The Modern Scholar

Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature

By: Professor Michael D.C. Drout

Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

The overwhelming success of the Lord of the Rings films and the Harry Potter series aptly demonstrates that the fantasy genre is alive and well in the new millennium. The names of authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Terry Brooks evoke ripe tales of heroism and the clash of good versus evil in magical, faraway lands. The rich collection of King Arthur tales have also captured the imagination of millions and resonates with audiences to the present day.

Should fantasy be considered serious literature, or is it merely escapism? In this course, the roots of fantasy and the works that have defined the genre are examined. Incisive analysis and a deft assessment of what makes these works so very special provides a deeper insight into beloved works and a better understanding of why fantasy is such a pervasive force in modern culture.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2006 Michael D.C. Drout (P)2006 Recorded Books

Wonderfully Informative and Entertaining

This is the first of Prof. Drout's exquistite series that I listened to, and I became hooked. I teach high school English, and I have been able to use many of his suggestions in my classes.

Enjoyable Lecture, Highly Recommended

When I pick up a book, it is not to dissect, but rather to enjoy the story - so I come to this lecture not as a scholar of literature, just an avid reader of Fantasy. I ask that you please view my comments as such.

This audiobook is my second of Michael Drout's Modern Scholar lectures. Audible's description is spot on. Michael Drout does a great job delving into the foundation of Fantasy literature, which is heavy on Tolkien's contributions, as is quite understandable. Professor Drout offered me, the listener, quite a bit of insight into what defines the genre. He introduces the themes that permeate Fantasy literature, discusses how Fantasy grew into its own, and by critiquing the critics, argues that Fantasy should be taken as seriously as other types of literature. This argument was very well made. I tend to agree with him.

The only fault I could find is not a fault on the professor's part. I docked one star from the "story" due to personal expectation. I had hoped for a more in-depth analysis of specific books he talked about, not just the skimming over of plots. As I stated above, he really got into the Tolkien's contribution, spending several lectures on it - but the authors being obscured by "Tolkien's Long Shadow" were not touched on as much as I had wanted. Again, my expectations of the lecture are to blame.

As important as the content is the performance. The professor's enthusiasm for the work he covers is immense and contagious. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his characterful rendition of excerpts from the books and poems he discussed. If only we could all speak Old English and Elvish as he does. I found it hard to stop listening once I started. Quite an enjoyable lecture, especially for a lover of Fantasy. I highly recommend it.

One of my very favorite Audibles ever!

I've been going through some family health crisis stuff lately and I find that's Drout's lectures are so fascinating they are the one thing that can completely take my mind off my problems. I started with his lecture on Anglo Saxon stuff and was delighted to find this one when I finished. I downloaded and saved it for a day I expected to get some bad news. Sure enough... it was bad but like magic this lecture kept my mind occupied for hours on end and left me in a good mood. I didn't realize there would be so much on The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings my two favorite books of all time. I've no interest whatever in poetry and writing but I'm thinking about getting those lectures too. The guy is just so enthusiastic about the material. What a treasure!

Tolkien Tunnel Vision

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Professor Drout's breadth of knowledge for medieval literature is both obvious and rather impressive too. But whether that holds true for fantasy too is somewhat less certain here. His exhaustive focus on Tolkien monopolizes nearly all of this lecture series, and while Brooks, Le Guin and Donaldson are discussed, others are conspicuous by their nagging absence. Neither Michael Moorcock nor George Martin are mentioned at all, leaving the listener to wonder if they've been deliberately excluded, despite their enormous contributions, for defying the themes of epic fantasy that Tolkien himself found so endearing. This excessive concentration on Tolkien, and the gross omission of two giants, is a bit of a slap, given their influence.

A comparative look at the genre's evolution would have been something to truly enjoy here. He engages in this with the writers included, but with the exception of Donaldson, the rest never pushed the envelope into corners as yet unvisited. Relating to Moorcock and Martin's work would have accomplished this more effectively. How the Ring of Power, whose implications he addresses so well, relates to a weapon like Stormbringer, Elric's treacherous magic sword. How each affected the fates of characters, as well as their authors' respective worlds. How Aragorn compares perhaps, with a character such as Daenerys Targaryen, who like him, is an uncertain yet worthy heir to a dynasty in forced exile. These were the sorts of things I was hoping for. These were the things I really missed.

The portion on magical realism is nothing short of excellent, though why he feels the need to draw sharp distinctions - between it and fantasy in this day and age - is really somewhat puzzling. It speaks to a need to simply reject "dark fantasy" of the epic variety, which comes off very nearly as the kind of literary discrimination he criticizes, in realists like Henry James.

So these lectures are well thought out and presented. If you're mainly into J.R.R. Tolkien.

A very insightful set of lecture

I love this set of lectures, it's a very insightful survey of the Fantasy genre past and present, but it does not go deep enough into the history and epics before Tolkein. It get tedious after lecture 12 in my opinion, still a must for people interested in the subject.

I learned a lot

his works are always informative and enjoyable. This one is not different. It is well worth a credit!

In Depth

I love how this series of lectures and Michael D.C. Drout's other series about the history of SciFi do a great job of explaining it all for the layman. I never get tired of listening to them.

Good Read But Wanted More

I enjoyed the scholarly view of some of my favorite works by Prof. Drout. I had not listened to a scholar book of this nature before and did not know what to expect but he delivered quite nicely. He takes us from early mythology up through Tolkien and into the modern age of fantasy writers and stories. I only wish it had been a little longer and with a bit more detail in spots.
That being said I do plan on reading Drout's Science Fiction companion to this book, From Here to Infinity: An Exploration of Science Fiction Literature.

Prof Drout was a bit hard to listen to in the beginning but once I caught on to his cadence it made things a bit easier to follow. Listen to the example, some people might be put off just a bit by this.

I'm a Nerd and I Love It

What could be better than a serious study of fantasy literature by The Modern Scholar series? As an English major in college, I was continually rebelling against the critics who dismissed all fantasy, science fiction, and mystery writing as "lesser". Good writing is good writing in any genre!
I enjoyed this a lot.

Prof Drout is a fine speaker

Michael Drout is an incredibly enthusiastic speaker. It's a pleasure to listen to something I have a great interest in being communicated with so much vigour. I would love to be a student under him.