Making Fun Of It

[HerenIstarion]

Presumably (and the statement to follow is almost always true) all modern fantasy writers (in one way or another) have an ultimate, (even when unconscious) source of their inspiration residing in JRRT's works. All conception of elves, dwarfs (up to spelling the latter as 'dwarves'), Evil Lord Out There etc etc.

Some are aware of it, and make good laugh of themselves and of Tolkien's conceptions. Now, the idea of the thread is to represent the places in the books of other authors, which strike you as familiar, deriving themselves out of Tolkien, and yet in a mocking way. I'll give you some examples below:

Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, especially simian ones. They are not all that subtle

Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies, refers to people trying to irritate an orangutan (being not only an ape, but a Librarian of the Unseen University (that is, magical institution))

Chain-mail isn't much defence against an arrow. It certainly isn't when the arrow is being aimed between your eyes.

Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies, mocking Tolkien concept of impregnable dwarven chain-mail

She reached a flat wall of ice-covered rock, no different in Magrat's eyes from the rock available in a range of easy-to-die-on sizes everywhere in the mountains, and paused as if listening.

Then she stood back, hit the rock sharply with her broomstick, and spake thusly:

'Open up, you little sods!' …[some paragraphs after, the door opens]

…'We put writing on the door,' it said sulkily. 'In invisible runes. It's really expensive, getting proper invisible runes done.'

Terry Pratchett again, Witches Abroad for now. Remember the whole business about Gandalf jumping in front of Moria door? The above quote is also about writings on dwarven doors

Two pale glows appeared at the edge of the lamplight. Eventually they turned out to be the eyes of a small grey creature, vaguely froglike, paddling towards them on a log.

It reached the boat. Long clammy fingers grabbed the side, and a lugubrious face rose level with Nanny Ogg's.

' 'ullo,' it said. 'It'sss my birthday.'

All three of them stared at it for a while. Then Granny Weatherwax picked up an oar and hit it firmly over the head. There was a splash, and a distant cursing.

'Horrible little bugger,' said Granny, as they rowed on. 'Looked like a troublemaker to me.'

'Yeah,' said Nanny Ogg. 'It's the slimy ones you have to watch out for.'

'I wonder what he wanted?' said Magrat.

Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad. Anything strikes you as familiar?

'How many times have you thrown a magic ring into the deepest depths of the ocean and then, when you get home and have a nice bit of turbot for your tea, there it is?

Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters. Mocks the whole ring business (especially Elrond's council, throwing the Ring into the sea option)

All of the above may sound not too funny out of place, but, placed here and there as jewels in the text, they make me laugh any time I manage to notice such a reference.

All my samples being out of Pratchett, I nevertheless haven't named the thread Pratchett and Tolkien, though, for there are bound to be other writers who's works can pop up here. Its up to you to add up