hoping he’d read it and share his impressions.
Tolkien’s response was unexpected:
“It is impossible for an author still writing to be fair to another author working along the same lines. At least I find it so.
“In fact I dislike Dune with some intensity, and in that unfortunate case it is much the best and fairest to another author to keep silent and refuse to comment…
“Would you like me to return the book as I already have one, or hand it on?”
No further explanation given. Cold-blooded.
What do you think of Tolkien’s take?
Was he (as he suggests) biased? Or was he right to dislike it?