Obab

Obab is a fictional place that appears in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, most notably in his unfinished story "The Notion Club Papers." Within the narrative, Obab is presented as a city located in a land called "Obab" itself. The concept of Obab is largely a playful invention by Tolkien, who was exploring themes of dream and reality, and the nature of fictional worlds. In "The Notion Club Papers," characters from modern England find themselves in a dream-like state where they experience past lives and visit mythical places, including Obab. The descriptions of Obab are often vague and dreamlike, reflecting its status as a product of imagination rather than a fully realized geographical location. Tolkien used Obab as a way to experiment with narrative possibilities and the fluidity of consciousness. It serves as a testament to his imaginative power and his interest in the relationship between myth, history, and the human mind. The name "Obab" itself has a somewhat resonant, perhaps ancient-sounding quality, fitting for a place conceived in a literary context.