Write a controversial opinion

[EmilyMiller]

Earthsea is better than The Lord of the Rings.

Lord of the Rings is only as popular as it is because it was the first fantasy epic.

I love Earthsea, it’s really beautiful writing. And LOTR does sound - intentionally - grandiose much of the time. Also the male-centric view of the world in LOTR (probably reflecting the world of The Elder Edda accurately) and the implied racism (totally contrary to JRRT’s well-established and documented personal views) are problematic.

But… in terms of a literary achievement, it’s towering and I’d argue unparalleled. And it is often also beautiful and moving and recognizing of the flawed human condition (even in its ‘more than human’ characters like Aragorn).

 

[sister jenny]

I love Earthsea, it’s really beautiful writing. And LOTR does sound - intentionally - grandiose much of the time. Also the male-centric view of the world in LOTR (probably reflecting the world of The Elder Edda accurately) and the implied racism (totally contrary to JRRT’s well-established and documented personal views) are problematic.

But… in terms of a literary achievement, it’s towering and I’d argue unparalleled. And it is often also beautiful and moving and recognizing of the flawed human condition (even in its ‘more than human’ characters like Aragorn).

I love The Lord of the Rings, but I re-read Earthsea every year.
And like you said it’s very male centric. But a huge achievement and very important to literature history.

 

[YmaOHyd]

But… in terms of a literary achievement, it’s towering and I’d argue unparalleled.

I think people don't quite understand the depth of craft that went into Tolkien's work, and unfortunately the best way to find out is to read all twelve volumes of History of Middle-Earth. I mean, my God. Everyone rags on the songs but read the Song of Earendil closely. Trisyllabic assonances (which I believe he invented) in iambic tetrameter? And it's coherent and gives the reader actually important information that foreshadows later events? How many people could actually do that? Robert Jordan could never, come on.

 

[Britva415]

I think people don't quite understand the depth of craft that went into Tolkien's work, and unfortunately the best way to find out is to read all twelve volumes of History of Middle-Earth

If that were what were necessary to appreciate The Lord Of The Rings, that wouldn't bespeak excellent craft, really.

World-building isn't a craft. Writing is.

Luckily, reading all that other stuff isn't necessary to appreciate The Lord Of The Rings. Or to fail to appreciate it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I re-read Earthsea every year.

There is such a mood - for want of a better word - to Earthsea. And a bleakness sometimes that is almost beautiful. It’s very immersive.

 

[YmaOHyd]

If that were what were necessary to appreciate The Lord Of The Rings, that wouldn't bespeak excellent craft, really.

World-building isn't a craft. Writing is.

Luckily, reading all that other stuff isn't necessary to appreciate The Lord Of The Rings. Or to fail to appreciate it.

History of Middle-Earth is a history of Tolkien's writing, not of the setting. It's almost entirely focused on process, going from soft-pencil drafts to hard-pencil second drafts to pen copy for submission, often all written on the same sheet of paper.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I think people don't quite understand the depth of craft that went into Tolkien's work, and unfortunately the best way to find out is to read all twelve volumes of History of Middle-Earth. I mean, my God. Everyone rags on the songs but read the Song of Earendil closely. Trisyllabic assonances (which I believe he invented) in iambic tetrameter? And it's coherent and gives the reader actually important information that foreshadows later events? How many people could actually do that? Robert Jordan could never, come on.

I’ve not read everything his son published posthumously, but I have read quite a lot, and the biography and other books about his craft.

 

[AwkwardMD]

View attachment 2578063

Hardest Possible Disagree

 

[Bramblethorn]

I see this a lot where I work and have worked for years so I tend to agree. I should also say I've seen many talented and worth while people turn down management and upper management positions because the job just isn't worth it; too many headaches, too many hours, too many complications. Corporations are far too demanding on people's time.

I'm one of those. I turned down a management job 3 times in 2 years.

I nearly fell into the trap of going into management because it was the only way up in my organisation. Thankfully I realised just in time that I'd be miserable. Ended up having to leave; it was a good job with good people but I needed room to grow.

I've done middle management as part of my job, and I'm not terrible at it, but it's not something I could do full-time.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Lord of the Rings is only as popular as it is because ...

... of marketing hype.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

The more marketing and hype there is, the less likely I am to consume the product or service

I've stopped watching or listening to things I liked before the hype, once the hype took over.

 

[iwatchus]

... of marketing hype.

LotR was as much of a grass roots success maybe as any book ever. The publisher gave up on it, but it took off anyways. They were only interested after it became a hit.

 

[Britva415]

History of Middle-Earth is a history of Tolkien's writing, not of the setting. It's almost entirely focused on process, going from soft-pencil drafts to hard-pencil second drafts to pen copy for submission, often all written on the same sheet of paper.

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

 

[Britva415]

I still think that reading about the craft doesn't matter to appreciating or not-appreciating the work, in this particular case.

There are works where that can matter and can make a big difference in how one perceives the piece. I think that those works are mostly in other media besides literature.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

Somehow, the Denver Broncos are the number one team in the AFC this season, despite having won 9 games by a total of 65 points, which is an average of 7.2(to infinity) per game. But their two losses are by a combined 4 points. This, to me, is strange... WTF is going on with my team? Are we just that lucky, or that good?

Edit: Actually, that is correct. That difference in points isn't just for the nine wins but all 11 games. If I had the time, I'd figure out just how close every freaking game has been except that one or two that weren't close.

 

[iwatchus]

Somehow, the Denver Broncos are the number one team in the AFC this season, despite having won 9 games by a total of 65 points, which is an average of 7.2(to infinity) per game. But their two losses are by a combined 4 points. This, to me, is strange... WTF is going on with my team? Are we just that lucky, or that good?

Edit: Actually, that is correct. That difference in points isn't just for the nine wins but all 11 games. If I had the time, I'd figure out just how close every freaking game has been except that one or two that weren't close.

My vote is lucky

 

[KatieKulka32]

Writing a story in the 2nd person point of view is by far the best.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

My vote is lucky

Well, maybe they can lucky their way right into the SB.

 

[YmaOHyd]

I still think that reading about the craft doesn't matter to appreciating or not-appreciating the work, in this particular case.

There are works where that can matter and can make a big difference in how one perceives the piece. I think that those works are mostly in other media besides literature.

I agree. I don't think HoME should materially affect whether you appreciate the work, which has to stand on its own merits (and I think does). As a history of the process, though, it should inform your feelings about the author's level of craft, distinct from your feelings about the work, if that makes sense, and isn't splitting a hair.

 

[MillieDynamite]

You go to the typewriter, you sit down, you type, "You go to the typewriter, you sit down, you type."

Writing a story in the 2nd person point of view is by far the best.

 

[cw5523729]

You go to the typewriter, you sit down, you type, "You go to the typewriter, you sit down, you type."

Is this a glitch in the Matrix?

 

[TheLobster]

Writing a story in the 2nd person point of view is by far the best.

Paging Dr. @StillStunned, your presence in request in the PoV ward.

 

[SmilingLez]

Honest politician is an oxymoron

 

[MillieDynamite]

That's not at all controversial, just a statement of fact.

Honest politician is an oxymoron

 

[StillStunned]

Paging Dr. @StillStunned, your presence in request in the PoV ward.

One of my 2P stories is rated 4.62. Proof that some readers enjoy it.