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Plate Tectonics and Middle Earth

Discussion in 'World Building' started by Steerpike, Nov 12, 2012.

  1. Nov 12, 2012 #1
    Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Moderator

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  2. Nov 13, 2012 #2
    CupofJoe

    CupofJoe Myth Weaver

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    That is - impressive...
     
  3. Nov 13, 2012 #3
    Ireth

    Ireth Myth Weaver

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    The nerdiness level of whoever figured that out is DEFINITELY over 9000. XD
     
  4. Nov 13, 2012 #4
    Cosmolien

    Cosmolien Dreamer

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    Thank you this is really helpful:)
     
  5. Nov 13, 2012 #5
    Mindfire

    Mindfire Istar

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    There are no words.
     
  6. Nov 13, 2012 #6
    Benjamin Clayborne

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    One does not simply tectonically explain Mordor.
     
  7. Nov 13, 2012 #7
    Sheilawisz

    Sheilawisz Queen of Titania Moderator

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    When I looked at a Middle Earth map for the first time, I thought that the mountains and other features were displayed in a very unnatural order and that they could not be explained from a realistic and geological point of view.

    I mean, why is Mordor a high plateau surrounded by mountains, like it was a natural fortress or something??

    The map even made me think of the world Fantastica and also my own Fantasy worlds, where the high mountains, vast forests, freezing ice fields and also huge lakes exist at very unusual places for no apparent reason =)

    I think that Tolkien did not really care about realistic geology, and from my point of view, this tells us that we should not always take so seriously the realistic details and construction of our Fantasy worlds.
     
    Sparkie likes this.
  8. Nov 13, 2012 #8
    Sparkie

    Sparkie Auror

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    In my opinion, there can indeed be such a thing as too much worldbuilding.
     
    Steerpike likes this.
  9. Nov 13, 2012 #9
    Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Moderator

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    Often followed by the insistence on sharing with the reader your way-too-much world building, thereby boring the reader stiff until she throws your book at the cat.
     
    Mindfire likes this.
  10. Nov 13, 2012 #10
    FatCat

    FatCat Maester

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    No matter how boring a book is, leave cats out of it! They've done nothing wrong...usually.
     
  11. Nov 14, 2012 #11
    Weaver

    Weaver Sage

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    Isn't the cat usually ON the book in the first place...?
     
  12. Nov 14, 2012 #12
    Feo Takahari

    Feo Takahari Auror

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    I dunno. There has to be a midpoint between overexplaining and rivers that run through mountain ranges (thank you, Paolini!)
     
  13. Nov 14, 2012 #13
    Benjamin Clayborne

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    Perhaps Sauron took a few thousand years to shift the landscape around so that Mordor would essentially be a fortress. He was an Ainur, after all.
     
    Mindfire likes this.
  14. Nov 14, 2012 #14
    Mindfire

    Mindfire Istar

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    You saying mountains don't have rivers? Huh?

    One of the Maiar to be more precise. IIRC, the term "Ainur", though not technically wrong, is generally used to describe their state of being outside of Eä.
     
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