Father of Fantasy
This week we remember the life and writings of the father of modern fantasy literature, J.R.R. Tolkien who died on September 2nd 1892. Fantasy readers around the globe have been inspired by his masterpiece novel The Hobbit (1937) and his classic and richly inventive epic fantasy fiction trilogy The Lord of the Rings (1955).
As writers ourselves, we are humbled by his achievements – his ability to create interesting worlds and charm readers with words are unmatched. The Lord of the Rings is a story of courage, friendship, sacrifice, and hope in the face of overwhelming evil – in a sense like Adam in Taoland and the two coming novels in our Dreaming Dreams trilogy.
Through his stories, Tolkien shows us the power of ordinary people to make a difference. His main heroes are not kings or warriors, but hobbits, a humble and peaceful race of small folk who love simple pleasures. They are chosen to carry out a dangerous quest to destroy the One Ring that can corrupt anyone who wears it. The power of the ring symbolizes the evil that has existed throughout human history. Despite their fear and doubt, Tolkien’s heroes accept the responsibility and prove themselves to be brave, loyal, and resourceful.
In our writings, inspired by such amazing authors, our own heroes Adam and Tariana and their companions embark on a quest for true purpose to teach us the importance of teamwork and diversity. The various individuals have different places of origin, backgrounds, cultures, and personalities – and often disagree with each other. But they learn to respect and trust one another, and to celebrate their different strengths and talents. They work together to overcome many obstacles and enemies, and to support each other in times of need.
We hope that our stories, although sprinkled with a bit of darkness and danger, also inspire you to discover light,wonder, and individual purpose. We pray you create for yourselves a rich and vivid world that is full of magic, mystery, and adventure. And embrace the beauty of nature, such as in the forests of Lothlórien, the mountains of Moria, and the fields of Rohan – and in our books – the Moons of the Tao and the valley of Galtland.
We invite you to explore other cultures and peoples of our world as you would a fantasy world – with curiosity and awe – and to appreciate the diversity and the richness it brings to your lives. In today’s troubled times, let us unite in common cause and fight for what is good and right. Let us find joy and beauty in life. Let us believe in truth as we unleash our imaginations and dream of a better world – and then do our parts, however small, to make those dreams become reality – always remembering that while we are all different, we are all the same.
