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I remember an analysis of the plate tectonics of Middle Earth and coming to the conclusion that it doesn't really work, but you can't blame Tolkien for this as

I remember an analysis of the plate tectonics of Middle Earth and coming to the conclusion that it doesn't really work, but you can't blame Tolkien for this as the entire field of plate tectonics was invented a few years after he made the map.

labster 3y ago
I think it’s this one: https://www.tor.com/2017/08/01/tolkiens-map-and-the-messed-up-mountains-of-middle-earth/ https://www.tor.com/2017/08/01/tolkiens-map-and-the-messed-u... I just read it because I’m thinking about writing a crossover fanfic between Tolkien and Sailor Moon set at the end of the Fourth Age/Silver Millennium, and I need to figure out the geography. I’ve mainly settled on throwing out Tolkien’s map, drinking a long draught of Graham Hancock kool-aid, and setting the thing in the Younger Dryas. (The core conceit: Eärendil’s silmaril === Usagi’s silver crystal.)
- becquerel 3y ago
  I think it is your moral duty to write this fanfic.
  - labster 3y ago
    I have a very little bit written here, but it’s been a while. Other projects, of course, and I think I’m allowed to overthink on a Tolkien fic. http://www.accessdenied-rms.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=13894 http://www.accessdenied-rms.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=13...
- canjobear 3y ago
  The analysis neglects that the Misty Mountains were raised by Melkor to prevent the westward march of the Eldar.
shiroiuma 3y ago
I think you need to assume that Middle-Earth is set in a fantasy world where there are no plate tectonics. The world there isn't even spherical. It's a bit similar to the world in "Game of Thrones": that one too is a fantasy world that doesn't follow the regular laws of astrophysics, and doesn't even appear to be a planet at all.
- gpderetta 3y ago
  At the time of the third age Middle-Earth is indeed spherical. Eru explicitly changed it after the fall of Numenor, putting Valinor out of reach. It was flat before. The final war with Morgoth also destroyed a good chunk of western middle earth With such common and devastating divine interventions it is not surprising that plate tectonic is not a good predictor of geography :D. Note that Arda is supposed to be planet Earth , circa ~10000 years ago, but of course the geography only vaguely matches.

labster 3y ago

I think it’s this one: https://www.tor.com/2017/08/01/tolkiens-map-and-the-messed-up-mountains-of-middle-earth/ https://www.tor.com/2017/08/01/tolkiens-map-and-the-messed-u... I just read it because I’m thinking about writing a crossover fanfic between Tolkien and Sailor Moon set at the end of the Fourth Age/Silver Millennium, and I need to figure out the geography. I’ve mainly settled on throwing out Tolkien’s map, drinking a long draught of Graham Hancock kool-aid, and setting the thing in the Younger Dryas. (The core conceit: Eärendil’s silmaril === Usagi’s silver crystal.)

becquerel 3y ago
I think it is your moral duty to write this fanfic.
- labster 3y ago
  I have a very little bit written here, but it’s been a while. Other projects, of course, and I think I’m allowed to overthink on a Tolkien fic. http://www.accessdenied-rms.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=13894 http://www.accessdenied-rms.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=13...
canjobear 3y ago
The analysis neglects that the Misty Mountains were raised by Melkor to prevent the westward march of the Eldar.

shiroiuma 3y ago

I think you need to assume that Middle-Earth is set in a fantasy world where there are no plate tectonics. The world there isn't even spherical. It's a bit similar to the world in "Game of Thrones": that one too is a fantasy world that doesn't follow the regular laws of astrophysics, and doesn't even appear to be a planet at all.

gpderetta 3y ago
At the time of the third age Middle-Earth is indeed spherical. Eru explicitly changed it after the fall of Numenor, putting Valinor out of reach. It was flat before. The final war with Morgoth also destroyed a good chunk of western middle earth With such common and devastating divine interventions it is not surprising that plate tectonic is not a good predictor of geography :D. Note that Arda is supposed to be planet Earth , circa ~10000 years ago, but of course the geography only vaguely matches.