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A review by frasersimons
The Thousandfold Thought by R. Scott Bakker
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Aside from the choreography of the final battle—of which I didn’t care about much, not particularly like granular details about fights, and even less so, war fiction—this ties up many knots and leaves the core concept open for the next books. As a slight spoiler, the next book implies that this trilogy is indeed written by Aka, as is pretty heavily implied. Though, of course what we consume is not the actual book, in the fiction the read a history of events solely from Aka’s perspective. But the tragedy sewn from the first is neatly reaped with the notion that the No God still comes, The Consort still out there perusing its ends, and really, the coming of a sociopathic literally “conditioned” man, hallowed out of personhood, driven mad with accrued power, leaves the world in a far worse way. All to simply achieve his mandate; although, how sane he is after the corruption of absolute power and the implication of his madness is debatable, the series is called The Second Apocalypse. So, as with this trilogy, the quadrilogy after retains the sense of immense dread.
Even if reader don’t particularly get on with the prose, this is still doing something far more interesting than any other fantasy series I’ve read, so the attempt would still make it a five star read, for me. It does require a lot more from the reader, though. Hence, probably why Malazan is the more popular though considered similar. The philosophy is in the world itself and the character arcs. Especially with Aka and Esme. Both of whom are the heart of the book, and the ultimate powers both using humanity as nothing but children because of their short memory and inability to change their power structures and core tenants, ultimately make them, as most dark fantasy is centered on, incapable of retaining any agency in their lives. The “evil” uses people as puppets and manipulates like meat puppets, whereas the Dunyain pierce their beliefs and psychology and manipulate their every thought and feeling. Mankind is unprepared completely, despite suffering a first apocalypse.
All the while, of course, this extrapolation can be put onto modern day philosophy and power structures. Which similarly won’t ever change and constantly make an endless destructive cycle for every generation so far. A “hero” would just be another belief system that would either be inflicted or repelled by the population. Things aren’t looking too bright for what is to come beyond the manufactured holy war. But if you got this far, I don’t think you’re particularly looking for that.
Even if reader don’t particularly get on with the prose, this is still doing something far more interesting than any other fantasy series I’ve read, so the attempt would still make it a five star read, for me. It does require a lot more from the reader, though. Hence, probably why Malazan is the more popular though considered similar. The philosophy is in the world itself and the character arcs. Especially with Aka and Esme. Both of whom are the heart of the book, and the ultimate powers both using humanity as nothing but children because of their short memory and inability to change their power structures and core tenants, ultimately make them, as most dark fantasy is centered on, incapable of retaining any agency in their lives. The “evil” uses people as puppets and manipulates like meat puppets, whereas the Dunyain pierce their beliefs and psychology and manipulate their every thought and feeling. Mankind is unprepared completely, despite suffering a first apocalypse.
All the while, of course, this extrapolation can be put onto modern day philosophy and power structures. Which similarly won’t ever change and constantly make an endless destructive cycle for every generation so far. A “hero” would just be another belief system that would either be inflicted or repelled by the population. Things aren’t looking too bright for what is to come beyond the manufactured holy war. But if you got this far, I don’t think you’re particularly looking for that.