Of course every author is influenced by another; no art is created in a vacuum. But there are different degrees of influence, and Jordan has modelled his entire story on Tolkien. Jordan should have recognition for what he has done with the genre - though that pales in comparison with Martin, Hobb, Mieville etc. - but Tolkien also deserves credit for inventing the conventions Jordan based his work upon.Argonaut said:Wasn't it Shakespeare who said there's only seven types of narrative you can tell (or something similar)? If that's the case, every single author has pretty much got some link to one beforehand. Every author is influenced by somenoe else.
Who? I would like to know another author who pioneered the epic fantasy genre that exists today. Jack Vance is the only one I can think of. There is a reason why Tolkien is referred to as the father of fantasy; there is a reason why Hobb, Martin and Jordan all cite him as their main influence.Argonaut said:Surely he was the first mainstream fantasy writer, but thre were bound to be others beforehand, even if they didn't have the same scope as he did.
Through the cultures and languages Tolkien invented. There are atlas', encyclopedias and dictionaries devoted to Middle Earth. It is important not to confuse accessability with depth.Argonaut said:I fail to see how Middle Earth had 'breadth and scope'.
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