THE JUDGING EYE by R. Scott Bakker - Spoiler Discussion with Shelf Unstable and Slowly Red 

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Sup Jimmy! Just finished The Judging Eye today (first read). The imagery described when the Skin Eaters are inside Cil-Aujas, and the tension Bakker built up over those first 40 or so pages before things go bad is UNREAL. It was like the Mine's of Moria on crack. Can't wait to get into the White-Luck Warrior and return to the SLOG OF SLOGS!

Great discussion by you three! Thanks for always putting out great content Jimmy...I think for me The Judging Eye holds this weird place in that it's my least favorite book in The Second Apocalypse series while simultaneously being one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. Looking forward to your future discussions and thank you for taking the time to do them

Amazing group discussion again. Great hosting job. Love everyone’s unique POV’s and insights. Biggest WTF for me on this book was that the Gods are actually real, and have agency. The Judging Eye is my favorite, but only due to the “journey beginning” feel. I love the atmosphere. TWLW and TGO / TUC are more epic to be sure, but I revisit this one the most.

I love these discussions, The aspect Emperor series, goes a lot deeper and darker than the Prince of Nothing. The judging eye is a great book, and the last 100 or so pages are some of the best fantasy action in the genre, with only a few scenes in the latter books beating it for me. While I really like this book, this is probably my least favorite in the AE series, not because it's bad, but because the other 3 books and especially The Great Ordeal and The Unholy Consult have some truly harrowing events and character arcs. And the best use of "subverting expectations" i have seen in a literary work. One thing to pay attention to in the future books is the contrast of the journey of the Skin Eaters and The Great Ordeal. This series also gets really deep into the Gods and "divinity", and the metaphysics of this world are extremely unique, some of my favorite scenes in the AE series are all about the relationship between "Divinity","truth", "Damnation" and "Salvation". After finishing the AE series i started re-reading the entire saga, and the ammount of things that were foreshadowed in the first trilogy that are vital to the entire story are astounding. The prologue and first Kellhus chapters in Darkness have a completely different feeling and meaning after you reach the end of the series. This series as ruined 99% of fantasy fiction for me, and i hope Bakker manages to publish The No God series. Get ready for Bakkers wild ride, there are no seatbelts on it and there is no escape from it. This is the slough of sloughs and you will love it.

That really does seem to be a thought behind Scotts' view of Grimdark. Like, what if there is a bigger picture, and its soo big that we just can't see it. Also just found you guys recently, but I read Darkness when I was 16. Followed the series ever since, and bar none it is the best in the grimdark genre, if nothing else. I usually don't like what I call "Colloseum" grimdark, but Scotts' take on grimdark is my absolutely favorite.

I'm with Mark, Unholy Consult for the win 🖤

I see Slowly Red, I subscribe and like. Great discussion. Look forward to the others on my favorite series of all time.

Another great discussion. I couldnt help myself but grin all the time while listening to your theories. I cant wait to see your future reactions with what is coming

Fantasy Tolkien G.R.R.M Baker Sci-fi Dune Hyperion

Great discussion :) I can never choose a favourite from the series, each book has such incredible moments

Pleasantly surprised this got made. Will listen later tonight. Thanks for keeping the torch burning for our boy Scotty. He deserves it. And especially for TJE--by far the best book he has ever written. Been reading Scott for 20 years and wondering where he's been... hopefully in the lab cooking up something vile and profound.

Great discussion, will watch the next one

Just started this book after finishing the prince of nothing trilogy over last month. These are really good. I gotta go back and re read it, there is just so much in the writing that is missed on the first read.

Thanks for another great chat, just finished this and it's my favorite so far. No weepers on the slog! Also no reading other authors on the slog (for me) till this series is finished...

I'm very late, but this was perfect after finishing the book! Thanks ❤ Jimmy.. reread when?😊

Great discussion! Thank you.

The Yatwer / White-luck Warrior stuff makes a lot more sense on my re-read so far, to an extent 😅

Does Bakker himself not do any interviews about his series? I can't find any of them on RU-vid, would be cool if he showed up in one of these discussions.

Amazing content guys. Really loved it. I feel this book is not up there with PON series and was a bit of a drag. Sorwell is probably inspired by historical events, vlad held captive by the ottomans , Looking foward to next book.

No sobbers on the slog!

Very Nice! Great Success! - i like the detail that the captain is ainoni, the nation known for very flamboyant men. That contrast of him n his nationality/race with character/disposition was pleasant 💯 Surprisingly I’ve also become allot more endeared towards Akka in this book, whilst I became more unsympathetic towards Esmi. Next thing ya know, I’m on the Kellhus Express with Cnaiur being enemy of the state! (If that weeper ever shows up)

Earwa is at the very top of Fantasy worlds I wouldn't wanna visit cuz of the sranc alone

It’s the slog of slog, boys! Skinnies, ey!

Having a place named after both Golgatha (Calvary from the Bible) and Gorgoroth (the area in Mordor where both Barad-Dur and Mount Doom lies), should say something of Bakker’s thinking! Also the Yimaleti Mountain Range is clearly modeled on the shape of Norway. So as someone from Western Norway, I find the notion of Golgotterath as Eastern Norway/Oslo highly entertaining! 🤣

So finished and was able to listen. I read Cleric's sermon on Darkness multiple times. The general impression I got was that PoN was moving forward. Aspect -Emperor is moving back in time to the source of the Apocalypse. My question is does Kellhus believe his own propaganda about being a Prophet. He is essentially fulfilling his own Prophecy about the Second Apocalypse and may not be as awake as he seems to think. The kids are creepy. Was getting some Cassandra vibes from Inrilatus. Bakker loves playing with names but at doesn't hide them too much. Inrilatus - Inri (Sejenus) the Latter Prophet? On an unrelated note, I noticed Erickson's blurb got longer and Esslemont is getting in on it too as he also made the cover.

Hey Jimmy, Pretty new to your channel and have been enjoying your content. Our reading tastes are identical, haha. Thanks for what you do. Btw, Mike, over at Mike's Books, and I are doing a chat on Wednesday for A Game of Thrones. Wondering if you'd like to join us. Let me know! Best, Jordan (iWizard)

The biggest disappointment for me is the character of Maithamet. In the first books he's this mysterious super charismatic figure (so the seeds get planted in the reader). And near the end of the last book Maithamet is travelling to the Holy War (the seed sprouts). And Khellus is the other charismatic figure who steels the skirts from M.. So, as the narrative is moving toward, I was expecting a great battle of the wits. But nothing happens. And in the Judging Eye M is a cardboard cutout hanging around in the background. A reviewer on Good Reads does mention this cardboard cutout thing, where a once fully fleshed character gets reduced to a mere prop. Bakker is a genius but even his genius couldn't stretch that far as my human imagination builds up to.

So am impatient... Been listening to Steve's podcasts on Darkness and about 200 pages in to this one so haven't listened yet and this might be addressed. So it has been hypothesized that Henry VIII had some type of venereal disease which caused his wives to be infertile. Could something similar have happened with Esmenet with her 'encounter' in Darkness? Alternately Kelhus and his line might be a Humperdoo for those who have read Peeacher.

The index at the back of each book in TAE have some extra info in them

I also get real D&D vibes from the Aspect-Emperor instead of LOTR, and more Warhammer 40k than Dune vibes...

Also, I call her me-MARAH.

Great discussion, thanks!