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No, Stories Should Not ‘Wreck You, the Reader’
Articles | Marian Jacobs on Mar 8, 2021

Nomad
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Mar 5, 2021

Legend of the Storm Sneezer
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Mar 5, 2021

53. How Can Christian Fans React When Fantasy Creators Get Cancelled? part 1
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Mar 2, 2021

My Novel ‘The Mermaid’s Sister’ Arose from True Depths of Mourning
Articles | Carrie Anne Noble on Mar 1, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 26, 2021

My Screenwriter Mom Introduced Me to Fantastic Sci-Fi in the 1960s
Articles | Jason William Karpf on Feb 25, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3
Podcast | Lorehaven on Feb 23, 2021

Join Our March 11 Livestream Exploring Christian Reactions to Fandom Cancel Culture
News | Lorehaven on Feb 22, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 19, 2021

Venus is More Than Just a Love Goddess
Articles | Shannon Stewart on Feb 18, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Enthusiast and New Lorehaven Writer Shannon Stewart
News | Lorehaven on Feb 17, 2021

Stories with Bad Ideas Can Still Help Us Grow
Articles | L.G. McCary on Feb 15, 2021

Gretchen and the Bear
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 12, 2021

The Mandalorian is a Religious Fundamentalist, and Here’s Why That’s Awesome
Articles | Josiah DeGraaf on Feb 11, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Josiah DeGraaf
News | Lorehaven on Feb 10, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 9, 2021

The Death and Rebirth of Magic in Children’s Fantasy
Articles | R. J. Anderson on Feb 8, 2021

Torch
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 5, 2021

Fictional Magic Systems Can Go Beyond Rules and Reveal Deeper Characters
Articles | Elijah David on Feb 4, 2021

How God Uses Story Villains for Our Good
Articles | Zackary Russell on Feb 3, 2021

Introducing Sci-Fi Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Zackary Russell
News | Lorehaven on Feb 2, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 2, 2021

Frank E. Peretti to Give Keynote Address at Realm Makers Writers Conference This July
News | E. Stephen Burnett on Feb 1, 2021

Fugue for the Sacred Songbook: In Eb Minor
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 29, 2021

How A Year Without Superhero Films Rebooted Our Universe
Articles | Jason Joyner on Jan 28, 2021

New Book ‘Reading Evangelicals’ Will Focus on Famous Christian Fiction
News | E. Stephen Burnett on Jan 27, 2021

Introducing Superhero Novelist and New Lorehaven Writer Jason C. Joyner
News | Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2021

49. How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction?
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Jan 26, 2021

Militant Secularism Could Force Christians to Create New Subcultures
Articles | Mike Duran on Jan 25, 2021

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The Mermaid's Sister, Carrie Anne Noble
Etania's Worth, M. H. Elrich
Cinderella Spell, Laurie Lee
When Desperate Measures Are All You Have Left, J. C. Morrows
Fractures, James C. Joyner
Torch, R. J. Anderson
The Terran Summit, Anna Zogg
The Xerxes Factor, Anna Zogg
The Paradise Protocol, Anna Zogg
The Awakened, Richard Spillman
The Ascension, Richard Spillman
Love's Sacrifice, Kelsey Norman
Unbroken Spirit, Kelsey Norman
Seed: Judgment, Joshua David
Reviews

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Nomad
“R. J. Anderson’s fantasy Nomad is a rollicking read with fascinating conflicts and plot twists.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 5, 2021

Legend of the Storm Sneezer
“Teen readers fond of lengthy, lighthearted ghost-and-zombie tales will enjoy Legend of the Storm Sneezer by Kristiana Sfirlea.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 5, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath
“Arielle M. Bailey’s The Icarus Aftermath spins a golden yarn of vivid characters and gripping emotion, set in a world ripe for exploration.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 26, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness
“Kyle L. Elliott’s novel The Hourglass and the Darkness posits a world before the great Flood, starting a promising series.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 19, 2021

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53. How Can Christian Fans React When Fantasy Creators Get Cancelled? part 1
Fantastical Truth, Mar 2, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3
Fantastical Truth, Feb 23, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2
Fantastical Truth, Feb 9, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1
Fantastical Truth, Feb 2, 2021

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The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

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The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 2
Parker J. Cole, Mar 4

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 3: the Moon
Travis Perry, Feb 24

The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 1
Parker J. Cole, Feb 17

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 2: Venus
Travis Perry, Feb 11

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Does ‘Engaging Popular Culture’ Include Right-Wing Talk Radio?
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E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6

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‘The Hobbit’ Story Group 11: On The Doorstep

“Stop dragging and get to the dragon,” silly critics may cry; but Tolkien takes his time as his heroes finally reach the Lonely Mountain.
E. Stephen Burnett on Dec 5, 2013 | Series: Exploring ‘The Hobbit’ | No comments

thehobbitthedesolationofsmaug_thelonelymountain

As I write this more than a month before publication on SpecFaith, I’m eight chapters into a very different kind of fantasy: Amish Vampires in Space. I’m enjoying it for many reasons including this one: unlike many other books with even less flagrant “does what it says on the tin”-style titles, the author is taking his time setting up an epic confrontation.1

Though the genres are slightly different, this is exactly what Tolkien does in this chapter. In fact, non-fans often charge The Lord of the Rings with being too slow. But The Hobbit seems immune to this criticism. Only in this chapter, I’ve found, is Tolkien taking his time.

Yet the chapter is not very long. Neither are my reading-group questions. By design, this is a prelude — little character development, little dialogue, just movement of Tolkien’s cast from point Lake-town to point Mountain-door. Thus I can’t help but wonder which modern critics would say this is exactly the sort of material you should leave out of a story. Nothing is going on, they’d say. Or: Too slow here. Insert some romance/action, or else cut it out.

However, how would The Hobbit sound, and what pictures would the story leave, without just this slow buildup to the very location to which the story has been leading all along?

People are starting to wake up and grumble about films that start too quickly on the back of a galloping horse, but then don’t ever care to dismount for coffee and snacks around the campfire. I think the grumblers are right. Too many beloved, classic stories break this new “rule” favoring constant story-starter action. Yes, they have their “hooks,” but then just as quickly they slow down to let audiences stroll about and breathe the airs of this new world.

Too slow. Put jet burners on that sandcrawler.

Too slow. Put jet burners on that sandcrawler.

Star Wars famously starts with the iconic great-Empire-ship-blasting-rebel-ship scene —then lands quietly on a desert planet to follow too slow droids and one normal young man.

The Fellowship of the Ring book begins with an encyclopedic introduction to its central species: “Concerning Hobbits.” Its 2001 film adaptation added some galloping Orcs and Elves and Men in its prologue, but then, like Star Wars, is happy to spend time in The Shire.

Last year The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey followed the same format, with elderly Bilbo’s recollection of the Dwarves’ history and Smaug’s arrival, then much time in The Shire. Fans loved it. Or rather, fans should have loved it. A few didn’t; I fear they listened overmuch to critics acting like six-year-olds hopped up on sugar stix, who said: Who cares for the Shire? We want action! Stupid Peter Jackson just dragging things out to fleece audiences, etc., etc.

So I say: Critics suggesting the same about any faithful adaptation of chapter (Stop dragging and get to the  dragon!) can get shoved down the creepy tunnel inside Smaug’s cave first.

Chapter 11: On the Doorstep

  1. Read chapter 11 in its entirety.
  2. It was easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts. (page 189) Any meaning here — something about “belief”? Or a coincidence?
  3. How do you feel about “slower” parts of the story, as we find here while the Dwarves finally approach the Lonely Mountain? Do you grow impatient waiting for the story to pick up, or appreciate the slower pace of the story that’s building to a finish, or both?
  4. [Balin] looked both sad and grim as he said this: he had been one of Thorin’s companions on the day the Dragon came. (page 191) Having “met” Balin already in the book, and seen him differently in The Hobbit film(s), or even (spoiler!) having seen his tomb in The Fellowship of the Ring, how might this brief aside help deepen his character?
  5. thehobbitthedesolationofsmaug_onthedoorstepHow do you feel, gazing with Bilbo and Balin on the entrance to the Dragon’s lair, seeing the steam and dark smoke and hearing the occasional harsh croak of a bird (page 191)?
  6. Do you find it easy or hard to follow Tolkien’s descriptions of the door (on page 192)?
  7. [Bilbo] had a queer feeling that he was waiting for something. “Perhaps the wizard will suddenly come back today,” he thought. (page 196) After the many times Gandalf has bailed out the Dwarves and the hobbit at the last moment, how does this strike you? How might that give the lie to the accusation (which some have made) that Gandalf’s earlier bailouts of the Dwarves are deus ex machina cheats? (Hint: the entire story does not have that ending, and the earlier “bailouts” make the finale more unexpected.)
  1. In case you were wondering, this confrontation will be between Amish and vampires, in space. ↩
E. Stephen Burnett

E. Stephen Burnett creates sci-fi and fantasy as well as nonfiction, such as The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ (coauthored with Ted Turnau and Jared Moore, from New Growth Press). Stephen explores biblical truth and fantastic stories as publisher of Lorehaven.com and cohost of the Fantastical Truth podcast. He and his wife, Lacy, live in the Austin area, help with foster parenting, and serve as members of Southern Hills Baptist Church.

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  1. Krysti Kercher says:
    December 6, 2013 at 2:52 am

    “So I say: Critics suggesting the same about any faithful adaptation of chapter (Stop dragging and get to the dragon!) can get shoved down the creepy tunnel inside Smaug’s cave first.”

    LOL! I’m in full agreement! That tunnel would outdo any amusement park ride…

    Reply

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