I've written my first fantasy, set on a different world. The story is told from the viewpoint of a Terran -- space travel is involved, too -- but includes a liberal amount of goblins, fairies and orcs. One of the members of my small writing group told me yesterday that I can't use the orcs.
According to her, orcs are a Tolkien creation and they can't be used in someone else's fantasy. It's the same as wanting to use hobbits in a fictional piece; it isn't allowed without legal permission. I can substitute a different kind of beastie in place of the orcs, I guess, but I kind of enjoy my orcs. I'd like to know if she's correct.
She doesn't write fantasy herself so she may not be the expert I need. I'm hoping I can find a suitable expert here.
According to her, orcs are a Tolkien creation and they can't be used in someone else's fantasy. It's the same as wanting to use hobbits in a fictional piece; it isn't allowed without legal permission. I can substitute a different kind of beastie in place of the orcs, I guess, but I kind of enjoy my orcs. I'd like to know if she's correct.
She doesn't write fantasy herself so she may not be the expert I need. I'm hoping I can find a suitable expert here.