Don't know if it's exactly for those that love LOTR, but I'd recommend 'The Chronicles of Amber' by Roger Zelazny. Though it's arguably more style than substance (Zelazny doesn't really care that much for plot consistency), it's a great read and has some cool worldbuilding.
Also, thank you Jokien for clarifying the Orc origins question. It's a subject I've become curious about myself especially after watching Rings of Power.
Going to answer my own question and say that another book I feel like LOTR fans would enjoy is The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. A young girl discovers that there are doors between worlds and goes on a journey to find herself and her family. Really, really enjoyed it.
The wheel of time is definitely a great series! Though there is a long slog later on, the first 6 books are amazing, as well as the last 3. I’m reading Dawn of Wonder right now and find it quite intriguing. Ranger’s Apprentice is another good series.
I LOVE the Wheel of Time! It’s a great series, but (as my brother says) definitely a commitment, because it’s so long and each book is like 1000 pages. The writing is not at the level of Tolkien or Lewis, but it’s not bad--definitely much better than, say, the Shannara chronicles, for example. Sanderson did a great job with the last ones.
I’m just getting started with Brandon Sanderson, but Elantris is one of my all-time favorite fantasy novels. The Way of Kings was great, as well, but I haven’t read the sequels yet. He has such a huge body of work and several series, it’s hard to know where to begin. Mistborn is on my list...
Belated thanks for the reader response :) Orcs as corrupted Men rather than corrupted Elves makes so much sense. Morgoth would have insisted on high reproduction rates, and if the Orcs had been immortal, the world would have been all Orc before the first Men opened their eyes.
Some readers might like C. S. Lewis’s science fiction trilogy. It’s quite different from LOTR, but still absorbing, particularly the first two books.
Great post, Jokien! I enjoyed the reader mailbag questions and especially loved the review, pics and comments from Laura on the LEGOS Rivendell set. It indeed is stunning and obviously looks like so much thought and effort was put into creating a perfect set for the LOTR fan. Wish I could buy one!
I recently started the Wheel of Time right after finishing the Return of the King and I was so disappointed at the lack of quality of the writing. It’s probably a little of an unfair comparison since I had just come from the quality of Tolkien, but I did not finish the first book.
Another book I felt like was a good one for people people who like LOTR is not fantasy, but maybe more sci-fi? Maybe just fiction? Father Elijah by Michael O’Brien is set in an imagined alternate history. It encompasses a great saga across decades, with high stakes, a lowly main character, and end-of-the-world-vibes that it reminds me of LOTR. Could not put it down!
Don't know if it's exactly for those that love LOTR, but I'd recommend 'The Chronicles of Amber' by Roger Zelazny. Though it's arguably more style than substance (Zelazny doesn't really care that much for plot consistency), it's a great read and has some cool worldbuilding.
Also, thank you Jokien for clarifying the Orc origins question. It's a subject I've become curious about myself especially after watching Rings of Power.
Going to answer my own question and say that another book I feel like LOTR fans would enjoy is The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. A young girl discovers that there are doors between worlds and goes on a journey to find herself and her family. Really, really enjoyed it.
The wheel of time is definitely a great series! Though there is a long slog later on, the first 6 books are amazing, as well as the last 3. I’m reading Dawn of Wonder right now and find it quite intriguing. Ranger’s Apprentice is another good series.
I LOVE the Wheel of Time! It’s a great series, but (as my brother says) definitely a commitment, because it’s so long and each book is like 1000 pages. The writing is not at the level of Tolkien or Lewis, but it’s not bad--definitely much better than, say, the Shannara chronicles, for example. Sanderson did a great job with the last ones.
I’m just getting started with Brandon Sanderson, but Elantris is one of my all-time favorite fantasy novels. The Way of Kings was great, as well, but I haven’t read the sequels yet. He has such a huge body of work and several series, it’s hard to know where to begin. Mistborn is on my list...
Belated thanks for the reader response :) Orcs as corrupted Men rather than corrupted Elves makes so much sense. Morgoth would have insisted on high reproduction rates, and if the Orcs had been immortal, the world would have been all Orc before the first Men opened their eyes.
Some readers might like C. S. Lewis’s science fiction trilogy. It’s quite different from LOTR, but still absorbing, particularly the first two books.
Great post, Jokien! I enjoyed the reader mailbag questions and especially loved the review, pics and comments from Laura on the LEGOS Rivendell set. It indeed is stunning and obviously looks like so much thought and effort was put into creating a perfect set for the LOTR fan. Wish I could buy one!
I’m also curious if one of the subscriptions is still up for grabs? 😁
The Binding of the blade series is another good one.
Wow that's interesting that Tolkien considered orcs to be corrupted humans and not elves. I've never heard that before.
This makes me want to read The History of Middle Earth even more. So much extra information.
I recently started the Wheel of Time right after finishing the Return of the King and I was so disappointed at the lack of quality of the writing. It’s probably a little of an unfair comparison since I had just come from the quality of Tolkien, but I did not finish the first book.
Another book I felt like was a good one for people people who like LOTR is not fantasy, but maybe more sci-fi? Maybe just fiction? Father Elijah by Michael O’Brien is set in an imagined alternate history. It encompasses a great saga across decades, with high stakes, a lowly main character, and end-of-the-world-vibes that it reminds me of LOTR. Could not put it down!
Have you ever read Gormenghast?