J.R.R. Tolkien made up orcs. They're human-like in shape, with gray or green skin, angry features, and warlike natures. Now they're used in lots of books and games, including Dungeons and Dragons, the Warcraft series, and even Terry Pratchett's Discworld books (I very much enjoyed Unseen Academicals, which features an orc as the main character). Yay orcs!
I'm making my way (slowly) through the Discworld series. I've not yet got to UNSEEN ACADEMICALS, but this gives me something to look forward to. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of envious--I wish I could read Discworld for the first time again! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteOh, I never realised Tolkien invented orcs. Very interesting! I just thought they were another mythological archetype going back aeons.
ReplyDeleteI adore Pratchett! (Come to my blog tomorrow if you want to read more on that!) Unseen Academicals isn't one I consider among the best, but I did like his portrayal of the orc - different, as usual.
I will be at your blog tomorrow! I agree that Unseen Academicals isn't my favorite (I love the Sam Vimes and Death books the best), but it is one of my favorites that feature wizards, so that's good. I'm excited to read your P post! :)
DeleteEwww - orcs! I used to have nightmares about orcs and them eating my dog. Thus the term "Keima-Orc sandwiches" became my expression for horrible nightmares. You drawing though doesn't look so scary.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome. And also terrifying. I drew my orc with a four-year-old on my lap, so I had an investment in not causing bad dreams...
DeleteOrcs are a great invention. So many writers have come up with their own take on those evil creatures.
ReplyDeleteIt's true! And I was surprised that a writer originally made them up!
DeleteI love, love, love that you're drawing all of your pics...You are drawing them right? =)
ReplyDeleteI am drawing them! It's been fun--like being back in kindergarten or something. Yay for coloring and monsters! :)
DeleteI've met trolls in the Discworld books, but not encountered an orc yet. Is Unseen Academicals one of the more recent books? Sounds like I have some catching up to do.
ReplyDeleteI believe it came out last year, so it is recent. And catching up is fun! I want to find an author I love to catch up on!
DeleteI love playing half-orcs when I game (oops did I just out myself as so geek it hurts? Oh well). I never knew that about Tolkien either. Neat!
ReplyDeleteGeeks are the best. :)
DeleteAwesome villains..the Orcs! No two were alike! :)
ReplyDeleteThey did such a good job in the LotR movies with the orcs--like you're saying, no two were alike. The one with a single eye seriously creeped me out!
DeleteLove Tolkien and those Orcs are the scariest thing about his books - from the movies anyways. They give me nightmares. Brutal, primitive beings with no remorse. Shudder! Nice to be on the A to Z with you.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures on your blog are cracking me up! Stopping by for A to Z :)
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