Hatrack River Forum: LOTR nod in Alvin series?

This is topic LOTR nod in Alvin series? in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :

I must have missed this on my first reading of the Alvin series, but just caught it last night, a year after the first read.

In "Alvin Journeyman," Alvin spent much of his imprisonment coming up with songs. Alvin had one such song that he said he thought might have been "a dream that belonged to somebody of ancient days, or maybe somebody who ain't even been born yet. Just a spare dream and I chanced to snag on it during my sleep."

The song was this:

quote:

Alone with my imagining,
I dreamt the darkest dream,
Of tiny men, a spider's sting,
And in a land of smoke and steam,
An evil golden ring.

I can't believe I missed that the first go-round, but that's definitely a little homage to Tolkein. Kudos to you Mr. Card [Hat]

- I enjoyed the poem!

-BandoCommando

Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :

Yeah, we all owe a huge debt to Tolkien, and every now and then you have to give him a bow.

Posted by WntrMute (Member # 7556) on :

Neal Stephenson, Stephen King, and Robert Jordan have worked in subtle homages to JRRT, too.

In a few years, figure on seeing subtle Card homages in the works of authors to come. [Wink]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I already have . . . now if only someone would publish that particular story! [Wall Bash]

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

quote:
In a few years, figure on seeing subtle Card homages in the works of authors to come. [Wink]

I saw one in a book that came out this summer... [Wink]

It was called Magic Street. [Smile]

Posted by RufflesBag3 (Member # 8735) on :

Wow thats cool. I dont know why i have never noticed that when i have read The Lord of The Rings so many times before reading the Alvin books.

Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :

I found that bit really fun. I smiled quite a bit when I saw it.

Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :

Doh! In the acknowledgements for "Crystal City" Mr. Card says something like "if I could have Alvin dream up the plot of 'Lord of the Rings'..."

There we have it, folks.

Posted by Reticulum (Member # 8776) on :

So simple, how could you make a mistake like that? No, no, no.

Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :

*Sigh*

My own students follow me online to make fun of me.

I'll never have peace again. :-)

Posted by Somnium (Member # 8482) on :

Haha ^^ [Wink]