Yep. Written by Bilbo and Frodo, who probably were pacifist etc. and as they were clearly tools of the Elves and the 'Wise' would think that they were lovely too.
Not to mention the idea of a species not having a capacity for co-existence is one we'd find suspicious in historical parallels. And don't forget totalitarianism and racial hierachies amongst humans.
Yep. Written by Bilbo and Frodo, who probably were pacifist etc. and as they were clearly tools of the Elves and the 'Wise' would think that they were lovely too.
You're arguing backwards from your preconceived conclusion, not forwards from the evidence.
Not to mention the idea of a species not having a capacity for co-existence is one we'd find suspicious in historical parallels.
That you find it suspicious is part of your map, not of the territory under discussion.
And don't forget totalitarianism and racial hierachies amongst humans.
Totalitariani...
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.