What non-Tolkien 📔book is like Lord of the Rings, and should be read?

[Keva]

Re: Dark Tower series, did you know: long before Stephen King, The Dark Tower was a title of a little known book by CSLewis, a dream/nightmare story discussed with Tolkien and Clark at the Inklings. Both Tolkien and Lewis were inspired by Cambridge University Library tower which aparently gave them nightmares. It may have also inspired Tolkien's two Towers, though Orthanc is most likely inspired by Faringdon Folly in Berkshire.




Oh Yes I agree!
Im a big fan of the Babylon5 Storyline, which turned TV scifi of the time from soaps in space to epic adventure: later copied by STS9

I should say this is not universally accepted but:

• Summer 1936: Tolkien and Lewis make their famous "space and time travel" pact.
• September 1937: Lewis finishes Out of the Silent Planet with incredible speed.
• Autumn 1938: Out of the Silent Planet is officially published... and begins work on a "otherworldly" sequel: The Dark Tower
• December 1937: Tolkien begins writing the very first drafts of what would eventually become The Lord of the Rings.
• November 1954: The Two Towers is published as the second volume of The Lord of the Rings

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Oh Yes I agree!
Im a big fan of the Babylon5 Storyline, which turned TV scifi of the time from soaps in space to epic adventure: later copied by ST: DS9
JMStrazinsky plots were almost borrowed from Tolkien's works and included places like Zha'Ha'dun (very much like a certain Dwarven undermountain city/mine we know of) and the mysterious Volons were very much akin to the Valar, the Minbari were very like Elves, there was much sense of loss and an ending of ages... Certianly worth watching. Nothing since has come close.

 

[Keva]

Recently I found and read a book called Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel. I don't know if it's been suggested on here before now, I just saw your original post. But, as a lover of Middle-earth and an extensive reader, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

My copy is 1006 pages long. Set between the years of 1806-1817 AD in England, the book explores themes of magic, English identity, and the communion between the Englishman and the land of his birth. It contains strange and wonderful magic, amoral fairies, and intelligent characters. One never feels let down by the story, nor does anything feel contrived. It is a tale spun by an author who took great pains to get the language and setting just right, who loved her native land and wove that love through every scene, creating vivid descriptions and enthralling personalities. Not a scene is wasted. No filler is to be found here, every moment takes another step towards the final climax of the book.

I have already read this book three times, and will continue reading it again and again and again. I hope it will appeal to you as well. I hope it appeals to many, many people.

Driven by your words I tried Gunslinger
It was awful...

 

[WatcherWraith]

Driven by your words I tried Gunslinger
It was awful...

Gunslinger??? What is that?