Re Evil Races

From: elysia69 <elysia69_at_...>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 00:53:56 -0000


>>> Tolkein In Tolkiens defense, he was writing in an era in which
racial
>>> identification was a current issue. I am much more concerned, as
you
>>> mention, by the way that D&D appears to perpuate this
uncritically.

>> Nonsense. These are just ordinary topoi of fantasy literature.

>If true, that would be a reason for even stronger concern. I'm not
sure it
>is true, except for books which are set in gameworlds.

>Even those have exceptions, such as the 'Dark Elf' trilogy in one of
>the
>D&D series.

Ah, one of my favourite topics. There was an article written by Michael Moorcock in the 60s attacking this very, dare I say it, socially disturbing book. For Moorcock the orcs were the masses marching with one great red eye to the doom of Tolkein's cosy little Englander 'obbits. A bit like Noam Chomskeet in the Upland Marx Duckrutti  Column. If I can find a link (I think I saw it on the web) I'll post it.

I did see a quote from JRR Tolkein saying that being a boss was the worst thing in the world, so he can't be all bad.

Cheers,
Mallardesta.

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