Rationalist Lord of the Rings fanfiction, newly translated from Russian

Costanza

This may be old news to some people, especially the Russian speakers, but I didn't see an article about it here.

In 1999, Kirill Yeskov, a Russian paleontologist, wrote The Last Ringbearer, a 270-page take on Lord of the Rings from the point of view of a medic in Mordor's dying armies who is also a "skeptic and a rationalist." In fact, Mordor represents the forces of reason in this retelling of the story. As a Nazgúl (himself a former mathematician) explains, Mordor is "the little oasis of Reason in which your light-minded civilization had so comfortably nestled." Barad-dur is "that amazing city of alchemists and poets, mechanics and astronomers, philosophers and physicians, the heart of the only civilization in Middle-earth to bet on rational knowledge and bravely pitch its barely adolescent technology against ancient magic."

The story has been newly translated and is available in free PDF form -- in English and the original Russian. There's a recent review from Salon as well.

This may be old news to some people, especially the Russian speakers, but I didn't see an article about it here.

The story has been newly translated and is available in free PDF form -- in English and the original Russian. There's a recent review from Salon as well.

I just said I'm open to that possibility. It'd be helpful if you provided examples of things I might read. Again, bearing in mind that my tastes in literature are clearly different from yours.

Being aware of the Western canon is pretty much the place to start for a serious discussion on best things ever in literature, even though you might end up preferring stuff that's quite different from it.

For a bit more contemporary stuff, I find Jeff VanderMeer's essential reading list intriguing. VanderMeer's own stuff is seriously awesome as well.

9DavidAgain15y

I would mention that I loved HP MOR and I read it before knowing who Eliezer was (in fact, I assumed from the HP MOR that he was a very precocious 18 year old or somesuch. I would agree that in terms of literary style it's not the most crafted thing I've read, but it's very effective: the plot generally runs well and he creates very powerful and affecting scenes and images. Not just in a 'high rationality' sense either: I love the only reason why anyone will remember dentistry, for instance. In terms of loyalty to canon etc. I love the alternative take in MOR. There's only one thing that really bugs me on that front, which is the use of American language throughout. Astonishing how much it rankles for Harry to say he's 'gotten' something.