Posted by Mark on April 28, 1998 at 19:23:35:
My three favorite fantasy authors, all grandmasters of the English language and blessed with amazing imaginations.
I think Peake was the best at characterization, Vance best at
stylistics, Tolkien at creating that "suspension of disbelief"
and he was quite a poet too. Over my bed hangs a depiction
of Gormenghast Castle by Ian Miller, who wrote of Gormenghast: "One cannot read this book without being very much impressed with Peake's imagery. The mind reels.
Interpreting it offers the reader, and the artist, infinity."
Tolkien had a "cordial dislike" of allegory, though people insist
on writing about Lord of the Rings as allegory. Perhaps
Vance is most valuable insofar as sociological relevance is
concerned, extrapolation of future human cultures.
Tolkien has the edge over Peake for sheer complexity (invented tongues, histories, geneologies). Vance has superior
dialog, in my opinion.
T and V have much to say about morality, though V says
it with greater subtlety and irony, more shades.
I thank the powers that be for their works, which have enriched my life so much.