This may be my favorite story of Lewis and Tolkien's relationship. The way that they felt unsatisfied with what their culture was producing at the time is so relatable, but the way they address it is what I love. They challenge each other to make what they would like to see. And what makes it better is that at the time, neither of them were considered novelists! They were both still relatively unknown! As a creative person with little professional experience, that resonates with me so deeply.
That coin toss was very fortuitous! If they already knew of each others preliminary works, do you suppose they would have done "best out of three" if necessary? 😉
Maybe he abandoned because the story wasn't science fiction enough. The only sci-fi thing was the time machine and even so he was trying to make it something spiritual than science
What I find interesting is that time travel using machines was a relatively new concept at the time; it had emerged around the 1890s. Before that, time travel stories were just like the one Tolkien wrote. The protagonist would either fall asleep and then wake up and realize they didn't recognize their surroundings, and the people were dressed weird, or not even physically travel, but see the past through a dream. Tolkien making a conscious decision not to use a time machine is so coherent with him being generally very old-fashioned and disliking the direction the world was heading.
I do see how this aspect of the legendarium became so important to the development of Lord of the Rings, but imagine if that coin flip had gone the other way. Space travel in Arda would’ve been bitchin.
That Hideous Strength, the final book of Lewis' space trilogy, somewhat ties in the time travel too. Merlin is brought back into the present day in order to help our protagonists break free from a cabal of science worshipping moral busybodies
Sounds like Tolkien’s book was a mix of sci-fi and fantasy sci-fi fantasy if you will. Shame he never finished it, but it did lead to the Lord of the Rings & the Silmarillion. 👍
This may be my favorite story of Lewis and Tolkien's relationship. The way that they felt unsatisfied with what their culture was producing at the time is so relatable, but the way they address it is what I love. They challenge each other to make what they would like to see. And what makes it better is that at the time, neither of them were considered novelists! They were both still relatively unknown! As a creative person with little professional experience, that resonates with me so deeply.
I've been reading a lot of both men's work, recently. It's wonderful to see how they sharpened and tested one another, the way good men do.
Tolkien: "Why yes I shall endeavour to write science fiction!"
Proceeds to add to the Silmarillion again
I enjoy your video essays, thank you very much!!
Thank you very much watching and for the kind words!!
That coin toss was very fortuitous! If they already knew of each others preliminary works, do you suppose they would have done "best out of three" if necessary? 😉
Maybe he abandoned because the story wasn't science fiction enough. The only sci-fi thing was the time machine and even so he was trying to make it something spiritual than science
What I find interesting is that time travel using machines was a relatively new concept at the time; it had emerged around the 1890s. Before that, time travel stories were just like the one Tolkien wrote. The protagonist would either fall asleep and then wake up and realize they didn't recognize their surroundings, and the people were dressed weird, or not even physically travel, but see the past through a dream. Tolkien making a conscious decision not to use a time machine is so coherent with him being generally very old-fashioned and disliking the direction the world was heading.
Yes travel of the spirit, out of body type experiences used to be the rage for that sort of thing
People should read what Lewis written there, I have been lately which was how I found this video, it was very cool.
Both were outstanding fantasy writers, but I think C.S Lewis was the better Sci-fi writer here.
yeah. Tolkiens story wasn’t really Sci-fi at all here.
I do see how this aspect of the legendarium became so important to the development of Lord of the Rings, but imagine if that coin flip had gone the other way. Space travel in Arda would’ve been bitchin.
>enter a bet to make a scifi story
>explicitly make the time travel unscientific
Not sure if based or cringe
That Hideous Strength, the final book of Lewis' space trilogy, somewhat ties in the time travel too. Merlin is brought back into the present day in order to help our protagonists break free from a cabal of science worshipping moral busybodies
Out of the silent planet, dreams of desolation
Sounds like Tolkien’s book was a mix of sci-fi and fantasy sci-fi fantasy if you will. Shame he never finished it, but it did lead to the Lord of the Rings & the Silmarillion. 👍
Oh can you do Michael moorcock hate j rr Tolkien
I’ll do some research and add it to the list!
🎉