Some TTT thoughts

[Judy <judyshapiro@directvinternet.com>]

David said:
>>>[LOTR] is striking me as the grandfather of all those 
computer games where you have to reach your goal, wiping out enemies 
and picking up various objects, weapons, and medkits along the way.  
You know, arrive at Rivendell, add 40% to your health score, pick up 
Mithril shirt and Sting; when you get to Pelennor, use Barrow blade 
on Nazgul's tendon... <<<<

And Abigail replied:
> Perhaps a more accurate statement would be that those 
> computer games - also known as quests - were influenced 
> by this kind of literary genre.  

I think it's much more specific than that. The games David mentioned
are computerized versions of D&D (Dungeons and Dragons), and D&D was
very much an outgrowth of the 1970's mania over Lord of the Rings. 
So, LOTR was the basis of D&D, which was then the basis for those
computer games.  So, yes, LOTR *is* the grandfather of those games;
hence the similarities. 

There are a number of fantasy stories that are derivatively, and
depressingly, like D&D games. (TV's "Babylon 5" spin-off, "Crusade",
was particularly bad this way -- it even had a thief in the party of
adventurers!)  However, LOTR can definitely claim that D&D is based on
it, not the other way around. 

All this talk of differences between the LOTR books and the LOTR
movies is making me want to read the books again. As I said, it's been
so long that I don't remember the story. Maybe I'll try to read them
before the ROTK movie comes out. 

== Judy, who also really enjoyed David's Christmas play. I especially
liked the casting of Snape as Gandalf.  Doesn't this implies that,
underneath it all, Snape is really a sort of angel?