of the best wine in the Shire!

Of course I'll be there. A true hobbit at heart, I'll never pass up the opportunity for free food and presents! I'll bring stuffed mushrooms!