@@GregoryBSadler Not much. This, a few book reviews, a long defunct podcast, an aging forum, and a subreddit with 1700 members that is trying to get his work more widely recognized. The books are easy enough to find in paperback, however hardcopy editions are fetching some extreme prices, and it doesn't look like the publisher cares much about the series.
Rlly well done. Thanks for this. Love the one dislike LOL. Bakker is the most underrated fantasy writer there is, his 7 books are a masterpiece truly, and I’m an English degree graduate snob lol
@@GregoryBSadler seems unlikely since the last we heard he was still working on getting things written. Although when he does finish something, I think the publishing status maybe be up in the air to some extent. To me, worrying about that before the book(s) are done, though, seems like putting the cart before the horse.
there is a 4 book follow-up taking place 20 years later called "The Aspect Emperor." I'm currently on the last book and dreading finishing it for lack of more of this world to explore.
Me starting the series: Oh hey! A fantasy version of the First Crusade, I dig that. The parallels are a bit too obvious, but pretty good. Me later: We live in a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.
ive just started getting into philosophy over the past couple of years, however i have loved these books since i first found them in 2012. i cant wait to go back and read them again with a little more knowledge of the philosophy behind them. thank you for this video!
Very very good disscussion wish I had these when I read the first book many years ago. This series 10 times better than A Song of Ice and yes it is finished
Fantastic, I've been eager to hear the discussion about this. There is a small group of us that have spent a good number of years and words on the series, so I am always interested in hearing ideas from outside our little bubble. One minor nitpick though is that you have the title of the book correct in the graphic but not in the title of the video, not that matters all that much.
@@Slowdownthere You'll want to weigh in when - at the end of the year - we solicit suggestions and then have a vote. This year's authors and series are already set
Evening Gregory, Fantastic and informative video as always. The quote you read from Bakker about the allure of speculative fiction (particularly fantasy) readers not wanting to live out the life of a fabled hero, but rather to live in a world of meaning really resonated with me. Is it possible to link that interview? I've searched Google but cannot find it. Thank you again for your video series, and especially for making things clear to fans of fantasy and sci-fi (like myself) with only limited knowledge of philosophy. And thanks for providing it all free of charge on RU-vid- your passion for the subject matter shines through in all of your lectures.
Great introduction to the complex setup of Pre-Second-Apocalipse Earwa. It took an hour only to touch every important subject :). Looking forward to next episodes!
Bakker’s ideas about the semantic apocalypse (from his blog) are actually quite scary in current times, when the rational world seems to be falling to the trumpers, qanon types and theocrats
It’s interesting that Martin’s work influenced Bakker. From what I’ve heard, much of the history-inspired intrigue and infamous main character deaths occurred first in Maurice Druon’s Accursed Kings series and not ASoIaF, which Martin even acknowledges in a foreword or introduction to Druon’s work. Not sure if there’d be Druon’s indirect influence in Bakker too.
As far as deconstructing the epic fantasy metanarrative is concerned, Bakker is far more skilled at it than Martin in my opinion, not to mention his superior prose. Honestly, I feel A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of children's novels compared to The Second Apocalypse. Bakker seems to have disappeared into thin air for now, unfortunately. I hope he's doing well, and that one day we'll see more from him.
@@GregoryBSadler I don't think Martin is a bad writer. Even Bakker acknowledges his influence in his own writing. I just think Bakker has transcended him, and I would much prefer a sequel to The Unholy Consult than A Dance with Dragons. But that's just how the Darkness that precedes me moves me, so it's just my opinion.
@@GregoryBSadler Yes, I know you were. That was a bit of hyperbole on my part. I'll amend it this way: Martin (imo) is merely a decent writer while Bakker is a great one. That's all I meant.
@@GregoryBSadler Wasn't entirely serious: listening to someone pronounce words you've only heard spoken in the silence of your own mind is always jarring. I'm loving your channel.
I'm a bit shamed to admit I've never heard of this series until now. I'm going to download it off Audible right away. I think the TTRPG you were having trouble remembering the name of is RuneQuest. Also, wanted to add that it's ironic that that D&D caused so much Satanic Panic, when the accompanying moral alignment system was based on Tolkien's moral realist cosmology.
I don’t expect it was Runequest. That one wasn’t even on my radar. Turns out it was Man, Myth, and Magic, by Yaquinto (a company that didn’t survive long)
" when the accompanying moral alignment system was based on Tolkien's moral realist cosmology." Unfortunately (and in a way that Bakker would understand and sympathetically snicker about I imagine) the circumstances that arise from folks likely to obsess over the Satanaic Panic are the same sort of folks for whom that kind of Tolkienism is Christian in its ethos would fly waaay over their heads. Plus, alas, D&D is overwhelmingly the one in the minds of the public, so that's what takes the lions share of criticism and praise.
Hey Greg, I love the series. Have you ever read Arslan by MJ Engh? I just finished it and I am confused with the ideas of the book (particularly if the book is about forgiveness or not).
