# Any other Tolkien-fan "Bored of the Rings" abstainers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896 "2015-06-30T19:18:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/21 "2015-06-30T22:23:03Z")
I remember the book being pretty funny, but pretty uneven too; it’s hard to sustain something so broad for even that length of pages. I will say it makes the Tom Bombadil sections of LotR much more bearable when you can think back to Tim Benzedrino. “O slender as a speeding freak! Spaced-out groovy tripper! O mush-brained maid whose mind decays with every pill I slip her!” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/22 "2015-06-30T22:27:20Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Locally, in fantasy/sf fandom, Bored of the Rings is still one of the most quoted books of all. I have a friend who likes to sign off emails with “Must close, left something on the Bunsen.” ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/23 "2015-06-30T22:30:04Z")
I discovered BotR shortly after discovering LotR, back in junior high (mid 70s). I loved it then, and I love it now. The spouse and I still quote bits of it to each other, just randomly (“Hash! Boo! Valvoline! Clean! Clean! Clean for Gene!”, “Deer Free-Toad…”, and “I am Arrowroot of Arrowshirt…but I have many names” come to mind off the top of my head). Maybe it was because it was the first parody of that sort that I ever read, but it just struck a chord with me and just stuck in my brain. Fortunately I do have a spouse who likes it as much as I do. 🙂 That said, I haven’t read it in years. And now I’m thinking I should again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/24 "2015-06-30T22:50:08Z")
I love the description of Moxie & Pepsi Dingleberry: “Frito called them to attention, wondering vaguely why Goodgulf had saddled him with two tail-wagging idiots that no one in the town could trust with a burned out match.” I occasionally refer to any pairing of my kids as “Moxie & Pepsi”, generally after they’ve done something remarkably stupid. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/25 "2015-06-30T23:12:49Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > I hated BotR and found it sophomoric… That’s fitting, given that they were sophomores (juniors?) at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/26 "2015-06-30T23:20:07Z")
When I was a kid, one of my friends was a big fan of it. I have tried reading it on several occasions since then but I haven’t gotten very far because I didn’t find it very funny. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/27 "2015-06-30T23:25:51Z")
I tried to read it once, and found that it was like reading a novelization of a sub-par Mad Magazine parody. They basically had one joke, which was, “This character’s name sounds kind of like this other word!” and ran it into the ground before the end of the first page. “Pity I’m out of bullets,” was pretty good, though. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/28 "2015-07-01T00:03:33Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I tried to read it once, and found that it was like reading a novelization of a sub-par Mad Magazine parody. They basically had one joke, which was, “This character’s name sounds kind of like this other word!” and ran it into the ground before the end of the first page. > > “Pity I’m out of bullets,” was pretty good, though. The orcs collapsing in laughter when Arrowroot’s sword fell apart, Frito, Moxie and Pepsi slitting their throats was also cool. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/29 "2015-07-01T00:06:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I tried to read it once, and found that it was like reading a novelization of a sub-par Mad Magazine parody. They basically had one joke, which was, “This character’s name sounds kind of like this other word!” and ran it into the ground before the end of the first page. > > . Strongly disagree – it wasn’t just making fun of the names. BOTR took Tolkien’s assumptions, conventions, and even his language to task. “The land was rich with many an oast and tilth, not to mention rippling rilns and rolling ferndocks!” is surprisingly close to what Tolkien actually wrote, but hilarious. “Do not mention that Black Land in this Black Land!” said Goodgulf. “The enemy has eyes everywhere,” he said, as one great eyeball rolled off a ledge with a heavy squeak. And I can still recite some of the hack poems by heart, even after all these years. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/30 "2015-07-01T00:38:31Z")
My favorite was the prediction: “5’ 9” is your height and 180’s your weight/You’ll cash in your chips around page 88." And then have the character later checking the top of the page nervously. Doug Kenney, who wrote it, was one of the most influential forces in modern comedy, starting in the 70s and beyond. He created the **National Lampoon** and **Animal House** and also the **1964 High School Yearbook Parody** , one of the best of all time (it’s still breathtakingly funny even today). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/31 "2015-07-01T01:17:45Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > My favorite was the prediction: “5’ 9” is your height and 180’s your weight/You’ll cash in your chips around page 88." . 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/32 "2015-07-01T01:22:51Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > I hated BotR and found it sophomoric and boring. This was, admittedly, years ago, and maybe I’d “get it” now, but it seems unlikely, since if anything, my tolerance for puerile humor has gone down. > > It reminded me of a bad Saturday Night Live sketch. BotR is hilarious when you’re 15. Mind you, LotR is brilliant when you’re 15. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/33 "2015-07-01T01:29:36Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Strongly disagree – it wasn’t just making fun of the names. BOTR took Tolkien’s assumptions, conventions, and even his language to task. > > “The land was rich with many an oast and tilth, not to mention rippling rilns and rolling ferndocks!” is surprisingly close to what Tolkien actually wrote, but hilarious. > > “Do not mention that Black Land in this Black Land!” said Goodgulf. > > “The enemy has eyes everywhere,” he said, as one great eyeball rolled off a ledge with a heavy squeak. And after those parts, they get to the jokes, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/34 "2015-07-01T02:31:34Z")
I loved both LotR and BotR and happily bought a copy for my best friend. Tote up another one on the register, Jocko. “Ching!” Shantih Billerica! (for all you New Englanders) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/35 "2015-07-01T02:37:33Z")
I’m a huge Tolkien fan and I thought BOTR was…okay. Not horrible or insulting, but, as someone said, fittingly, sophomoric. On the other hand, I’m a huge Dune fan as well, and I love Doon. So HL was pretty hit or miss for me. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/36 "2015-07-01T03:04:23Z")
Those of y’all who love it…check out National Lampoon (NL, not HL) “This Side of Parodies.” It’s mixed: some are brilliant, and some are a tad dull. But the whole collection is stunning. The spoof of James Joyce and Finnegan’s Wake is amazing: they really did capture his essence. The Mickey Spillane spoof is also biting: it’s sex-swapped, and makes fun of 70’s sexism and feminism. “My Gun is Cute.” If you like BOTR, TSOP has a damn good chance of pleasing you. And, yeah, it’s terribly dated. What can I say? The seventies were very good to me! ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/37 "2015-07-01T03:15:15Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Those of y’all who love it…check out National Lampoon (NL, not HL) “This Side of Parodies.” It’s mixed: some are brilliant, and some are a tad dull. But the whole collection is stunning. That book has “Over the River and Through the Woods,” the funniest Hemingway parody I’ve ever read: > [@](#): > > I decided to go to Paris and I went to Paris. I had not been to Paris since I had left it, and it was good to be back. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/38 "2015-07-01T03:18:28Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > And after those parts, they get to the jokes, yes? Har! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/39 "2015-07-01T03:21:47Z")
Alas! Alackaday! ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896/40 "2015-07-01T09:50:47Z")
Interesting variety of thoughts / positions ! > [@muldoonthief](#): > > I think BOTR is hilarious, and I don’t think it is disrepectful or scornful at all. To the contrary, I don’t think you can write a parody that good without a deep appreciation for your source material. A point to ponder – on reflection: yes, this is one of the ways in which humans are strange. A trait of LOTR is that it’s one of those things which on the whole, people either love or loathe – and many of those who loathe, detest it with the white-hot heat of, etc. … > [@silenus](#): > > Count me with the group that thinks _Bored_ is good/great, while thinking _LotR_ is over-written, boring claptrap. (A mild example – **silenus** ’s “over-written, boring claptrap” is almost praise, compared to what some of the most vehement haters say about the work.) With utter detestation on the part of so many: I had rather taken it for granted “sight unseen”, that the Lampoon guys were in the “Tolkien should have been strangled at birth” camp, and wrote the parody in that spirit. On balance, think I’ll continue to refrain from reading BOTR. It occurs in passing: a certain proportion of the jokes would likely be lost on me because I’m not American – would reckon, proprietary brand-names in particular. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-tolkien-fan-bored-of-the-rings-abstainers/723896.md?page=3)