Re-reading Lord of the Rings for the first time in over a...

Re-reading Lord of the Rings for the first time in over a decade. In addition to having dreams set in the period of my life in which I was most heavily into that world - New South Wales in the mid-sixties - I've noticed - without wishing to disparage Professor T - that there are the same number of named major equine characters as there are named major women characters: Galadriel, Goldberry, Eowyn, and Lobelia Baggins (since Arwen is barely a name mentioned in the trilogy) - Asfaloth (Glorfindel's horse), Shadowfax, Fatty Lumpkin (Tom B's horse) and Bill the pony.

I am nevertheless deeply enjoying the story.

And I reflect, while playing World of Warcraft or reading blogs of other fantasy writers, at the MASSIVE, widespread effects touched off by the appearance of Lord of the Rings in the early '60s: truly a seminal piece. Yes, there were others writing fantasy - CS Lewis et al. The same as there were other rock bands in Britain in 1962 besides the Beatles. But without the opener of the gate, the world would not be the same.