Christopher Tolkien explains why his father, JRR Tolkien, wrote down “The Hobbit” in the first place, when it was originally intended to be an oral bedtime story for his children.
(found in the forward to The Hobbit Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, 1987)
‘Damn the boy’
Hurray for Christopher Tolkien, forcing consistency on his father’s work since 1929.
No wonder he grew up to be his father’s literary executor.
Miles could not, of course, see the projectile, not even as it entered his chest. Only his chest, bursting outward like a flower, and a sound not heard but only felt, a hammer-blow launching him backward. Dark flowers bloomed too in his eyes, covering everyone. He was astonished, not by how much he thought, for there was no time for thought, but by how much he felt, in the time it took for his last heartburst of blood to finish flowing through his brain. The chamber careening around him… pain beyond measure… rage, and outrage… and a vast regret, infinitesimal in duration, infinite in depth. *Wait, I haven’t–*
The man had driven his body far past its limits, in the belief, apparently, that unsupported will could conquer anything. So it can. For a time. Then time ran out–no. Time ran on. There was no end to time. But you come to the end of yourself, and time runs on, and leaves you.
If he were better educated, not so damaged, he would have made an ideal spy, a deep-penetration mole. He’s a chameleon. A mirror. He becomes whatever is required of him. Not a conscious process, I don’t think. Piotr expects a loyal retainer, and Bothari plays the part, deadpan as you please. Vorrutyer wanted a monster, and Bothari became his torturer. And victim. I demanded a good soldier, and he became one for me. You …” his voice softened, “you are the only person I know who looks at Bothari and sees a hero. So he becomes one for you. He clings to you because you create him a greater man than he ever dreamed of being.
From @love2foster: “I’m not sure who is enjoying this more.” #catsofinstagram [source: http://ift.tt/2rfG9zT ]
fishyfishyfishtimes
mallsharks
coworker told me he “hates all mollusks” today. and to each their own obviously but like… theres 100k species of mollusk… you really hate all of them bro? nautiluses and oysters and snails and nudibranches and chitons and thousands of animals youve never even heard of???? what did ammonites even fucking do to you
he hates sea bunny?
AND leaf sheep??
