J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Wrangle over Worldbuilding
TOLKIEN: after developing numerous fictional languages and thousands of years of history as a backdrop, I think I'm ready to write my book
LEWIS: ...the girl goes through a *pulls card from deck* wardrobe and sees a *spins wheel* faun standing next to a *throws dart at a list pinned to the wall* lamp-post
TOLKIEN: …what?
LEWIS: yes, he’s secretly working for the White Witch. but not to worry! the talking beavers will help the girl and her siblings
TOLKIEN: *narrows eyes*
LEWIS: and of course, Father Christmas helps too! he gives the children weapons and they become the Kings and Queens of Narnia!
TOLKIEN: Strange men riding through woods distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! And FATHER CHRISTMAS in the same imaginative country as a faun and a Witch? Why, next you’ll be telling me that Christ the Lord himself visits this frightful mishmash of mythologies!
LEWIS: well, um…not exactly
TOLKIEN: [softly] Jack. Please. Tell me you didn’t.
LEWIS: ⱼₑₛᵤₛ ᵢₛ ₐ ₗᵢₒₙ
TOLKIEN: There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men for this treachery! [he storms out of the room]
LEWIS: *sigh* well, that went better than I expected!
For more Tolkien and Lewis sketches like this, be sure to check out previous entries in this series:
Appendices
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If they were musicians, Tolkien would be a classical player, but Lewis would play jazz...
Love this so much. I’m surprised Lewis doesn’t fire back about Tom Bombadil showing up or The Hobbit being in a different continuity.