J.R.R. Tolkien's writing on Middle-Earth almost single-handedly shaped the fantasy genre as it is understood today. His detailed construction of Middle-Earth was a compelling world full of detailed history. Many of these have been imitated in subsequent works of fantasy.. Elves, Dwarves, and copyright-friendly versions of Hobbits have become staples of the genre. But it wasn't just the setting or his heroes that became iconic, it was also the monsters Tolkien threw in their path. Over the course of their adventures, Bilbo and Frodo were challenged by many creatures with varying degrees of strength. On the more mundane end, there were orcs and wargs, but it was the more unique ones that stuck with fans. Monsters like the Balrog, the mysterious "watcher in the water", the dragon Smaug, and the giant spider Shelob are well-remembered for a reason.