The Second Apocalypse

Miscellaneous Chatter => Literature => Topic started by: H on August 23, 2016, 09:02:21 pm

Title: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on August 23, 2016, 09:02:21 pm
So, I've had a thread for discussing the whole series here.  This will include spoilers for The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate.

We get some interesting in information in TOG, regarding how the Earth was basically ruined and if your eBook or regular book had the sample chapter, who did it.

One thing that stood out to me was that it seems my speculation on the Guardians being part of Father Earth was somewhat wrong?  It's not entirely clear, but it certainly seems like the Guardians are part of the deadciv that Alabaster visits on the other side of the world.  Or a derivative thereof perhaps?  It also seems like Orogenes are the main driver of everything, Guardians get power from them and stone-eaters were once them before they changed.

More later, in the mean time, discuss.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on August 30, 2016, 10:17:29 pm
Didn't read your post H. But about 1/3 of the way through and really liking it. I think Mass in he's the biggest role to come. I love how magic is being introduced and that Schaffa has disavowed the Gaurdians and is work I g on fixing the Earth. I'm sure it's getting ready to take off at this point of the book. And Alabaster, he knows what needs to be done, just come on already and let us all know.......
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on September 06, 2016, 03:22:34 pm
H, I have about 75 pages to go. Honestly, not as impressed with this one as I was with the first. Though, that might change when I finish up tonight.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on September 06, 2016, 06:14:43 pm
H, I have about 75 pages to go. Honestly, not as impressed with this one as I was with the first. Though, that might change when I finish up tonight.

Indeed, it did not seem quite as good as the first, but I still felt it was well worth reading, mostly to figure out what the hell is really going on.

Don't forget to read the sample chapter at the end.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on September 06, 2016, 06:26:38 pm
H, I have about 75 pages to go. Honestly, not as impressed with this one as I was with the first. Though, that might change when I finish up tonight.

Indeed, it did not seem quite as good as the first, but I still felt it was well worth reading, mostly to figure out what the hell is really going on.

Don't forget to read the sample chapter at the end.

Will do. I liked it, we get more world building and such, more answers, more mysteries. Just not as much going on, a little too slow paced.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on September 15, 2016, 02:05:57 am
So, it's our Earth. And, we desstryed it once already. I agree with your post at Westeros, that Father Earth is a entity that was awaken when Orogenes, Guardians and whoever else started fucking with him.

The magic is what ties everything together for me. It turns oroogenes into Stone Eaters, it's wheat controls the Obelisks and the Guardians. The question is, who is behind the magic? So, Schaffa seems to want Nassun to bring the moon back, isn't that what How wants Essun to do also? Is that what Alabaster was trying to do also? Or, was he just trying to completely destroy the world, a and wants Essun to finish it off? Confused about that part of it.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on September 15, 2016, 11:54:49 am
So, it's our Earth. And, we desstryed it once already. I agree with your post at Westeros, that Father Earth is a entity that was awaken when Orogenes, Guardians and whoever else started fucking with him.

The magic is what ties everything together for me. It turns oroogenes into Stone Eaters, it's wheat controls the Obelisks and the Guardians. The question is, who is behind the magic? So, Schaffa seems to want Nassun to bring the moon back, isn't that what How wants Essun to do also? Is that what Alabaster was trying to do also? Or, was he just trying to completely destroy the world, a and wants Essun to finish it off? Confused about that part of it.

I think Magic is just the basic substrate of life and/or the universe.  Some things can just happen to tap into it.

I think it all went downhill in every way once they built Corepoint.  It was exploitative to a whole new level, basically sapping the Earth at a more fundamental level than ever before.  Perhaps that taping into of is what awoke Father Earth.  Perhaps it's deeper, like Father Earth is the original, substantially more powerful precursor to Stone Eaters?

As for Schaffa, I can't get a good read on what the hell he is really up to.  I guess he wants to bring the moon back, because it seems he is at odds with the other Guardians.  But I really can't tell what it is he wants, besides his desire to protect Nassun.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on September 15, 2016, 12:04:47 pm
Well the Magic is what turns a Orogene into a stone water when they make a circuit with the Obelisks. Its also what is used to control Guardians through their Corestone. So someone or something is using it to effect a LOT of things. Who do you believe is behind the Guardians?
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on September 15, 2016, 03:30:51 pm
Well the Magic is what turns a Orogene into a stone water when they make a circuit with the Obelisks. Its also what is used to control Guardians through their Corestone. So someone or something is using it to effect a LOT of things. Who do you believe is behind the Guardians?

Oh, I'm definitely thinking it is Father Earth.  That quote from the "defective" Guardian in TFS, where she says "it seeped in to their perfect creation" mixed with Schaffa recalling the wire-chair they used to make him a Guardian once had another purpose, definitely leads me to believe that Father Earth "converted" a rival bunch of Orogenes to try to stop Corepoint.

Of course, then it all went even further awry when the Obelisks went and got used as a weapon, further escalating things.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on September 15, 2016, 03:36:51 pm
Well the Magic is what turns a Orogene into a stone water when they make a circuit with the Obelisks. Its also what is used to control Guardians through their Corestone. So someone or something is using it to effect a LOT of things. Who do you believe is behind the Guardians?

Oh, I'm definitely thinking it is Father Earth.  That quote from the "defective" Guardian in TFS, where she says "it seeped in to their perfect creation" mixed with Schaffa recalling the wire-chair they used to make him a Guardian once had another purpose, definitely leads me to believe that Father Earth "converted" a rival bunch of Orogenes to try to stop Corepoint.

Of course, then it all went even further awry when the Obelisks went and got used as a weapon, further escalating things.

So if Father Earth controls the Gaurdians, why would he be opposed to bringing the moon back and thus restoring balance to Earth. Something I just can't get to line up and make sense, H.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on September 15, 2016, 03:53:45 pm
So if Father Earth controls the Gaurdians, why would he be opposed to bringing the moon back and thus restoring balance to Earth. Something I just can't get to line up and make sense, H.

Well, recall that they defective Guardian that begins "speaking for" Father Earth is killed straight away by Schaffa wile she questions Tonkee and Essun about the socket.  So, while they are created by Father Earth, I don't think they are subservient to His will, per se, unless they allow themselves to be.  That was what I was saying over at Westeros, is that the parasitic relationship between a Guardian might perhaps override or reduce the need for a parasitic (and so controlled) relationship with Father Earth.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: Wilshire on November 02, 2016, 03:44:35 pm
FYI, there is a goodreads 'best fantasy books of 2016' and they have a limited selection for votes. Obelisk Gate is up there. (though, I imagine the new Harry Potter book will win regardless). I think I might add this series to my list if it is in fact very good.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on April 22, 2017, 05:29:16 pm
FYI, there is a goodreads 'best fantasy books of 2016' and they have a limited selection for votes. Obelisk Gate is up there. (though, I imagine the new Harry Potter book will win regardless). I think I might add this series to my list if it is in fact very good.

Wilshire, add it to your reading list. I really enjoy the series. There are a bunch of mysteries. Quite frankly, I am astonished that (at Westeros) these books aren't discussed more than they are. It's a little like TSA, as in there are so many unknowns, with clues to what they may be. I really think that you would like them.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: Redeagl on August 16, 2017, 03:34:16 pm
Just saw this. I figured you two may want a recap :
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/6ttuug/the_obelisk_gate_recap_spoilers/
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on August 16, 2017, 03:45:05 pm
Just saw this. I figured you two may want a recap :
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/6ttuug/the_obelisk_gate_recap_spoilers/

Neat, thanks.

I started it yesterday but, of course, I forgot it to bring it to work this morning...
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: Redeagl on August 17, 2017, 02:45:45 am
http://www.tor.com/2017/08/16/nk-jemisin-the-fifth-season-tv-adaptation-in-development/

So, there could be a TV show coming. I need to read these books soon.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on August 18, 2017, 07:30:42 pm
Just got book and it's a pretty short one, Don't you think?
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on August 21, 2017, 11:49:27 am
Just got book and it's a pretty short one, Don't you think?

I don't know that I'd call 400 pages short, but that's not particularly long either.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: MSJ on September 20, 2017, 02:37:10 pm
H, my man, so why haven't we discussed anything here? Huh? Very good book, imo, with some details that didn't make some sense. Like why wasn't Essa confronted by any of the stone eaters in the finale, didn't make much sense on some levels as many wanted an end. Overall, I enjoyed it though. I'll tell you when authors are pushed to make publishing dates you do see a dip in quality.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: H on September 21, 2017, 11:05:11 am
H, my man, so why haven't we discussed anything here? Huh? Very good book, imo, with some details that didn't make some sense. Like why wasn't Essa confronted by any of the stone eaters in the finale, didn't make much sense on some levels as many wanted an end. Overall, I enjoyed it though. I'll tell you when authors are pushed to make publishing dates you do see a dip in quality.

Yeah, I felt like a bit of the ending didn't really make too much sense, like the Stone Eaters leaving them alone, but honestly by the end, I was a bit checked out of the "now" storyline.  I think the past story of who Hoa was and what happened to the moon in the first place was more interesting.
Title: Re: N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Series [Spoilers]
Post by: Wilshire on June 13, 2019, 05:45:17 pm
So, book three, The Stone Sky, won both the Hugo and the Nebula, putting it in a very select group.

This is odd because its one of the very rare books that achieved this with a sequel that didn't have a previous installment on the list.

But regardless, my experience with that short list in particular is that the books tend to be very politically slanted. I'm not sure the book deserved its position by its own merits, but I think its definitely something that politically/culturally fits for the times, and therefore appearing on the list is reasonable .

IMO, the first book was the best, then the last, then the middle. This is a common trend I'm seeing with trilogies, and something I've come to expect.

The very end was touching, if predictable, and I agree with H that the worldbuilding "past" stories from Hoa ended up being more interesting than "current day".

There's definitely great commentary on the nature of subjugation, racism, and institutionalized violence/hate. Commentary that was built into the world, and not highly visible from the start, making its way into later books once the ground was set. The first book had the most interesting exploration of magic, despite later books adding in new layers, and I found myself wishing for some more involved Magic Duels. But magic wasn't what the book was about, and I think largely Jemisin accomplished what she set out to do.

Its a quick read, compared to some of the other books I've been reading, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone on the fence. Its a great fantasy story.