"Lord of the Rings is a good thing for us because it opened the door for the genre in general. Le Guin's stories are very different from Lord of the Rings"

Shawn Ashmore’s recognition of "Lord of the Rings" as a pivotal influence in the fantasy genre highlights its foundational role in bringing fantasy literature to mainstream audiences. He acknowledges that the monumental success of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work didn’t just entertain but also legitimized the genre, making publishers, filmmakers, and readers more receptive to stories set in imagined worlds. Before Tolkien, fantasy existed but was generally marginalized. "Lord of the Rings" captured widespread imagination, demonstrating that high fantasy could achieve both critical and commercial acclaim. It broke barriers, encouraging a wave of new and diverse voices and giving aspiring writers the confidence to experiment within the genre.

By referencing Ursula K. Le Guin, Ashmore illustrates the diversity that blossomed as a result. Le Guin’s tales, such as the Earthsea series, are distinct from "Lord of the Rings" in both theme and structure. Where Tolkien’s narratives often focus on grand, external quests and the dichotomy between good and evil, Le Guin explores internal struggles, balance, and nuanced moral landscapes, often infusing her work with anthropology and Taoist philosophy. Her characters rarely fit conventional hero molds; instead, her stories interrogate power, identity, and societal norms.

Ashmore’s distinction points to the idea that genre evolution is marked by its openness to difference. While Tolkien opened the door, others like Le Guin walked through with new perspectives, challenging and expanding the boundaries of fantasy. This diversity enriches the genre, offering readers alternatives to the high-medieval, epic tone of Tolkien’s work. Today, fantasy encompasses everything from political intrigue to deeply personal mythologies, a richness owed in no small part to the unlock that "Lord of the Rings" provided and the willingness of writers like Le Guin to forge unique paths. Ashmore celebrates the legacy of fantasy as both collective and individual, a genre made stronger by its variety.