[300winmag]

And the fact is, LotR is probably more popular at the starry-eyed space dreamers than it is with the weird eco-freak Greenies. Some people just can't forget the hippies used to like Tolkien - but they certainly didn't get his message!

And the most appreciative group to "get it" are military people who are introduced to Tolkien. If you can get them to read past the first five or six chapters, they realize that Tolkien had "seen the elephant" (to use a Civil War phrase) himself, and knew how to express what they had gone through, too.

I don't know which group is more rewarding to "hook" on to Tolkien: the young and impressionable, or the old and experienced. Getting someone else to read LotR usually brings sincere thanks from a new fan.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

they realize that Tolkien had "seen the elephant" (to use a Civil War phrase) himself

That is an interesting reference, especially if you remember Sam's desire to 'see' an 'Oliphant' in Return of the King, and his mixed terror and joy when he did see it. I wonder if this is a coincidence or not?

[Sam Cree]

Interesting what you say about military people. Dad, who is gone some years ago, fought in Normandy, Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes. Though an avid reader, he never read Tolkien - I wish I could ask him for his "take" on it...

To me, 300winmag is a hunting round, is there a military application that I'm unaware of? I like .270 for whitetail.