# Surely The Lord of the Rings is one of the best stories ever written **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** middle-earth, books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [May 13, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504 "2024-05-13T19:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/21 "2024-05-13T21:14:23Z")
I tried, Lord knows I tried, but I only got through a third of it. (Is it really considered a trilogy? I thought it was supposed to be considered as one.) Not my bag. And I have an English lit degree, so you can’t say I’m subliterate. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/22 "2024-05-13T21:15:06Z")
Or “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. The first few books were fun. In later books there were just endless descriptions of women’s dresses and the fine details of the lace. I couldn’t decide if it was needless padding or a weird obsession on Jordan’s part. The series got harder to slog through the further you got. Tolkien’s world building was light years better. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/23 "2024-05-13T21:16:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I disagree. It’s just “a” book, there are many better, > … > Maybe we just don’t like the same things. It is allowed. Note that it is possible _both_ to think that the statement made by this thread’s title is true _and_ to personally not like it. I think that _The Lord of the Rings_ is very good, possibly even The Best, at being what it is and doing what it does. But not everyone likes that kind of thing. And that’s perfectly okay. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/24 "2024-05-13T21:19:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ve never been able to read the whole thing. I give up in complete boredom somewhere in the middle I read it, I guess, four times so far (due for a re-read one of these days), the first time when I was 13. I never found it particularly difficult to read, but when I did get bogged down during at least a couple of read-throughs, it was in Book III (i.e. the first half of _The Two Towers_). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/25 "2024-05-13T21:20:20Z")
I think different people plug into different things. My GF is ALL about the writing. Whatever the book is it needs to meet her personal standards of good writing. Years later I still have not figured out what that is. Personally, I like the world building and the slow but steady plot. Others want something faster paced. Or romance. Or whatever. All are valid and there is no better or worse when it comes to preference. I will say that Tolkien’s world building is unsurpassed. Doesn’t mean you have to like it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/26 "2024-05-13T21:22:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But of course- people who are sub-literate will struggle- the book is long. [Moderating] This is verging very close to saying that people who don’t like the books, including some people who have already posted in the thread, are sub-literate. Cut it. Now. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/27 "2024-05-13T21:24:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ve never been able to read the whole thing. I give up in complete boredom somewhere in the middle That reminds me–I did read _Bored of the Rings_ in high school (around 1990). ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/28 "2024-05-13T21:24:38Z")
While not the best parody ever written and, on re-reading, showing far too much reliance on punning with late 1960s commercial product names that have not aged well, I can offer _Bored of the Rings_ as part of the LOTR universe. Wikipedia says it has remained in print since being published in 1969, which is impressive indeed and it has gone into multiple languages, which is the great final test for any wordplay. Its enduring quality and readability probably stems in large part from the solidity of the book it was parodying as a story. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/29 "2024-05-13T21:24:47Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I disagree. It’s just “a” book, there are many better, My opinion, as well. Perhaps the writing itself isn’t quite as elevated but I’ve read comic books with better stories. Also, my taste in Fantasy veers closer to Science Fiction. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/30 "2024-05-13T21:25:08Z")
Me, too. Only about 20 years earlier. Loved the movies. Hated the books. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/31 "2024-05-13T21:26:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > (Is it really considered a trilogy? I thought it was supposed to be considered as one.) Technically, it is one story, divided into six parts. Traditionally, publishers print Book One and Book Two in a single volume, Book Three and Book Four in another volume, etc. One thing new readers need to be aware of, is that _The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings_, and _the Silmarillion_ are three different beasts, written for three different audiences. _The Hobbit_ is written for children. _The Lord of the Rings_ is written for a general audience. _The Silmarillion_ is written for ivory-tower academics. People will often read one, love it, then get confused when another fails to match their expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/32 "2024-05-13T21:28:06Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > _The Silmarillion_ is written for ivory-tower academics. Eh…the first third sure. It’s a bit of a slog. But later it gets into stories (like Beren and Luthien). Those are great. If I could make Peter Jackson do another movie it would be that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/33 "2024-05-13T21:28:51Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Ah, the straight dope elitism. Whatever the hive mind says is good, we all must agree or get labeled aa “sub-literate” and called puppy haters. I didnt say that. In fact I said > [@DrDeth](#): > > Some people will dislike anything- ice cream, puppies, apple pie- anything. Tastes vary, and even _the best of all time_ in any category has people who dont like it. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Or “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. The first few books were fun. In later books there were just endless descriptions of women’s dresses and the fine details of the lace. I couldn’t decide if it was needless padding or a weird obsession on Jordan’s part. Needless padding. His editors told him his readers would buy anything so he started to put out books with about a chapter of plot moving forward, and lots of passing. Then he died. I would like to have a rule- if you are gonna do something like that- I am looking at you GRRM and Rothfuss-you have to put a final ending plot synopsis in a sealed mayonnaise jar on Funk & wagnalls porch- or something. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/34 "2024-05-13T21:46:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I didnt say that. In fact I said > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > Some people will dislike anything- ice cream, puppies, apple pie- anything. > > Tastes vary, and even _the best of all time_ in any category has people who dont like it. This being the internet and all, you are correct. If one does not love a work beyond all measure, one must hate it beyond all measure. Never acknowledge anything in between. It is heresy! If you like kittens the most, you must hate puppies. If you like banana cream pie the most, you must hate apple pie. If you like tiramisu the most, you obviously hate and despise ice cream. I’ve probably read The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit more than ten time over my lifetime. I enjoy them immensely. I have a copy of the Silmarillion and have read some of it, even. The best story of all time? Hold up a minute. Even restricting the discussion to epic fantasy, I personally have always held The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip, the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny (at least the Corwin books), and the Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin in higher esteem than The Lord of the Rings. Tolkein’s writing makes the reader do a lot more of the heavy lifting to create vibrant characters and their emotions. It’s worth the lift, but my admiration of writing that sweeps the reader through the story is greater for some other authors. Now, I guess I’m obliged to go kick a puppy. 😲 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/35 "2024-05-13T21:50:17Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I will say that Tolkien’s world building is unsurpassed Oh, no doubt. He definitely gets into it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/36 "2024-05-13T21:51:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Tolkien, on the other hand, shows us everything from Frodo’s point of view in the first volume, and the new people and places we encounter are new to him too. Oh, that’s a big plus in my book. Because I hate the things unfolding exactly like you describe, with a bunch of random people and having to guess how it’s going to fit together. I’ll check it out! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/37 "2024-05-13T21:58:36Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > This being the internet and all, you are correct. If one does not love a work beyond all measure, one must hate it beyond all measure. Never acknowledge anything in between. It is heresy! I didnt say that either. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Tastes vary, and even _the best of all time_ in any category has people who dont like it. “dont like” is not the same as _Hate._ > [@peccavi](#): > > Even restricting the discussion to epic fantasy, I personally have always held The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip, the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny (at least the Corwin books), and the Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin in higher esteem than The Lord of the Rings. Nothing wrong with those- altho the later Amber books to me are just so-so. Note what I was replying to > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I know some people who really dislike LOTR. I.e people who _dislike_ LotR. You do not seem to _dislike_ LotR so my words were not meant for you. I wasn’t talking about people who like LotR but _prefer_ other fantasy epics. That’s great. I disagree, but that’s just a matter of taste. But my point stands- it doesn’t matter how great something is- _someone_ will dislike it. Best film of all time has people who don’t like it. Can you think of something that _everyone universally_ loves? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/38 "2024-05-13T22:03:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I.e people who _dislike_ LotR. You do not seem to _dislike_ LotR so my words were not meant for you. I understand. That’s how I took it. No argument from me on this point. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/39 "2024-05-13T22:10:13Z")
I’ve tried the books. Couldn’t get through them. I tried watching the second movie, but I fell asleep. Twice. It was so dark, and there was so much fighting. I usually fast forward through battle scenes, because they’re usually boring for me. I don’t hate/dislike fanstasy or world-building – good grief, I actually read the 800 page version of _Islandia_ – I guess it’s just Tolkein’s world itself that doesn’t work for me. I didn’t care much for _Game of Thrones_ either. It’s not my favorite genre of fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504/40 "2024-05-13T23:13:25Z")
Do you have the Tolkien Bestiary? Lovely pictures. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Can you think of something that _everyone universally_ loves? Oxygen? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504.md?page=3)