cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/5600161
Thoughts on this book?
Thoughts on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit?
I might watch The Rings of Power but I’ve heard mixed things on it. What do you all think of it?
Mostly though: I’m hoping that some people here can expand on what I’m reading so far.
'Cause honestly, I do like what I’m reading, I do, and that’s because I genuinely like the mythological tone that the world-building takes. And Numenor as an “Atlantis” is a fine way to do things, but honestly, I doubt they’ll be able to do much with it in whatever Amazon property they decide to make of it (which, I mean, is fine). I wonder if there are other shows or serials besides The Rings of Power that are coming out? Either way: I really like the beginning and how everything started with music and song.
Your thoughts?
I still need to finish Two Towers, Return, and Silmarillion. Ungoliant is maybe my favourite extended lore character. I kind of understand all the critiques about it being racist but I think it’s a pretty tired discourse. It is what it is and it’s still worth reading. It was a story written by a guy obsessed with legends, mythology, and languages who wanted to write his own.
I think it mainly repeats certain racist tropes, but doesn’t take them wholesale, and isn’t, well, “married” to 'em in the sense that it’s integral (like Lovecraft’s own Cthulhu mythos of short stories).
Exactly. It bugs me that some people put it in the same category as truly racist adventure/fantasy fiction like Lovecraft and the Tarzan books, where racism is the entire point.
Exactly.
Besides, we know that Tolkien was a “typical” anti-fascist of his day, where, even if falling for certain racist tropes, they were more-or-less anti-racist by default.
It’s not like nowadays where 4chan memes and behavior are common.