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Bakker XIII: Spoilers for PON, TJE, and Neuropath/Disciple


Old Nan

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The scene in which Aurax (Aurang?) nearly seduces Kellhus has always fascinated me. It's one of the few instances in the whole series where Kellhus's flaws/humanity come to the fore.

In the scene Aurie uses magic of some kind to rouse Kelly's animal passions. As you may remember he counters this with a simple Ward. Like in Cants of Compulsion I don't think the passions are exactly Kelly's but that he feels they are his. So the flaws/humanity of those passions aren't his but Aurie's. Or something like that.

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Anyone else slight bothered by the splitting of the series into three sections? I never know what to refer to the series as a whole as. PoN is the first three, and AE the second three...but what the hell do I say when I want to refer to all of the works?

In my mind it's all just PoN.

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Please, if you do break into my place, could you just copy the file?

Stealing my computer would mean an end to my sex life, as I rely on all those free porn sites to get off! :P

Thank you for understanding...

Patrick

1. Dig a hole in the ground

2. ?

3. Profit!!!

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The only problem I have with using The Second Apocalypse for the whole series is that it appears to only be an informal name. For example, TJE isn't described as book 4 of The Second Apocalypse on the front cover. I'm reluctant to use it when talking about the series with someone who doesn't know about it. I'm afraid they'll try to look up the books under that name and be unable to find them.

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I think you're right that it may only be an informal name, but the author himself has invoked it plenty of times I'm pretty sure.

Oh yes, I'm not disputing that. I love the name by the way. It's just that I don't like to use it when telling someone about Bakker's books because I don't think it's listed as the actual title of the series, at least not in my editions. I don't want to confuse possible new readers who may not have heard Bakker himself use that term for the series.

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Right. You're saying that if they put "second apocalypse" into the machine at the book store it may not turn up anything from the series.

Exactly. I searched "the second apocalypse" on Amazon and it only gave results for books about religion and war, at least on the first two pages.

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It was mentioned a while back that Martin had read PoN and loved it, and that he and Bakker hung out at a con. What's preventing Scott from just asking GRRM for a quote to slap on his covers? GRRM has done it for other fantasy authors, and I imagine it did wonders for the sales (just look at Lies of Locke Lamora). Is that something Bakker's publisher would have to do, or can he just ask Martin himself?

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It was mentioned a while back that Martin had read PoN and loved it, and that he and Bakker hung out at a con. What's preventing Scott from just asking GRRM for a quote to slap on his covers? GRRM has done it for other fantasy authors, and I imagine it did wonders for the sales (just look at Lies of Locke Lamora). Is that something Bakker's publisher would have to do, or can he just ask Martin himself?

I've wondered about this too... GRRM had very nice things to say about PON (or "TSA") in the video that circulated way back; even a choice quote from that would probably aid sales...

Still waiting for that review, BTW, Pat...

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Always thought TSA was a bit of an oxymoron, as "apocolypse" always meant 'end of the world' to me, but then I went and looked it up and got this definition:

"An Apocalypse (Greek: Ἀποκάλυψις Apokálypsis; "lifting of the veil" or "revelation") is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The term also can refer to the eschatological final battle, the Armageddon, and the idea of an end of the world. These perceptions may better be related to the phrase apokalupsis eschaton, literally "revelation at [or of] the end of the æon, or age". In Christianity The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Christian Bible."

Frowny chin stroking ensued. Bloody RSB always seems a step ahead.

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I stumbled upon the Wikipedia page for Gog and Magog, two demons/giants from the Book of Genesis, and immediately thought of Aurax and Aurang. Gog and Magog reside in the north, and their escape from their prison is to be a signal for the doomsday. Death and destruction abound.

It's only the names being similar (Mog and Magog, Aurax and Aurang) and being demons heralding the end of the world that made me draw the connection. But still, I wonder...

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Nah, pretty sure they were inspired by Pokemon. The Ark is really a giant Pokemon arena, Aurax and Aurang = Jesse and James and the no-god is the ultimate Pokemon, who doesn't yet know his name. Once he comes out of his Pokeball he will just spam "No-god, no-god" and use his super effective whirlwind attack. You'll see.

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Got a little Christmas present for you Bakker fans! ;)

My review of TWLWis now up on the Hotlist! You can read it here.

There are no spoilers per se, but I do elaborate on POVs, worldbuilding, etc. So if you want to go into TWLW completely fresh, then perhaps you shouldn't read it. Old Nan: Don't read it. If the tidbits I posted here irked you, then the review will not work for you...

Cheers,

Patrick

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Huh. I would never have described The Judging Eye as a well paced novel (aside from the Momemn chapters). The fact that this one is going to be even slower paced (aside from the Momemn chapters once again) is not making me too excited. I though the Judging Eye was going to be the necessary setup for the rest of the trilogy, but apparently it was setup for more setup. Hopefully this one can beat my expectations.

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Good review. Sounds like everything I expected and more (wtf are the Black Heavens?).

My primary reason for liking Bakker's work is the exceptional quality of prose (certainly exceptional for the genre); the world-building; and the underlying development of ideas. Thus, a slower pace doesn't bother me in the slightest. If travelogues are written well, then by all means bring 'em on.

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