PoN and AE Re-Read

[Ctharsis 20]

10 hours ago, Katerina said:

I believe that @do unicorns read makes a valid point. Our reactions to depictions of violence are highly subjective. Personally, I'm not usually bothered by violence in books, so I may not be the best person to answer your question.

I would say that, as things get increasingly more meta in Aspect Emperor, one side effect of this is that Bakker keeps a greater distance from the characters and, as a result of that, the violence seems somewhat less explicit and less personal. (I’d even say that I found the the violence in the first trilogy more devastating  precisely because I felt a stronger connection to the characters. But I’m in the minority, most readers seem to think the later books are some of the darkest stuff out there.)

I having no way of gauging how it would affect you, but yes, there is gore, violence and depravity in Aspect Emperor. I’d never want to discourage anyone from reading the series, but I also think it’s fair to say that there’ll probably be a number of scenes in each book you might want to skip.

It's a great point that the violence is more visceral in the first series.  I think the second series isn't necessarily as directly violent (or at least it is pulled back as you mentioned), but the reason the second series felt darker, for me, is because it was more bleak in an existential way.  The deconstruction of characters psyche affected me more than any body count...

But it is quite the body count! 

[Steve 7,537]

10 hours ago, Ctharsis said:

It's a great point that the violence is more visceral in the first series.  I think the second series isn't necessarily as directly violent (or at least it is pulled back as you mentioned), but the reason the second series felt darker, for me, is because it was more bleak in an existential way.  The deconstruction of characters psyche affected me more than any body count...

But it is quite the body count! 

I would agree. The first trilogy is bloody and violent, but in a more of an up close and personal way. The second series is more of an existential dread.

[Steve 7,537]

Since I already have the videos from my read with Katerina and Daniel on my channel, if anyone would like to host these discussions on their channel, DM me. I will help with organizing and scheduling of course, but I do ask that:

1.) You are 100% committed to finish the series (all 7 books) with us

2.) You're active here on the forum to keep up with news and updates

3.) You'll be as flexible as possible with scheduling 

4.) Don't mind me having an audio version of our discussions for the podcast

5.) You bring punch 'n pie to every discussion for the group

 

[Susana Imaginário 436]

48 minutes ago, Steve said:

Since I already have the videos from my read with Katerina and Daniel on my channel, if anyone would like to host these discussions on their channel, DM me. I will help with organizing and scheduling of course, but I do ask that:

1.) You are 100% committed to finish the series (all 7 books) with us

2.) You're active here on the forum to keep up with news and updates

3.) You'll be as flexible as possible with scheduling 

4.) Don't mind me having an audio version of our discussions for the podcast

5.) You bring punch 'n pie to every discussion for the group

 

 

@SteveI just got this to read on vacation    At first glance, I'm far more optimistic about it than Malazan 😅 All seven books, you say? Sure, why not! When do you want to start? I could use a bit of help to get things going.   (I totally understand if you'd rather go with someone who already has a channel up and running. I'd still like to join the discussion, though  ) 

[Paromita Mukherjee 1,662]

@Susana Imaginário interesting vacation read. 🤭 Sending virtual cookies should you need them.

 

[Varsha 666]

3 hours ago, Steve said:

Since I already have the videos from my read with Katerina and Daniel on my channel, if anyone would like to host these discussions on their channel, DM me. I will help with organizing and scheduling of course, but I do ask that:

1.) You are 100% committed to finish the series (all 7 books) with us

2.) You're active here on the forum to keep up with news and updates

3.) You'll be as flexible as possible with scheduling 

4.) Don't mind me having an audio version of our discussions for the podcast

5.) You bring punch 'n pie to every discussion for the group

 

I’d love to host/co-host. 😀 But only if you let me bring cake and ice cream instead of pie 😛

[Susana Imaginário 436]

17 hours ago, Paromita Mukherjee said:

@Susana Imaginário interesting vacation read. 🤭 Sending virtual cookies should you need them.

 

 

 

I confess I was expecting another Malazan kind of book. I'm so glad I was wrong. Read the prologues (!) this morning and I'm hooked. This:

'Leweth had confused that which came after with that which came before, confused the effect for the cause. Men came after, so he placed them before and called them “gods” or “demons.” Words came after, so he placed them before and called them “scriptures” or “incantations.” Confined to the aftermath of events and blind to the causes that preceded him, he merely fastened upon the ruin itself, men and the acts of men, as the model of what came before.'

Fucking awesome! 

(Perfect vacation read  ) 

[Paromita Mukherjee 1,662]

1 hour ago, Susana Imaginário said:

I confess I was expecting another Malazan kind of book. I'm so glad I was wrong.

Only read 1.5 books but its not like Malazan at all.

Happy reading! (although happy and Bakker don't really go together - wish you an enriching read!)

[Steve 7,537]

On 6/2/2023 at 7:01 AM, Susana Imaginário said:

@SteveI just got this to read on vacation    At first glance, I'm far more optimistic about it than Malazan 😅 All seven books, you say? Sure, why not! When do you want to start? I could use a bit of help to get things going.   (I totally understand if you'd rather go with someone who already has a channel up and running. I'd still like to join the discussion, though  ) 

 

22 hours ago, Varsha said:

I’d love to host/co-host. 😀 But only if you let me bring cake and ice cream instead of pie 😛

 

Sounds like a plan! We can do similar to what we've been doing with Wars of Light and Shadow and post on both channels at the same time.

As long as it's sugar free ice cream I'm game!