So I was brainstorming the other day about fantasy books that are either very similar to Tolkien or complete takeoffs and I came up with these:

The Sword of Shannara. I quite enjoy the Shannara books, actually, but they are VERY similar to LotR.

Eragon and Eldest. The names are sometimes almost identical - Elessari, Isidar Mithrim, etc.

This one not so much, but - The Cry of the Icemark. Did anyone else notice the very Rohirric-sounding names? I also enjoyed this one, but I did notice that and think "Hmmm..."

So, what other books have you read that are similar to LotR?

EDIT: Several people have mentioned Harry Potter being similar to LotR over the last couple of weeks, so I suppose I'll put it in even though I don't really agree. Hmm. Interesting.

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I havn't read any that are very close to LotR, except for Eldest and Eragon. They are pretty close.

Eragon and Eldest are like DUH!Come on, Ardwen lake? Are you kidding me? So is Harry Potter(Whomping Willow=Ents,Dumbledore=Dumbledors, The giant spiders=Shelob, Ungoliant, ect.ect.)HP is a given for LotR rip offs

Basically Tolkien and Dungeon and Dragons set the standard of modern fantasy. So that's why almost everything seems like a takeoff from them. You hardly see elves in little curly Santa boots or trolls hiding under bridges. No you see Elves being skilled archers and trolls something like an ogre.

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I was cured all right.

That's very true. But some stories lend themselves more to plagiarism than others, you know?

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Yes I agree. BUt being an author (not published. Drats), it is hard when you are writing stories not to include somthing from your favorite books. I try my hardest to make up my own stuff, but I do admit some stuff leaks through.

I'm surprised that you didn't list Harry Potter up there. Not that I would have mentioned it, it's just everyone seems to think that JKR "copied" from LotR. Personally, I think that she was definitely inspired by it, nothing more.

I have to agree with you on that ... i always hated Rowling for it, but maybe that's just me

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I never thought that about HP, but I never liked HP anyway so I don't care lol. Especially since the books got so dark and Sirius, who was the best character out of all of them, died, and that actress who plays Hermione annoys me to no end.

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emma watson? shes a horrible actress ... she has so much expression it seems fake

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Yes, her. I haven't seen the third and fourth movies, so maybe she's slightly better in those, but Hermione isn't supposd to be so darn pretty! And she's not bushy enough. I never pictured Hermione like that.

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yeah i pictured her with buck teeth and huge hair ... really huge ... emma watson had really pretty and silky hair... =\

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I never quite thought she had buck teeth. I pictured her with large, slightly crooked front teeth like my brothers, which are too big for his mouth and look a little weird.

But back on topic...I don't call this copying LotR, but it just occurred to me - did anyone else enjoy the sly references to LotR in Inkheart and Inkspell? I thought they were quite clever.

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There were references? I read them a long time ago, and don't really remember.

there were refrerences? i remember some quotes at teh beginning of some of teh chapters from LotR and the Hobbit...but nothing more than that

The Naming...about a girl named Maedrad (the female verion of Eragon) and a guy named Cadvan (he could pass for Aragorn's twin brother!)
And then there's this hidden city hidden in a mysterious forest, a city made of nine circles on a moutain, and "the Speech" is practicly elvish! Despite all this I still like the book..

Also, this book called Beyond the Summerland I read once time where the author whose a huge Tolkien fan made the mistake of making it obvious..*eye roll*

And despite how much I like the Inheritace Triology, Paoulini really needs to come up with some of his own names/ideas. Narda (Varda) Ardwen (Arwen) Morgothal (Morgoth) The Beor Mountains, etc.

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