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Originally Posted by Waylander
Hi, i was wondering whether you people had some ideas about this topic. My father is one of those old fashioned types (he's in his late fifties) who says that all fantasy is derivative of Tolkein, and by extension is poorly written, a waste of time and money etc etc. Is there an article/blog post whatever that I can show to him that argues the opposite? i have some titles in mind that will show him that fantasy has come a long way since Brooks et al, but would appreciate some help.
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Your dad has some serious prejudices, and on this account you should pay no attention to his opinion.
Only fantasy that kinda started with Tolkien is epic fantasy.
Heroic and sword and sorcery fantasy started with Robert E. Howard (Conan) and Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan, John Carter of Mars).
Weird fantasy started with Lovecraft.
Children's modern fantasy started with Lewis Carol and C. S. Lewis (Narnia)
You should give your father The Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie who is maybe the best writer in gritty fantasy genre which is a continuation of heroic line in our days, and when he finishes ask him how much of Tolkien did he find in there. If he answers with anything other than a zilch, he's a lost cause.