[pat5150]

Yep, I've read it!

Scott sent me a file containing the last copy-edit of the manuscript, and he wanted me to be the first reviewer to get a crack at it. Many thanks to him for doing that!

Though it's spoiler-free, I elaborate on the principal storylines, so be forewarned if you don't wish to know anything in advance. Otherwise, feel free to have a look.

Oh and it's the shit, by the way!

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick

This post has been edited by Cougar: 06 November 2008 - 08:52 AM

[Dr Trouble]

I hate you.

[Yellow]

Most anticipated release for quite some time for me. Can't wait.

edit - does anyone know whether the topmost cover for this book will be UK or Canadian release, or...?

I really like those styles.

This post has been edited by Yellow: 03 November 2008 - 07:37 AM

[Aptorian]

Sounds good. Typical Bakker that there's as much internal strife as there is war on the borders

[Cause]

How does one become an internet fantasy book reviewer. How I hate you!

[Cougar]

He's done things that would shame a 19th century Whitchapel whore. Now let us never speak of this again.

[Abyss]

- Abyss, is just saying...

[No-God]

I'm jealous! Hugely anticipated release, for me.

When is this supposed to be released? *does his own search*

[Werthead]

Mid-January I believe in all three territories (US, UK and Canada).

[RodeoRanch]

I'm rather torn. I really didn't like the "Prince of Nothing" trilogy but I'm intrigued by the sounds of the new series.

[The Tyrant Lizard]

Sounds pretty awesome. Nce review Pat. Does this mean Kellhus doesn't get a POV anymore?

Spoiler

I suppose being devine and all that he hasn't got the time anymore.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 07 November 2008 - 08:56 AM

[pat5150]

Scott told me that Kellhus will return as a POV character later in the series, but he doesn't figure among the POV characters in TJE.

Which, in the end, helps make this book a better reading experience, in my opinion. Kellhus, being who and what he is, is too over the top, so the reader can't really relate to him. . .

Patrick

[Yellow]

I've just replied to this thread without reading the new posts because now it says spoilers in the title! Come on, where are we supposed to discuss the new book without bloody spoilers?

[Cougar]

OK I've blocked the admittedly minor spoilers above, however as a rule on these forums I'd suggest if you haven't read the Thousand Fold Thought you really shouldn't be in a topic discussing the Judging Eye, same goes for any series; don't complain about say Belgariad spoilers in a Malorean thread or Pandoras Star spoilers in a Dreaming Void thread.

I will try to md the threads so that they are up to date and spoilers are marked but I'm not a magical cougar.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 07 November 2008 - 09:00 AM

[Deornoth]

I'm about to start reading this tonight, been looking forward to this for a long time

[Deornoth]

And finished! Fans of the series are going to love this I reckon...

[Cause]

Nice excert. Looks interesting. I wonder why the kid is so obviously crazy and how he can hate his father. Will be interesting to find out

[Werthead]

Halfway through it.

Very impressed. I think those expecting some kind of massive shift in Bakker's writing style, perhaps from Pat's review, are going to be hugely disappointed. The philosophical musings are held back a bit, but characters now act on these ideas rather than simply talk about them (particularly that fricking kid ), which whilst more proactive can also be extremely disturbing.

There's also a shift in perspective. The POVs are very streamlined and much smaller in number than even TDTCB by itself. It's a deliberate move: part of the reason for the 3-year wait for this book is that Bakker started writing it with tons of POVs, a lot of them from new characters, before he realised he was falling into the 'AFFC trap' and went back and stripped them out to concentrate just on one or two new characters and more on the established ones (particularly Esmi and Akka). This results in a much leaner, streamlined and hungrier book which moves much more decisively than the earlier books.

There's also a feeling of overwhelming doom lying over the book which was noticeably missing from the earlier trilogy. The Holy War was a sideshow but the Great Ordeal is the real deal, a full-on attempt to directly confront and destroy the Consult. And you just know it's all going to go monumentally wrong, probably in the second or third book...

[The Tyrant Lizard]

What's the AFFC trap?

[pat5150]

Too many POVs getting in the way of telling the story...

Patrick