Nearly 50 years after publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings", you might think there would be nothing left to write about him. But you'd be wrong. This book explores why Tolkien's books continue to resonate with each new generation of readers and what that fact reveals about us. Tolkien's fiction is infused with the elemental themes that drive humanity itself. Abuse of power, blinding evil, unconditional love, redemption through sacrifice, endurance in the face of impossible adversity - it's all there as if taken from the latest news release. Readers who immerse themselves in the characters' storylines want to know, "What do these lives mean in terms of universal values?" The answers reside in the great themes that flow through Tolkien's great masterpiece of fantasy literature. Experiencing the world of Middle-earth, with its bittersweet tales of loss and reunion, sorrows and joys, elevates the spirit and gives us new perspective on our own human condition. The larger issues of Tolkien's fantasy remain our issues, today and forever.
Writer, editor, publisher, anime/manga addict. Tastes run toward the dark side.
Anne Petty (Ph.D. in English, Florida State University) has over 30 years' experience in the wordsmithing field as teacher, author, editor, and publisher.
Anne explores myth, legend, and the world of J.R.R. Tolkien in her online blog and her published non-fiction writing--Tolkien in the Land of Heroes (2005, a Mythopoeic Society Award Finalist), Dragons of Fantasy (2nd ed. 2008), and One Ring to Bind Them All (2nd ed. 2001). Chapters in anthologies include contributions to Modern Critical Views (2000); Tolkien Studies (2004); More People's Guide to J. R. R. Tolkien (2005); Tolkien and Shakespeare (2007); Good Dragons Are Rare (2009); and Light Beyond All Shadow (2011).
Anne also writes dark urban fantasy/horror fiction. The first novel in her Wandjina series was Thin Line Between (2005), and the follow-up novel, Shaman's Blood, is due out later in 2011. Recent short stories include "The Veritas Experience" published in The Best Horror, Fantasy, & Science Fiction of 2009 (Absent Willow Review). Another story, "Blade," received Honorable Mention in AWR's 2010 Best Horror, Fantasy, & SciFi competition.
Anne is an active member of the Horror Writers Association, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, the Mythopoeic Society, and the Tolkien Society. She is a founding member of the Tallahassee Writers Association and is a regular presenter at writers' conferences and pop-culture conventions such as Dragon-Con in Atlanta. In 2006, she founded Kitsune Books, a small press specializing in literary novels, short story collections, book-length poetry collections, and literary criticism.
