Re: OT: Super OT: Re: CHAT: JRRT

Mark J. Reed wrote at 2004-03-05 22:03:17 (-0500)

 > You can't really say anything like that about "the sci-fi/fantasy
 > community".  The only defining feature of that community is that
 > they like (some subset of) science fiction and fantasy literature.
 > I happen to know plenty of SF/fantasy fans who don't like Tolkien.
 > My wife is one.  I'm going to talk a little bit about her because
 > your comments about writing style vs. subject matter sound a lot
 > like her. :) She likes fantasy, but only well-written fantasy,
 > which for her means the likes of Robin Hobb, Orson Scott Card
 > (Alvin Maker would be the specific entry in the fantasy genre),
 > David Eddings.  And for her, Tolkien doesn't cut it.  She loved the
 > movies, but could never get into the books, because of his writing
 > style.  For that matter, she also thinks Stephen R. Donaldson is
 > overrated.  And Modessitt is utter crap.
 >

Now, I certainly agree that there are better writers than Tolkien,
both outside the field of fantasy and within it.  But I must consider
your wife's taste in literature highly peculiar if she counts David
Eddings among them.

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