In my writing I leave the elves, dwarves, orcs and humans on the shelf and explore new races and their histories, cultures, economies and belief systems. For a fantasy culture to feel real, its every aspect must arise from, and at all times reflect, both its belief system and the influences of the physical environment in which it resides. The way people speak, the choices they make, the lies they tell, the conflicts they enter, the food they eat, the clothes they wear, all must reflect the culture that produced it. Immersion by omnipresence eliminates the need for immersion by info-dumping.
I appreciate any writer who practices the art of making complex ideas easy and fun. I grew up on Tolkien and mythology, but until recently I shunned anything even vaguely resembling a Tolkien rip-off. I read that stuff now, but groan a lot. For me, it's got to be new and exciting! Imitate Tolkien's creative genius and hard work, not his creations. And whatever you do, don't preach! Like this...