one thing to change them all

[daeron]

I know the answer to the following will be 'nothing' in most cases, but I just want to know.
If there was anything you'd like to change in the Lord of the Rings, Hobbit or Silm, (plotwise or characterwise) what would it be?

[obloquy]

I would take out whatever it is that appeals to teenage girls. =) =) =)

[Bergil]

I would remove either

..and his shadow stretched out like two vast wings

or

... and his wings were spread from wall to wall

clears things up a bit.

[Legolas]

And add

He slapped Gandalf around a bit with his left wing.

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

Well, I would definitely change the fact that Middle-Earth doesn't actually exist, except in the hearts and minds of fans. 'Where now the horse and the rider?' indeed.

If only Tolkien had created a world that had spontaneously generated into completion and reality...

[Tuor of Gondolin]

I'd like to see alternate LOTR plotlines where the
Fellowship went west to the havens and then by
sea to south of the Angren, and one where they traveled
down River Running to the Sea of Rhun (to the
mountains and the forests around it).
The former would be especially interesting, and
you could still have Merry and Pippin captured,
the Fellowship splitting, etc. It would be
necessary to either relocate Lorien or work
it in some other way.

Edit: And Moria could be located in the White
Mountains.

[ArathorofBarahir]

I would change nothing. I love the books, and I don't think I could read them any other way, than the way they are now.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by obloquy

I would take out whatever it is that appeals to teenage girls. =) =) =)

Would that be all the sword fighting and the wizards and the really cool dragons and the balrogs and the unnaturally large spiders and so on then?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I would add whatever it is that appeals to teenage girls.

I am guessing it would mean more: sword fighting, wizards, really cool dragons, balrogs, unnaturally large spiders and so on.

[Suldaledhel]

It has always been a desire of mine for Fingolfin to have borne witness to Feanor's death. After re-reading the passage recently, I have wondered if there was the potential for a final redemption for Feanor, having paid so great a price for his pride. Perhaps their grievances could have been set aside, or perhaps final words of bitterness could have been exchanged. Either way, that is the foremost aspect of the books I would change.

[the guy who be short]

The clear distinction between good and evil. At the age of thirteen, I more or less replanned the Lord of the Rings so that, just when Middle-Earth appeared as though it would collapse completely, the orcs would offer their arms to Gandalf and battle their oppresive leader. I'd give them a chance to repent.

[Gil-Galad]

for myself, i would always leave some evil still in the world, i never liked having absolute hope, just taking it step by step

[Kath]

I'd not take out but perhaps make more gradual Eowyn's change from warrior-princess to full time wife and mother. It is very sudden and seems out of character to me.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Gil-Galad

for myself, i would always leave some evil still in the world, i never liked having absolute hope, just taking it step by step

There's plenty still left, sadly. I think that is one of the most satisfying things about LotR, that Frodo can have put himself through all that torment, and that there is this new, wonderful King in the shape of Aragorn, but despite the downfall of Sauron, there will still be evil in Middle-earth. That's what the Long Defeat is all about, no matter how much the good people go on fighting, no matter how hard they try, bad people will still come back and no victory is final. I often think that's why Aragorn is called Estel, or Hope, that he shows that there is still hope and depsite the Long Defeat it's still worth struggling.

If I were to change a thing in LOTR, it would be to not give several names for one Mountain or land. When you read the book to people who are not familiar with it, they get confused.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I understand why you woul want to change that, but I have allways thought it was quite cool with all the names. It kind of gives the story a sense of authentety.

It does, I like it. But other people get confused with all the names and they say "Is that a new place?" or something like that.