Posted: February 23, 2000 at 13:03:01: by Beren
: Once again, Tolkien has the advantage of having an entire body of work completed and published. Jordan only began his series within the last decade, and has not yet had the opportunity to complete it. We have no idea how deep of a history he is created (although, to judge from his books it is several centuries in age, with heroes and villians and ages and calendars and the like). In addition, I don't think that it is fair to say that he simply read Tolkien and then wrote his books. The man has led an accomplished life, and he has incorporated more then just a western influence. There is an obvious eastern influence to the basis of his writing, also some ancient Egyptian and middle-eastern. Jordans work, while it may be considered cow-milking, is not simply a redraft of Tolkien's.: -RobRoy
Although I understand your argument, there is one major factor that in my opinion you are overlooking. Tolkien's works were good in Book One and Book Two, Three, Four and so on. The entire series (usuing Tolkien's division of six books here) was superb. Granted, Jordan has not finished, but if Book One is good, Two okay, Three mediocre and Four--Eight poor, the series as a whole, no matter how good Nine--Thirteen may be, cannot be viewed as a success on par with the LOTR.
And I think you are absolutely right in asserting that Jordan reworked the LOTR. If he had the Wheel of Time series would be much better, if unoriginal. Take the Sword of Shannara for instance. Quite obviously a reworking of the LOTR framework and it is enjoyable. But not equal to the LOTR either.
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