R: Re: Digest of messages 36.53-36.58 (fwd)

BP Jonsson wrote:

> At 01:15 04.8.2000 -0700, DOUGLAS KOLLER wrote:
>
> >I'll give this a try, but a question, not having read the trilogy. Is
Mordor
> >a place name or a person? This affects my translation.
>
> mor 'black' dor 'land' in Sindarin.
>
> And yes, "The Lord..." *is* easier to adult sensibilities!
>
Why? I read LOTR when I was 13 and I find it even today one of the best
books I've ever read. Then I started reading the Sirmarillion but I've never
finished it. But the Appendix... yes, I read it all and asked: 'who's that
dumb guy that wastes his time making up languages?' A month later I was
doing the same. ;-)

Nowadays I don't read fantasy books anymore. Well, this year I read T.
Brooks 'The Sword of Shannara', but once you've read LOTR... and then in
that book places' and peoples' names aren't planned, I mean, the author
tries to make them 'nordic', but it's evident he's not a conlanger : ). Now
I'm reading historic novels and some books of A. Paasilinna, that I consider
one of the best writers of the century (great natural scenarios +
exhilarating characters)

Luca