i am really disappointed at your comments......the only fantasy author worth reading is Tolkien
m a fantasy book lover....only fantasy. and there a loads of good fantasy authors out there.
the more recent authors that are really good are ken scholes, patrick rothfuss, brent weeks & peter v brett.
peter v brett's book the warded man had been optioned for a movie.....not sure when it will be out.

rowling, paolini & cs lewis's fantasy books are meant more for teens.......not adults la.

stormlcc,

there is without doubt tolkien's works are considered as literature.....after all he was the pioneer in a fantasy novel with a story that consisted of prophecies & quests.
honestly if his works were to be publish today......the books would just be as you mentioned 'regular fantasy books'.
but then he did his work at a time when no one really did and came out with an original story when no one else could and that is what make his works so special....
it's tough to come up with a new storyline nowadays as most had been done & tried.

but if you really want to try and read a fantasy novel with a difference, go for brandon sanderson, patrick rothfuss or r scott bakker.

if there is 1 work that i feel can be compared to tolkien.....it would be steven erikson's mazalan book of the fallen.

hence i will ask this question, what fantasy books can be compared to tolkien's lotr?

i read LOTR probably abt 18 yrs ago....luv it at that time.
then i tried to read it again when the movies came out...but i couldn't.....
honestly tolkien writings are like telling a story to children....too many details.......and i cant stomach it!
but i luv the movies.....

i dont go for teen fantasy books like paolini....and the movie was quite bad.

tis costly to turn a fantasy book into a movie.....lots of cgi involved. in today's economy....very few would take the risk but that does not mean the end of fantasy movies....