January 27, 2003

The Successor
Razors

Ok - I have what will probably turn out to be a very controversial question. But bear with me.

I've seen a couple of debates (or arguments) around the net on the subject of "new Middle-Earth stories" - ie, the (purely hypothetical) idea of another author picking up where Tolkien left off, and writing new stories or books set in Middle-Earth.

Obviously you wouldn't want just any old hack doing this, so my question is...

Imagine you've been given the job of commisioning Tolkien's successor - who would you pick?

My personal choice would be Edward Rutherfurd (author of Sarum, London and The Forest) but tell me who YOU'D choose, and why.

By the way, all I want from you guys is ACTUAL ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION. I don't need people banging on at me about who owns the copyright to what, and I certainly don't want people screaming, "Aaaargh, sacrelige, no other author must ever defile Tolkien's sacred creation!" I'm sure a lot of people will be thinking it, but I don't need to hear it.

So - anyone...?