Contrary to what “The Tolkien Professor” Corey Olsen says, the modern fantasy genre does NOT all come from Tolkien, and it would have arrived even without him. In fact, it already had. And pre-Tolkien fantasy matters.
Read MoreKarl Edward Wagner (1945-1994) began a draft of Bloodstone and its immortal protagonist Kane in 1960, while just a freshman in high school. Wagner finished the draft of Bloodstone in 1970 while enrolled as a PhD student in neurobiology. By then, J.R.R. Tolkien was everywhere—including, as I argue, in the published version of Wagner’s 1975 novel.
Read MoreHow can I put this? Clark Ashton Smith was a fan of The Lord of the Rings. Simple as that.
Read MoreWhen Lin Carter casually remarked that Tolkien “rather enjoyed” the Conan stories, I doubt he expected that decades later Howard fans and Tolkien fans alike would still be curious about the specifics. Which Conan stories did Tolkien read? Let’s find out!
Read MoreIt’s not immediately clear where these two very different men developed such similar lines of thought and expression. The most likely answer is a revolt against modernity. But another is their literary influences. Tolkien and Howard shared a common interest the works of H. Rider Haggard.
Read MoreAwhile back, Dave Ritzlin here at the DMR blog asked me to recommend some good Celtic fantasy fiction. Today being Celtic New Year’s Day, it seemed appropriate to start off the New Year with a list of quality Celtic fiction.
Read MoreAs I noted in a previous post, today is Stephen Fabian's eighty-eighth birthday. Recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, Fabian's work as an artist was also nominated nine times for Hugo awards. He shares a birthday with someone else who never won a Hugo: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. As it turns out, Mr. Fabian is a fan of JRRT.
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