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J. R. R. Tolkien*
Anne Rice*
Arthur C. Clark
Additional Books
J.R.R. Tolkien
An unassuming Oxford linguist, J. R. R. Tolkien possessed one of the most prolific and creative minds of the twentieth century. Beginning in the years of World War I, he began to imagine a ‘sub-created’ world based upon the northern European mythology that had fascinated him, a world characterized by beautifully conceived languages of his own devising. Over the decades Tolkien’s personal mythology took on a life of its own, culminating in the publication of his revolutionary novel The Lord of the Rings in the 1950s. Spawning innumerable imitators over the years, Tolkien’s classic fantasy remains the archetype of its genre, not only because it is a compelling narrative infused with the power of myth, but also because of the sheer detail of its conception. A truly self-contained universe populated with Elves, Dwarves, humans, Tolkien’s original ‘hobbits’ and other fascinating creatures each with a history, culture and language of its own, Middle-earth is a unique stage upon which can be played out the dreams and thoughts of the reader. Not the least of the attractions of Tolkien’s work are his lovingly crafted languages, the true heart of his creation, which for the linguistically-minded are sources of exquisite splendor and joy. The Lord of the Rings and related works treat the imagination with dignity and nobility, respecting the human desire to ‘sub-create’—validating it in fact as the only true way of fulfilling our human potential.
Works relating to Middle-earth include:
- The Hobbit- Bilbo Baggins, a quiet hobbit of the Shire, is reluctantly recruited by the wizard Gandalf to help a troop of Dwarves regain their ancient kingdom. Along the way Bilbo discovers a magical ring that will shape the fate of the world.
- The Fellowship of the Ring, LotR Part 1- Gandalf discovers that Bilbo's ring is the One Ring created by the dark lord Sauron to gain dominion over all of Middle-earth. Representatives of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth form a Fellowship charged with assisting the hobbit Frodo Baggins in secretly entering Sauron's realm to destroy the Ring.
- The Two Towers, LotR Part 2- The Fellowship has been sundered. Frodo and his servant Samwise continue toward Sauron's realm, while the other remaining members of the Fellowship become embroiled in the preliminary skirmishes in Sauron's war to subjugate the Free Peoples.
- The Return of the King, LotR Part 3- Frodo begins to succumb to the evil of the Ring as he and Samwise approach the end of their quest. Meanwhile, the forces of the Free Peoples face the might of Sauron's armies, their only hope lying in Frodo's destruction of the Ring.
- The Silmarillion- The epic history of the Elves of Middle-Earth, recounting the creation and loss of their greatest works--the holy jewels called the Silmarils--to the evil lord Morgoth and their subsequent tragic battles to reclaim them. This, Tolkien's masterpiece, occupied his thought for some sixty years but sadly remained unfinished. It was compiled and published posthumously by Tolkien's son Christopher.
- The Adventures of Tom Bombadil- A humorous book filled with poems and songs from Middle-earth
- Unfinished Tales- Also published posthumously, this is a collection of fragmentary insights into the world of Middle-earth and the creative process that went into developing its "reality"
- The History of Middle-earth Series- A continuing series of books detailing the process by which Middle-earth came to be. Edited by Christopher Tolkien
- The Children of Hurin- This latest release from the Tolkien Estate brings together texts scattered throughout Tolkien's papers to piece together one of three Great Tales of the First Age of Middle-earth. The epic tale of the mortal man Turin, tragically fated by his own volatile nature to destroy everyone he loves, is woven against the tumultuous battles of the Elves against the Dark Lord Morgoth and the political intrigues of the realms of the Free Peoples. A striking addition to the library of serious Tolkien readers, although it may be difficult for newcomers to appreciate fully the intertwining plot threads that touch upon other matters in The Silmarillion. Edited by Christopher Tolkien.
- Farmer Giles of Ham
- Smyth of Wutton Major
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- Roverandom
- Recently released, this was a bedtime tale Tolkien told his children
Other books by Anne Rice include:
Anne Rice
Despite Anne Rice's recent annoucnment that she has devoted her career to the service of her rekindled Christian faith, the dark universe of vampires and witches narrated in her earlier works contiues to offer rich rewards to those seeking understanding of the "savage garden" in which we live. Tackling questions of beauty, morality, and love, Rice's works speak to those who reside in the liminal places of passion and regret and who search for a meaning of one's own devising in a world that offers no moral absolutes. Rice's prose evokes a shadowy realm of exquisite sensory experiences and rich detail that aptly utilizes occult mythology to explore the human condition. In the author's own words, her novels "aren't about vampires [or witches, or ghosts], they're really about us."
The Vampire Chronicles
Plot Synopsis- Quinn Blackwood, a fledgling vampire, approaches Lestat in search of his help in defeating a deadly threat to vampires and mortals alike—his ghostly double who seeks to draw out the power of the vampires for its own dark purposes. In preparation Quinn recounts the tale of his life and his star-crossed relationship with an extraordinary mortal woman.
Review- The penultimate installment in The Vampire Chronicles, this novel introduces some fascinating new characters and revives classic characters like Lestat. Rice successfully blends her vampires with the storyline of The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series to create a poignant and fresh story for her latest preternatural hero, Quinn Blackwood. His tragic story once again captures the feel of the ‘Gothic’ South and provokes a sense of existential angst and empathy that few of Rice's recent vampire narratives have generated. It’s almost bittersweet that her next novel is the last of Quinn’s appearances on the page.
Plot Synopsis- The vampire Lestat enters the tale of fledgling vampire Quinn Blackwood and his lover Mona Mayfair, whose pasts are slowing tearing their families apart. When Lestat finds himself drawn to Mayfair matriarch Rowan Mayfair, he faces a moral test that will determine his ultimate fate.
Review- The somewhat disappointing final work in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, which also brings closure to her Mayfair Witches stories, is an uneven mix of Rice's apparent love for the preternatural characters that she has created over the years and her desire to reconcile them with her renewed Catholic faith.
The Lives of the Mayfair Witches
The Lives of the Mayfair Witches series is interesting because it meshes spiritualism with modern science, and asks us which we trust more.
Arthur C. Clarke
What can be said about Arthur C. Clarke that hasn't already been said a hundred times. One of the living legends of science fiction, Clarke has penned countless novels, short stories, and non-fiction books concerned with the reaches of outer space and the depths of the Earth's oceans.
Clarke's writing style is quite friendly, allowing the reader to grasp the deep concepts while at the same time elevating him to a higher plane of thought. Clarke has created amazingly realistic worlds, drawing from the most recent scientific discoveries. He has also predicted many of the technological wonders that we now take for granted.
Clarke has delved into the supernatural, exploring such phenomena as ghosts, UFOs, and psychic powers on his television series Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World. This dynamic author leads his readers on a quest into familiar, yet strikingly original realms of imagination and possibility.
Books by Arthur C. Clarke that I have read include:
Additional Books
Cahill, Thomas. The Hinges of History Series.
History is often seen as a string of wars. Author Thomas Cahill's series Hinges of History focuses on the times between wars, turning points in human civilization that changed the way we lived and thought. Cahill provides a solid historical overview, thoroughly setting the scene and then delving into how that scene was altered by cultural shifts. The seven-book series so far includes
