50 Shades of Ray
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50 Shades of Ray
The October BCM carries a gushing review by David W Taylor of Ray's latest publication. In an ironic tribute to the master, the review has appeared in identical form several times previously. Those with a strong stomach can read it for free here
https://chessimprover.com/fifty-shades-of-ray/
and here
https://thegibraltarmagazine.com/fifty-shades-of-ray/
There may be others.
More information about the reviewer can be found here
https://www.thegiftedacademy.com/board
As you will see, he is in some - ahem - 'interesting' company.
https://chessimprover.com/fifty-shades-of-ray/
and here
https://thegibraltarmagazine.com/fifty-shades-of-ray/
There may be others.
More information about the reviewer can be found here
https://www.thegiftedacademy.com/board
As you will see, he is in some - ahem - 'interesting' company.
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Superb.Gerard Killoran wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 1:25 pmIn an ironic tribute to the master, the review has appeared in identical form several times previously.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
The Amazon reviews were quite revealing as well! (Click on the link and scroll to the bottom)
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Fans of Impala Press will no doubt remember Hugh Davies who gave reviews on amazon - nearly universally 5 star - to well over 100 of their publications.
And then there was the case of A. Customer who seemed very keen on Keene.
Both can be found in this post from 2012
https://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot. ... .html#more
but neither seem to have got around to reviewing 50SOR yet. I do hope that nothing untoward has happened to them and that they are still with us.
Btw, the blog post also mentions a Penny Smith who wrote 10 amazon reviews in September 2006 - all 5 stars; all Harding Simpole - and then disappeared. Not trace of her on amazon any longer. Those who shine twice as bright shine half as long, and all that.
And then there was the case of A. Customer who seemed very keen on Keene.
Both can be found in this post from 2012
https://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot. ... .html#more
but neither seem to have got around to reviewing 50SOR yet. I do hope that nothing untoward has happened to them and that they are still with us.
Btw, the blog post also mentions a Penny Smith who wrote 10 amazon reviews in September 2006 - all 5 stars; all Harding Simpole - and then disappeared. Not trace of her on amazon any longer. Those who shine twice as bright shine half as long, and all that.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
I'm pleased to announce the BCN will not be reviewing 50SoR and we have not even requested a copy from the publisher.
Should it turn up uninvited I have asked Oskar Werner to (return from the grave and) reprise his role as Guy Montag and apply himself to all my chess publications from
Hardinge Simpole, Ishi Press, Eric Schiller and 50SoR
at a special ceremony at Chez mois on November 5th.
No-one has volunteered to memorise these books in the style of Ray Bradbury's famous novel.
Should it turn up uninvited I have asked Oskar Werner to (return from the grave and) reprise his role as Guy Montag and apply himself to all my chess publications from
Hardinge Simpole, Ishi Press, Eric Schiller and 50SoR
at a special ceremony at Chez mois on November 5th.
No-one has volunteered to memorise these books in the style of Ray Bradbury's famous novel.
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
What is "Ishi Press"?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Ishi Press is an organisation run by an American named Sam Sloan who has a colourful past and has been writing about it on the internet since the 1990s.
Its business model is to take out of print books, mostly chess ones, digitally scan and reissue them under its name. To what extent they square the reissue with the original copyright holders isn't known.
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
A most diplomatic answer Roger!Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:54 pmTo what extent they square the reissue with the original copyright holders isn't known.
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Ah yes, that total shyster.Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:54 pmIshi Press is an organisation run by an American named Sam Sloan who has a colourful past and has been writing about it on the internet since the 1990s.
Its business model is to take out of print books, mostly chess ones, digitally scan and reissue them under its name. To what extent they square the reissue with the original copyright holders isn't known.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
The Gifted AcademyGerard Killoran wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 1:25 pmMore information about the reviewer can be found here
https://www.thegiftedacademy.com/board
As you will see, he is in some - ahem - 'interesting' company.
Sam SloanRoger de Coverly wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:54 pmIshi Press is an organisation run by an American named Sam Sloan who has a colourful past and has been writing about it on the internet since the 1990s.
Its business model is to take out of print books, mostly chess ones, digitally scan and reissue them under its name. To what extent they square the reissue with the original copyright holders isn't known.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Ha ha fantasticChris Rice wrote: ↑Mon Oct 25, 2021 1:43 pmThe Amazon reviews were quite revealing as well! (Click on the link and scroll to the bottom)
Incidentally Eales and Taylor can be found together here along with various other familiar names (Crawford, Gelb, Kasperski, Khan).I see that a highly positive review (five stars) has been posted on UK Amazon by J. Eales, but without mentioning that she worked on the book, is thanked in the introduction and is Keene's sister
Last edited by JustinHorton on Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Ah, Sam Sloan, the Norman Tweed Whittaker de nos jours. Sloan was the subject of an article not long ago (June, 2020 )here, https://newrepublic.com/article/158088/ ... washington . The final paragraphs are worth getting to,
The last time I saw Sloan, at the National Archives, he announced that a day or two earlier, he had driven from New York to New Hampshire to pay the $1,000 required to enter the Democratic primary. He is once again running for president of the United States. He has imminent plans to reprint Catch-22 and Chess: A History. Finally, he received word that the highest court in South Carolina had refused to hear the case of a long-running feud in Sloan’s immediate family. Sloan had asserted that his brother was not his brother and that his mother had been kidnapped and held against her will for 13 years.
His last recourse is the Supreme Court. He intends to appeal.
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
Incidentally the chess correspondent of The Gibraltar Magazine is of course who you think it is. Aficionados who happen to have the BCM for May 2021 may like to compare the notes to Botvinnik-Keres (pp. 304-5) to those in the March number of the other magazine, pages 96-7, and see if they can spot any differences.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
I like the picture of Brian Blessed on the front cover.JustinHorton wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 7:07 pmIncidentally the chess correspondent of The Gibraltar Magazine is of course who you think it is. Aficionados who happen to have the BCM for May 2021 may like to compare the notes to Botvinnik-Keres (pp. 304-5) to those in the March number of the other magazine, pages 96-7, and see if they can spot any differences.
He looks well. I can't believe he is 85 years old.
I thought he was great as guest host on the BBC1 series of Have I Got News For You. Especially the one when the Conservative MP Alan Duncan was one of the panellists.
There is a YouTube video clip titled Brian Blessed on Gordon, Have I Got News For You BBC 5th May 2008.
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Re: 50 Shades of Ray
It should also be noted that GM Jan Timman (in issue 2021/5) of New In Chess devoted his column to a glowing recommendation of Fifty Shades.
I was quite shocked to see that and decided not to read the article.
I have not read the book in question and don't intend to - but then if the reviews and comments in this thread are accurate, I have probably read most of it elsewhere in the past already.
I was quite shocked to see that and decided not to read the article.
I have not read the book in question and don't intend to - but then if the reviews and comments in this thread are accurate, I have probably read most of it elsewhere in the past already.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com