I remember that essay. It starts out well enough, but Turner gets entirely on the wrong foot by assuming that the only purpose of serious literary study is to attack the subject (at least if the subject is Tolkien). She seems to think that the enchantment of fantasy is a gimmick that needs to be exposed, though she doesn't say why.
Anyone reading this should also get a fine reply, "Reasons for NOT Liking Tolkien" by Caroline Galwey (Mallorn 42, 2004, from The Tolkien Society), which explores the hidden reasons that so many mainstream critics have this tremendous hate on for Tolkien, since the critics themselves seem to think it goes without saying and never bother to explain it.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-09-24 05:37 am (UTC)Anyone reading this should also get a fine reply, "Reasons for NOT Liking Tolkien" by Caroline Galwey (Mallorn 42, 2004, from The Tolkien Society), which explores the hidden reasons that so many mainstream critics have this tremendous hate on for Tolkien, since the critics themselves seem to think it goes without saying and never bother to explain it.