I longed to devise a setting in which the trees might really march to war.

What kinds of creatures inhabit this new land? They could be mostly the same as in our own world. Or maybe something completely new. In Middle-earth humans are not the only people. They share the world with Elves, Dwarves, Ents, Trolls and Orcs. Hobbits, though invented by Tolkien, are of course just a type of small human!

The names of many of these creatures are taken from older folk tales, but Tolkien fitted them to Middle-earth. The Ents - the tree-shepherds - are his invention, though the name is an old word for "giant". Each of these types of creature differs from the others in size, appearance, language and temperament. Even when they are on the same side, they may not get on. Orcs quarrel with orcs, while Elves and Dwarves have a grudge which has lasted thousands of years.

As well as people, there may be monsters. Some may be no more than extra-scary animals like the wargs and giant spiders. Others may be intelligent, evil, scheming and able to talk! Dragons like Smaug are more than just big talking lizards. They make plans of their own to achieve their wicked ends.

Tolkien also made up new monsters. There are people who were turned by the power of their rings into Wraiths: the Black Riders or Nazgûl; the Balrog - a fire demon; Shelob - a gigantic spider; and the barrow-wights - evil spirits living in ancient tombs.

Like so much that he devised, Tolkien's creatures have become standard in fantasy writing. Many books include elves, orcs, trolls and dwarves very similar to those in Lord of the Rings (sometimes with those names, sometimes thinly disguised) alongside the authors' newly invented creatures.

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