*Unofficial* LOTR sequel

[Beren3000]

Hey guys! How's everyone doing?
I remember reading once (in UT I think) that Tolkien intended to write a sequel to LOTR where the men of Gondor turn to the worship of the shadow or something; but, most unfortunately, he sailed to Valinor ;) before managing to do it. So I was thinking how about if we, the Tolkien fanatics, go about writing it for him?

Now, I have no idea how to go about this. I'd like to hear your suggestions (if you're interested) as to how we could do it: for example: each person does a chapter or each person suggests a plot and we elaborate on the most popular one etc...

Any suggestions?

[AntiXZer01]

Is this "Sequal" a real thing Tolkien intended? Where was this written, im sure that if any more was to be writen Christopher Tolkien would have known of it. He wouldn't of known what to write but he would be able to confirm any further writings. I personaly would like to see more written more on the histories like actuall stories not historical accounts like silmarillion. a full story of beren and luthien, full stories of the houses of Rohan and their history.

[Nerdanel]

Great idea, Beren3000!:) This would be a long-term project, and a very interesting one indeed.

I don't know how you people are doing with the LotR-project; do you have any energy left for another one?:)

[Rían]

He started one; it's in one of the HoME books, I think - I'll try to find it.

[Rían]

It's called "The New Shadow", and it's in HoME 12, The Peoples of Middle Earth. It's about 8 pages long.

[Minielin]

Sounds like a repeat of Akallabeth. I think I'd have fun joining in unofficially writing it. ;)

[Beren3000]

Really! I never knew he got to actually write it,RÃ*an. But even so, we can use these 8 pages as a starting point and make (do I dare say it?) a full-length story.

[Beren3000]

So, suggestions anyone? I have a basic outline of the story in my head but I want to hear some suggestions first, as I'm sure there would be ideas much better than mine.

[Valandil]

Hate to be TOO much of a 'wet blanket' - but I don't think JRRT ran out of time on this one. I think he just concluded it would be 'anti-climactic' - and elected not to write it.

Do you think you can make it work with a 'group effort' though? I'm sort of leery on that one with a writing project. If you want to make a go of it though, best wishes! :)

[Beren3000]

So much for suggestions :rolleyes:

[Valandil]

Originally posted by Beren3000
So much for suggestions :rolleyes:

Sorry... you're certainly free to try if you feel inspired though. Perhaps it was just lack of inspiration that kept Tolkien from tackling it. Inspiration is probably the biggest key to successful writing (I just made that up!). :)

[Beren3000]

LOL :D
I guess you're right, though. It would've been kinda anticlimatic to Tolkien...but not to the mooters ;)

[Elvellon]

Originally posted by Minielin
Sounds like a repeat of Akallabeth. I think I'd have fun joining in unofficially writing it. ;)

Quite different in flavour, actually. It starts somewhat like a mystery novel, and the main character is, if I remember it right, is a son of Beregond, the guard that saved Faramir from Denethor’s madness.

[Minielin]

Originally posted by Elvellon
Quite different in flavour, actually. It starts somewhat like a mystery novel, and the main character is, if I remember it right, is a son of Beregond, the guard that saved Faramir from Denethor’s madness. Ooh, that sounds even better, as I adore mystery novels. ;) That would be an interesting character to work with...

[Beren3000]

Oh! The story I have in mind is set long after the time of Beregond (or his son, for that matter). Since nobody posted any ideas (and since I unfortunately don't have access to the HOME series and "The New Shadow" novella), I'm going to post the outline of the story I have in mind. Please bear with me, I know the following will sound farfetched and maybe childish. Anyway, here goes:

Aragorn sets up a temple in Gondor for the worship of Eru and the Valar. Many generations after that, the priests baffle the people with mystic rites in order to gain political and social power. Then, one man of Gondor gets visions of an angel-like being in his dreams advising him on how to restore order and true religion to Gondor (and Middle-Earth). This Luther King figure leads a rebellion and drives the priests away and sets up a new and sincere worship of the Valar. Meanwhile, the priests escape Gondor and reach Harad. In Harad, they are seduced and blinded by power so that they perform some satanic rites to restore Morgoth to a human shape. From then on, wars rage between the Men and Morgoth. The men being helpless against his powers call on the Valar who come to their help themselves fighting Dagor Dagorath and bringing about the end of days...

I can see you laughing your heads off and pointing at the screen with scorn, but hey! I asked for suggestions and got none so I had to come up with something! Anyway, thoughts ???

[Beor]

Well, I just noticed this thing, and I like the idea, and I havent read the part in HOME 12, but I think you could do something with those two wily blue wizards that went east. They could be evil too, hell, they are already Maiar, so it aint too much of a leap to be evil Maiar (I mean, look at these suckers, Balrogs, Sauron, Saruman, Tim, the list is endless) ( there are good ones too, but dang! )

[Beren3000]

Good suggestion, thanks :D! Care to help?

[entss89]

Originally posted by Beor
Well, I just noticed this thing, and I like the idea, and I havent read the part in HOME 12, but I think you could do something with those two wily blue wizards that went east. They could be evil too, hell, they are already Maiar, so it aint too much of a leap to be evil Maiar (I mean, look at these suckers, Balrogs, Sauron, Saruman, Tim, the list is endless) ( there are good ones too, but dang! )

I would have to totally agree with that, i believe your really on to something... but the question i have is who will prevail at the finishing of this story...

[Beren3000]

Well, the Valar will prevail over Morgoth (DUH!) :D

[Beor]

Originally posted by entss89
I would have to totally agree with that, i believe your really on to something... but the question i have is who will prevail at the finishing of this story...

Well, it would have to be men alone against whatever evil they face. Men of Gondor and Arnor, but still remaining men, and they would be up to a hell of a fight, as the Blues would have most or all of the easterlings on their side, out of fear or whatever. Victory would have to come at a huge cost, destruction and death on both sides, and much sorrow. The end, I'd imagine could be with handfuls of survivers scattered around middle earth, with the few that remember anything of the Old days probably settleing in the northern parts of the world, and passing knowledge down through generations, thus leaving us at the early bronze age (check out the Middle earth engineering thread at SF Fandom). Decent tie-in to modern times, and this could be where we get "the Blues" from, eh? *nudges* eh? Anyway, the knowledge and legends passed down through the ages is probably how Eriol came about it, and through his writings, JRR Tolkien. No problem.;)

[brownjenkins]

i've always been intrigued by the ring saruman made... when gandalf visits and he calls himself the 'ring-maker' and saruman of many colors

how about this... orthanc, mostly unoccupied for many ages has been plagued recently by reports of strange lights and spirit sightings... some speak in hushed voices of the return of it's former inhabitant

flash to hobbiton... one of sam's decendents is gardening out front of bag end, near the location of saruman's demise... she finds an interest ring while digging and when putting it on does not turn her invisible, but gives her a certain charisma... much like 'the voice of saruman'... in a short time she becomes very successful and takes the role of mayor... with the intentions of becoming ruler of the shire... and beyond... muhahaha! pushing once again for the type of technological and military advances saruman did ages before... with some resistance of course

meanwhile, the spirit of saruman grows in power and moves to make alliances with the forces of evil that still exist in middle-earth... along with planting spies in the major power centers of the age... gondor, rohan, the new moria, the woodelf kingdom

maybe even make it the 'redemption of radagast' to an extent... since he was left somewhat duped by saruman the first time around

an interesting side note would be to try to discover where saruman forged his ring, so that it could be destroyed... maybe somewhere deep in harad where the wandering radagast comes across his fellow blue wizards and finds that they have also been corrupted by the desire for power

ok, i'll stop now ;)

[Beren3000]

Interesting idea :)
But one of the points of the story is that Gondor would fall again under the shadow (I guess Tolkien intended it that way to show how men are susceptible to corruption.
Anyway, I like the outline a lot with that dracula-like ressurection of Saruman. But I was hoping to reach Dagor Dagorath (the Last Battle); I mean, if Robert Jordan could write about Tarmon Gai'don and C. S. Lewis could describe the Last battle, then certainly a bunch of Tolkien fanatics wouldn't fall short of tayloring the story of Dagor Dagorath, would they? ;)

[brownjenkins]

of course... jordan hasn't gotten around to it yet either ;)

[Beren3000]

But he says that the last book is gonna be about it, so...he pretty much intends to write it :)

[brownjenkins]

i'll believe it when i see it... i'm not quite sure there ever will be a last book :rolleyes:

but i do get your point

[Beren3000]

Ok, to anyone of you interested in this project:
I'm travelling tomorrow; I'll try to write some chapters (hopefully) of my version of the sequel. I'll then post my writings here when I finish them. If any of you manage to write anything re this project, post it here so we can discuss which is better and which to elaborate on etc...