So, Hollowfox, which Robin Hood was it that you were emulating? Jason Connery or any of his predecessors?

"LOTR is the second most read book in the world." This quote is from the biography of Tolkien packaged with the extended version of the Fellowship. I'm not saying they are right but I don't believe they would try to say it if it weren't up there as ONE of the most read books.

Be that as it may there are some in this world who do/will not like the books. They are written in a style that does not fit the modern world. They are long and packed with detailed description and long passages of exposition. They do not match modern sensibilities and mores. The Hobbit, a children's book, is full of death, mayhem, prejudice and bigotry. LOTR also carries on that same theme.

But I love them. I love the sense of loss and change that Tolkien weaves into the story, the great sadness that the Elves live with, the hope that Men carry and the indifference of the Dwarves to any but their own interests. I like my villains to be totally bad and easy to pick out in the story. I like my heroes to be troubled and to triumph in spite of overwhelming odds, and to still be troubled after all victories are put to bed. And I like plain down home simple people.

Tolkien puts this all together. Most of the knockoffs since do not concern themselves with any but the hero's story. The people he is fighting to defend are more abstract than integral to the story line. Tolkien brings them to life and gives them history and presence.

Or, he could have just be writing potboilers...