Heramari Iyokus - sorcerer, spy, drug addict. One of my favorite side characters. I love the deadpan way he communicates with beings as powerful as the Ciphrang. And I love how Bakker writes their perspectives. They’re not just pissed at being shackled but in incredible pain being in the dimension that Earwa resides. It’s all bright light and sharp angles.

This is picture I took at the West Fargo Public Library, where I first found The Darkness That Comes Before and got into this series a few years ago.

Now, shockingly, when I stopped by the library the other day, the other two books of PoN were on the shelf. I know for a fact that my library only had TDTCB when I first got into the series, because I looked it up; the larger Fargo public library only had a falling-apart copy of The Warrior-Prophet.

This is the first time I have personally seen signs the series is getting more popular!

I had to check because it is insane to me that Kevin Orton randomly decides to change the pronunciation of charecters that HE has already pronounced properly.

Hi everyone!

I’m considering ordering the Overlook Press paperback editions of The Prince of Nothing (THEY’RE SO PRETTY), but I’ve noticed some inconsistencies in the listed dimensions. The first two books are listed as 162 mm wide, while the third is listed as 137 mm wide.

The ISBNs are; 9781590201183 (The Darkness That Comes Before), 9781590201190 (The Warrior Prophet), 9781590201206 (The Thousandfold Thought).

Does anyone happen to own these editions and know whether they’re actually the same size?

Thanks in advance!

(I am undiagnosed)

Hello, just passing through with a small question. I've read up on the book, and I wish to ask if anyone else shares the same thoughts on the matter. This will read like a psuedo-fanatic rough draft essay. Sorry. I like to catch attention sometimes.

The question itself is, "Is Sorcery simply Applied Metaphysics Engineering?"

Keep in mind, a lot of this is "I feel". So, like any insecure person, being the one that I am, I suppose I seek validation, but I am open to alternative thought!!! But WARNING, I babble.

-

''𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡." - 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙮

-

Now, I shall preface \ that I have not finished the novels, however, my wanton imagination and desires for quick answers gesticulates my question towards the open air- that being the forum of this subreddit. Is sorcery indeed infinite in its applications?

This is all balderdash, but I theorize the Onta isn't concrete, in the sense of how one senses it. The world seems to operate on a pluralism-esque philosophy, where one's way of life is drastically altered depending on their paradigm. We can note that in the real world, one may experience the Material world and derive a philosophy based either on the vectors that push and pull us- or delve into idealism.

A Psûkhe may be spared from the bruising, because they are perhaps blind to their sin, their passion imunizes them from this. But could power be within just the belief itself? It’s the belief itself power, in that how once if they can perceive the Onta, it is a matter of molding that belief by using a set of pre-determined “factual paradigms”, (like how we can all collectively use the Pythagorean theorem, produce an agreed upon principle of the world).

I’m going to leave it there, but I’d like to engage in dialogue!

Sources & Links of why I think like this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorism

https://www.reddit.com/r/bakker/comments/jprtyn/comment/gbiinkg/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=2118.0

https://www.second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=2173.0

Currently 260+ pages into TUC.
Truly, is this not the Slog of Slogs?
(Besides, would not weeping be redundant?)

Some great details that I found and thought I’d share, mild spoilers.

The Holca are a Thunyeri Clan whose lands run abreast of the Mop: the gnarled and dense Hell-forest that is home to countless Sranc and even Bashrag.
Thunyeri in general don black armor, take shrunken Sranc heads as trophies, and adopt a “barbarian” fighting style.
The Holca? Even more so.

Fun facts about the Holca:
-they possess two hearts.
-their hair is a fiery red, and their skin will actually turn red in the ferocious throes of battle.
-they consider Bashrag in particular to be their arch-foe. Imagine that. A warrior honed and sharpened for dueling Bashrag.
-Coithus Saubon’s Spearbearer, Bogyar the Holca Captain, narrowly saved Saubon’s life from a Bashrag surprise assault.
-Waigwa (pictured) took down one of the mightiest Bashrag warriors to be fielded by the Consult.

All this inspired the art: my attempt to capture this particular badass. (Glad he’s on our side?
And yes those are sranc heads on his helm, mocking Bashrag perhaps? Speaking of the helm, I don’t love it. I wanted to give it some kind of horns then changed my mind to wings astride the Circumfix. Just go with it.)

EDIT: Thanks for all the responses, the tone was overall way more positive than I thought it would be. I’ll give it a shot, you guys rock!

Hey fellow sloggers, I just thought I would take a quick survey from the Bakker hive mind about Tad Williams.

I love Bakker, GRRM, Tolkien, Sapowski, Howard. The first three black company books hit for me and I have been enjoying Lieber.

I read all of Malazan and it was ok but I don’t see myself going back. I liked Robert Jordan back in my teens/ early twenties but I probably won’t revisit. I read the main 9 Abercrombie books and they had some good parts but the plotting was terrible (the heroes was awesome though).

Anyways, I have been sampling a bunch of other recommended fantasy and decided the genre may not actually be for me, I have just been lucky in some of what I read.

tad williams is one of the last ones that I haven’t tried and I am curious what you folks of discriminating taste think?

I am not expecting the Second Apocalypse but curious if its worth the time commitment since I have heard it’s a slow burner.

thanks for any thoughts

Holy shit. I don’t know what I expected and I was still surprised with every page.

I looked and couldn't find one online so I made one. I just read the chapter and feel it's pretty accurate, but correct me if I missed something and sorry about my handwriting and spelling.

1. Initial disposition

2. Inrtithi infantry + Conriyan cavalry break Shigeki phalanx but begin losing their formation. Fanim left gradually falls back using Anwurat as a hinge. Fanayl and the best of the cavalry attack the Anoni flank, the Anoni knights charge and are initially successful, but are then enveloped and routed, some dismount and form squares along with the infantry.

3. The Fanim hit the Anoni infantry in the flank and rout many, (but not the elite Kishati), they then surround the inrithi who hunker down in disorganized squares with the exception of the Nansur who hunker down in organized squares ;) , and pour arrows on them from all directions. The Fanim under Cinganjahoi attack the camp, but stumble upon the Scarlet spires. The khirgwi attack the Inrithi and pin Proyas down in a village. They also attack the banner but Kelhus keeps it up (just as fake kelhus is at the moment with serwe haha).

4. The fanim leave the camp, but are pursued by Athgiere and other reserve cavalry. Conphas leads a counterattack against the fanim surrounding the inrithi left and break them as well. Reserve cavalry (thunyeri or tydoni i think?) relieve Kelhus and the Kirghwi flee. Fanim everywhere retreat.

Lesson is that not routing is good, reserve cavalry is always good, and don't attack a camp full of sorcerers if they are planning to otherwise sit the battle out.

Hes very very bad at hiding how much he actually likes Proyas its honestly so funny to read.

Is there anywhere on the internet that has an overview/walkthrough of the second set of books?

I always check for hard backs at my local bookstore and what used to be a harder search for any of the books let alone hardbacks has gradually turned into them stocking new paperbacks. Hopefully this will translate to more new books eventually.

This is Chamblin bookmine in Jacksonville Florida. The best bookstore ever and my favorite place to go.

Just curious: In the early chapters, a black (Satyothi) Skin Spy is discovered by Thelli. At some point Esmi, Thelli, Maitha are discussing the rarity. Perhaps it is a test.

"A plausible assumuption"..."If the threshold of detection was a near thing, it might have been successful. For all the Consult knows, the subtle differences in complexions and bone structure could have rendered this one undetectable. It would explain the seven hundred and thirty-three days since their last attempt to infiltrate the court." Thelli

I thought by this point Dunsult was running schemes like this, and I assumed (like Moenghus Sr) full Dunyain can spot a Spy. (Maybe my chronology is off)

Does this indicate the Anasurimbor are far beyond other germ-line Full Dunyain, in terms of Face-Reading?

nothing here

title

I don't even know what to say. Somebody tell those dudes the answer to the question, for god's sake

https://rsbakker.wordpress.com/2026/10/01/human-snowflake-theory-an-open-letter-to-dario-amodei/