that it takes 10 hours BECAUSE we have no background history we can actually
understand as ours. We have to learn the whole lot from Tolkien's own maps on
up. We don't come to it with previous knowledge from other sources--from our
own known history--as we do the Arthurian legends. (and I'm not so sure I agree
entirely with
that)
--------------
'I was afraid they were all sailing away, Sam-dad. Then soon there would be none here; and then everywhere would be just places, and'
'And what, Elanorellė?'
'And the light would have faded.'
'I know,' said Sam. 'The light is fading, Elanorellė. But it won't go out yet. It won't ever go quite out, I think now, since I have had you to talk to. For it seems to me now that people can remember it who have never seen it. And yet,' he sighed, 'even that is not the same as really seeing it, like I did.' (the epilogue from HoME IX, emphasis mine)
email plainhat at yahoo dot com (do the translation!)
