I try not to get too deep into these literary controversies - newcomers always have to reject some of what came before to establish their sense of novelty. Ever

I try not to get too deep into these literary controversies - newcomers always have to reject some of what came before to establish their sense of novelty. Every British rock band will trash-talk the Beatles a little for the same reason. The comparison of Tolkein to the Fab Four (Five for those who count G. Martin) isn't accidental - both defined their genres. And if I remember my Elric, his "drug habit" wasn't metaphorical heroin, but insulin. He needed it to survive.