As a fantasy author, it isn’t hard to believe that I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  It also isn’t hard to believe that I have a favorite scene from the books, which is ‘Riddles in the Dark’.  Honestly, this scene was the main reason I saw The Hobbit in the theater and sat there with an aching bladder until it was done.  Note kids: don’t finish your large drink before the end of the previews.  I thought I learned my lesson for Snow White & The Huntsman (why was there so much water in that movie?), but apparently I’m an idiot.  I’m also digressing . . . or is that regressing?

I admit to not having read the scene in years, but the atmosphere of the scene is etched in my mind.  I’m not the best at remembering riddles beyond the answers and even then I’m iffy.

I always wanted to write a scene like this and I tried to add one into a later book of Legends of Windemere.  Just a hero having a riddle contest with a creature or something that was simply in the way.  Unfortunately, I’m not any good at making up riddles and taking preexisting ones is cheating in my mind.  So, I’ve had to accept the fact that I can’t do anything like one of my favorite book scenes.  At least, I haven’t figure out a way to do it yet without feeling like I’m insulting the scene instead of honoring it.

So, are there any memorable scenes in book, film, or television that you’d love to make something on par with or it was a catalyst for following your art?