They created their own worlds and universes, in some cases their own languages, and their own epic heroic quests.

These young readers grew up to become the successful writers of modern fantasy. A generation of students and aspiring writers had their hearts and imaginations captured by the rich tapestry of the Middle-earth mythos, the larger-than-life heroic characters, the extraordinary and exquisite nature of Tolkien's prose, and the unending quest to balance evil with good. By late 1950s, however, the books were selling well and beginning to change the face of fantasy. Sales of The Lord of the Rings languished for the better part of two decades, until the Ballantine editions were published here in America.

Tolkien created the extraordinary world of Middle-earth and populated it with fantastic, archetypal denizens, reinventing the heroic quest, the world hardly noticed. NOMINATED FOR THE 2002 HUGO AND LOCUS AWARD When J.R.R.