Who is better? J.R. R. Tolkien or Robert A. Heinlein?

Answer 1

Man,

You put two of my favorites against each other.

I would go with Heinlein.

I don't like most of his later work, but I adore his early (pre-Stranger in a Strange Land) work and his juvenile novels.

Heinlein wrote hard sci fi, meaning that it was as scientifically accurate as was possible at the time. Heinlein used his stories to teach, physics, engineering, astronomy, and more importantly he taught the beauty of engineering, physics, and astronomy. You didn't just learn what engineering problems would be involved in space flight, but you learned to appreciate the cleverness and yes the artistry that goes into the solving of a complex engineering problem. You saw, through his engineer eyes, that a solution could be a thing of beauty in and of itself. He helped create a generation of engineers.

I love Tolkien's religion, and I can't say I appreciate Heinlein's religious views, but Heinlein's politics helped create a generation of libertarians and free thinkers who still believed in freedom, liberty, and the value of the rights of the individual.

Best of all Heinlein inspired other hard sci fi writers, like Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven.

As much as I like Tolkien, most of the fantasy that came after him was pretty horrid stuff.

So I have to give it to RAH hands down.

Answer 2

J.R.R Tolkien.... without a doubt. I bet few people have even heard of or remember Heinlein when compared to Tolkien. Seriously though he didnt just write books he created entire worlds, cultures and his very own creation story(The Silmarillion). He didnt just invent random words to hint at a different language in another world he actually CREATED several different complete languages he even created divergent dialects within some of his languages. He made different calendar and time keeping systems for each of the races in his books, and genealogical trees/family lineages, complete cultural histories, geography/maps, royal dynasties, mythologies, everything.... Tolkien is the master, the most thoroughly believeable fantasy creator of all time. No matter what other science fiction or fantasy books I read by other authors not one of them ever comes close to attaining the creative genius, and historical continuity that Tolkien achieved in his works. No other author answers every question you could ask about the history, culture, creation, geneaology, language, beliefs, calendar, timeline, geography, flora/fauna (and all other aspects) of the fictional world and characters in the stories.... no other author even comes remotely close to achieving the complete thoroughness and creativity of Tolkiens works. He is by far a better fantasy author than anyone else who has ever simply written a book... because he didnt simply write a book, he created a unique world with unique inhabitants that is as close to real as anyone could ever hope to accomplish.

Answer 3

Tolkien, hands down. I don't think anyone has ever matched Tolkien's ability to create a world, with all those languages, and races. I don't think it's possible :)

Answer 4

tolkien. tolkien. tolkien. tolkien.

anyone who can and would make up entire languages COMPLETE WITH DIALECTS for the sake of his fantasy world is quite the writer. also, lets face it. tolkien essentially created a genre, and helped to preserve a dying language, oral poem, and way of life (i'm talking about the kalevala.)

Answer 5

J.R. R. Tolkien

Answer 6

Tolkien is the grandfather of fantasy

Answer 7

I'll say Tolkien

Answer 8

I vote for Tolkien, but that is just my humble opinion.

Answer 9

J.R.R. Tolkien. His writings always have more than one dimension to them, more than 1 way to interpret them, and they are religious at heart. BTW hes catholic.

Answer 10

Tolkien...i've never heard of teh other guy