I was just giving my bold opinion on how I felt about Tolkien. There is no doubt that he is a great writer. He just isn't my style. Of course.. He's dead now and has no chance to evolve into the vicious writing of today's authors. So it's no fault of his that I'm not fond of his work.
Oh yeah, and I agree with you both on Terry Brooks. But I did like the Shannara series, only because I read it before I read LOTR. :) But after I read Tolkien it was obvious where he got his ideas. Goodkind though, is very origional. A little violent, but you're kissing the book by the end.
Not All fantasy authors copy from Tolkien though. As a matter of fact, most authors are so scared that someone will think their work unorigional, that they get as far away from Tolkien as possible. DUNE, again a fine example. :)
I stress though, that although Tolkien is not my taste, I enjoyed the book and the movies. I just hate social conformity when something gets to be a major FAD, and ultimately destroys an artist that was appreciated by readers uninfluenced by the media and propaganda.
Peace