Better if you could name the books and authors so we can fight about that. But, sure, some writers lack the intelligence to accurately depict people and cultures outside of their own.

Was that a Gandalf reference at the end? I read the last paragraph in his voice.

Comedy changes over time. But the 80s were pretty kicking with jokers as any flip of an 80s sitcom or movie will show. If you can’t read past the 80s because it’s too old you will definitely limit your world view.

Sometimes I literally cover the sentence containing the resolution/reveal with my hand. I don’t always skip to the end but it happens often enough that I know when to be careful.

Their world does survive the conflict. It is not the Dagor Dagorath. Sauron is defeated. Men do win. The stage is set for the eschaton in the future but Aragorn is crowned and the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor are united.

God literally wins in LotR. Evil is destroyed and banished, men are renewed in strength. It’s uplifting.

600 years ago was well past the Viking and Vinland times.

I wouldn’t have been able to continue at that point. That one irks me more than a mosquito bite.