I am probably the only person that I know of who has read the Silmarillion from cover to cover.
You might be the only person ever. And I mean ever. Including Tolkien's editor.
I tried at least five times to read that damn thing.
chris - he wrote "only person THAT I KNOW" - so maybe he doesnt know tolkiens editor. i think you did not read his post well. try it again - try it six times next time.
???
He's got us all beat. At least he tried 5 times. We'd be up shit's creek if that was the mandatory book for a collage course about Tolkien. @NoobSavant; your absolutely right about the no science. Tolkien wrote about what he knew; his upbringing, and his experience in WW1.
Nakamura is yet to beat carlsen in classical format....maybe he is trying to get under his skin.
I've never read LOTR either, though all my high-school friends devoured it, even calling one of our hang-outs "Middle Earth." But I don't have the interest in fantasy; I like history, science, chess, etc.
Naka calling MagMax "Sauron", and MagMax claiming ignorance of the "insult" might just be the start of a genuine rivalry. Maybe Naka thinks that he has to hate him to beat him, but it doesn't look like MagMax is really concerned about it. They've played some classics, these two, and if it get racheted up a notch, we'll all be the winners. But Naka has to learn to play well in qualifiers or it's all just a bunch of nothing.
Coder_On_Ster01ds wrote:
Who is Carlsen/Nakamura?
Seriously? You don't know who they are?
Magnus Carlsen is the current world champion for chess.
Hiraku Nakamura is the 5th best in the world for chess.
KenGeneQ, I think Coder_On_Ster01ds meant that The Lord of the Rings is more important. Something like a figure of speech.
Carlsen says something like: - I didn't WATCH the Lord of the Rings ? (banana slipping on the fact "Lord of the Rings" was originally a book)
And someone here was tempted to answer something like: - Ok, Kid, if you don't know what The Lord of the Rings is, go and do your homework and stop waisting your time on chess all the time.
Now:
- I think Tolkien's book can be considered a classical of world literature in it's own genre and probably beyond;
- I think that Carlsen's contribution to Chess as a cultural phenomenon is not yet clear (although it may become clear later on);
- I also think Carlsen did have a vague idea of who Sauron is (otherwise why get offended?);
- finally, Nakamura says Carlsen reminds him of Sauron... err... now... in a way I think Carlsen does appear somewhat sulfurous, at keast in a few pics I am seeing. So, I can also understand it may be intimidating to meet him otb on "those days":
...but, then, I also think Carlsen is probably not completely lost to the Axis of Evil...
...and, obviously, reading The Lord of the Rings could be of help. :)
His eyes are alittle close together, just saying.
Indeed, I am probably the only person that I know of who has read the Silmarillion from cover to cover. I will admit that this prequel was a bit of a snore, but it does provide the entire history of Middle Earth from its creation by Eru the One.
I did it too . . . but it was like reading a super detailed textbook. Or the Bible, somewhere in the Leviticcus/Numbers or Lamentations/Ezekial area. It so reminded my off a textbook that I flushed as soon as I was done. I don't remember anything except about how Sauron started as some minion. And I remember something about an evil sword.
Carlsen saying something about Nakamuras skill level could have an impact on Nakas drive to get stronger. It will be interesting to watch. They're in the same tournament later this month. Also, Naka has a big ego too, along with Carlsen, & I think both are justified. But Carlsen is more justified in having a huge ego. If I'm not mistaken even when he dropped out of the previous world championship cycle Carlsen was leading in the Grand Prix tournament points race. Nakamura can't seem to be consistant enough to finish near the top more than once or twice. He doesn't have to win em' all, just finish well consistantly.
I know Naka will win eventually against Carlsen but right now he's 0-8 with 15 draws. Naka needs to get super serious & qualify for the candidates. The Grand Prix tournaments start soon, if he's really got the skill to dethrone His Majesty he needs to prove he can qualify for one of the top 2 spots in the Grand Prix series. Or reach the finals of the World Cup. Or qualify through average rating but he's too inconsistant for that. Otherwise he needs to just shut up & play & prove he's in the same league on an ongoing basis. Not every now & then.
I am probably the only person that I know of who has read the Silmarillion from cover to cover.
You might be the only person ever. And I mean ever. Including Tolkien's editor.
I tried at least five times to read that damn thing.