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11.
AOTW: Do you plan on seeing The Fellowship of the Ring, the first in The Lord of the Rings trilogy when it comes out in December? Should Tolkien get the award for undisputed master of the genre?
Juliet McKenna: I can't wait! Yes, I'll be there with my popcorn --- and an open mind for the constraints of film as a story telling medium compared to writing. But is Tolkien the master, when we have people like Philip Pullman today? I'll settle for calling him the forefather, the pathfinder, the one who showed us the way.
Terri Windling: Yes, I intend to see it. I almost always prefer books to films, I'm not a big film fan, but of course I'm curious to see what's been done with Tolkien's work. The trailer for the first of the films looks beautiful, which is to be expected since the artist Alan Lee designed much of the look of these films, and he's extraordinarily gifted. One can only hope the script is as good --- though I admit my hopes aren't high. I don't know how you compress the richness of a lengthy, leisurely epic of a novel into a 90 minute film without losing most of what makes it special. I consider Tolkien to be a master of the fantasy form, yes -- but he's one of many masters, ranging from William Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream) and William Morris (The Well at the World's End) to E.R. Eddison (The Worm Ouroboros), Mervyn Peake (the Gormenghast trilogy) and modern masters like Alan Garner (The Owl Service), John Crowley (Little, Big), Ursula K. Le Guin (the Earthsea books) and Patricia McKillip (The Tower at Stony Wood). Again, the field is so broad that no single author, even one of Tolkien's stature, can represent all of it. When it comes to epic, multi-volume, "imaginary world" type fantasy, Tolkien's achievement is undeniable. There are many other kinds of fantasy, however. Within the broad field of fantasy literature, my own areas of special interest are "adult fairy tales" (of which Angela Carter is certainly the master) and books that focus more on character than on epic landscapes (where Patricia A. McKillip is currently the leading writer, in my opinion). I'm also a big fan of magical realism, whether it's published outside of the genre (Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Ben Okri) or inside the genre (Karen Joy Fowler, James Blaylock, Lisa Goldstein, Sean Stewart, Kelly Link, etc.).
Elizabeth Haydon: Heck yeah!
Tolkien, rather than relying on children, created a whole race of beings with the aforementioned facets to accomplish the same thing --- the depiction of innocence, purity of intent, and all-around goodness. He brought language to a new diversity and beautifully incorporated music into text; he took folkloric inspirations and wove them into an achingly poignant metaphor for the darkness of the World War and the pain that comes even with victory, knowing that the world that is saved will never be the same. Yes, he is the master.
Robin Hobb: Yup. And yup. In fact, my ten-year-old daughter and I went together tonight to the Tacoma branch of University Book store, to watch a 'making of the movie' and teaser trailer tonight. She read the books over the summer. I wouldn't have wanted her to see the movie without reading the books first. No child should be deprived of pure, unadulterated Tolkien as the first experience of his world.
Lynn Flewelling: Yes, and yes. The movie trailers alone are already giving me chills and lumps in the throat. I'm old enough to have seen the animated fiascoes first run. This time it looks like they might get it right. And they couldn't have picked a better Gandalf or cast of hobbits! If we purists can just accept that some things will be changed for the sake of the movie format, I think we're in for a very good time.
L.E. Modesitt: Eventually, I'm sure I'll see The Lord of the Rings movie(s), but I won't be rushing out there. Tolkien deserves enormous credit for spurring the growth and understanding and love of fantasy literature, and he did produce a masterwork rooted in linguistic genius. But undisputed master? No. There have been, are, and will be others equally great in terms of their work. Tolkien was in many ways the first master, but not the last.
Teresa Edgerton: I can't say that he is the undisputed master of the genre, because I know any number of people who do dispute it. But if you are asking if he would get my vote, the answer is yes, unquestionably. There are writers being influenced by Tolkien today who don't acknowledge the influence because they are getting it at second or third hand --- but I remember very well the impact Tolkien had on the fantasy field thirtyyears ago.
I certainly plan to see the movie -- though I am trying very hard to keep my expectations down, so that I won't be disappointed. Even so, they will flare up from time to time, despite all my attempts to quash them.
I'm looking forward to "The Fellowship" with much, much more anticipation than the Harry Potter movie. Which --- perversely --- probably means that I will enjoy the other one more.
Lois McMaster Bujold: Absolutely. And if the filmmakers have not betrayed us, probably more than once. Should Tolkien get the award for undisputed master of the genre? His books have been in continuous print, beloved by readers, for over fifty years. That's the real award. He is not the only writer who helped create today's possibilities --- I could mention Fritz Leiber, C.S. Lewis, Ray Bradbury, Randall Garrett, George MacDonald, Robert E. Howard, and perhaps a dozen other great pioneers --- but I have no problem with putting Tolkien at the head of such a list. Just don't forget to add the rest of the names.
Sean Russell: I do plan to see it --- as soon as I can get tickets.
Martha Wells: Yes, and yes.
Margaret Weis: Yes, i'm looking forward to the movie. I think Tolkien is the master of modern fantasy.
Michael Stackpole: Yes, I will see the LOTR movie. I really can't wait. (And I'll see the Harry Potter movie, once the crowds clear.)
As for Tolkien being the undisputed master of the genre, I'd give him that title for the first three quarters of the 20th century. I do think as our demands and perceptions change, new generations of writers step up to accept that mantle. For example, the action scenes in LOTR are wonderfully written, but not terribly cinematic--but readers today demand more flash, more fire, more of the skirl of steel on steel. Likewise, there are really no female characters of enduring consequence in LOTR. Including female characters in new fantasy is vital, and greatly expands the genre. Of the new masters, I think you have to count Stephen R. Donaldson, Dennis L. McKiernan, Steven Erikson and J. Gregory Keyes, as each of them brings something new and unique to their stories.
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