Natertoots
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People always profess to me that Rowling created such a deep and complex universe but I've only heard snippets about characters back stories. Sure, the world at the time of Harry is detailed but tell me more about Dumbledores relationship with Grindelwald, the Goblin Wars, the first wizard war. Hell, I want to know about the first horcrux, I want to know about life before the statute of secrecy. It alludes to a lore but doesn't bother fleshing it out. Harry's time is the end all be all to the lore and I think that's incredibly lame.
Catsandbutts
Good thing this is an opinion.
wilypants66
I want to know what wizards would be like know humans have better technology and what the Australian equivalent to Hogwarts is
brickonator
It's deep compared to a lot of other popular fictional universes out there.
blisfulloblivion
I actually like how she alluded too rather than info dumped. It left much more to the imagination while still developing the world.
Killertortilla
"but I've only heard snippets about characters back stories." I'm not defending it but read the books before making a statement like that.
dannysan
You can't question Harry Potter on Imgur! You can get downvoted into oblivion or worse, expelled...
lesserknowncharacter
She actually filled in just the right spots so that readers could engage their imagination to fill in the rest on their own. Go figure.
Aspidochelone
Just bought entire series of Caiphus Cain novels, think its a good starting point into 40K Uni, blew my money away like sand in the wind
s0me0ner
It was a good read. Enjoyable, "relatable". The magic of Potter is that it grows with the reader, if you read the books as they came out.
strugglesnuggler
Warhammer lore is insane. Give up now before you start reading. Nurgle and Isha is my favorite ship
CristhianIR
Don't like it? That's cool. Don't like people pretending it's something else? Perfect. Live and let live. No need to undermine others.
nonamejanie
I don't give a damn. I just love it and I am gonna keep on loving it and be amazed because it is amazing.
jaee
It was always meant to be a children's book
Surkhan
Star Wars wasnt so deep at all. but people made it this amazing complex universe. its part of the fn of being a fandom.
CouchIsMadeForSexing
Then, episode 1, 2 and 3 happened.
Surkhan
its ok. the fandm fixed that with millions of books/comics. shhhhhh sweet prince it is ok.
kirash
The Wheel of Time enough said
GilderoyPopDropNLockart
One of my favorite fantasy series of all time.
gusblack1
This is where you find the difference between epic fantasy and fantasy.
FUNKYDONKEY
Your mom is pretty deep
aleister94
AAAAWWWW SNAP
RoninSven
Anyone must seem deep to you when you only have 4 inches to work with.
meeeeeekachu
Came back to upvote this comment.
noyougofuckyourself
Unless you read it, you have no idea what you're talking about.
ThisIsGod
Not really. I mean, I've read the series multiple times and OP is still correct regardless of whether or not he read them.
noyougofuckyourself
If there is no depth, why have you read the series multiple times. Also, you can't know what a book is until you read it.
ThisIsGod
He didnt say there was no depth, he said its not as deep as people believe.
voxael
The depth comes from Rowling hearing fan-theories & being quick enough to imply (but never outright confirm) it was all intended.
ThisIsGod
I'd do that if I were her. "Why yes, your theory might be correct because I am that smart and totally thought of that."
voxael
I'd like say I would too, but I'm not always that quick off the mark.
CowsSecretlyGuzzleWine
The first horcrux was the diary!! Book 2! @OP answers to questions can be found online via forums, pottermore, or convos with HP fans :)
CowsSecretlyGuzzleWine
I also think @shynodaluvor08 is a good resource for your questions haha
voxael
Pretty sure OP meant the person who first discovered and presumably made horcruxes. Voldemort wasn't the first, just the most recent
PeterMus
You can't really compare it to LOTR lore. The whole point of LOTRs was to create a modern lore in the deepest sense possible. HP is a story.
Tunisia
LOTR was the result of a linguist spending a lifetime crafting a world, and then eventually deciding to set a book in it as an afterthought.
Textuality
A lifetime? He got out of the army in 1920, wrote The Hobbit and the first two books of LOTR in 1937. I wouldn't call 17 years "a lifetime".
Tunisia
My understanding was that he had been inventing the lore long before he actually started writing any of the books.
Textuality
Hard to say, really. He got a job doing translations and stuff in 1925, which is probably where he REALLY started working on it.
JordD04
He started making languages before The Hobbit and started writing The Silmarillion before LOTR.
BigTea
I don't know how people put up with Tolkein, shit is super boring and super stretched out.
ThisIsGod
Oh my god...I tried reading LOTR...watching paint dry in a waiting room with no Highlights magazines is less boring
BigTea
Tried reading a bunch of his stuff over the years I get the page three before I pick up something enjoyable instead.
EGOT
At first. You have to get into it.
ireallyneedtogettowork
That's what they told me about cocaine, and I haven't stopped yet!
Kendo2710
I kinda want a movie about the four founders... Or a Marauders sitcom.
Rtaxx
sombody made a GREAT comparison between the 4 kids from Narnia and the founders of Hogwarts
Rtaxx
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31900000/Narnia-kids-sorted-on-Harry-Potter-houses-harry-potter-vs-narnia-31957946-726-1050.png
Kendo2710
I love this =) i wonder if it was intentional? I mean people borrow stuff all the time, it'd make sense.
Rtaxx
well, objectively, the question would be "Did JK Rowling consider the kids from Narnia to be the basis for the founders of Hogwarts."
Kendo2710
Yeah, not like borrowed it 100% but the traits are eerily similar. You articulated it better than I did.
Moonadon
No I understand and all. But primarily it's a fucking kids book
ThisIsGod
Yes and no. I mean, I may be biased because I read them as a kid, but I enjoy them more as an adult than other kid books I read.
Cheomesh
Indeed.Read the first four shortly after they came out but by the end of #4 I'd grown past it.That said,I stuck with Dragonlance after so...
hallogallo
The books aged with the readers as you can clearly tell from how poorly written the first two are
Ryannihilation
They very much improved, but I think the first one/two were written more as fairy tales, and the language and way of speaking reflect that.
hallogallo
That's cool. Seems like total inexperience to me, probably cleaned up by another writer but it hardly detracts that much from the series.
Ryannihilation
Definitely some of that. I think after those she figured out where she was going and started taking it in a more mature direction, too.
hallogallo
I remember reading once that she came up with the idea for the series on a bus and when she got off she had the outline of the first four.
OliviaEyy
Almost as if the author wanted to do without 3 thousand extra pages of in depth back and side story that would bog the actual story down.
lmGod
Or you know, release prequels.
wotemer
Like a certain George does? :D
hallogallo
Yeah who wants more terrible series like that stupid lord of the rings and game of thrones. Too much reading for me just make the movies.
Varroth
You may not think that but most people are just casually watching/reading.
hallogallo
Do you think the creators of any art make it for the casuals or for the die-hards? They don't give a shit about the average consumer.
Varroth
That's not true. There are some that do it for money, and some that do it for their own art. Some that first did it for art that got bored.
hallogallo
If it's art then it's not for money. If it's for money it's craft/design, excluding of course architecture which is both.
ITalkAboutGoats
Honestly, lord of the rings needed a shitton cut out of it. That's why most of the books sold are abridged.
Cotrex
I concur, I'd rather not read two whole smallprint pages describing a single river that a war party simply crosses with no query.
Tunisia
Agreed. The books are fantastic stories and a glorious lore, but they are not well written as novels.
hallogallo
If that's what you rhink you don't deserve Tolkien in your life. Not for you.
ITalkAboutGoats
No one needs to have pages of the decendants of your characters listed in a book, unless you're the bible.
hallogallo
You're so bloody ignorant.
hallogallo
No one, not Dostdoevsky, Tolstoy, Perec, Heller, Wallace, Melville. All those guys, just filling up space. Didn't know what they were at.
TheoLu
Isn't that what the Pottermore site does?
MedicMoth
Well, yes, but Pottermore is an afterthought. The lore should be in separate books (not just dragons and such) and/or in the originals. :P
ShitIstoleFrom4chan
did*, sadly they turned it from this amazing and enchanting site, into a potter themed buzzfeed "8 Death eathers you won't forget!" and such
Glumerlink
did*
Natertoots
In some aspects. It's more about info going forward than lore going back.
GabrielColhoff
While I was on the site when it first came out I got to McGonagall's story and once you clicked on her it brought up a pop up that had (1/?)
GabrielColhoff
This almost whole mini series that went on a read about her back story of becoming a wizard being brought up losing her love that never(2/?)
GabrielColhoff
Heard her feelings, that lived in hogsmead. Then goes on to talk about what she did after being a teacher/headmaster to which she went (3/?)
GabrielColhoff
To hogsmead and worked and watched over the shop her lost love owned til she died.
Thefluffernutter
Seems kind of unfair to compare Tolkein's completed works to a world that is still growing and expanding.
averageideal
The new movie is set in the 1920s
theMantisTobogganMD
To be honest I like it better with out the unnecessary detail for instance when Tolkien took a full chapter to explain a rock it makes (1/2)
theMantisTobogganMD
For a boring read that has to be forced to get through (2/2)
TheoLu
Ah, I was under the impression its primary purpose was to flesh out the lore of the existing stuff. Just as well I never delved into it.
radioFREEmadras
You got it right. OP wants Lord of the Rings, not Harry Potter.
HanSolo312
Um no. She has recently been writing about the history of magic in north america and there is lots about the history of magic in the UK now
HesADandyGuy1nSpace
Yeah but isn't it only like a page long? Tolkien has tons of books and war hammer takes up a whole shelf at barns and Nobel
HanSolo312
Tolkien was writing about Middle earth from 1917-1973 at his death. Not really a fair comparison
Manwartooth
I don't think she will be able to match Tolkien when it comes to lore or grrm.She wrote a best selling book and as a kid u dont care 4 lore.
gorillaClutch
everyone makes a big deal over snape but he got rejected by one girl and stalked her and her kid for the rest of his life. dude is insane
tisphated
EXACTLY. What the hell is James's role? All about Snape and Lily enabling his addiction to her. Insane.
avegancannibal
Where did you get that from? There's no mention of Snape stalking Lilly or any contact between them after school.
asyouwissssh
I hate Snape. People only love Snape because of Alan Rickman. He was a bully to SCHOOL CHILDREN. Grow the fuck up.
Garouleloup
How did you manage to not get downvoted to hell?
BritishBatman
He was an utter dick.
goldenspider666
(1/2)Exactly. I despise people that thing snape is a good man. He regretted one bad choice he made so he's redeemed? Despise being an ass &
goldenspider666
(2/2) a terrorist for many years. Bullying one of your students because you didn't like his father? That's not professional. And more
Bingodan
His dislike of Harry is one thing but Neville on the other hand did jackshit. A kids biggest fear shouldnt be a teacher. Dude was a cock
BrokeMyFunnyBone
Well, it's not like Neville was some poor helpless innocent little kid either. He kept destroying things in class, albeit accidentally.
billiebitkiller
Are you kidding me right now? He was a CHILD.
Smayds
Oh, he's a cunt. A brave cunt, but still a cunt, a bully and a petty man-child. But the bravest man in the series. (still a cunt tho)
Ryannihilation
2/2 to make up for his big mistake, rather than trying to be a good person in general - it doesn't cancel out. Also, revenge against Voldy.
avegancannibal
He tried to save as many people as he could, which imo makes him a good person Not a saint and definitely not likeable but on the right side
goldenspider666
How exactly is he brave?
MrsRodriguez
I mean multiple people gave their lives for others, bravery wasn't hard to come by in the movies.
billiebitkiller
By no means the bravest (see: "sad story, still murder")
Ryannihilation
I see where you're coming from, but I think Dumbledore shamed him into doing good, and he was just cowardly. Tried to do enough good 1/2
Armored0Titan0
Dumbledore's a way bigger piece of shit imo.
Ryannihilation
Let's just say he was more proactive. Did a lot more good as well as a lot more bad. Dumby was a busy guy, Snape was small-time.
Rtaxx
shes only 50, she may go back and fill in the lore. Personally, I'd like to see a copy of "A History of Hogwarts"
aprilludgateduire
I WANT ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOOKS, a history of magic would be great!!
MapleLeafEagle
I agree. However, I think ppl like Tolkien and Martin set pretty high standard for fantasy lore that many people aren't up to meeting.
HatsAreEssential
...and Erikson and Sanderson and Jordan. Don't forget them.
Natertoots
I'd love to see that. I love the story I just want it more fleshed out and non-Harry related. Excited as fuck for the new film.
ThisIsGod
Eh...I kind of feel like Rowling is phoning it in a bit. Like, did she really have to change the name of muggles to "nomaj"
ThisIsGod
I get thats how language works when you switch countries, but I just dont see why this was necessary.
Rtaxx
also, try to remember, this is a CHILDRENS book series.... Tolkien was writing for the graduate level and professional audience.
Imhereforthelurking
And he had an anthropology and cultural degree of some sort. He was as close to masturbating into his work as could be considered proper.
Rtaxx
that was beautiful....
ItsOnlyOneThirty
That last sentence is a masterpiece
Smayds
Surely you mean "A Highly Biased and Selective History of Hogwarts Which Glosses Over the Nastier Aspects of the School."
Rtaxx
no, the other one
theconeofdunshire
Marry me?
Smayds
Only if you help me to free the House-Elves first. Deal?
theconeofdunshire
That is a deal. Are you male or female though, I need to know whether I need to alter my sexual preferences
Smayds
I have enough polyjuice potion that it won't be too much of a problem, you know...
watchoutforlooseseal
It's "Hogwarts, A History" you muggle.
VeteranKamikaze
"Hogwarts: A History" with a colon, you mudblood.
Rtaxx
sorry, I was reading the english translation
twisti
You either read the English version or a translation, but not both
Rtaxx
I dsagree
goldenspider666
Even in the English version it's "Hogwarts, a history"
Rtaxx
I am sure it pleases you to believe that.
Tunisia
135,000 results for "Hogwarts: A History". 26,000 results for "A History of Hogwarts". British English is the original language.
Rtaxx
26,000 results for "A History of Hogwarts".... 128,000 for "History of Hogwarts"
Rtaxx
British is the original language... I was reading the English translation
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
You can get lost in Warhammer, especially 40k. Be wary.
BatmanAndCradleRobin
I legit used up a few hours reading about necrons last night
Bbbrrr000ccckkk1
I always hated 40k lore in comparison to the fantasy lore. Why too much stuff could be made up in 40k. With fantasy was nearly finite.
TheGhostofElizabethShue
Did they ever explain what's going on with the Dark Angels? When I read about them way back I found that little mystery very frustrating.
jadejong
There is a post somewhere about The Lion El Johnson who is the primarch of the Dark Angels.
Zlimeshili
oh man. i used to sit for weeks just reading the wiki pages
candar
Getting lost is heresy.
Chefreign
I am about to do just this and am going to start with Horus Heresy (per friend's suggestion). Good place to start?
tankman303
Definitely
Chefreign
Awesome. Thanks.
NeuerStandard
don't get stuck on the not so good ones
TimeKeepsOnMoving
Space Marine - Ian Watson. Love it
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
Yes it is probably the best place to start since its technically Warhammer 30k so it sets up most of the 40k back story
Chefreign
Awesome. Thanks.
AntonioStark
There aren't many bad places to start to be fair. Depends on what you like in a chapter or story.
Chefreign
From what I've heard the lore is awesome. So starting with Horus apparently will give me that.
Imhereforthelurking
I recommend Ciaphas Cain (HERO OF THE IMPERIUM) as another great leap point. Mine was the soul eaters, then him.
LupusBorealis
As a Necron fan, you'll have to go back a biiiiit further for a full backstory.
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
Well I did say 'most' if you wanna figure out how the human empire got all fucked up its a good base to start.
CrimsonReaper1985
Saw a few cool pics online, read a little off the wiki pages, now I own six space marine omnibus. Stuffs a black hole but I love it.
Imhereforthelurking
Psh, black hole are unfeeling and indifferent. Warhammer 40k thrives off your addiction and floats at your pitiful mewls of mercy.
CrimsonReaper1985
Yeah I only just got the books in January for my birthday but I'm hooked. But I only care about the space marines, I want all their books.
AntonioStark
Wait until you get into the table top.
CrimsonReaper1985
As cool as all the models look I don't have near enough money to even think of getting into the game. But the Dawn of War games look cool.
Antermosiph
Dawn of war games are really good. Story-wise Dawn of War II Chaos Rising is by far the best. They also all tie in together.
CrimsonReaper1985
I'd love to play them but I doubt my cheap ass laptop could run them. I can only play world of tanks at min settings.
NeuerStandard
it's not that expensive if you don't start the huge way but with a monthly progress
IllogicalPine
But soon he'll end up with a fuckhuge amount of miniatures