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Christopher Tolkien: A Tribute From A LotRO Player - MMORPG.com

SystemSystem Member UncommonPosts: 12,599
edited January 2020 in News & Features Discussion

imageChristopher Tolkien: A Tribute From A LotRO Player - MMORPG.com

As someone who studies and reads The Lord of the Rings, Christopher Tolkien is a name I know well. His passing last week, aged 95, has had a profound impact on many lives, with many wondering where this leaves his father's estate and the rights to all of the stories yet adapted. However, for me, the passing has made me reflect on how the secondary universe has allowed me to fully enjoy games like The Lord of the Rings Online.

Read the full story here


Po_gg

Comments

  • AmatheAmathe Member LegendaryPosts: 7,630
    Excellent article. Glad you wrote it. Sad news about Christopher Tolkien.
    Thuplilotrlore

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  • ScotScot Member LegendaryPosts: 24,445
    edited January 2020
    A really well thought out article, I think perhaps the only thing you did not mention was that he did some editing of his father's work before Tolkien died. Such as partially redrawing some of the maps, though I rather doubt you don't already know this.

    I met him in 2007 at a book signing near Piccadilly Circus for The Children of Hurin. Maybe one day there will be a film or even game treatment of the First Age, it is such a rich source.

    Coming at it from the other end, reading the books including the Silmarillion before playing Lotro or seeing the films gives them a certain magic. There was a time even up to the nineties when you did not expect to see fantasy on screen because there was so little of it, even today it is a hugely underrepresented genre on screen. To hear that Lord of the Rings was coming out in 2001 blew our minds. Then playing Lotro was a dream come true, and best of all we had a game that was in my eyes the last hurrah for a proper MMORPG, while all about other MMOs were losing their heads as it were.

    As you say he did so much more than merely be the caretaker of his father's work and we were very lucky that he had the professional background and expertise to produce such fine material as he did.
    [Deleted User]lotrloreAlomarPo_gg
  • ThupliThupli Member RarePosts: 1,318
    This article is great journalism, thank you!
    lotrloreShana77Gorwe

  • DeutschinDeutschin Member UncommonPosts: 14
    I hope the new LOTR mmorpg would be good. Could not play the old one!
  • SovrathSovrath Member LegendaryPosts: 32,941
    Scot said:
    A really well thought out article, I think perhaps the only thing you did not mention was that he did some editing of his father's work before Tolkien died. Such as partially redrawing some of the maps, though I rather doubt you don't already know this.

    I met him in 2007 at a book signing near Piccadilly Circus for The Children of Hurin. Maybe one day there will be a film or even game treatment of the First Age, it is such a rich source.

    Coming at it from the other end, reading the books including the Silmarillion before playing Lotro or seeing the films gives them a certain magic. There was a time even up to the nineties when you did not expect to see fantasy on screen because there was so little of it, even today it is a hugely underrepresented genre on screen. To hear that Lord of the Rings was coming out in 2001 blew our minds. Then playing Lotro was a dream come true, and best of all we had a game that was in my eyes the last hurrah for a proper MMORPG, while all about other MMOs were losing their heads as it were.

    As you say he did so much more than merely be the caretaker of his father's work and we were very lucky that he had the professional background and expertise to produce such fine material as he did.
    There were quite a bit of fantasy movies. They were just of "varying quality." Most of the times they were just thrown together. The exceptions being, say ... the Sinbad Movies or Jason and the Argonauts (well the Harryhausen movies were all great for "what they were.") or all those 80's fantasy movies such as the Deathstalker movies.

    I still say Krull is a great movie though it has a lot of issues. Same with Dragon Slayer.

    For me, the Lord of the Rings Movies (and yes even the Hobbit movies though they have more issues) were one of the first times a fantasy movie was treated as a high quality production. Basically "not silly."


    Scot
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  • CryomatrixCryomatrix Member EpicPosts: 3,223
    Tolkein used to teach literature at Leeds University in the 30's, the dad that is, my dad got his english lit degree in the 50's from Leeds.

    Orherwise, this is about the son, not the original Tolkein.
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  • ThupliThupli Member RarePosts: 1,318

    Cryomatrix said:

    Tolkein used to teach literature at Leeds University in the 30's, the dad that is, my dad got his english lit degree in the 50's from Leeds.



    Orherwise, this is about the son, not the original Tolkein.


    Yes. I thought the article did a good job pointing that out by calling him "Christopher" several times.

  • PutrefeePutrefee Member UncommonPosts: 46
    Enjoyed the article immensely. I never gave Christopher much credit. It was easy to attribute what I read to his father without considering that the stories may have been lost without Christopher.
  • Po_ggPo_gg Member EpicPosts: 5,749
    edited January 2020
    Yep, he did last week...

    I'm on the other side of the fence, since I was mostly on CT's side when people (here, LotRO forum, etc.) raged on his "conservative" views.
    Hell, when he said a few years ago he doesn't like the direction where PJ is heading with Hobbit, folks here titled him everything from pompous brat to old fart who just leeches on his father's legacy...  :( 
    (my "favourite" was how he's out of touch with the true LotR fans, which are the movie fans -according to that poster.)

    I believe he had every right to ward the lore, and it was a good thing he did it so adamantly.
    While he wasn't actively participating in the everyday work recently, his presence still helped the Estate to stay loyal to Tolkien. What you see as an optional net positive, I believe is a risk.

    I just hope the Estate will stay on the "right" track and not gives in - but of course we all know how deep the wallets of Disney, and especially Bezos. I guess they can now go wild with the show in production...
    Not to mention Warner, two dumb Shadow of assassin's creedor games were more than enough.


    ed: the memorials in LotRO were touching, and the article was well done. Farewell CT...
    Scot
  • ScotScot Member LegendaryPosts: 24,445
    edited January 2020
    Po_gg said:
    Yep, he did last week...

    I'm on the other side of the fence, since I was mostly on CT's side when people (here, LotRO forum, etc.) raged on his "conservative" views.
    Hell, when he said a few years ago he doesn't like the direction where PJ is heading with Hobbit, folks here titled him everything from pompous brat to old fart who just leeches on his father's legacy...  :( 
    (my "favourite" was how he's out of touch with the true LotR fans, which are the movie fans -according to that poster.)

    I believe he had every right to ward the lore, and it was a good thing he did it so adamantly.
    While he wasn't actively participating in the everyday work recently, his presence still helped the Estate to stay loyal to Tolkien. What you see as an optional net positive, I believe is a risk.

    I just hope the Estate will stay on the "right" track and not gives in - but of course we all know how deep the wallets of Disney, and especially Bezos. I guess they can now go wild with the show in production...
    Not to mention Warner, two dumb Shadow of assassin's creedor games were more than enough.


    ed: the memorials in LotRO were touching, and the article was well done. Farewell CT...
    The Hobbit was a travesty all the worse because it was directed by a man who showed how great a Tolkien movie he could made. When you make the two young Dwarves look like members of an indie rock band so you can fit in an appalling Dwarf and Elf romance you loose all credibility to me. I may have ranted about this on here before, apologies if that's so. But Christopher was quite right there, Jackson made The Hobbit ridiculous. In comparison SoM had some lore hiccups, though I take the point about the games generic nature, that similarity of format is sadly something so many titles are aiming for.
    Post edited by Scot on
    Po_gg
  • ScotScot Member LegendaryPosts: 24,445
    Deutschin said:
    I hope the new LOTR mmorpg would be good. Could not play the old one!
    Putrefee said:
    Enjoyed the article immensely. I never gave Christopher much credit. It was easy to attribute what I read to his father without considering that the stories may have been lost without Christopher.

    Welcome both of you to the forums! :)
  • TanemundTanemund Member UncommonPosts: 154
    edited January 2020
    Christopher Tolkien did well. He has earned his rest and his position in the constellation of Middle Earth. One can argue his legacy came from his father, but that is a "fault" that many share. Ultimately Christopher Tolkien carved out his own niche in the world.

    Christopher Tolkien had every right to be a zealot about the world his father created. He was the heir and the executor of Middle Earth. He also poured his own life into that world and grew it and expanded it while trying to remain faithful to the original concept of it. In my estimation that is eminently harder than his father's act of creation.

    As to his zealotry I will only say it is justified. If "The Hobbit" trilogy of movies aren't enough proof of how fraught wandering too far afield from the source material can be, then exhibit "B" is what happened in the last two seasons of "Game of Thrones". Exhibit "C" can be what's happened to the Star Trek universe and Exhibit "D" through "Z" ... Star Wars, anyone? Every one of our beloved fantasy worlds should be so lucky as to have such a guardian less "... glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity." (Yes, I'm such a nerd I worked a RUSH reference into my Christopher Tolkien missive. Rest in Peace Neil Peart, compassionate and reclusive genius of poetry and percussion. You were the spokesman and the back-beat for the Kingdom of Nerds and we know that wherever you are now the lyrics are incisive and edifying and the throb is perfect 4/4 time.)
    The Hobbit is such a beautiful and elegant little story. All Peter Jackson had to do was let it be that beautiful and elegant little story, but instead he made a prequel trilogy that lost its way and lost what made it a beautiful and elegant little story. It lost it's essence to people trying to make it be something it was never meant to be ("cough" a cash cow "cough") and that is a sad thing, in my humble opinion.
    As was said before, I will echo the sentiment and wish this for Christopher Tolkien; may his father greet him on the white shores and lead him beyond to the far green country under a swift sunrise.

    Be at peace, Son of Middle Earth.
    Po_ggScot

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