I got the idea for this thread from the "Difference between Tokien and modern fantasy authors" thread. It occurred to me that there are authors who have drawn on the work of the Master, and have taken it in new directions, but based on completely different mythos (mythi, mythoses? whatever the plural of "mythos" is) and not necessarily using elves and dwarves and orcs, etc. These authors are those who have raised the bar, so to speak, and who are truly masters or mistresses of fantasy fiction. They do not necessarily have to be epic writers, though I think that the epic writers have a better chance by virtue of the medium.
I don't mean to make reference to any of the obvious Tolkien rip-offs, but rather those authors who have:
1. Done world-building on a Tolkienesque scale, including peoples, cultures, languages, and maps (especially maps! I hate crummy maps in a fantasy).
2. Have achieved a certain level of art in their writing, that is at once very good and communicative, but also beautiful and elegant;
3. Have created characters that are not only multi-faceted and vibrant, but that grow and change due to the circumstances surrounding them.
4. Have managed to convey the feel of a real human legend from their writing. What I mean by this is that Tolkien makes me feel like his stories have been told for thousands of years.
Now, please do not stick to these as if they are some kind of iron-bound criteria. Add other points in order to support your ideas of who is worthy of being an heir of Tolkien. I have my own ideas, and many of you can no doubt guess what I will say, but I am stepping back to see what happens first.
I don't mean to make reference to any of the obvious Tolkien rip-offs, but rather those authors who have:
1. Done world-building on a Tolkienesque scale, including peoples, cultures, languages, and maps (especially maps! I hate crummy maps in a fantasy).
2. Have achieved a certain level of art in their writing, that is at once very good and communicative, but also beautiful and elegant;
3. Have created characters that are not only multi-faceted and vibrant, but that grow and change due to the circumstances surrounding them.
4. Have managed to convey the feel of a real human legend from their writing. What I mean by this is that Tolkien makes me feel like his stories have been told for thousands of years.
Now, please do not stick to these as if they are some kind of iron-bound criteria. Add other points in order to support your ideas of who is worthy of being an heir of Tolkien. I have my own ideas, and many of you can no doubt guess what I will say, but I am stepping back to see what happens first.