{"id":17669,"date":"2025-04-02T15:38:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T19:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/?p=17669"},"modified":"2026-03-16T09:14:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:14:44","slug":"tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/","title":{"rendered":"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Few authors have reshaped an entire genre the way <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/41365818\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">J.R.R. Tolkien<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> did with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/37682789\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Hobbit<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (1937) and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/33231212\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Lord of the Rings<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> trilogy (1954\u201355). Tolkien didn\u2019t just tell stories, he built worlds. He constructed languages, histories, and mythologies with a scholar\u2019s rigor and a poet\u2019s sensibility. For generations of writers and readers, his work has become the foundation upon which modern fantasy literature stands. His vision has been celebrated, emulated, challenged, and even dismantled, yet it remains central to how we understand epic storytelling today.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To showcase the scope and depth of Tolkien\u2019s influence, we\u2019ve curated a display of works by fantasy authors from the 20th and 21st centuries, all available at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Smith Library<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. These books demonstrate a range of responses to Tolkien\u2019s legacy, some pay direct homage to his style and themes, while others critique or reinvent the tropes he popularized. Together, they offer a fascinating window into how modern fantasy both reveres and reimagines its most iconic forebear.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before we explore these individual titles, let\u2019s identify some of the defining pillars of Tolkien\u2019s influence on fantasy literature.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tolkien\u2019s Legacy: Central Pillars of Influence<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Epic Scope and Worldbuilding<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: Tolkien created a secondary world of staggering depth. Middle-earth came with its own geography, histories, genealogies, and lore, making it feel as real and ancient as our own.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mythic Archetypes<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: He drew heavily on Norse, Celtic, and classical mythologies to shape familiar yet resonant characters: the humble hero, the dark lord, the wise guide, the fallen king, and the heroic journey.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Moral Complexity<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: Though often framed as a struggle between good and evil, Tolkien\u2019s characters are marked by temptation, sacrifice, and the corruption of power, adding layers of nuance to his world.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Linguistic and Cultural Depth<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: As a philologist, Tolkien developed multiple original languages and ensured that each culture in his world had its own songs, traditions, and histories, offering readers a deeply immersive experience.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Authors in Conversation with Tolkien<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each of the following authors engages with Tolkien\u2019s influence in their own way, some embracing it as inspiration, others pushing against it in critique, and still others transforming it into something startlingly new. Arranged from homage to reinvention, these works show just how flexible and far-reaching Tolkien\u2019s legacy truly is.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Margaret Weis \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/51625527\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Mistress of Dragons<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17671\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/mistress-of-dragons-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"mistress of dragons\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/mistress-of-dragons-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/mistress-of-dragons-589x950.jpg 589w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/mistress-of-dragons.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Margaret Weis\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mistress of Dragons<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> offers a familiar yet engaging high fantasy setting filled with ancient prophecies, secret bloodlines, dragon conspiracies, and a clearly demarcated battle between good and evil. Weis draws on many of the foundational elements that Tolkien helped popularize, such as deeply ingrained magical systems, sprawling political landscapes, and a sense of cosmic stakes. Her dragons, however, are far more central to the political intrigue and the fate of the world, functioning not just as mythical beasts but as strategic power players. The book\u2019s structure, with alternating perspectives and long-lost secrets slowly unearthed, mimics Tolkien\u2019s use of fragmented histories to build suspense. Weis\u2019s prose is accessible and fast-paced, targeting a broader commercial audience, but her narrative still channels a reverence for the epic that defines classic Tolkienian storytelling.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Robert Jordan \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/732643007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Eye of the World<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/eye-of-the-world-185x300.jpg\" alt=\"eye of the world\" width=\"185\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/eye-of-the-world-185x300.jpg 185w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/eye-of-the-world-585x950.jpg 585w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/eye-of-the-world.jpg 616w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 185px) 100vw, 185px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Robert Jordan\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Eye of the World<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is perhaps the most direct modern descendant of Tolkien\u2019s epic model. From its opening pages, the novel evokes a pastoral calm disrupted by dark forces, echoing the early chapters of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/33231212\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Fellowship of the Ring<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Jordan\u2019s world, immense, intricately detailed, and ruled by prophecy, follows many Tolkienian hallmarks, such as a Dark One, ancient wars, and a hero unknowingly tied to the fate of the world. However, Jordan\u2019s vision is broader and more layered, incorporating reincarnation, gendered magical systems, and political complexity. The Aes Sedai, an all-female magical order, serve as a compelling contrast to Tolkien\u2019s predominantly male power structures. Jordan also expands on the notion of the reluctant hero, using multiple protagonists to explore the psychological strain of being chosen. His meticulous descriptions and mythological references showcase deep admiration for Tolkien\u2019s style, but Jordan\u2019s ambition leads him to reframe those tropes with more narrative sprawl and modern themes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ursula K. Le Guin \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/1210\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A Wizard of Earthsea<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17670\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-182x300.jpg\" alt=\"wizard of earthsea\" width=\"182\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-182x300.jpg 182w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-623x1024.jpg 623w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-768x1263.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-934x1536.jpg 934w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-1246x2048.jpg 1246w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea-578x950.jpg 578w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/wizard-of-earthsea.jpg 1557w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 182px) 100vw, 182px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ursula K. Le Guin\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A Wizard of Earthsea<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> presents a different kind of fantasy altogether, one that moves inward as much as outward. While Tolkien\u2019s works often hinge on external threats and cosmic battles, Le Guin centers her story on the personal and spiritual development of her protagonist, Ged. Her world is just as rich and immersive as Middle-earth, with archipelagos, schools of magic, and ancient secrets, but it\u2019s the moral and philosophical journey that takes precedence. Language is not just ornamental in Earthsea; it\u2019s the very structure of reality, reflecting Tolkien\u2019s own linguistic obsession, yet wielded with a distinct metaphysical elegance. Ged\u2019s arc, from proud and reckless student to wise and self-aware wizard, eschews the glory of battle in favor of emotional maturity and balance. Le Guin also subtly critiques the Eurocentric, white-male norms of classic fantasy by populating her world with people of color and incorporating Taoist themes. Her approach offers a meditative counterpoint to Tolkien\u2019s grandeur while remaining firmly rooted in the traditions he helped shape.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Susanna Clarke \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/54372122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Jonathan Strange &amp; Mr. Norrell<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17672\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/jonathan-strange1-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"jonathan strange(1)\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/jonathan-strange1-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/jonathan-strange1-588x950.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/jonathan-strange1.jpg 619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Susanna Clarke\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jonathan Strange &amp; Mr. Norrell<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is both a love letter to fantasy and a sharp reinvention of it. Set in an alternate 19th-century England where magic is academic, aristocratic, and largely forgotten, the novel reads like a blend of Austen, Dickens, and Tolkien. Clarke\u2019s prose mimics the style of historical fiction, and her use of copious footnotes, some of which detail imagined magical histories and legends, creates a deep and believable alternate reality akin to Tolkien\u2019s appendices and invented lore. However, the book\u2019s themes diverge from traditional fantasy: rather than focus on grand quests or battles, it explores the politics of knowledge, the burden of history, and the cost of reclaiming lost power. The rival magicians, Strange and Norrell, represent competing ideologies about the use of magic, one intuitive and romantic, the other cautious and institutional. Clarke\u2019s work shows that fantasy can be as much about manners and metaphysics as it is about dragons and dark lords.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Michael Moorcock \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/11395155\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Elric Saga<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"elric saga\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-678x1024.jpg 678w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-768x1159.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-1018x1536.jpg 1018w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-1357x2048.jpg 1357w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-629x950.jpg 629w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga-520x780.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/elric-saga.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Michael Moorcock\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Elric<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> series is a direct confrontation with the Tolkienian ideal of heroic fantasy. Where Tolkien\u2019s heroes often resist corruption and uphold order, Elric is a figure of chaos, a sorcerer-emperor who must consume souls to survive and whose greatest weapon, Stormbringer, brings destruction as often as salvation. In <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Elric Saga<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Moorcock deepens his exploration of fatalism and moral ambiguity, presenting a protagonist whose tragic choices lead to inevitable ruin. Moorcock was vocal in his disdain for what he saw as Tolkien\u2019s nostalgic and conservative storytelling, labeling it escapist in his essay <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/300327436\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Epic Pooh<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Yet despite this critique, Moorcock shares Tolkien\u2019s love of myth, drawing on a pantheon of gods, eternal champions, and interdimensional struggles. His rejection of Tolkien\u2019s moral clarity doesn\u2019t diminish the impact of his worldbuilding, it enhances it, creating a darker mirror in which the reader can glimpse the cost of unchecked power and the instability of idealism.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">George R. R. Martin \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/863188472\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A Game of Thrones<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17674\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/game-of-thrones-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"game of thrones\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/game-of-thrones-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/game-of-thrones-671x1024.jpg 671w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/game-of-thrones-768x1173.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/game-of-thrones-622x950.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/game-of-thrones.jpg 786w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">George R. R. Martin\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A Song of Ice and Fire<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> series, beginning with <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A Game of Thrones<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, stands as both an homage to and a reinvention of Tolkien\u2019s epic fantasy model. Like Tolkien, Martin constructs a richly detailed secondary world complete with its own histories, noble lineages, and mythologies. However, he replaces moral clarity with ambiguity and idealism with political realism. Westeros is a land where power corrupts, justice is fragile, and heroes are often undone by their own virtues. Martin draws heavily from real-world history \u2013 particularly the Wars of the Roses \u2013 to create a narrative of shifting alliances, betrayal, and tragic consequences. While Tolkien\u2019s influence is evident in Martin\u2019s grand scope and use of ancient prophecies and long-forgotten magic, Martin rewrites the rules of fantasy by prioritizing human motivation over destiny, and by questioning the cost of power and the fragility of honor in a broken world.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Joe Abercrombie \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/908838180\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Blade Itself<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/blade-itself-193x300.jpg\" alt=\"blade itself\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/blade-itself-193x300.jpg 193w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/blade-itself-657x1024.jpg 657w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/blade-itself-768x1196.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/blade-itself-610x950.jpg 610w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/blade-itself.jpg 963w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Joe Abercrombie\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Blade Itself<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is a cornerstone of the \u201cgrimdark\u201d subgenre, a term that itself signals a departure from the noble, heroic tone of Tolkien\u2019s work. Abercrombie trades high ideals for messy realism, crafting a world where characters are motivated by self-interest, cowardice, and desperation more often than honor. The story follows a barbarian with a conscience, a torturer with philosophical leanings, and a wizard whose manipulations are anything but noble. The novel deconstructs classic fantasy tropes by presenting archetypes who are aware of their own limitations and hypocrisies. Yet Abercrombie\u2019s work still exists in the shadow of Tolkien\u2019s. His gritty cities, political intrigue, and grand conflicts all stem from the same epic tradition, just reimagined through a darker and more irreverent lens. If Tolkien\u2019s world offered a moral compass, Abercrombie\u2019s spins it, asking whether we can trust it at all.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tamsyn Muir \u2013\u202f<\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org\/oclc\/1054183389\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Gideon the Ninth<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-17673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"gideon the ninth\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-663x1024.jpg 663w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-768x1187.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-994x1536.jpg 994w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-1325x2048.jpg 1325w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth-615x950.jpg 615w, https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/gideon-the-ninth.jpg 1650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tamsyn Muir\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gideon the Ninth<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is perhaps the most radical reimagining of fantasy on this list. Blending gothic horror, necromancy, science fiction, and absurdist humor, Muir crafts a world where death is magic, bones are tools, and locked-room puzzles intersect with ancient rituals. Despite its tonal and stylistic departure from Tolkien, <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gideon the Ninth<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> shares his commitment to immersive, internally consistent worldbuilding. Muir\u2019s characters speak in modern slang and swear with gusto, yet they inhabit a world governed by arcane laws and hierarchical orders with long, complex histories. The novel interrogates the idea of legacy, the weight of knowledge, and the manipulation of myth, all themes Tolkien explored, albeit in a more reverent tone. By subverting the genre and injecting it with punk energy, Muir challenges the solemnity of traditional fantasy while preserving its awe-inspiring scale and emotional stakes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s influence on fantasy literature is vast and multifaceted. Some writers embrace his blueprints for epic storytelling, grand worldbuilding, and moral clarity. Others push back \u2013 challenging his structures, questioning his ethics, or simply using his legacy as raw material for new, subversive forms. Across this spectrum, what remains constant is Tolkien\u2019s presence: foundational, formative, and enduring.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By following the thread of Tolkien\u2019s influence from <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mistress of Dragons<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gideon the Ninth<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, we see not a single genre, but a vast landscape of stories. These authors don\u2019t merely walk in Tolkien\u2019s footsteps, they chart new courses through the terrain he helped shape. Each title on display represents a unique voice in the evolving conversation about what fantasy can be.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">All books featured here are available through HPU Libraries. We invite you to explore them, borrow them, and reflect on how one man\u2019s imagined world continues to echo through countless others.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>-Blog post by Gerald Ward, Assistant Director HPU Libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Few authors have reshaped an entire genre the way J.R.R. Tolkien did with The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954\u201355). Tolkien didn\u2019t just tell stories, he&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":17679,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_hpuaeo_plugin_post_data":"","_hpuaeo_plugin_meta_tags":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[617,905],"class_list":["post-17669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books-and-ebooks","tag-fantasy","tag-tolkien"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0 - Library<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Few authors have reshaped an entire genre the way J.R.R. Tolkien did with The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954\u201355). Tolkien didn\u2019t just tell stories, he...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Library\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-02T19:38:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-16T13:14:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"455\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Leanne Jernigan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Leanne Jernigan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Leanne Jernigan\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/42ba001d58b0ad821c2271d679aa928c\"},\"headline\":\"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-02T19:38:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-16T13:14:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\"},\"wordCount\":1861,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png\",\"keywords\":[\"fantasy\",\"tolkien\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Books and eBooks\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#University\"},\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\",\"name\":\"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0 - Library\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-02T19:38:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-16T13:14:44+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/42ba001d58b0ad821c2271d679aa928c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/\"]}],\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#University\"}},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png\",\"width\":640,\"height\":455,\"caption\":\"Tales That Grew\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/\",\"name\":\"Library\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#University\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/42ba001d58b0ad821c2271d679aa928c\",\"name\":\"Leanne Jernigan\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/author\/leanne-jernigan\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0 - Library","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0","og_description":"Few authors have reshaped an entire genre the way J.R.R. Tolkien did with The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954\u201355). Tolkien didn\u2019t just tell stories, he...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/","og_site_name":"Library","article_published_time":"2025-04-02T19:38:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-16T13:14:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":455,"url":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Leanne Jernigan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Leanne Jernigan","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/"},"author":{"name":"Leanne Jernigan","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/42ba001d58b0ad821c2271d679aa928c"},"headline":"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0","datePublished":"2025-04-02T19:38:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-16T13:14:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/"},"wordCount":1861,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png","keywords":["fantasy","tolkien"],"articleSection":["Books and eBooks"],"inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#University"},"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/","url":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/","name":"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0 - Library","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png","datePublished":"2025-04-02T19:38:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-16T13:14:44+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/42ba001d58b0ad821c2271d679aa928c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/"]}],"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#University"}},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/files\/2025\/04\/Tales-That-Grew.png","width":640,"height":455,"caption":"Tales That Grew"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/2025\/04\/02\/tales-that-grew-in-the-telling-modern-fantasys-dialogue-with-tolkien\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Tales That Grew in the Telling: Modern Fantasy\u2019s Dialogue with Tolkien\u00a0"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/","name":"Library","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/#University"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/42ba001d58b0ad821c2271d679aa928c","name":"Leanne Jernigan","url":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/author\/leanne-jernigan\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17669\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highpoint.edu\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}