jillwandersen:
I don't think it's the storytelling or character development. I think it's more that they don't want endless descriptions of things that don't really add to the story. I want a good story teller that develops plot and character without putting in pointless, needless details. I love Tolkien and Austin, but I love Bujold and Brust much more - for their characters and ability to tell a good story.

Well that’s very right. Tolkien… omg. Whenever people ask me if LOTR are fun to read, I say, “Yeah, they’re epic, but you have to accept the fact that every time the Fellowship walks past a rock, you get a 100 page history of why it’s there.”

But LOTR is still epic.