J.R.R. TOLKIEN: Now that I've invented all these different languages, it's time to compose thousands of years of history so I can finally write my book.
C.S. LEWIS: There is a lamp-post in my fantasy world. Just one, no other technology. Well, thereās a sewing machine that a talking beaver uses! But don't worry about the lamp-post, I'll come up with why it exists in a prequel Iāll write someday.
TOLKIEN: But Jack, you canāt just do that! Havenāt you read my essay āOn Fairy-Storiesā?? The electric street-lamp may indeed be ignored, simply because it is so insignificant and transient. Fairy-stories, at any rate, have many more permanent and fundamental things to talk about.
LEWIS: Itās precisely because Iāve read what your opinion is that Iām doing this, Tollers! Iāll show you what fairy-stories should talk about! And thereās nothing you can do to stop me! Hahaha!
TOLKIEN: *muttering curses in Quenya*
LEWIS: But back to your book. Remind me: what was the title again?
TOLKIEN: I'm thinking of calling it The Lord of the Rings.
LEWIS: Well he's either the Lord of the Rings, the Liar of the Rings, or the Lunatic of the Rings, isn't he?
TOLKIEN: Oh shut up, Jack.
Appendices
I reread āOn Fairy-Storiesā last week, which reminded me of this post from the archives. It was the first of several Tolkien vs Lewis posts: hereās the rest if you want to read more!
The final post of The Children of Hurin read along will be coming this Thursday!
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