Post-Tolkien writings

[Sowen]

I was wondering if you read anything what was based on the world of Tolkien?
I am aware there is a lot of fan-fiction stories on the Internet (even I use to wite something stupid with my fiends;>). There is also a lot of books who have similar characters as Tolkien (elves, dwarwes ect).

Some time ago I have read books written by Nik Pierumow (Russian author) who created the Middle Earth world 300 years after the War of the Ring. I am not sure about English title (I read it in Polish) but it is something like the Ring of Dark.You can find some information about the Avari and other characters (i.e. do you know what happened to Saruman's spirit after it was denied to enter the Blessed Realm or where did Radagast the Brown disappear). There are some interesting and surprising ideas about the Middle Earth. I am not entirely happy of what I have read (the difference of style writing from Tolkien is very, very obvious! and the plot is not my fvourite as well). Hovever, the book (well, trilogy I coud say as well) had very good feedback from some Tolkien fans and was good enough to edit it as a book.
Anyway, it was interesting expierience and I was wondering if you have some more titles/authors to promote?

[Emmie]

Hmm... I've never read much Lord of the Rings fan fiction, for some reason, though there was a time when I read lots of Harry Potter fanfic.

I'm pretty sure the books by Nik Pierumow haven't been published in the US or England. You couldn't legally make money on a book set in Middle Earth, though perhaps copyright laws are different in Russia.

As for books with similar characters... well, I've always found that my favorite fantasy books are the ones that are original and don't include things like elves and dwarves and orcs that were taken straight form Tolkien. I'm sure it's possible to write a really good book with "stereotypical" elves and dwarves, so maybe it's just that the best authors tend to prefer to make up their own world.

[Sowen]

Hmm, I am interested how he get the copyright anyway as he uses all the names for places, races ect. I haven't seen his books in GB anyway.

Tolkien created such an outstanding world and I think there won't be anyone who will be better then he was in his imagination. It is inevitable that some writers will copy his characters as Tolkien writing is very influential on some people...Some people can write very good stories maybe but they need their own style, ideas ect to attract readers attention.
That is why I love Sapkowski - probably he copied ideas of elves, dwarves, dragons or dryads from other authors but he has such a diferent places, style, plot and language. Characters are so different and I would even say much more interesting than Tolkien ones! For example: how do you like an idea of swearing, drinking dwarves or elves fighting for independence? It is such a similar in some pieces and completely different word as well but it is difficoult to describe for me. It is the best to read if you have a chance, even if first pages can put off someone at the beggining;)

Pierumov had his own ideas for a plot but is it not so intriguing and absorbing...I woudn't read it again probably...

There are some books based on Tolkien characters on bookstores anyway and I am curious if they are good. Anyway, I try not to buy to much before I come back home...

[Lanyare]

Hehe, judging from the title, I thought at first you meant books like The Silmarillion, and The Children of Húrin, and the like...

Aaah, writing fan-fiction with a couple of friends... Memories, lol... Those were good times indeed. Pity we never actually finished it.

Never heard of Pierumov before. Perhaps his books aren't official editions, or perhaps he was in order with the copyrights and everything. It sounds like something I might read sometime, out of curiosity.

When it comes to similar characters, Elves and Dwarves, in other books, the first author I think of Terry Brooks and his Shannara series. The very first book, The Sword of Shannara, is very obviously based on Tolkien, you could say. It has it all: Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Goblins, even a few Nâzgul-like creatures. Come to think of it, the geographical locations of every race are even more or less the same as in Lord of the Rings.
However, luckily, when you read further books in the series, the story moves away from resembling Tolkien's world. Brooks is developing his own style, which is off course a good evolution. They are good books, actually, and I would recommend them.

I really don't mind having Elves and Dwarves in other books. But I agree it's not necessary to have them in order to create a good fantasy tale!

Both Katherine Kerr and Tad Williams managed to include Elf-like creatures in their books, but these really are entirely different from the Elves in Tolkien's books. They're not even called Elves, really, at least not in Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn-series. Don't remember very well about Kerr's books, since that has been a very long while indeed.
But I really enjoyed reading both these authors at the time, and would read their books again too.

[Sowen]

well, I was not sure where to start that topic;) that is why it can be misleading..nevermind:]

I have seen Terry Brooks book and was wondering if it's worth to read - at least you make me sure it's worth to try;)

[Emmie]

I think "Post-Tolkien writings" is pretty clear, at least when you think about it for a moment. :) It's not like it says "Post-LOTR".

I started on The Dragonbone Chair, although I haven't got to the part where anything elf-like is introduced. (I like it a lot so far, and I'm going to finish the series; I just have a lot of other books to read at the moment). Also, I was thinking of mentioning this in my previous post, but in his Shadowmarch series there are these little people who live underground beneath the city - they sort of reminded me of hobbits, though perhaps with a bit of dwarf thrown in, since they're good at making tunnels.

[Lanyare]

Lol, I have to admit, I quit smoking only very recently (less than a week ago) and I find that I'm not always that focused either. So, I easily misunderstand things at the moment. :p

Other than that, I'm doing just fine. To be honest, I'm not finding it as hard as I had expected. If it stays this way, this is going to be peanuts! :D

But anyways... Terry Brooks wasn't the very best author I've read, but he's certainly not the worst either. Personally, I did enjoy the books I've read by him and plan on reading more of him. As I said, the very first book seemed, to me, most obviously based on Tolkien's world, but further on he does manage to get more of a personal style in there.

Emmie, I haven't actually read any of the Shadowmarch books, but I will most definitely, one day. Tad Williams is always listed among my favourite authors, lol, though so far I haven't read THAT much of him, either. The Sithi do come in a tad bit later on, but you will encounter them sometime in the first book already, if I remember correctly. They're Elf-like, but in their own way also very different from Tolkien's Elves, and they're never actually called Elves either.

[gofere]

I was not sure where to start that topic