When I worked for Games Workshop during the height of the LotR game releases my managers all said I had to read the books. I asked them where the fuck in my job description it said I had to read the books to be knowledgable about the game or products when they are based on the films and not on the books. Plus where in my contract it said to read boring books (I agree Tolkien cannot write, he can design though). I had better things to do (like study for a chemistry degree). Instead I was reading things like Michael Moorcock or Gene Wolfe (both of whom I find draw you into their worlds, not explain them then drop you into the middle of the world and start the plot at some point).