Winter King vs Tolkien

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Personally I dont think either is better than the other. The they are both good books in their own right. But if I had to choose I would choose Tolkin

 

Wow! That's a bold statement. Tolkien was Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. There are more than a few scholars (professionals) who have the opinion that Tolkien knew more about the English language than anyone else during his lifetime. He had devoted his professional life to literary studies in not only Anglo-Saxon, but the larger scope of mythology (feel free to think of mythology as storytelling). His fellow Oxford Don, CS Lewis was also a writer and together they formed the nucleus of a writers club at Oxford known as the Inklings, which devoted itself to storytelling and how the progression of language had changed the meaning of the orginal works. _Beowulf_ would be an excellent example of this. THAT is what makes Tolkien's work far less "amateurish" than the stuff that currently passes for fantasy, as JRRT's work is much closer in spirit to the old stories.

Joacqin, my friend, we have had this debate before. But I see that you have still not seen the error of your ways. You must still be under the influence of that medieval serial-soap-opera stuff of George Martin's. Now, he is an amateur, IMHO.

[ March 09, 2004, 00:43: Message edited by: Chandos the Red ]

 

I am going to finally state that the Winter King series is far better than Stonehenge. There are so many parallels in the characters, plot, setting and writing style that it is almost hard to tell that they are even separate books! But go with Arthur, he's cool. No actually Derfel is the cool one...

 

Chandos the Red, I actually agreed with what you said until you got up to the comments about George R R Martin being amateurish. Have you actually read his Song of Ice & Fire series? If you have, 'amateurish' is the last word that should be used to describe them.

Better than Tolkein any day...

 

the thing I'd really like to know is if what Merlin says about Mithra and Jesus is true. He says something like that Mithra was born in a manger by a virgin mother, surrounded by three kings, three shepherds and the like, and that Jesus is a stolen god.

 

Yes, I read all of the first book, and about half the second one and then forgot to finish it. Maybe you are right about "amateurish," since there are probably a few amateurs who can write better than Martin. That wouldn't really be fair to them.

[ March 08, 2004, 20:26: Message edited by: Chandos the Red ]

 

the story Tolkien has to tell I find immensely interesting, yet the style in which he tells it, I find horridly complex and not that charming at all (lotr, silmarillion)

I'm be quite sure that if any attempt on publishing such a book(s) as complex as lotr today, it would be completely butchered by the publishers.

Though it really depends what kinda style you like. I found the Hobbit infinitely charming and easy to read, because it reminded of the feeling of being a child told a story by his grandparent by the fireplace.