Clint wrote ...
Last night I was dreaming of LotR.
This happens with GM's sometimes, I used to dream about Midhir and
wake up with an idea for a new plot line - I took to sleeping with a pad
of paper by the bed. Of course, most GM's are dreamers, that's why they
run games rather than getting a "proper" job.
The book itself, hmm...
I first read LOTR when I was ten, having loved The Hobbit. At the time i
remember my favourite bits were at the beginning (the paarty) and
meeting the Ents. Since then I've re-read the book many times and,
generally, got something different out of it each time. At present I
think I'd agree with Clint that the homecoming of the Hobbits is, well,
not exactly my favourite bit, there are more enjoyable parts of the book
- but then I'm not sure the "Scourinf of the Shire" is particularly
meant to be enjoyable. As a peiece of literary art, offsetting the
great deeds that have gone before, it's simply astonishing.
Duncan said it all about Gollum. ONLY Peter Woodthorpe could have taken
the role with any credibility. The man is either seriously disturbed or
a genius. Has anyone ever heard of him in anything else?
Then of course there's the Silmarillion. I remain completely in awe of
Tolkien's writing and storytelling skills. The Silmarillion isn't just a
fantasy book, it's a work of literature (and there's precious few of
those in the fantasy genre). Unlike Duncan I like the first couple of
books, posssibly because they do read like a history book - but then I'm
a historian/archaologist by training so what do you expect?
The Hobbit... um, haven't read it in a while, must do so again soon.
It's definitely a work for children, but it's one of the best children's
fantasy books alongside the Narnia chronicles (has anyone read any Harry
Potter?)
Colin.