Tolkein and Peak Oil

PenultimateManStanding · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:44 pm

Nice essay comparing The Lord Of The Rings to Peak Oil. This guy reminds me of my brother who has read TLOTR once a year for the past 37 years. I've only read it maybe 5 or 6 times, there's just too much else to read. TLOTR is a most beloved tale and this esaay writer has done a marvelous job:

http://www.energybulletin.net/9394.html

excerpts:

Quote:

For this power in the world I use the metaphor of the fallen Wizard Saruman, played so memorably in the movies by Christopher Lee, characterised by lust for power, technological amorality, contempt for nature and the ability to corrupt and seduce through the power of his voice. Tolkien himself once said that although there were no Saurons in the world, Saruman was doing business like never before.

Quote:

or us Hobbits who do not wish to be swept up into the wars of the rival Sarumans and see our Shires turned into ugly replicas of Isengard, it behoves us to come up with some other way. Our first priority will be to keep some ordered society intact. Hobbits were blessed with a placid temperament and almost never killed each other on purpose; we humans are not so well-configured. In a brutish struggle of all against all, we will become like the Uruk-hai, brutal, cannibalistic and cruel. It would hardly be worth surviving if that were the world we were bound to live in. It would represent the final triumph of the Shadow.

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We know much than we would like to of the ways of Saruman, but what of the humble Sam Gamgee, Frodo Baggin’s devoted servant? What can he teach us? Widely recognised as the true hero of the trilogy he has many sterling qualities including courage, loyalty, and humility. Let us see how these virtues might help us in Peak Oil.

PenultimateManStanding · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:23 pm

I was reading in theOilDrum.com that someone named Don in Colorado posted about Tolkein and Peak Oil a year ago right here. Anybody know where that was? I'd like to read it.

stu · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:18 pm

I know Tolkien was a big lover of the environment and nature. This is apparently personified with the sub-plot which has the Ents destroying Orthanc and all of the industry around it.

I wonder what he would have made of PO.

CrudeAwakening · **Joined:** Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:00 am **Posts:** 890

If I'm not mistaken this piece was penned/typed by our very own Macsporan.

Great essay, Mac.

cheRand · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:46 pm

In addition to LOTR, I think of Dune as a metaphor for these times.

Macsporan · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:49 pm

Well, Mr Frodo, I don't like to put myself forward like.

My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if I did, but yes, it was me.

I hope no harm will come of it, sir.

PenultimateManStanding · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:06 pm

Macsporan wrote:

Well, Mr Frodo, I don't like to put myself forward like.

My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if I did, but yes, it was me.

I hope no harm will come of it, sir.

Charming, mac. Tolkein brings out the best in people.

Sencha · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:18 am

Not to be too off-topic but I second CheRand said, Dune is an awesome analogy for what is going on today. It might even be more relevant than when it was written. I recommend that book, but the sequels are awful.

Raxozanne · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:37 am

Is Dune the one where they ran out of water or was that TankGirl?

unseen · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:33 pm

Tolkien witnessed the beginning of the industrialization in England. IIRC he lived in Birmingham for a time. He wasn't very fond of the altering in the landscape caused by the industrialization. This is also reflected in the Lord of the Rings.

Sencha · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:50 am

Quote:

Is Dune the one where they ran out of water or was that TankGirl?

Tankgirl

Tolkein and Peak Oil

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