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J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringshas inspired countless creatives since its publishing in the 1950s and ‘60s. Published a trilogy, the story was set in Middle Earth and followed the journey of a hobbit named Frodo as he embarked on a treacherous journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring as the Dark Lord Sauron regained power.
Author George R.R. Martin has often expressed his adoration for theLord of the Ringstrilogy and branded it as the greatest book he had ever read. The author of theGame of Thronessaga revealed that he was initially apprehensive about the novel before falling in love with it. He also credited a key death inLOTRas an inspiration for his own work.
George R.R. Martin revealed how a key death inLord of the Ringsinspired him
Anyone who is familiar withGeorge R.R. Martinknows that he loves shocking his fans with a death. TheA Song of Ice and Firenovel series and theGame of Thronesshow prided itself on killing off fan-favorite characters unceremoniously and to a shocking effect. The Red Wedding is one of the most harrowing moments in the entire series that is still talked about.
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However, his habit of killing off characters that usually have plot armor in other stories has reportedly stemmed from a variety of sources. Martin had once said that he wasinspired by Marvel’sAvengerscomic where the character of Wonder Man is introduced, given a redemption arc, and then killed off in the same issue.
Martin also mentioned how J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsinspired him as an author in general and Gandalf’s death by the Balrog inspired him to kill off main characters to increase tension in his own works. He said (viaPBS),
I can’t explain the impact that had on me at 13. It can’t kill Gandalf. Conan didn’t die in the Conan books, you know? Tolkien just broke that rule and I’ll love him forever for it. Just the minute you kill Gandalf, the suspense of everything that follows is 1000 times greater, ’cause now anybody could die. Of course, it’s had a profound effect on my own willingness to kill characters at the drop of a hat.
George R.R. Martin appreciated J.R.R. Tolkien’s approach to writing theLord of the Ringsnovels, admiring how he wrote it like he wrote history.
George R.R. Martin once said that he wanted to discuss some elements ofLord of the Ringswith J.R.R Tolkien
TheLord of the Ringsis no doubt one of the most influential pieces of literature in all of fiction. So many fantasy novels since have taken a leaf from J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece and have credited it accordingly. From magical creatures like the hobbits and elves to the incredible battles, all tropes lead back to theLord of the Rings.
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While he is a huge fan of Tolkien’s works and has endlessly appreciated them, George R.R. Martin mentioned that he wanted to ask questions to the author about some aspects of the trilogy. He mentioned that he particularly had issues with the lack of explanation onhow Aragorn ruledin the aftermath of the battles. He said (viaTolkien Society),
I keep wanting to argue with Professor Tolkien through the years about certain aspects of it… I look at the end and it says Aragorn is the king and he says, ‘And Aragorn ruled wisely and well for 100 years’ or something. It’s easy to write that sentence. But I want to know what was his tax policy, and what did he do when famine struck the land? And what did he do with all those Orcs? A lot of Orcs left over.
Martin, however, did mention that he was one of the biggest fans of Tolkien and he read theLord of the Ringsevery few years.
Game of Thronesis available to stream on Max.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2415
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
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George R.R. MartinJ.R.R. TolkienLord of the Rings
