Additions :)

Dear readers, hello! 

I am checking back so soon because I've had a few thoughts pertaining my last post, in which I compared some aspects of Lord of the Rings with two series, Harry Potter and Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Also, I read for three hours this morning, so have really advanced in the storyline. I have already seen one intense battle and suspect others are not far behind. It was great to read so much action! The battle was chronicled very well, and a map of the valley/stronghold where it took place (maps of Middle-Earth are surprisingly hard to find!) was a great accompaniment.  

So, I found out some more information today that illuminates yet another parallel between LOTR and TDT. In the fourth book of King's series, Wizard and Glass, one of a set of crystal balls is introduced, a ball that can show events, be they future possibilities or present certainties. Though the Pink Wizard Glass is evil in and of itself, as it desires to make any unfortunate owner obsess over the visions until literal starvation, the glass orbs in LOTR aren't. Sidenote: compare effects of Pink Glass and The Ring on possessors. The crystal ball, called a Palantir, that Pippin the Hobbit finds has simply fallen under the wrong powers of the Dark Lord. And though there are 12 in The Wizard's Rainbow and only 7 Palantir, the concept is similar. 

A second comparison that I want to add I surprisingly forgot last time; it's very obvious! As he gains power, He Who Shall Not Be Named gets into alliance with dementors. Cloacked in their hooded, black rags, these phantoms, for they seem to lack much physical substance, generate feelings of intense despair in whoever they are around. Very much like the Nazgûl, the remains of Men who have fallen under the evil of The Rings and fly like spirits of gloom creating instant, physical fear in whoever they near. 

What I love about making these observations, really, is seeing the differences. I am a HUGE fan of both series (three, if you include LOTR, which I'm LOVING!) and it's just great to see how well King and Rowling create unique, memorable, epic fantasy series, all while acknowledging, as it is, other great works. I was in my class today when a fellow student complimented me on my book. We soon got into a conversation about reading, and, upon hearing how much I read, she couldn't believe I had never before read Lord of the Rings! Better late than never, I think...I am definitively glad I gave it a second shot. The Two Towers is soo much better than the first, and it just gets better as the pages turn. I also love my copy, which always makes for a better reading experience. The pages are pure white, the font thick and clear. And since it's 3 books combined the copy is heavy and long, two great features in a book! Well, I'm off, but anyone who hasn't read LOTR should! Same for HP and TDT! 

They're all just fantastic.