# Another Author To Write LOTR Sequels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864 "2003-07-21T07:05:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/1 "2003-07-21T07:05:07Z")
When Ian Fleming died, John Gardner started writing _James Bond_ novels. I suppose he did it by aquiring the rights to do so and probably the Fleming estate got a share of the royalties, yes? Could such a thing happen with the _Tolkien_ stories? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/2 "2003-07-21T07:12:28Z")
Dammit, I misled y’all with the title to this thread, sorry! I **wanted** to write “ **Could** Another Author Write LOTR Sequels?”. I’ll see if I can get a mod to change it for me. Again, sorry! Q ---
**Author:** ![Lithium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lithium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lithium)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/3 "2003-07-21T07:32:57Z")
Imagine Terry Brooks writting lotr sequels. _shudders_ ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/4 "2003-07-21T07:44:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lithium \* > **Imagine Terry Brooks writting lotr sequels.** Well, he does write LOTR clones. With about 12 chromosones missing. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/5 "2003-07-21T10:05:25Z")
The Tolkien family controls all literary uses of Tolkien’s works. (Unfortunately, they sold the movie rights back in 1968, so they don’t control cinematic uses of Tolkien.) They have no intention of letting anyone else write a continuation of the books. Until such time as the books go out of copyright or the family has a complete change of heart about sequels, no one will publish a sequel to _The Lord of the Rings_. Gardner could write the later James Bond films only because the Fleming estate wanted someone to continue the books. They asked around to find a writer who wanted to do it. The royalties to the sequels by Gardner (and a couple other writers) go to both Gardner and the Fleming estate. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/6 "2003-07-21T11:54:09Z")
Even if another author were given the rights to do it (which ain’t gonna happen any day soon), what would he write about? Middle Earth has entered the Fourth Age. There is no Dark Lord anymore. Aragorn is king, and has probably been pretty industrious in exterminating any surviving orcs, trolls and the like. What could the story possibly be? Sure, they could introduce a new villain. This would make the original “trilogy” a lot less meaningful, and the villain would have to be pretty minor to be glossed over at the end of _Return of the King_. I’m not saying it couldn’t be done (some people even screw up their _own_ works, let alone others… George Lucas, I’m looking in your direction). I guess I’m saying it shouldn’t be. Cuz it’d suck. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/7 "2003-07-21T13:24:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Until such time as the books go out of copyright or the family has a complete change of heart about sequels, no one will publish a sequel to _The Lord of the Rings_. Is there anyone who doesn’t see this a a **good** thing? ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/8 "2003-07-21T14:47:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\*Even if another author were given the rights to do it (which ain’t gonna happen any day soon), what would he write about? Middle Earth has entered the Fourth Age. There is no Dark Lord anymore. Aragorn is king, and has probably been pretty industrious in exterminating any surviving orcs, trolls and the like. What could the story possibly be? \*\* A tale of orcs, trolls and the like trying to survive in a world where racist humans are trying to wipe them out of the existance? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/9 "2003-07-21T15:10:19Z")
I hear Frank Herbert’s son has signed up for the job. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/10 "2003-07-21T15:48:24Z")
Just the mere title of this thread is enough to give me nightmares. (Think the awful “sequel” to Gone With the Wind; think of the horrid Terry Brooks rip-offs; think really bad fanfic…).Thank the good lord that the family owns the rights, and that the family will likely never sell out, at least not in my lifetime. On another note, Tolkien wrote his own sequel in a way, in the Appendices. Anyone who wants to know what happened afterwards to the main characters can read & find out. Though there will be other conflicts to come in Middle Earth (remember what Gandalf said - that the evil will always come back, albeit in other forms; our responsibility is to preserve the world for those that come after us…don’t have books right now for exact quote), but our beloved heroes will have dropped out of the picture. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/11 "2003-07-21T17:24:49Z")
Now, if somebody wanted to write _prequels_, there’s a lot of material to work with. Tolkien left the Second Age only lightly-documented–there could be books about Ar-Pharazon and Elendil and the fall of Numenor; or the Last Alliance; or the wars between Angmar and Arnor…could be some good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/12 "2003-07-21T17:30:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by well he’s back \* > \*\* > > On another note, Tolkien wrote his own sequel in a way, in the Appendices. Anyone who wants to know what happened afterwards to the main characters can read & find out. \*\* Which is why the idea is not that outrageous. A talented writer could put together a couple of good stories using Tolkien’s blueprints. Granted, they will never match the original, but a new series “based upon” might be interesting. Say what you want about James Bond films, they have the formula and if you like one, you will pretty much buy into all of them. I think with a good writer, and a director with the talent of Peter Jackson, and with a good budget - plus a producer who knows how to stay withing the realm and scope of Tolkien’s vision - why not? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Tambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr\_Tambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Tambo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/13 "2003-07-21T18:14:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\* > > Sure, they could introduce a new villain. This would make the original “trilogy” a lot less meaningful, and the villain would have to be pretty minor to be glossed over at the end of _Return of the King_. I’m not saying it couldn’t be done (some people even screw up their _own_ works, let alone others… George Lucas, I’m looking in your direction). I guess I’m saying it shouldn’t be. Cuz it’d suck. \*\* I’m not denying that posthumous LotR sequels would be an affront to man and god, but there will _always_ be another evil on the rise in Middle Earth. It’s the way it goes. The War of the Ring was just a section of the history of Middle Earth. Tolkien actually considered and did a little work on a sequel himself. You sacrifice everything, you fight til you drop, you see your best friends die… and the next generation will just have to fight the battle again. It’s not fair, but nobody ever said it was going to be. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/14 "2003-07-21T18:31:38Z")
Surely some LOTR geek has heard that Tolkien actually did start to write a sequel, then abandoned it, after realizing he had nothing else to say. It takes place after Aragorn’s reign, and things start going awry when kids start playing at being orcs … It’s included in one of the endless volumes that Christopher Tolkien has put out about the whole universe of Middle Earth. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/15 "2003-07-21T18:38:26Z")
Here it is: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395827604](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395827604) The new story was to be called, “The New Shadow.” ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/16 "2003-07-21T18:59:09Z")
The Tolkien family seems to take JRR’s legacy pretty seriously. I can’t imagine them allowing another author to write sequels. And it’s a long, long time until these come into the public domain. Personally, I think it’s a terrible idea anyway. It would be a train wreck worse than Star Wars. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/17 "2003-07-21T20:00:06Z")
If JRRT couldn’t do it in his own attempt in “The New Shadow”, everyone else had just better back away. **NOW!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/18 "2003-07-21T20:00:17Z")
I didn’t know about **Tolkien’s** having started and abandoing a sequel, but it makes me respect the man even more for the reason he gave for stopping it. Thanks very much to everyone for replying to this thread, even though I worded it stupidly. I e-mailed **Ike** , but it was the middle of the night, and I’m sure he hasn’t gotten to it yet. I myself was at work and half asleep when I posted, though that’s no excuse. :rolleyes: Q ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/19 "2003-07-22T02:05:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr Tambo \* > \*\*I’m not denying that posthumous LotR sequels would be an affront to man and god, but there will _always_ be another evil on the rise in Middle Earth. \*\* And the best possible candidate is the prospect of non-JRRT-produced “Further Adventures.” ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864/20 "2003-07-22T08:14:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr Tambo \* > \*\*I’m not denying that posthumous LotR sequels would be an affront to man and god, but there will _always_ be another evil on the rise in Middle Earth. It’s the way it goes. The War of the Ring was just a section of the history of Middle Earth. Tolkien actually considered and did a little work on a sequel himself. > > You sacrifice everything, you fight til you drop, you see your best friends die… and the next generation will just have to fight the battle again. It’s not fair, but nobody ever said it was going to be. \*\* But that new evil would have to be pretty tame. Look at the timeline: First Age: Battle of gods, basically. Vala and maia fighting. The Dark Lord is Morgoth, who is a demigod himself. World created and lain waste. Second Age: Tamer, but still kicking ass. Sauron, who’s just a servant of Morgoth, is the Dark Lord. The Last Alliance is needed to save the world. Balrogs jumping around and killing people. Third Age: Sauron doesn’t even have much of a body now, and is ultimately defeated by two midgets, who could never have done it without the accidental aid of a 500-year-old midget freak. Enemies are orcs whose greatest technology is being able to be outside during the day. Fourth Age: Sauron’s dead. The new Dark Lord would have to be a disgruntled Gondor man or something. No elves left in the world. Humans have to do the fighting, which means that any enemy needs to be pretty lame. See what I mean? The world keeps getting wussier. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-author-to-write-lotr-sequels/189864.md?page=2)