The Thousandfold Thought

[Steve 7,539]

For this week:

 

[Steve 7,539]

Very interesting few chapters. Lots revealed but the first two were a little confusing for me TBH. Looking forward to talking about it tomorrow

 

 

[Steve 7,539]

For this week:

 

[Steve 7,539]

 

[Steve 7,539]

Getting into these chapters today. We paused at the perfect time.

Spoiler

Chapter 14 is packed full of information, I may run out of tabs in a few minutes with all of the revelations and details.

 

[Frank 503]

On 11/2/2022 at 8:35 PM, Steve said:

For this week:

 

Spoiler

The Thousandfold Thought is a return to what I most enjoy in The Prince of Nothing trilogy, sorry @Steve, especially getting back inside the character's heads. The Warrior Prophet's more prevalent battlefield scenes (seeming to me like a listing of warring factions, some with very similar names, at times), can get very confusing, undoubtedly the point of war. I agree, Kellhus publicly shaming Conphas was the highlight of Chapters 1-4. Kellhus is certainly all too familiar with the need for control, a defining feature of narcissism. Poor Achamian, having to play nice with Kellhus and the Scarlet Spires, who took everything, or almost, from him. @Katerina, at Caraskand, Saubon is The King of Nothing. We haven't yet learned what the Thousandfold Thought is exactly, maybe it's @drpuffnstuff carefully choosing his words to keep the conversations spoiler-free. For that, and everything in the podcasts, thank you!

 

[Frank 503]

On 11/10/2022 at 9:14 PM, Steve said:

Very interesting few chapters. Lots revealed but the first two were a little confusing for me TBH. Looking forward to talking about it tomorrow

 

 

Spoiler

Great point, @Katerina, though Achamian loves Esmenet, he did take her for granted.

 

[Frank 503]

On 11/17/2022 at 7:21 PM, Steve said:

For this week:

 

Spoiler

Wow, what a remarkable section, maybe my favorite of the trilogy so far. I know I've used 'remarkable' to describe The Prince of Nothing before, but, to state the obvious, I can't write like R Scott Bakker. I found myself pausing and rereading every few pages, trying to piece together the book and beyond ("Here," there and God-like everywhere), though so much sailed over my head. The opening line from the last part of Chapter 10, "Slavery agreed with her," is particularly jarring, as if Esmenet is doing Fanashila a favor by sharing her cosmetics and letting her fuss over her. Is Kellhus rubbing off on her? This line strikes way to close to justifications slavers and racists use to rationalize the subjugation of fellow human beings. 
Here's one snippet I highlighted:
“The world repeats,” the Shiradic philosopher Umartu had written. “Know these repetitions, and you may intervene.”
Is Umartu a stand-in for Bakker himself? 😯

 

[Steve 7,539]

@Frank Loving reading your thoughts! It's always great hearing feedback from the podcasts, sometimes it feels like we're just talking to each other and the void 😎

[Frank 503]

30 minutes ago, Steve said:

@Frank Loving reading your thoughts! It's always great hearing feedback from the podcasts, sometimes it feels like we're just talking to each other and the void 😎

Reading along with the podcast has been a lot of fun, as well as a very helpful, often necessary resource. Thanks for kind words and shoutout, but @Katerina, @drpuffnstuffand you deserve all the love. Cheers.

[Frank 503]

On 11/23/2022 at 5:34 PM, Steve said:

 

Spoiler

R Scott Bakker IS "certainly" quotable:
Doubt begets understanding, and understanding begets compassion. Verily it is conviction that kills. 
- Parcis, The New Analytics
My younger self never believed that doubt could be healthy. If yesterday doubt was a disease, maybe today a symptom, and tomorrow remediation. Truth will prevail, correct? What if the same truth, as the Dûnyain know, is a double-edged sword, just another tool, that can control, dominate and cut us children either way? The human psychology in these books is captivating and terrifying. Scrutiny, calculation, this wonderful, bleeping book. I play checkers, Kellhus and Moënghus play chess. Cnaiür strutted up to Moënghus projecting strength, full of bravado and the Dûnyain cracked that facade instantaneously. I prefer to believe (there's that word again) Esmenet chose Kellhus over Achamian because of their baby, though power and privilege seem a lot more likely. Achamian spat entering the high court of the new Aspect Emperor, taking to heart what Cnaiür said. He backed that up by renouncing his everything, walking away a wizard and alone.