Welcome to the Second Apocalypse, EdwardReynolds
This last book felt a little dissatisfying (taken on it's own) but if you combine it with TGO and read both directly after one another it is a fantastic read.
Or TAE taken as one book with narrative arcs across four portions
?
There are at least 2 books to go (i would imagine). Moenghus is king of the Scylvendi and has an intact host ready to fight a retreat across the north. Zeum has been mentioned a lot more in recent books and is now coming into the fray (i hope). Kellhus is possibly still in play but is potentially the biggest bad of all. Crabicus is out in the wild. Imperial forces were gathering in Sumna. And who the hell knows what will come out of the east. I find it strange that Bakker went to all the trouble of leaving one tribe out there. One that rejected the Tusk and thus was not manipulated by the Vile.
And lastly, Acha, Esmenet and Mimara are alive. Possibly Kayutas too.
Not to mention all ensouled creatures across Earwa can perceive the No-God. Whatever his reasons, the Aspect-Emperor
spoke true and wasn't warring across the wastes of Earwa against a myth.
"LOL bad guys win and all the good guys die LOLOL"
In my eyes the bad guys lost and the good guys won, so I disagree 
Lol.
This person read all seven of these books, and felt invested enough to google up a website where they could write what they thought about it. That's an incredible level of engagement.
I'm glad for ER's presence, either way.
The greater impact of a thread is that all the posts are permanent. If some future user comes across this and clicks it, what will they see? A bunch of superfans flaming someone not part of the circle-jerk, or a community interested in engaging deeper discussion with even though who disagree? If the former, I have failed and they will leave, and if the latter then maybe they will feel compelled to participate themselves. . No follow-up of the OP does not change that outcome.
+1
Well said, Wilshire. Dissenting views should be welcome. Some are more helpful than others...but all should be welcome.
They are. In fact, they're encouraged
.
1. It was my understanding that the TSTSNBN is not a sure thing and it's very possible that this is the closure of the series. People are talking a lot about another series after this one and I will admit that it appears to be written as if there is more to come. If we get confirmation of that, then my reflection on this book will be much more positive as I will understand this is not the proverbial end.
Bakker's online presence is sporadic at best and he certainly hasn't done himself any favours regarding the necessity of TSTSNBN. I imagine we're going to get some statements during the r/fantasy AMA next week but at the moment, as far as I know, no one has purchased TSTSNBN (which is itself an opportunity because Overlook seems unable to do Bakker's work due diligence even).
But I do find it incredibly ignorant on the part of readers - not necessarily you, just using your comment as a jump-off point - that they are unwilling to distinguish
The Aspect-Emperor's narrative from narrative seeds that might find their fruition in TSTSNBN.
Again, these are more on me than anything else. To be clear, I loved the series and TUC...like the first poster said...10 years of my life have been invested in and evangelizing R Scott Bakker and these books. It's a testament to the author that his work would inspire these types of emotions. Being inspired, positive or negative, by the written word is a good thing...I wish it happen more often to more people. Bakkers' work inspired me...it made me think, it inspired me to research, it forced me to question my beliefs and grow as a person...that is what is important...and for that, I thank him.
Preach. Also, I appreciate your avatar
.
A specific example is Crabicus. As I was reaching the end and there was no mention (or action) on his part, I was more and more anticipating his arrival at the end...when the end came, as awesome as it was, he was no where to be found (that we could see). Both he and the survivor were fantastic characters to introduce...and I get that the survivor served his purpose (much like Cleric...so fun to read about...but in the end, had a purpose and it was served) and accepted his leap for what is what (or for what I could understand of it at least). But Crabicus...I was absolutely expecting him to play a part...any part...but from what we had insight into, he did not.
Bakker's publicly mentioned that Crabicus (not by that now fan-canon name) has some future role to play. Again, among a great number of others, is an example of Bakker seeding something for later but wasn't essential to the plot of TAE - as opposed to, the Survivor, who did double duty regarding some metaphysical insight as well as making me, anyhow, exceptionally wary of the Mutilated.
2. I have always found myself disappointed by endings. I remember reading the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons and being utterly disappointed with how it concluded. The difference between Hyperion and TSA is my expectations where MUCH higher for TSA...thus my disappointment is much more impactful.
Oh man, I loved the Hyperion Cantos, start to finish. I'm a sucker, it seems, for conclusions. I give a lot of grace to authors for writings as they will, regardless of expectation, and appreciate greatly when a story ends in a way that isn't satisfying in the way people expected it to be.
+1
Many of the plotlines that were set up aren't concluded (Crabicus, Ciphrang Assassin, Meppa, to name a few off the top of my head), and that's without acknowledging that the book creates a huge amount of questions at the end without explaining any of them. I think the ending would have felt more satisfying if it all hadn't happened so fast. However, right as you're expecting to get all of the answers, the entire plot turns on its head and the book ends.
I've mentioned to others but Bakker is well-aware of his loose ends, whichever he brings more life to later. But again I think distinguishing the narrative arcs of TAE as one book from the loose seeds will go a long way towards appreciating TAE as its own story.
I agree. I feel like a decade of waiting and reading has been just flushed down the toilet. I'm cheesed off enough to register on this forum for the first time. I'll be posting my own thread to go over some of my frustration.
Once again, panorama, I'm glad you found your way here, regardless
.
I can't imagine Bakker's intention to wrap up this opus was to leave everyone completely confused but as his prose improved from book to book his narrative clarity got worse and worse. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the whole Aspect Emperor series after the Judging Eye could have benefited greatly from a strong editor.
TGO and TUC definitely would have benefited from the work of his previous editor at Overlook. Ultimately, despite Bakker's fault in the matter, Overlook failed to do even their due diligence, in my opinion.
Mind you, I don't have the trouble teasing narrative clarity that others seem to. Whether that's an artifact of my predispositions or an illusion of interpretative confidence, I'm not sure. I will note again that I seem to be among a readerly minority in a good number of my interpretations so far.
As for the Second Apocalypse, well that's the name of this board. Is anyone really that surprised that it occurred? The first one was survived. All hope is not yet lost.
All hope is not yet lost. One of the reasons I enjoy reading Bakker so much is because the characters continue to
strive despite their harsh world. Bakker's writing has always provided me with much solace.
Paraphrasing TMH but "it's like no one has the emotional cahoones to gaze back upon the void itself, as it is, and continue to live."
I think we can all agree none of us would be here if it was simple. If its simple for you because you see much farther and more clearly, please enlighten me, the simple in your midst.
Indeed.
A reminder to everyone: personal attacks, even as retaliation, are unacceptable. You are responsible for yourself. If you'd like to have a discussion about how you feel wronged, please see this thread. Further discussion about this shall be directed to that post and will be deleted from this thread. Thanks.
Thanks, #2.
I am unaware of any future books, all press has pointed to The Unholy Consort being the end. Please link me to sources - I am by no means not going to read more by Bakker, I love these (Kellhus) books.
http://www.second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=1029.0
I'm not sure where the original source of any of this is, but the third series is currently named TSTSNBN, and as it stands, will be a duology. I think the lack of this information being readily available is the biggest problem. People think TUC is the intended end, and it isn't. Whether or not the series gets made is another story, I suppose.
Also, Bakker is having an AMA on August 2nd on reddit. He's mentioned that after the release of TUC he wants to share the actual name of the third series. You might want to check that AMA out.
The wotmania Files: Interview with R. Scott Bakker (6/27/2004):
When I originally conceived the whole story (The Second Apocalypse) way back when, it was a trilogy with The Prince of Nothing as the first book, The Aspect-Emperor as the second, and The-Book-that-Shall-Not-Be-Named as the third. But of course The Prince of Nothing has since become a trilogy in its own right, which would seem to suggest that The Second Apocalypse will be nine books long! I honestly have no idea how long it will ultimately be. My best guess is that The Aspect-Emperor and The-Book-that-Shall-Not-Be-Named will both be dualogies - if that's really a word...
Apparently, Wilshire beat me to it
.
I'm almost positive there's another post corroborating this on Zombie Three-Seas...
The original plan was to write The Second Apocalypse (am I weird for loving that title as much as I do?) as a trilogy. Since the first installment, The Prince of Nothing turned into a trilogy in itself, I'm assuming the same thing will happen with the sequels.
