[Ariel]

Haven't read all the books? Hmmm... well, I have and enjoyed them all. I found much of HoME and the Silmarillion somewhat dry and as I am not much interested in elves, these books didn't have the enticement that LoTRs did for me, but you have to admire the way they are written... and for me, it is interesting to see the creative process at work (HoME, Letters...)

I am of the belief that one really ought to read the books prior to writing fanfic, but I don't consider it sacrilege not to. I am very canon oriented and strongly prefer stories where the author has done his or her homework. Yes, this is a hobby for fun, but I also read for fun and a story that ignores canon or takes characters OOC for no other reason than the writer's ignorance of the book isn't very enjoyable for me. While I would never presume to tell someone they shouldn't write if they haven't read the books, they shouldn't be too upset if I am less impressed with their pieces if they haven't.

Even though it is a hobby, it is a public forum. I have always felt it very important to put my best foot forward if I am going into the public eye. All of my fics are strict canon or are AUs that could exist with strict canon. I also make sure they are well proofed and formatted cleanly. It seems only common courtesy that if I post something I wish the public to read, it should be the best work that I can do.

Ariel

[sindohte]

I'm a stickler for detail and think that any fanfic writer who wants to accurately portray Tolkien's world and characters should have read LOTR at least once. Although the first two movies are excellent, it is still Peter Jackson's interpretation of Tolkien and should not be viewed as a substitute for reading the books. A story is much richer when it is informed by reading Tolkien and viewing the movies.

As for reading The Simarillion or HoME, I think they help to deepen the understanding of Middle Earth and increase the appreciation of the sheer genius that went into Tolkien's work.

[Ellbee]

Well, I have read The Hobbit and LotR (many times) but I found the Silmarillion simply too boring to read, and I have no interest in reading all the unfinished, unedited stuff, or Christopher Tolkien's interpretation of what his father meant. Frankly, I think there's more than enough background in the trilogy to build a complete fanfic world. As for the movies, I think they complete the books in a lovely way, but they can also stand on their own. Obviously, anyone who as only seen the movies won't have the depth of information you get from the books, but plenty of fandoms are movie-based. I've never really minded a little canon-tweaking, as long as the stories are well-written. I like to mix book- and movie-verse in my stuff, and as long as a story is well-written and interesting, I don't consider movie-based stories to be some sort of inferior animal.

-Ell

[Maram68]

I guess it depends how serious you take the Canon. As in how very religious you are going to take everything written by Prof. Tolkien.

I mean, the man created a whole universe but it allows also other interpretations and (ducking rotten tomatoes from purists) the creation of Alternate Universes and filling a couple of plot and timeline gaps.

I see Fanfiction as the possibility of bringing your own creativity into a given universe. But even if you should stick to general rules
(like Sauron was evil and elves are immortal with few exceptions), every author is a GOD of his own story.

I agree that to write LOTR fanfic one should read the books, but, in the end, there has been so much fiction written about other movies alone that it makes it quite acceptable to write based on the Movieverse as well.

K, I am rambling: you should do as you wish, as long as you just give an indication, in your disclaimer maybe, what universe you are using. This, to make it easier for a reader to follow some scenes and timelines.

I'll better shut up now.

C.

[Viv]

[Nanneline]

I'm not a big Canon fan usually, but I don't like it when an author just makes up everything about ME. Nor do I like it when someone is strictly canon and when they have an OC they stick with Tolkien's work and have no imagination of their own really. I'm very picky about it usually, but there are a few aceptances, I guess.

Anyway, I love the movies and I kick myself for thinking that LotR was for geeks. I read the Hobbit in 7th grade and I loathed it. So naturally I thought LotR would be the same. But after I saw FotR I got the books right away. I think I was really the only person I know who understood most of the movie the first time I saw it. Which was really interesting considering I only went to see the movie because Black Hawk Down was sold out and Orlando and the battle scenes looked good.

But after I read the books I became a Tolkienist, I guess, I like everything very by the books. Not that Peter Jackson did a horrible job interpreting the books. His work is excellent. I do find more inspiration in the movie than the books because it feels more real. And the music adds a lot to the emotions, and the CDs I listen to everytime I write which, I think, makes it easier to see ME sort of. But PJ and the actors did give the characters more emotions and really brought them to life. Especially Eowyn, who in the book I found slightly vague and even a little boring I guess.

So yeah, I think I said enough so I'll just shut up now.
*muah*Nanne

[miriel361]

Tolkien was a genius - no doubts about it. His was an imagination that opened up a new world. But he did not fill in all the details and some of the things he mixed up - like elves sleeping or not. I like to think that we fill in the details.

e.g. I think that adult elves sleep very little but are able to go off into an alpha state at will to rest their minds. If they are ill, then they 'sleep' which enables their bodies to repair damage.

I loved both the books and the movie - espcially the elves since I am an elf fanatic.

The film completed the personification of the figures in the book. I mean what Sean Bean did to Boromir was nothing short of amazing and Viggo's Aragorn was incredible.

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