Canon and Fanfiction: Imagination vrs. Respect - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 09-03-2002, 11:35 AM

I have some understanding of "canon" in relation to Tolkien's writings as a whole and how this affects our perception of the Legendarium. Increasingly, however, I'm hearing this term applied to fanfiction (and RPGs). Folk proudly defend their story as "totally canon" or criticize another because it is not.

But what does canon really mean in relation to our own fictional accounts? I think this is a question which deserves discussion. I don't believe there's one right answer, but, by mulling over different views, we may clarify our own standards and, thus, write better stories.

Don't get me wrong. There are some things clearly ouside the pale. A Jedi knight running around with a light sabre does not belong in Middle-earth! But there are areas that are more uncertain to me.

Let me cite a few examples.

What about an early writing like BoLT2 which features Morgoth's mechanical dragons? (In later writings, these disappeared.) Is it in keeping wih canon to use mechanical wyrms in a fanfiction? I've heard it argued both ways on this one!

Again, BoLT refers to Elves that are diminutive in size, a concept later rejected by the author. And I personally would cringe at a story that portrays Elves in that way. Nor would I write a tale that depicts the Valar having children, even though Tolkien played with this idea.

But there are other situations where the answer is less clear. Might a diminutive Elf really be the "fairy" mentioned in The Hobbit who married into the Took family? If it's alright for Melian to marry Elwe and bear Luthien, would there be certain situations where Gandalf, or Saruman, or even Sauron (!) could also have a wife and child? I personally would never provide a spouse for a Maiar since it seems to go against their very essence, but perhaps others see this differently.

For that matter, I have a real problem with a number of tales, some quite well written, which depict Frodo as marrying and/or having children after the Ring quest. Everything I know and understand about Frodo tells me that this would not have happened. So are there situations like this where each of us has our own "personal" standards of canon. In fact, where does canon stop, and personal choice begin?

Right now, in two stories, I am working with a hobbit "ranger" in the Third Age and a "good" dragon who originated at the dawn of time. The former is loosely modelled on Trotter, the ranger hobbit, who appears in early versions of the LotR. The "good" dragon is obviously straight out of my imagination. I figure, since Morgoth couldn't create life from "nothing", he must have corrupted an existing species in order to breed his wyrms. My dragon just happens to be one of the few "good" leftovers that Morgoth missed! Is this a constructive use of imagination, or has poor Child fallen over into the deep end?

In summary, have you encountered similar questions and poblems when working on fanfiction (or RPGs)? What standards of canon should we use in composing fanfiction? And where should imagination stop, and respect for the author hold sway?

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

09-03-2002, 11:35 AM	#1
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Canon and Fanfiction: Imagination vrs. Respect I have some understanding of "canon" in relation to Tolkien's writings as a whole and how this affects our perception of the Legendarium. Increasingly, however, I'm hearing this term applied to fanfiction (and RPGs). Folk proudly defend their story as "totally canon" or criticize another because it is not. But what does canon really mean in relation to our own fictional accounts? I think this is a question which deserves discussion. I don't believe there's one right answer, but, by mulling over different views, we may clarify our own standards and, thus, write better stories. Don't get me wrong. There are some things clearly ouside the pale. A Jedi knight running around with a light sabre does not belong in Middle-earth! But there are areas that are more uncertain to me. Let me cite a few examples. What about an early writing like BoLT2 which features Morgoth's mechanical dragons? (In later writings, these disappeared.) Is it in keeping wih canon to use mechanical wyrms in a fanfiction? I've heard it argued both ways on this one! Again, BoLT refers to Elves that are diminutive in size, a concept later rejected by the author. And I personally would cringe at a story that portrays Elves in that way. Nor would I write a tale that depicts the Valar having children, even though Tolkien played with this idea. But there are other situations where the answer is less clear. Might a diminutive Elf really be the "fairy" mentioned in The Hobbit who married into the Took family? If it's alright for Melian to marry Elwe and bear Luthien, would there be certain situations where Gandalf, or Saruman, or even Sauron (!) could also have a wife and child? I personally would never provide a spouse for a Maiar since it seems to go against their very essence, but perhaps others see this differently. For that matter, I have a real problem with a number of tales, some quite well written, which depict Frodo as marrying and/or having children after the Ring quest. Everything I know and understand about Frodo tells me that this would not have happened. So are there situations like this where each of us has our own "personal" standards of canon. In fact, where does canon stop, and personal choice begin? Right now, in two stories, I am working with a hobbit "ranger" in the Third Age and a "good" dragon who originated at the dawn of time. The former is loosely modelled on Trotter, the ranger hobbit, who appears in early versions of the LotR. The "good" dragon is obviously straight out of my imagination. I figure, since Morgoth couldn't create life from "nothing", he must have corrupted an existing species in order to breed his wyrms. My dragon just happens to be one of the few "good" leftovers that Morgoth missed! Is this a constructive use of imagination, or has poor Child fallen over into the deep end? In summary, have you encountered similar questions and poblems when working on fanfiction (or RPGs)? What standards of canon should we use in composing fanfiction? And where should imagination stop, and respect for the author hold sway? sharon, the 7th age hobbit [ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.