epilogues

[calimac]

For some reason I find myself moved to write about epilogues, specifically the epilogue to The Lord of the Rings.

If you've just read The Lord of the Rings itself, you won't have seen this. Apparently everyone who read the book before publication found it so repulsively treacly that the author decided to omit it. But you can judge for yourself by looking it up in the posthumous volumes Sauron Defeated or The End of the Third Age.

It takes place 18 years after the Fall of Barad-dûr. It's about Sam surrounded by his children. It's warm and fuzzy, with lots of retrospective comments on the story just passed. Sam's children address him as "Sam-dad," and ask him questions like, What happened to Gimli and Legolas and Shadowfax, and did the Ents ever find the Entwives? Sam answers to the best of his ability.

Some discussion of these questions did make it into the appendices, written after the epilogue was abandoned, but those lack the conscious "wrapping it up" nature of the epilogue. The published ending has an elegant simplicity; the epilogue - well, maybe it was a bit much.

How come I'm mentioning this, you ask? Why, do I need a particular reason?

Comments

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that a traditional way to wrap up an old novel, eg Haggard's PEOPLE OF THE MIST?

When done well at the end of a magnificent modern series, it can be quite effective, particularly if the author limits it to broad outlines of closure and healing for the major characters, uncluttered.

Just sayin'.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

No comparisons or contrasts have been made.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

I admit it, I'd like to read that epilogue. Note to self to look up the volumes you mention.

Speaking of posthumous publishing, what's your opinion of the new Children of Hurin?

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Why, here's my review of it right here.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's kinda what I thought. I might try reading that book someday after I've won the lottery, cured cancer, and married three wonderful people simultaneously. Or if I've started injecting heroin.

Such a concerted downer I don't need.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

It's positively suicidal.

Drat, I've just given away the ending.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Ah, that was informative. Hope all those scattered related tales and fragments are gathered in one volume at some point. I haven't read anything beyond Unfinished Tales and am not sure I'll ever be motivated to.

You'd think that The Children of Hurin might appeal to goth kids and other fans of Doom.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

Do you have a review for the two volumes of the history of the Hobbit yet? I just got my copies from the UK today.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Just my original LJ post.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

Be honest, dear. You started talking about the epilogue to LotR after I started talking about the epilogue to the new Harry Potter book.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Now now, that would be telling. I didn't say a word about that other book in this post, not a word.