Reading Update

look at Nameless basking in a white glow,
confident in its utter madness.

So again, because of the Ombria-project I haven't read anything big in a while and have been mostly whittling away at various comic books and have only read one prose book; a collection of short stories by a specific author.

I'm guessing that'll be the next post, though it really is more of a look at the book than anything approaching a review.

In the meantime I'm very uncertain about what to read next.

I've mentioned starting to read Weaveworld but that was really just a read-through of that one's introduction.

Von Bek; the second novel is still waiting patiently to be read.

Something else that has presented itself is Scott Bakker's Second Apocalypse series, which one's final book will be published within 20 days. And believe me. I've been looking forward to that one for a very long time.

I have a very personal and probably also very offensive post coming up concerning my experience with the series that explains why it strikes such a meaningful and personal chord with me. I'm still undecided If I'll actually post it but I gather that, with some cleaning up of the post, I will end up publishing it.

The entirety of parts 1 and 2 of the Second Apocalypse,
minus the Unholy Consult of course.

I made a half-hearted attempt to start re-reading the Judging Eye, but it got pretty horrific pretty quick and I was queasily dissuaded from continuing. This is mostly because over the weekend I got a little sick and I started to associate the nausea with the book.

I'm also worried about how to do the second apocalypse review posts once I've re-read the novels.
They're so deep and so horrific that it's really quite impossible to persuade anyone who doesn't read widely, and with a focus towards philosophical meandering, to read them. Or to even explain to anyone why these novels are so good, no, so necessary, without sounding like someone who likes torture porn superimposed over a background of theological imagery.

They're a blend of pessimistic ultra-realism and dark epic fantasy, geared towards advancing the writer's, who is a philosophy teacher, philosophical ideas.
Philosophy clad in a coat of grimdark, though, to quote LoopingWorld, “Grimdark” is usually used as a pejorative but it’s the greatest injustice to call this book so.
If I take a look at what Abalieno has written on the subject I feel myself sliding right out of my boots. What more can be said? The books simply can not appeal to everyone.
The dark, unflinching mirror they hold up can be sometimes be too hard to look at. And yet, it has so much to offer. The vision they present is unique.
There's nothing else like it on the market.

I remember reading the second book and at a certain point throwing it across the room in disgust and frustration. before it had stopped sliding across the floor I was already hurrying after it with a big and guilty grin on my face. There's immediate gratification coupled with disgust and exultation. But in the long term there's also something else, and idea lurking in the background of the series, that I sincerely hope Bakker keeps running with; It's possible that this idea is the central pay-off to the Aspect-Emperor part of the series, and I sincerely hope so. But I can't be sure, it might just be wish fulfillment.
I'll have to put spoiler tags at the start of the Second Apocalypse and Faith post.

It might seem bizarre and unhealthy to put so much stock on something so seemingly flimsy and obviously dark; it's just another set of books someone else might say. And I'm not disagreeing with that, but hey, everybody has their interests, and these books manage to tick all of mine. Theology, madness, metaphysics, extreme violence and an unflinching look at the dark selfishness of human nature. Also, a nightmare reflection of the Lord of the Rings, Kinda, and obvious inspiration from Blood Meridian.

Iron men and Saints, in case you're wondering,
Another big influence on the series.

And for now, in this vague time before the release of the final novel, hype and trust and hope is at a fever pitch. Anything is possible and all my hopes will be fulfilled.
What a dangerous thing hype can be.

So, despite and likely because of my excitement, I'm still not sure if I'll just plunge back into the dark, manipulative world of The Three Seas. I've been waiting a long while for the conclusion. But I could wait a little while longer If I feel like I'm being pressured, even if it's just by myself.

What can I say; I told you I'm a contrary sort of person.