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The Over-the-Bree-Hill Gang Rides Again - Page 3

© Michael Martinez

Tolkien gave his readers a diminishing perspective of evil. It was continually receding into a more distant past with each book. Even if Tolkien had published The Silmarillion in his lifetime, Morgoth's defeat would still expected by anyone who read the book after reading The Lord of the Rings. We would have been looking back to see just exactly how Middle-earth came to be the way it was at the end of the Third Age. The Silmarillion fills in the background more than anything else, and though there is some suspense for the reader, we already know that the Elves cannot possibly win the war. If they had, their kingdoms would have survived. The Lord of the Rings would not express regret over the loss of Beleriand. It is precisely because of this diminishing perspective of evil, and because of the resolution of all suspense in The Lord of the Rings, that we cannot expect a sequel. People have attempted to write sequels. Word has it that all attempts have been very, very bad. Two hundred years from now, when Tolkien's works have long been in the public domain, people will try to move the story forward, and they will fail because there is no story to move forward. The characters continue. They have new adventures and new stories to tell. But the chief story, the tale of the rise of Evil Incarnate and its defeat, is brought to as much of a conclusion as anyone can contrive. Within the scope of Tolkien's history, there are a multitude of stories which may be discovered, but these are all bound up with the greater tale. They are either footnotes or end-notes. There cannot be a new Dark Lord, because the powers which gave rise to Dark Lords have been undone. People look at the mysterious Blue Wizards, whom Tolkien suggests in at least one letter may have founded "cults of magic", and suggest, "Well, they could become new dark lords." Nope. Sorry. That Balrog won't fly. Sauron did not found "cults of magic". He may have skulked about in the shadows, but his presence was felt throughout Middle-earth. Sauron didn't become a major power, however, until he forged the One Ring. That is, prior to that time, Gil-galad suspected there was something going on somewhere, but he had no real idea of who was skulking about or what he was trying to achieve. When Sauron had the One Ring, however, he was able to extend his own personal power in ways which rivalled Morgoth's manipulations. Sauron didn't become a Dark Lord because he was the biggest, baddest guy left standing. He became a Dark Lord because he rose to the occasion.

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