Been waiting for this book for a while now. Since I live in Europe, it's gonna be a while before I get my hands on a paper copy, so I wondered if the ebook has been leaked anywhere?
Here's the blurb:
Praised by fans and critics worldwide, R. Scott Bakker has become one of the most celebrated voices in fantasy literature. With The Great Ordeal, Bakker presents the long-anticipated third volume of The Aspect-Emperor, a series that stands with the finest in the genre for its grandiose scope, rich detail, and thrilling story.
As Fanim war-drums beat just outside the city, the Empress Anasurimbor Esmenet searches frantically throughout the palace for her missing son Kelmomas. Meanwhile and many miles away, Esmenet’s husband’s Great Ordeal continues its epic march further north. But in light of dwindling supplies, the Aspect-Emperor’s decision to allow his men to consume the flesh of fallen Sranc could have consequences even He couldn’t have foreseen. And, deep in Ishuäl, the wizard Achamian grapples with his fear that his unspeakably long journey might be ending in emptiness, no closer to the truth than when he set out.
The Aspect-Emperor series follows Bakker’s Prince of Nothing saga, returning to the same world twenty years later. The Great Ordeal follows The Judging Eye and The White-Luck Warrior, and delivers the first half of the conclusion to this epic story. Returning to Bakker’s richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, The Aspect-Emperor continues to set the bar for the fantasy genre, reaching new heights of intricacy and meaning.
Has this been officially released in the States yet, or are there just advance copies floating around?
>>8270713
Bakker worth getting into? I've heard more comparisons towards Dune than ASOIAF and I have the first two of the first trilogy and The Judging Eye.
>>8270740
It's absolutely worth getting into, if you like fantasy lit of the more "sophisticated" sort - there's a lot of philosophical themes, and a Bakker usually has a heavy focus on neuroscience and philosophy of the mind. It's not light reading, that's for sure.
It's not really like ASOIAF at all, a lot closer to the Dune books and especially to Tolkien's Silmarillion. It's in the same dark-and-edgy genre as ASOIAF (the torture-porn in these books is a lot more extreme than Martin's), but this is the only thing they have in common.
Oh, and make sure to read the first three in a row. The Judging Eye takes place after a time-skip of 20 years, and doesn't make sense unless you've read the whole first trilogy.
>>8270740
It's Dune meets Tolkien
One of, if not the best fantasy series post 2000
Anyone find the ebook yet?
>>8270740
His prose is embarrassing, it's like he's a 16 year old trying to discuss Nietzsche.
>>8271497
Bakker's prose is very unique, an acquired taste for sure. He does come off as a bit try-hard sometimes, especially when he's all repetitive with the philosophical arguments. I personally enjoy his writing style, but it's not for everyone.
(Bakker's prose is far superior to George RR Martin's, for example. He doesn't even attempt a prose style, it's all written like a high school essay and the characters all sound the same. I was actually disappointed with those books, since I'd just seen Game of Thrones and expected something much better.)
>>8271461
Checked my usual places. Nothing.
Not even my local book depots had a copy.
>>8271780
Amazon.org
>>8271784
Can't. Account got banned.
The Great Ordeal sounds like I'm trying to guess what the book is from a synonymous title.
>>8271788
Because you keep buying and asking for a refund. You thieving third world shitposter.
>>8270821
>there's a lot of philosophical themes, and a Bakker usually has a heavy focus on neuroscience and philosophy of the mind
Can you expand on this? What are some of the philosophical themes, and what is Bakker's general philosophy of the mind?
>>8271831
Bakker is an eliminative materialist, and so is his philosophy of the mind. In other words: free will is an illusion, all beliefs are caused by brain processes, things like "mind" and "meaning" are not ontologically real, etc etc. It shows up all the time in his writing.
Bakker's "twist" is that the fantasy setting is a world where morality and meaning are real, where the Gods exist (and are evil), where the dead go to heaven or hell. The story's villain-protagonist is a figure of Darwinian nihilism and amoral materialism, so this conflict is a big theme.
There's lots of philosophy stuff in these books, sometimes a bit over-the-top. Also, lots of evo-psych and neuroscience in the first two books.
>>8272045
This sounds like the most reddit-tier shit ever, fampai.
>>8270713
The angry man on the plate sneered contemptuously as roasted meats and vegetables were placed upon his face.
"Duke Weidimar, this new china you have obtained is certainly... exotic" murmured General Voskan as gravy pooled on the man's brow, obscuring the generic rage smouldering in his eyes. "From farest Cathay did you say?"
"Indeed, and at great expense as you can imagine" he replied, pleased that the plates had been noticed, "only one of the latest acquisitions for my collection. I am expecting another shipment from my agents in the coming month that promises to be quite exquisite."
"Ah. Indeed. Money well spent I assume?" said the General as he eyed the plate like a sailor in a foreign port who had been beset by swarthy locals.
"Indeed. They say it includes a tourine featuring 'improbably muscled beasts'" said the duke as Duchess Katarina rolled her eyes and peas beaded on the man's cheeks like sweat.
The angry man glared frightfully as the palace staff began serving the third course.
>>8272171
I now wish the book was actually about a scowling man trapped in a dinner plate.
>>8270713
>he Aspect-Emperor’s decision to allow his men to consume the flesh of fallen Sranc could have consequences even He couldn’t have foreseen.
The absolute madman
>>8272171
>this new china
>generic rage smouldering
>angry man glared frightfully
This can't be real.
>>8270821
>if you like fantasy lit of the more "sophisticated" sort
>Emperor Xerius . . . Can you feel it, my lovely, godlike son? ” She had been so beautiful then. It had been across her hand that he’d first come, and she’d taken his seed and bid him taste it. “ The future ,” she had said, “ tastes of salt . . . And it stings, Xerius, my lovely child . . . ” That warm laugh that had wrapped cold marble with comfort. “ Taste how it stings . . . ”
>>8272265
>didn't include the part where he accidentally grabs her penis
YOU HAD ONE JOB
>>8272149
Way too much misogyny, rape, cuckoldry, and cuckold-rape for reddit's tastes.
>>8270713
>What cover you want Famalam?
>Can I get a really dirty and oily T-zone inside a stargate?
>Say no more!
>>8272278
That's a flashback to the first time his mom molested him. Are you telling me she's eventually revealed as a tranny? That's hilarious.
>>8272294
Is that... like... rape that simultaneously cuckolds someone, or raping a person you've previously cuckolded?
>>8272315
no its a skinchanger
What's the difference between a god and a ciphrang?
>>8272256
It's a fucking joke.
>>8272631
Gods probably have more power while ciphrang are just dregs
mobilisim has the ebook up if anyone is looking for it, although i hope you guys will actually buy a copy when you can, GRI approved books need to be supported.
Just purchased kindle version, hyped as hell
Bought the Kindle version yesterday, I'm about two-thirds through it.
Lol at the scene where Kellhus rapes his number-two, it totally came out of nowhere....after the psychological destruction of his victim, anal destruction follows.
Kellhus is a better antagonist than the alien baddies from the last books, but Bakker really needs to tone down the ass-rape here...there's other ways of showing he's a bad guy
>>8271731
"Repetitive with philosophical arguments"
It's a philosophy thing. They spell out each layer of a case or an argument and it comes off as repetitive.
It may just be an old habit. It's not the more enjoyable style to read.
>>8272631
Better PR
