How Tolkien created Middle-earth
When I was growing up, Tolkien&#x27;s works were some of the few books sold in the church&#x27;s bookstore. As I&#x27;ve grown older, I&#x27;ve grown more critical of the simple narratives in most literature, that make frequently abhorrent attitudes and acts possible. In the case of Tolkien, he literally dehumanizes the enemies. One example that stands out is the &quot;light hearted&quot; sequence where Legolas and Gimli hold a contest of who can kill the most orcs. These days, recognizing this type of storytelling, with all its justifications, is very often part of the problem, I try to find works that help develop more nuanced perspectives.<p>Edited to remove bad reference to Nanking Massacre. The point is that glorious battle stories with simple morals are prevalent, and are a big part of Tolkein&#x27;s stature.