You know, I'd never thought of the C of Elrond as a Symposium, but yep, I see it now. But no drinks? Bilbo would certainly have been happier with a dram of cordia! (Yes, I know...)

Not sure what you think of when you mention "typical hack fantasy strategy session." Probably I haven't read it, but I'm curious.

I must ask: Lewis. Did you read him because of Tolkien? (I did, the planetary trilogy first, and Screwtape, and some other things long before I read Narnia, some of which I can't help but like.) I am not bothered by his Christian slant, but his supposedly serious "it was better in the Middle Ages" attitude does bother me a bit.