Interesting. Brooks openly admits that he grew up on Tolkien, and wanted to write in the same vein. I personally think he makes it his own, but where is that point where we distinguish between like-style and a rip off? Many fantasy stories have the standard cliches; the trek, the search for (insert magical object here), the once powerful (insert mage, wizard, witch, etc) gone bad, trying to take over the world. The team of (elves, trolls, trackers, etc) helping the hero on his journey through the (forest, swamps, hills, fire marsh etc).
