Xenite.Org News

Pratchett blasts Tolkien again, adds Rowling to list of enemies

July 15, 2002 at 13:45:13

While accepting the prestigious Carnegie Medal for children's literature, British author Terry Pratchett once again revealed gross ignorance about Tolkien's work while complaining about the more popular author.

Writing for The Scotman, Karen McVeigh and Lesley Walker report:

In a clear reference to Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, he said: "Far more beguiling than the idea that evil can be destroyed by throwing a piece of expensive jewellery into a volcano is the possibility that evil can be defused by talking."

Anyone familiar with The Lord of the Rings understands that evil is not destroyed with the One Ring. The wizard Gandalf, an angel in human form, foretells that other evils will arise. And Sauron himself, the Dark Lord who made the One Ring, does not cease to exist when the Ring -- which contains the greater part of his native strength -- is destroyed.

Pratchett has attacked Tolkien in the past by misrepresenting the facts of Tolkien's story. And he is no longer limiting his pernicious straw man arguments to Tolkien. Now he is also attacking J.K. Rowling, author of the popular Harry Potter books: "'Fantasy is more than wizards,' he said."

Pratchett's zany Discworld novels have entertained many people around the world, but it would appear that his relentless attacks on Tolkien will continue.

The Scotsman article is accompanied by a trite comparison between Tolkien and Pratchett which obvious favors the jealous author's point of view. Dr. Alice Jenkins, a lecturer in English literature at Glasgow University, reveals her own considerable ignorance about Tolkien in statements such as:

Tolkien believes in absolute evil but also shows absolute evil being destroyed." (Tolkien denied the existence of absolute evil in his letters.)

"JRR Tolkien creates a very profound moral cosmos without much of a direct connection to the real world...."

"He creates a world without culture or manners. It is based purely on moral drama."

and

"Pratchett takes up some big questions and considers what kind of conversations people would have. He has a wonderful ear for dialogue. Tolkien’s dialogue is just to move the plot along."

Members of the literary community have for years argued that Tolkien still needs defending against unsound and ill-informed opinions. Perhaps they are correct.

Then again, perhaps the vehemence of these attacks against Tolkien only underscores how frustrating it must be for his detractors, to behold his growing popularity with an ever-widening audience.