At the risk of controversy, I pose the following question: Has it become cliché to write about elves, dragons and orcs? Don’t get me wrong, I love Tolkien. I was weaned on elves and goblins and sought the elusive female dwarf as much as the next guy… But now as a writer I find myself shying away from using these terms. My series The Ashen Levels has many races: man, jaegir, gillard, idris, horlock, ‘gnilo, largatyn, kraelyn, dhaki and hiilg. Not to mention an array of friendly and not-so-friendly creatures and entities.
As writers (or readers) do you prefer the use of conventional names, perhaps putting your own spin on the lore? Or do you prefer to populate your lands with your own folk?
