SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I think I've translated the OP. I think you may be mistaken in thinking that there's a difference between the two authors in respect to genre with Lewis writing fantasy and Tolkein writing mythology. In fact, they both wrote fantasy that drew heavily from mythological/Biblical source material. Many, many authors use ancient myths and legends as their source material for fantasy. Just because they use mythological source material doesn't mean that they are writing mythology. Mythology isn't really something that is written in a set form, it's more of an oral tradition. It's a culture's way of describing what's happening in the world around them.

I'm not surprised that Tolkein and Lewis were friends and critiqued each others work. They were both Christians and scholars and writers. What bond could be more natural?

They were both at Oxford at the same time.

I have no idea what started this, but my understanding is that one of Tolkien's intentions was to create a simulated collection of myths in connection with his artificial languages. I agree that LoTR and the Hobbit are better described as fantasy novels than as myths, but the nonexistent writer may have had a good point. Lewis seemed more interested in repackaging genuine Hebrew myths, while Tolkien took glee in creating new "false myths". (False in the sense that they weren't formed in a real society.) Arguably, Tolkien's creations have taken on lives of their own in the decades since. Have they reached the status of genuine myths? Probably not, but it's headed that way.

I think that myths don't necessarily form or thrive in oral environments. It's just that most of world history featured masses of unwashed illiterates who didn't have the opportunity to pass rumors and fictions across the internet.

I had no idea!

This may seem a far-fetched question, but do you think that Star Wars has taken on semi-mythic form? It certainly seems that way to me, having raised a child when Lucas started Phantom Menace and the rest. I actually got into pretty religious and philosophical discussion with my at the time 7 year old. Even the college kids I am friends with regard Star Wars with almost mythic awe.

Lucas was inspired by Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth and Hero with a Thousand Faces so it's more than a coincidence that it has a mythical feel to it. Both books are well worth reading.

Lucas was also *heavily* influenced by Akira Kurosawa, particularly Seven Samurai, Sanjuro, and The Hidden Fortress.

Exactly. I have a feeling --haven't read this anywhere-- that Lucas did the first Star Wars as a lark, something to play with SFX, and was pretty much blown away by its success. The first trilogy works much better for me than the second because it's less pretentious and focuses on hero-making rather than grandiosity and villain-making.

As for Lewis, I highly recommend Martin Gardner's The Annotated Alice for a contextual understanding of the use of myth and wordplay.