[Aptorian]

Done

[Werthead]

It's weird how the release of The Judging Eye has kind of crept up on us. Given how many delays to the book there have been, it's only really become believable in the last few weeks with Penguin, Overlook and Orbit all putting their covers up one after the other:

Quote

The Darkness That Comes Before, The Warrior Prophet, and The Thousandfold Thought—collectively the Prince of Nothing Saga—were R. Scott Bakker’s magnificent debut into the upper echelon of epic fantasy. In those three books, Bakker created a world that was at once a triumph of fantasy and an historical epic as real as any that came before. Widely praised by reviewers and a growing body of fans, Bakker has already established the reputation as one of the smartest writers in the fantasy genre, and as a writer in the line stretching from Homer to Peake and Tolkien. Now he returns to the world of “The Prince of Nothing” with the long-awaited The Judging Eye, the first book in a new series set in the world he introduced readers to. Set twenty years after the end of The Thousandfold Thought, Bakker reintroduces us to a world that is at once familiar but also very different than the one readers thought they knew. Delving even further into his richly imagined world of myth, violence, and sorcery, and fully remolding the fantasy genre to broaden the scope of intricacy and meaning, R. Scott Bakker has once again written a fantasy novel that defies all expectations and rewards the reader with an experience unlike any to be had in the canon of today’s literature. “[Bakker] clamps his hand over yours and simply does not let go… Amid the cluttered shelves of the Epic Fantasy genre, Bakker is a name that stands out amongst, not just the new writers in the crowd, but established and recognized names.” –Sffworld “The entire series is going to set a new standard for fantasy writers everywhere.” –The Alien Online "Exquisitely intelligent and beautifully written . . . this is fantasy with muscle and brains, rife with intrigue and admirable depth of character, set in a world laden with history and detail." —Steve Erikson, author of Gardens of the Moon "Bakker has created a gourmet feast for hungry fantasy readers, exquisitely prepared, carefully seasoned, and served with pomp and ceremony." —Kevin J. Anderson, bestselling author of Horizon Storms

I can't work out whether the KJA rec is going to put people off or not. Hmm.

[Mentalist]

well, just because KJA can't write, doesn't mean he can't have good taste in what he reads?

[amphibian]

Werthead, on Oct 26 2008, 08:28 PM, said:

I can't work out whether the KJA rec is going to put people off or not. Hmm.

The people who know KJA is a godawful hack probably already know that Bakker can write or will buy the book regardless. The people who buy KJA books may actually pick this up based on that recommendation.

[Werthead]

amphibian, on Oct 27 2008, 12:56 AM, said:

Werthead, on Oct 26 2008, 08:28 PM, said:

I can't work out whether the KJA rec is going to put people off or not. Hmm.

The people who know KJA is a godawful hack probably already know that Bakker can write or will buy the book regardless. The people who buy KJA books may actually pick this up based on that recommendation.

And after they've read it, they'll never be able to read KJA ever again?

I like your thinking!

[pat5150]

As I mentioned on Westeros, reliable sources indicate that The Judging Eye is the shit!

Patrick

[murphy72]

pat5150, on Oct 26 2008, 07:40 PM, said:

As I mentioned on Westeros, reliable sources indicate that The Judging Eye is the shit!

Patrick

Is that good shit or bad shit?

[amphibian]

murphy72, on Oct 27 2008, 12:00 AM, said:

Is that good shit or bad shit?

Anasurimbor Kelhus told me to tell you this:

It is the shit you have been waiting for all your life. You are a bad person who has done bad things. There's hope though. Just fall on your knees, kiss my ring, join my Holy War and let's go kill some skin spies and the No-God.

[Mentalist]

murphy72, on Oct 27 2008, 12:00 AM, said:

pat5150, on Oct 26 2008, 07:40 PM, said:

As I mentioned on Westeros, reliable sources indicate that The Judging Eye is the shit!

Patrick

Is that good shit or bad shit?

As a general rule, when immplied in terms of "awesome", the phrase "the shit" is used.
when implying awful, the article is dropped.

So, must be good,

[Cougar]

pat5150, on Oct 27 2008, 02:40 AM, said:

As I mentioned on Westeros, reliable sources indicate that The Judging Eye is the shit!

Patrick

Maybe they should put that on the back of the book?

"Bakker has done it again; few authors create a fantasty world at once so believable and at the same time terrifying and fantastic"
*** SFX

"This book is the shit"
***** Pat

"I love Bakker sooo much I'm considering becoming a homosexual"
George RR Martin

"This book is so phat I've risen from the grave to read it properly, mo'fucker"
HP Lovecraft

[The Tyrant Lizard]

Nice one Coog, very funny. I'd buy a book with reviews like that on the back.

I just finished the series. I thought the ending as good as it was annoying. I think its a mark of good writing to keep someone in the dark about somthing so much that you page turn with gusto, but I was almost to the point of page-skipping, just so I could find out what the fuck was gonna happen.

I think PoN is the best series I've read, so I can't wait for this new one to come out.

Best bit for me; Character development, sex, epic battles, sex, amazing world building, sex, Cnaur stabbing the ground with his knife and fucking the hole. Genius. (I havent tried it)

[Shinrei]

Ok, I just finished book 2 and am in the first 30 pages of book 3.

I thought book one was excellent, very intriguing. I also enjoyed book 2.....until about the last 5th of the book. Why? Because I gradually came to hate all of the characters I had been enjoying reading about up until that point. I thought, perhaps, after his ordeal with the spires there would be more Seswatha within' Achamian to give him some goddam backbone. It was certainly implied in as many words...

But at this point, pretty much anyone could be killed and I wouldn't give a shit. I'm practically rooting for the Consult.

So, my question is this:

Will book 3 get better? Is it worth it? Will book 3 pull these assholes out the bloody muck they're making of themselves? Will Kellhus always be insufferable? Because if it gets worse (or doesn't get better), I'd like to spare myself the wasted time.

Edited to add: I don't mind hating characters. I hate characters in other books too. But I hate them, while caring what happens to them. Like, I want them to die or something. Right now my hate is coupled with disinterest. I've become disinterested in what happens to them.

PSS, I also want to say that some of RSB's character names are hilarious. Coithus Saubon. His name is Coitus!

This post has been edited by Shinrei no Shintai: 13 February 2009 - 04:38 AM

[Aptorian]

Kelhus will always be Kelhus, either you love him or you don't, he does have a big change in the third book after his cruxification, though.

But don't worry there's a hell of a lot more magic and battle in the third. Especially Achamian becomes super awesome, the ending for achamian is what legends are made out of.

[Morgoth]

aye, the third book gets really interesting, and the Judging Eye takes it even further.

[Shinrei]

All right, I'll take your word for it and keep going. If you're wrong, I'm going to unleash the gnosis on all y'all.

I just sort of wish Anomander Rake would appear out of nowhere and send Kellhus into Dragnipur... Or see how he fares against Segulah who always wear masks, so he can't read their faces.

Man, just thinking about it, no matter how cool anyone is in RSB's books, they can't hold a candle to the awesomeness level of SE's world.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Shinrei no Shintai, on Feb 13 2009, 04:11 AM, said:

Ok, I just finished book 2 and am in the first 30 pages of book 3.

I thought book one was excellent, very intriguing. I also enjoyed book 2.....until about the last 5th of the book. Why? Because I gradually came to hate all of the characters I had been enjoying reading about up until that point. I thought, perhaps, after his ordeal with the spires there would be more Seswatha within' Achamian to give him some goddam backbone. It was certainly implied in as many words...

But at this point, pretty much anyone could be killed and I wouldn't give a shit. I'm practically rooting for the Consult.

So, my question is this:

Will book 3 get better? Is it worth it? Will book 3 pull these assholes out the bloody muck they're making of themselves? Will Kellhus always be insufferable? Because if it gets worse (or doesn't get better), I'd like to spare myself the wasted time.

Edited to add: I don't mind hating characters. I hate characters in other books too. But I hate them, while caring what happens to them. Like, I want them to die or something. Right now my hate is coupled with disinterest. I've become disinterested in what happens to them.

PSS, I also want to say that some of RSB's character names are hilarious. Coithus Saubon. His name is Coitus!

That's the same pattern I followed. Thought the first was good, bought the second and was thoroughly disappointed. Borrowed the third from the library, did not change my opinion. If the second didn't agree with you, don't expect the third to.

[RodeoRanch]

I liked the first book, disliked the second and hated the third book. I also hated all the characters. I regret reading the series.

[stone monkey]

Once again Rodeo is the voice of reason...

I hasten to add that the hate for me started in book one, and didn't continue because Satan will be skating to work before I read the others...

[Shinrei]

Glowing reviews all around.....

I'll stick it out a little further and see what happens.

[Morgoth]

Shinrei no Shintai, on Feb 14 2009, 03:28 AM, said:

Glowing reviews all around.....

I'll stick it out a little further and see what happens.

I quite enjoyed them