Bakker's Aspect-Emperor, book 1 discussion with Philip Chase

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Though "enjoy" might not be the right word when describing my experience with Bakker's brilliant writing that exposes us down to our bones, I thoroughly enjoyed discussing The Judging Eye with you, Johanna, and I look forward to finishing this awe-inspiring series!

[@Johanna_reads]

Same here, Philip! I'm excited for what's in store as we go deeper into the darkness. Thanks for all your great insights and fun reactions in this discussion!

[@andrewhanson405]

Great discussion! I worry for Philip once you two get into The Great Ordeal and The Unholy Consult. That's when Bakker takes the kids gloves off and goes dark. I was very impressed with the Prince of Nothing trilogy, but for me Bakker elevated his game in The Aspects-Emperor and made it the best fantasy series I've ever read. I'm not really in alignment with Bakker's nihilistic philosophy but I enjoy his confrontational style to challenge me and make me think. His work made me realize how overly pandering many of the popular fantasy series tend to be and made it hard for me to enjoy that kind of fantasy anymore. I found the sex magic portion of this book to resemble how it has been used by people in the real world both in the East and West, and to me it seemed like Bakker did his anthropological research rather than just being weired and transgressive. Also, if you watch the Slowly Red videos on this series, he pretty much nails the pronunciations of the names.

[@Johanna_reads]

I’m pretty certain my feelings will align with yours. I love how Bakker challenges his readers. I'll have to look up what your talking about with the research he did. I meant to look up Slowly Red’s video on this one. I loved his Prince of Nothing videos! Thank you so much for watching!

[@carlalbert6518]

Recently read this with some of the Page Chewing crew (we’re on The White-Luck Warrior right now) and loved it. Honestly, I feel like Bakker upped his game between this and the first trilogy. The character work and pacing all were improved imo. Cil-Aujis is a sequence that will stick in my memory until I go senile and become an Erratic haha

[@Johanna_reads]

Haha! There’s nothing like that setting. I feel the same way about Bakker’s writing so far, and I'm eager to catch up!

[@calvinleeryan]

So glad you two are starting The Aspect Emperor!!! It is so challenging and dark, but I find it to be exquisitely written and such a rewarding series, and the darkness of the story makes the emotional beats hit so much harder. It's one of those special reads that I find myself always thinking about and coming back to. The Cil-Aujus sequence is so insanely cool, and the world-building and philosophy in this second series gets just more and more wild. So excited to hear your interpretations. I loved the discussion and can't wait for more!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you! I completely agree with everything you shared here. Bakker is a master of tone and able to portray darkness with so much depth and gradation. The darkness is never one-note!

[@alexanderroxborough3777]

Actually. I gotta say, it's only now after listening to this conversation that I feel like I really appreciate this book. I really loved the first 3 books. And perhaps because of the change of style, new characters to focus, no kellhus POV etc, I was a little disappointed. But, you guys have really brought to life in my mind the new threads of this epic story. I feel pretty renewed in my enthusiasm for this series and the next book. Thanks!

[@Johanna_reads]

I’m so glad to hear that! I loved this book. It was my favorite of the year until I finished White Luck Warrior. There are so many mysteries to unpack, but I’m fascinated by Bakker’s writing and ability to question parts of human nature not many are willing to question. Thanks!

[@EricMcLuen]

Really glad you liked it. 'Why Bakker why?' Reminds me of the end of Beetlejuice where she scares her husband with the sculpture and says 'He likes it'. Moria should have been scary. Bakker has an uncanny ability to set a scene. Like how it was utter darkness beyond their light and you could hear but not see. Agency is odd to talk about in a story pondering freewill and constant manipulation by Kellhus. It is a complete flip from PoN as here it is the female characters who are trying to change. Esme really shines. Bakker also flipped Kellhus' foil from Cnaiur the uber barbarian to Sorwheel a lost teenager. I also had to practically stop and reread whenever a Nonman spoke. And yes, Kellhus' as well as the Consult's motivations are still vague. 4 books in and the two main powers just recently became aware of each other. And the new Anasurimbor clan... Here's the story, of Empress Esme, whose bringing up 7, er, 6 very creepy kids. Most had hair of gold, like their father, the oldest one ain't his. Sorry but Anasurimbor is a tough rhyme.

[@Johanna_reads]

I thought Moria was suspenseful, but it was nothing like this! Esme really does shine as a character!

[@aerialruin8568]

So glad you two have returned to the Second Apocalypse. I chuckle a little at Phillip's reaction to the bleakness, though he's clearly not wrong I felt this was the one book of all seven where a few rays of sunshine come through before it get's reeeeeaaally dark. Rays of sunshine in relative tone, not plot development obviously. Johanna I think you may be better equipped for what is to come hahaha. Look forward to the next installment.

[@Johanna_reads]

Oh my goodness! 😆 I can't believe this book has relative rays of sunshine. We’ll see! Thanks! 😄

[@aerialruin8568]

@@Johanna_reads ☀☀truth shines☀☀

[@alexanderroxborough3777]

Hi there. Really enjoying you guys rif off each other on these books as people that actually really enjoyed the books. Raf had some really interesting points in the other conversations but he dominated them with his critical and mostly negative perspective. I love these books and I want to hear more of both of your thoughtful and well considered perspectives. Also I really liked Jimmy's input too, I listened to his chat with a couple of other guys on these books and they were great. Please consider this point when doing your reflections on the next Bakker book. 🙏😎

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed this particular discussion and appreciate the feedback. Philip and I just recorded The White Luck Warrior discussion, which will be posted on his channel next week on Tuesday. 😊

[@alexanderroxborough3777]

I look forward to watching once I finish White luck. Thanks so much.

[@jasonep2]

I loved watching this. Look forward to seeing your reaction to the rest of The Aspect-Emperor.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! I'm excited to start The White-Luck Warrior!

[@leehunts4327]

Looking forward to the rest of your talks! This series is such a challenging read, especially later on. Bleaker, denser prose, denser philosophy. And potentially divisive. I’m going to have to do a reread some time to see how my opinions hold up. But it stays with you and only gets better on recall from my experience. No other series has inspired such long discussion videos on my channel.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! This is definitely one of those series that deserves lengthy discussion. Now I'm very curious about the divisive parts to come. Bakker certainly isn't afraid of confronting some controversial topics!

[@YouTubdotCub]

10 minutes from the end but I am loving this conversation!! Looking forward to you tackling the White-Luck Warrior and airing your thoughts!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! I'm eager to start The White-Luck Warrior!

[@Jistarii]

Yes! I can't wait for you guys to finish this portion of the series. Looking forward to all the insights!!! Cheers!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you! Aspect-Emperor is off to a fascinating start!

[@dookieshoe2905]

Nice! I am hoping to finish this book this weekend so I will have to come back to this after. I'm loving what I've read/listened to so far. I already know that I'm in 100% for the rest of the Aspect-Emperor series.

[@Johanna_reads]

The book is immediately gripping. Hope you have a great experience with the rest of the book and series!

[@dlasis]

I cant wait to get to there you guys are. I love Bakker

[@Johanna_reads]

Yay! I'm excited you're reading the Second Apocalypse series as well!

[@jodell86]

The scenes in Cil-Aujas still give me chills months after finishing the series. THE SLOG OF SLOGS!

[@Johanna_reads]

So goooooood!!!!

[@Gl1tch2263]

No weeping!

[@thatsci-firogue]

The White-luck Warrior stuff was easily the hardest for me to wrap my head around on first read but I'm re-reading White-luck Warrior right now and its already so much clearer.

[@Johanna_reads]

I loved that book so much!

[@osoisko1933]

I'm glad y'all 'like' it. 😆 And yeah johanna, you're right about the Dune-Blood Meridian-LoTR combo. My favorite description of the series I found randomly online once was "It's Dune set in a f$#%ed up Middle Earth."

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you! That’s an excellent description 😆

[@lostchild0122]

The first time through the series for me was interesting. The constant conflict of "Khellus is manipulating everyone" and "the end of the world is coming and Khellus, by all accounts, seems to be the only one truly trying to stop it" was a great source of tension. It coloured everything and forever made question question question. You can never escape what you know about Khellus, but it's impossible to deny the reality of the great ordeal. The other note, all magic users can see/sense the stain of sorcery. The judging eye sees the SIN (or purity) in EVERYONE. It isn't related to magic but the soul of the person, and is just something Mimara seemingly randomly has.

[@Johanna_reads]

So many fascinating things to consider about Kellhus! I'm guessing Kellhus knows about Mimara's judging eye, which also adds tension.

[@t.hussain921]

I'm glad you liked it Johanna. Kelmomas is my favorite character. I don't want to say I root for him but his sections are really fun to read 😂

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you! He is so perfectly creepy! If you enjoyed him, I highly recommend the 1956 movie, “The Bad Seed.” 😂

[@t.hussain921]

@@Johanna_reads I'll check it out. It looks interesting.

[@kierenvarney2159]

Your both right the sranc were created by the inchoroi using the Tekne on the non-men. I would advise reading the Lore in the appendix's before The great ordeal will give a lot of context for what will happen in the last 2 books. Also views on Kellhus I believe he knows everything that is happening in the story; its just working out how it all benefits him; we haven't seen many points of view since the Circumfixion for a reason. No weepers on the Slog of Slog guys 🤣

[@Johanna_reads]

Thanks for that information! I imagine the same with Kellhus. The Slog was something! 😂

[@1917Albertso]

Please ! Finish the series ! I want to see your reaction to the ending

[@Johanna_reads]

I did finish (this past week)! I'm just waiting on Philip. 😁

[@1917Albertso]

@Johanna_reads subscribed !!

[@misomiso8228]

Have you read any more bakker books yet?! Have you got to the end of the Unholy Consult?! Slog of Slogs......

[@Johanna_reads]

We're not finished with Aspect-Emperor yet. We read the White-Luck Warrior, and that discussion is now posted to Philip Chase's channel. We're both planning to start The Great Ordeal very soon!

[@misomiso8228]

@@Johanna_reads Slog of slogs!!

[@zubaerchaudhari8267]

Hello there hey there hey Hello hi

[@Johanna_reads]

Hello there!

[@karloswald407]

how could you mispronounce things from this series? the pronunciation of things like Cil-Aujas, Incû-Holoinas and Cûnuroi are clearly evident on their face! /s