the archives
dusted off in read-only
dusted off in read-only
Hi, everybody. I was provoked into my first post by the news about the nineology - or whatever it is called? Cool. I love big series -I hasten to add I mean Martin and Erikson, not Jordan and Goodkind. You say that you had this story outlined - IIRC, you ever mentioned somewhere that the first version of it was also written, t least partially – 15 years ago? I am impressed, especially that you seem to have been a teenager then. This Neuropaths thing also seem interesting. When it is going to be published? view post
I finished it at last, and I must say I amvery impressed. As good as TDTCB was, TWP is far better. The ending does seem a liitle bit rushed, but I guess we will be getting more info about what happened in TTT. I can't wait for it (not to mention the second series). view post
Lord of the Rings Prince of Nothing Chronicles of Thomas Covenant A Song of Ice and Fire Malazan Book of the Fallen In no particular order. Depends on the mood, really. view post
«hmm most humourless race in fantasy... » Do not forget Erikson's Tiste Andii. view post
Well, Mr. Bakker, you already answered most questions I wanted to ask - especially those about sorceresses and other continents. Actually, I expected something like that. Usually magic is considered the great equalizer - since women usually aren't as good at fighting as men, but there is no reason why the shouldn't be as good at magic. Steven Erikson said something like this in one of interviews. Nevertheless your magic system with the schools and ruthless suppression of illegitimate wizards seems designed especially with thought of keeping women out of magic. You said that this issue will play a part in the second series - I can't wait for it! The one question I want to ask are the obvious similarities between Kellhus and Jesus. Did you introduce them just to provoke some people or will they play some role in the latter volumes? I am an agnostic myself, so it doesn't bother me at all, buti t may cost you some readers - especially here in Poland. BTW, Polish edition od TDTCB should be out this spring. I wonder how it will be received. I am not very optimistic, since the publisher doesn't seem to be doing anything to promote it, but OTOH they still have time. view post
[quote:3k3sup2z]I will continue to use Martin as an example because he is the only author I enjoy more right now[/quote:3k3sup2z] And yet, many people have the same complaint about Martin. I have heard it voiced many times on different boards that Martin has no likeable characters. It is obviously relative, but it seems obvious that for some people likeable means clear-cut good, period. I tend to disagree, but who am I to say they are wrong? view post
I agree with cerebral vs emotional distinction. Most of your characters read as very cold and intellectual - typical rather of Hard SF novel of, say, Greg Egan, than of fantasy. I don't mind it , especially that I like both Achamian and Esmenet and I keep rooting for them - but for some fantasy readers Achamian and Esmenet are simply too unheroic. Those characters also add welcome whiff of the shadier aspects of life which are conspicuously absent in abovementioned kind of books. I also share your pessimism about human nature (in fact it is considered default opinion in our culture), so I have no problem with it. view post
I am not sure. I would say that Achamian's motivations, and the Mandate's as a whole, are quite close to "accepted fantasy convention". The same goes for many other characters who are just ruthless, scheming politicians - quite typical for fantasy. OTOH, I have always thought of Inchoroi as typical space alien invaders who want to get rid of humans and other natives, because they see them as darwinian competitors - motivation typical for science fiction, but hardly for fantasy. My reading my be wrong, but this is how I see it. view post
This is already out in Poland [url:26wpgbig]http://www.mag.com.pl/index_ppf.php?catid=&upid=&proid=282#koment[/url:26wpgbig][/url] view post
3) Are any of your pets now named Anasurimbor _______?
Nope, but my beagle is named Sandor. (For No-Dog people: beagle technically is a hound, although a small one)
8 ) How close to certain are you that Donald Rumsfeld is a Skin spy?
Sound reasonable.
9) Describe Akka's map.
I can do it. I really can.
12) Do you own four or more books by Bakker even though the man's only written two?
I actually have three. Two Canadian editions and one Polish.
15) Do you check GRRM's site a little less frequently now?
Yes, after last monday 
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[quote="Cu'jara Cinmoi":1jexr7gi]There's parallels, certainly, but the issues which I take to be central to transhumanism (as I understand it) are actually more front and centre in [i:1jexr7gi]Neuropath[/i:1jexr7gi]. Though I know that transhumanists pride themselves on their secularism, I have to say that it smacks of religion to me. And when it comes to 'wireheading,' it gets out and out scary. Put it this way: if Kellhus is an example of our transhumanist future, we are in deep doo-doo.[/quote:1jexr7gi] Well, I am not sure. Sure Kellhus is an evil bastard, but he at least is a competent evil bastard which is more than can be said of our leaders at the moment. It depends on what you consider greater evil, I guess. So it is going to be Neuropath, as in Psychopath? I for some reason thought it is going to be Neuropaths, as in Neural Paths. view post
[quote="vercint":3eqsj83t]But there must be some sort of limit. Could he add a third inutteral and make it a time-travelling cant, or something like that? If sorcery is making the world conform to words, why can't a sorceror make anything at all happen?[/quote:3eqsj83t] I suppose the only limit are capabilities of sorcerer's mind. Even Kellhus probably couldn't handle three inutterals, the way normal humans aren't able to handle two. BTW, it shows that in Earwa eugenics could be potentailly far more useful than in real world. You actually could bred stronger sorcerers, by increasing their mental capabilities. view post
Perhaps it was answered in some thread, but I am too lazy to check them all - in the Glossary under "Fane" it is stated that the prophet went blind in the desert, after his exile, but entry for "kipfa'ifan" suggests that he was blinded and exiled. Which version is supposed to be canonical? view post
[quote="Phil":1kcy4roq]I think Kellhus will [i:1kcy4roq]become[/i:1kcy4roq] the No-god, though I base this on pure idle speculation, no real proof.
The first books are about a Prince of Nothing. The second series is about an Aspect Emperor. The third set of books is a big mystery.
Why the big mystery? Would it really be that much of a spoiler to tell us now? Well, Scott Bakker says so, so you have to assume he's right 
So Kellhus must become something pretty special in the last series. What could come after Aspect Emperor? Well, I reckon it's a god of some kind..'[/quote:1kcy4roq]
After some thought I decided there are only two things which make sense as a title of the third set of books. One possibility is No-God as some on the board seem to think, but another possibility is Shaman.
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Well, if Kellhus becomes a Shaman, it would mean he really speaks with a voice of God. view post
IIRC, it is obvious when you compare his words in TDTCB iwith information about Mekeritrig in the glossary. I don't have the books at hand, so I can't be sure, though. view post
[quote="anor277":105g4npe] The Outside, the realm of gods, demons, and spirits, is apparently local; it is confined (arguably) to the planet of Earwa (and understandably a bit of a shock for an ancient starfaring race). It is something different than the void between stars, which the Inchoroi crossed to get to their present world.[/quote:105g4npe] Or perhaps it was closed on Inchoroi world - so long ago that they lost all memory of it. view post
I suspect Nonmen are to proud to accept mixed bloods as their own. It seems clear that they considered themselves superior to Men and with such mindset it is possible that even one drip of Men blood makes a person human in their eyes. view post
I didn't think about it before, but Dunyain are probably screwem if anyone but Achamian reaches them first (and would he even want to help them? I rather doubt it). Both Kellhus and the Consult would probably see them as a threat and try to eliminate them. Since Dunyain don't know magic, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves sucessfully. Perhaps the only Dunyain we will meet in TGO will be survirors hiding after pogrom? view post
There is a lot of great scenes. My favorites are perhaps dialogue between Kellhus and Moenghus, Achamian destroyind Scarlet Spires citadel, Cnaiur's escape from Conphas and how he comes to accept the following skin-spies as Serwe and Achamian defying Kellhus in the last scene. But these are only what first comes to mind. view post
[quote="anor277":78vzh5fb] If Moënghus had been able to teleport, he would have had no need of his son to take over the 1000 temples; Moënghus could have flitted in and out between churches. In fact, in the next novel I think Kellhus' ability to teleport, to transcend distance, will have to be treated very carefully. [/quote:78vzh5fb] Do we know how long is the reach of Kellhus's teleportation ability? Could he teleport from Shimeh to Ishual and back, or is it restricted to far shorter distances? I agree that the former possibility would create many difficulties with the plot, since if Kellhus could appear anytime at any place, he could become truly unstoppable. view post
[quote="Curethan":304j9p0g] I recall that Moeghus' first words to Kellhus; that their blood is the most important thing in the world. Is he speaking of dunyain heritage or the anasurimbor? [/quote:304j9p0g] I suppose that after two thousand years of what in practice amounts to inbreeding all Dunyain have Anasurimbor blood. view post
I lke Canadian cover the most, but I guess I will buy American edition, since it is easier to get. British cover is once again worts, IMHO. view post
White-Luck Warrior is mentioned in prologue of TJE posted on Fantasyhotlist: http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2008 ... kkers.html view post
"Your Amazon.ca order was shipped." Can't wait to get it. view post
I think logically Traveller should be Consult agent. Kellhus rather wouldn't have reason to help Achamian in his quest. It may be some unknown faction, though. view post
I am apparently first voter who went with Kelmomas who is just wonderfully fucked up. It is hard choice, though, since Cleric, Psatma and Mimara are great characters as well. Sorweel, not so much, and I suspect he will be the least popular choice. view post
[quote="professor plum":1taaja7f]I seem to recall her seeing the same damnation in Cleric. Will try to dig up a quote later.[/quote:1taaja7f] But Cleric also may be damned for different reasons - especially if he works for the Consult. view post
Yes, I think that Mimara may well become first Aporetic witch after several thousands years. What are the implications of this is anyone's guess at this stage, though. view post
[quote="Chirios":2qka26pn]But, but, but that makes no sense. Its perfectly fine for some soldiers to destroy entire cities so long as they scream a Gods name while they do it; but its not okay for Achamian to use magic during his quest to SAVE THE WORLD? I'm sorry, but if literally, spending your entire life trying to save the world, and not commiting any truly evil acts while you do it, other than sing a song or two so that people don't stab you through the neck with raw iron; doesn't qualify as heaven material, what does?
[/quote:2qka26pn]
Well, you are assuming gods are reasonable. In Earwa this clearly is not the case.
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[quote="Curethan":27zm7ff9] -SB interview. Assumptions & guesses look like all we gunna get.[/quote:27zm7ff9] Or perhaps not. Remember that Scott is notoriously afraid of spoilers, so he may simply be unwilling to say more. view post
[quote="Callan S.":1t9cbnc2][quote="Curethan":1t9cbnc2][quote="anor277":1t9cbnc2]It was my impression that the demon heads Kellhus sports on his belt were those of skin spies. Certainly the skin spies are absolutely terrifying (Kellhus no doubt animates them) but they are not demonic.[/quote:1t9cbnc2] No, they are specificaly referred to as 'Ciphrang heads'.[/quote:1t9cbnc2] Who refers to them as such? Sometimes Scott switches between describing the world as author and describing the world as seen by a character, without much differentiation in between.[/quote:1t9cbnc2] I don't have book at hand, but IIRC it was definitely a character. I read it as Ciphrang being just generic term for monster. Sorweel does call Kellhus himself Ciphrang after all. view post
I loved the LotR meets Blood Meridian aspect. I guess I am just a sucker for po-mo literary games. Besides, it also means that Cleric is both Gandalf and Judge Holden - something I would never believed to be possible. Also, Scott mentioned in some interview that he reduced number of POVs in TJE after reading A Feast for Crows, since he feared falling into the never ending series trap, which harmed so many fantasy series. view post
[quote="BobbyR":5dpav3ph]
Maybe the answer to the original question is similar to "Why not just fly the Eagles straight to Mount Doom, and drop the Ring in?" Because then you wouldn't have a story.[/quote:5dpav3ph]
Well, as someone noticed last week on Tor.com the answer for this question is "Gwaihir the Ringlord" I don't see why eagles should be immune to one ring's lure. As for the fate of Great Ordeal, the many similarities with Napoleon's army trip to Moscow seem to be foreshadowing what will happen next. This is going to end badly. The question is: did Kellhus made a huge mistake or is it precisely what he wants?
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[quote="Jerako":37n8n7cf][quote="Madness":37n8n7cf]...remember that Aurang admitted that the Consult created Nonmen skin-spies.[/quote:37n8n7cf] Where did this occur? I don't remember him saying anything of the sort. It would revise my assumptions about a few things were this true. I was under the impression that skin-spies were invented ca. 3800 YotT, when the Consult "disappeared" from the three-seas. "A new artifact of the Old Science," I think Achamian said.[/quote:37n8n7cf] Aurang does mention that the Consult has spies in Ishterebinth, but I always assumed they are Non-Men secretly working for them. view post
There is a little more info about this book here: http://www.fritzagency.com/master.php?h ... o1=2&no2=2 «DISCIPLE OF THE DOG Bakker, R. Scott Novel Pages: e-ms 187 pp Orion DISCIPLE has the audacity of Neuropath, and the same unflinching social commentary, but it’s on very different ground. It’s a detective story, and the main character is Disciple Manning, a hardboiled private investigator with Hyperthymestic Syndrome, a rare mental condition that does not allow him to forget. Disciple is hired to find a teenage girl who he is sure is already dead, and the trail leads him through backward small-town America and right into the midst of two rival religious cults, either -- or neither -- of which could have cut off the girl’s fingers and toes and strewn them around town. It’s an open question whether Disciple’s anarchic tendencies, scabrous behavior and subversive observations will derail the investigation, or whether in the end he’ll discover some species of the truth.» view post
Scott has now a blog here:
http://rsbakker.wordpress.com/
Apparently nobody noticed it until today 
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