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The eye colour oppression thing is so dumb. Only an American could come up with such a system as that is possibly the only society where race differences have been so vast that they could easily be shorthanded down to just skin colour. It isn't the colour of the skin that matters at all, which is thoroughly evident when viewing all sorts of rivalries of neighbouring cultures around the world.

I know I already commented but now that I got the chance to finish the video I wanted to comment again. And sorry these are so long. #1 I think 8/10 is a good rating, I had a lot of criticisms as well but the I think the good outweighs the bad. I also think it's important with how loved Sanderson is that we don't just all fold over and call his work perfect, so I really do appreciate some honest criticism, sometimes people enjoy his books so much they are not able to see the bad things clearly. Anyways, just wanted to give my thoughts on the last section. A note to preface, we only see these issues from these characters points of views, not from Sanderson's. I don't think he is trying to give answers, just illustrate how different points of view will understand something differently. Anyways, I think that what you said about Kaladin having more than 2 choices is valid, he probably could have been more creative in finding some other solution. However, I disagree that you said the books narrative teaches that "Clearly he is choosing wrongly in opposing this system." (Referring to the lesson you think Sanderson is trying to teach us, ie Kaladin is wrong for opposing the alethi "caste" system.) I don't think that's the lesson he is trying to teach us. Sanderson shows us many, many times throughout this book that the system is pretty bad and leads to a lot of terrible, unfair things. Even Dalinar at one point mentions that eye color probably shouldn't matter. Kaladin isn't wrong for opposing the system, he is wrong going against his own conscience. Whether he should let the king die, stop it, or play a part in it is a complicated question of ethics for us readers to discuss. But Kaladin feels it is wrong deep down and doing something he feels deep down is wrong is what makes him lose Syl and is his "honor". It's more about living what he believes than anything. Again, saving Elhokar was not necessarily the right decision, but doing what you feel is right deep down is the correct decision. I don't think the author was trying to discuss the correct course of action to his situation. If he was, I agree it's a oversimplified analysis. I think he was trying to examine the idea of "honor" and doing what we feel is right. I think it's important in any society that we don't rely full on logic or feeling to determine right and wrong. I feel like this was an exploration of the feeling side, not the logical side. Even if we can explain away something as justified in our minds, sometimes it is important to take a look inside as well. I do see why you think Kaladin refusing the blade is him knowing his place as a lesser member of society, but I feel like that is more about him not wanting to become the thing he hates (lighteyes), not him knowing his place. Kaladin is bold with his comments to lots of people above him on the social scale throughout the book, so I don't think he is "knowing his place" in society by refusing the blade, I think he just hates the lighteyes and doesn't want to be one of them. I don't think that refusal was necessarily the correct or incorrect decision. You also mentioned that no one else really pays for their prejudice. That is true, but I think we've all seen the narrative of the upper classes pay for being classist/sexist/racist etc. play over and over in so many movies and books. While that wouldn't be a bad thing to include, and righteous justice does feel good, I think seeing somewhat justified prejudice from the bottom up is actually an interesting new perspective rarely explored by authors. I don't think Sanderson is trying to say that Kaladin is worse than the ruling class for his prejudice, he's just trying to illustrate a new perspective. SPOILER Maybe one thing that does pull me to your side, or at least makes me think that the author thought that protecting the king is the "right" decision is Moash. Moash is punished and becomes the "bad guy" after this. I think Moash was also doing what he believed is best and ethics really do depend on perspective, so I don't think Moash did the wrong thing from his point of view. I think a good argument can be made, (and is made a couple times throughout the book) that killing Elhokar is a better for the kingdom, and for the lower classes. That said, Moash doesn't get as much POV / screentime for us to really understand his perspective.

Responded to a comment, but wanted to put this in the main chat as well: I agree that this could have been better done, especially prose-wise. IMO prose is Sanderson's weakest area. Regarding your comment, it might come across this way, but I don't think that Sanderson was trying to make the argument about childhood trauma being the same as class oppression. I think Shallan is the one trying to make that argument and she's just a better arguer, (which doesn't make her right). At least that's how I understood it. I felt like big picture, it was more about both of them coming to understand the other person's perspective (even if Shallan doesn't grow to understand as much as Kaladin does) and understand the other person's different, but still significant issues. Would you rather live in a lower caste of an oppressive society or grow up in an abusive, messed up family and have to kill those you love? Again, not equivalent, or the same issue, but both are bad and I'm honestly not sure which I'd choose, but again, I think that Shallan is trying to make them seem the same, not Sanderson. Even though in the book Kaladin thinks Shallan "won the argument," that's just because she is a better arguer, not because she is right. Kaladin brought up some pretty damning points about Shallan like the boots scenario, and she just says something "clever" to wiggle out of it. She actually uses a surprising amount of logical fallacies, and manipulation tactics if you ready this carefully, but she says them so quick you really don't have time to analyze each. Basically she makes Kaladin feel like he's the bad guy for assuming she hasn't had a hard life, therefore making all his arguments about lighteyes mistreating him and Shallan's inability to understand him invalid. This is a logical fallacy, but the conversation moves too fast for him to pin her on this and it's meant to make him feel bad so maybe he doesn't see that its not logically sound. Also just in general, Shallan says some pretty mean "witty" things to everyone and then if anyone shoots back, she plays the victim, which is pretty messed up. (If you can't tell I hate Shallan lol.) I do agree that Kaladin's takeaway, essentially that she had been through the same things and could still be happy, could have been a little better, or at least discounted to "she may not understand my circumstances, but she understands pain". I know this post is old but I hope you read this.

This is one of my favorite series ❤ I revisit it every year.

if you run an ineligible candidate, then you have brought this trouble on yourselves.

This is such an interesting analysis of my favorite fantasy series. I've never studied philosophy myself, but your method of explaining the terminology and the brief history of postmodernism instantly drew me in. You've given me a new perspective for the novels as I do another reread. Thank you for making this!

Yeah, «The Power Broker» is my favorite Non-Fiction Read of 2024 too! Love Caro's description of NYC Mayor La Guardia: «La Guardia possessed qualifications for making the run beyond the fact that, half Jewish and half Italian, married first to a Catholic and then to a Lutheran of German descent, himself a Mason and an Episcopalian, he was practically a balanced ticket all by himself.» 😄 My Top 5 Fiction 1)Split: «Imperium» by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction, book #1 in Cicero Trilogy about the Eponymous Roman Statesman: Harris is such an amazingly witty and knowledgeable Historical Fiction Writer, his Cicero from the eponymous Trilogy is easily my Favorite Character of 2024!) & «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by the Mercenary Wars of Renaissance Italy: What can I say that is not already said about GGK, the Prose, the Characters, the Interactions, the Descriptions, all top notch!) 2)«Når landet mørknar» (Approximately «When The Land Darkens») by Tore Kvæven (Historical Fiction set during the 13th Century end of the Norse Settlement of Greenland, think of it as a Norse John Steinbeck novel, winner of the Brage Prize for Best Norwegian Novel in 2018: With endearing doomed characters and an ecological interplay between nature and man worthy of a Fantasy World Build, I think it is a shame that there most likely would be difficult to translate the understated nuances of his laconic style from Nynorsk to English!) 3)Split: «To Green Angel Tower» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #3) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy: What an amazing width, going from the cozy to the horrific, the mundane to the epic, that is simply astonishing and deserves to be more celebrated! ) & «The Warrior Prophet» (The Prince of Nothing #2) by R. Scott Bakker (Grimdark/Dark Epic Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, Silmarillion & Dune: A genuinely challenging author in his themes & descriptions and an intricate world-builder, who puts his characters literally through Hell and back!) 4)«Howling Dark» (Sun Eater #2) by Christopher Ruocchio (Space opera: I love how effortlessly he weaves in both Genre & Classic Literature and Art into a natural world building and is not afraid to go weird, philosophical and esoteric!) 5) Split: «Sword in the Storm» & «Midnight Falcon» (Rigante #1 & #2) by David Gemmell (Heroic Fantasy/S&S inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions by Julius Ceasar, can be read a two part novel or stand-alones: Easily the best character ensemble writer of this year, you get humbled by the empathy Gemmell gave to even his minor characters or antagonists, with incredible emotional callbacks!) Cheers Andy and Happy New Year!

insert melonwater emoji🤫

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Hoods breath how dare you put house of chains at the bottom😂

WIND AND TRUTH THOUGHTS

You made an immense video on Harllo and Anomander Rake and I can't find it. Did you delete it?

Just finished it. My gosh....oh my gosh. Hood's sake !

Well, quite ironically your synthesis of Hegel's synthesis is pretty much philosophy 101.

You sound like you'd rather be teaching a course on Critical Race Theory and brainwashing school kids than reviewing fantasy. People read fantasy to get away from the real world, not to be bombarded with a woke take on a fictitious world where there's men's food and women's food, and where it's considered abnormal for a man to read. It's a different world and Sanderson can treat it however the hell he wants to. He has no duty to do things the way you think he should, and judging based on sales and reviews of his books, most people agree with me. If you don't like the way he does it, then go write your own book. If you want to talk about the real world, then ALL discrimination is wrong and completely unjustifiable, with no additional caveats, or disclaimers.

I’m 816 pages into oathbringer - my edition has nearly 1400 pages - and aside from the flashbacks, I’ve found it incredibly boring. I’m only finishing this book because I’ve come so far. There are fantasy fans that say this is their favourite book ever. I don’t quite understand it. The first two books in the SA were pretty good.

There is no such thing as "Vancouver, Canada". I think you mean Vancouver, British Columbia. As a Canadian I cannot stand when people say this. It would be akin to saying you are driving to Austin, America instead of Austin, Texas or Portland, America instead of Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon.

One of the greatest storytellers in history.

He's an Archeologist not an activisy lol Empirical Aristotalianism is as far as post modernism. There are far far more female magic users is fantasy than men, and so that is a false equivillency nested within your take. Go and take a look at what Daniel Greene sums up Malazan is. He gets it and you do not. You may really want to drag Steven Ericson to the far left, but it's a very transparent reach.

I have read thousands of books. This one is so overrated. You're all young yet, so l will excuse your ignorance.

Yo, Andy, I recommend Iain Banks - Culture series for you. You can read it from anywhere so… Player of Games or Use of Weapons are great entry points.

loved the shining! its like one of 3 king books i have ever read

12:25 yes. this whole category, you put it perfectly. this is one of my biggest pet peeves. he does this early in the book too. how did this get past editors? weird shit. but like, people love it??!?!

Hell yeah Minnesota. Former Wisconsinite here and very impressed with what y'all have been able to do in the last couple years. Crazy that there's a Malazan stan state representative, btw.

I'm generally here on youtube for the booktube stuff, but I live in the west metro of Minneapolis and I love the school lunch program, it takes away such a hassle for parents, even in communities that didn't really need it. Thanks!

Thank you so much for this video. I'm not a huge fantasy fan in general but picked up Gardens of the Moon on recommendations from friends. Having just finished Deadhouse Gates, while I knew I liked it, I had reservations about continuing for eight more books. After watching your video, I have a better sense of authorial intent and where it's all going. Guess I needed the narrative you laid out to understand the author's metanarrative! My sense of wonder at the scale of what Erikson has achieved has been renewed and I can't wait to keep going.

An actually good negative review.

Andy! Sorry for suggesting such a huge book, but the 'modern horror classic' you're looking for is without *any* doubt in mind mind: Our Share of Night, by Mariana Enriquez Edit: Beyond, my suggestion is The Etched City, by K. J. Bishop. Think weird fiction in the line of Mieville, it's a mobster story set in a post apocalyptic western, and it's a weird, kinda messy book but the parts that hit are just oh god so gorgeous.

Andy, I need to you read Stephen Graham Jones! Night of the Mannequins (novella), My Heart is a Chainsaw (first novel in a trilogy but stands well on its own - if you love slasher films), or The Only Good Indians (novel - more literary horror). I read Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House and really appreciated it. Also, this might be only chance to yell at you to read The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. 👀

If you want to add another Times Top 100 book, I really enjoyed The Goldfinch! It was great on audio. I'm currently reading Heroes Die, listening to Red Seas Under Red Skies, and waiting for The Way of Edan to drop on audio (sometime this week?) For the rest of fall I'm Continuing with The Culture, starting The Pillars of the Earth (loved Doomsday Book by Connie Willis and wanting more middle ages), and trying more self pub with Seeds of War.

Good to see you back Andy! I had quite a hefty Summer: I read both the «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn» Trilogy by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, big inspiration for George RR Martin’s «A Song of Ice and Fire») and the «Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, «Dune» & the Silmarillion), as well as «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Medieval and Renaissance Mercenary Wars of Italy), «Tiamat’s Wrath» by James S.A. Corey (The «Expanse» series #8 of 9, Space Opera) and «Warlord of the Air» (#1 in the «A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy by Michael Moorcock, Multiverse/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅)! This Month I have gone a bit more mood-reading and shorter novels: So far I have read three Rosemary Sutcliffe novels: 2 YA Historical Fiction Novels, «The Silver Branch» & «The Lantern Bearers» (set in Ancient Britain during the Late Roman and the Roman Withdrawal & Saxon Invasions, respectively) and an Arthurian historical fiction novel, «Sword at Sunset», all loosely connectied to each other following a family over generations, with the POV character of «The Lantern Bearers» as a mentor figure and his son one of Arthur’s companions in «Sword at Sunset». I have also just finished «Sword in the Storm» («Rigante» series #1) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions! Currently reading «The Eternal Champion» by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse S&S/(Anti-?)Heroic Fantasy), with «Leviathan Falls» by James S.A. Corey («The Expanse» #9 of 9, Space Opera) and «Lustrum» (US: «Conspirata», «Cicero»-Trilogy #2) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Statesman) next! On the rest of my Autumn TBR I have: «The Doom of Destiny» (Book #3 in the «Sundered Nation» Trilogy, Epic/Historical Fantasy inspired by the Germanic Goths’ Civil Wars & Wars with the Huns and the Romans, with a dash of «Dune» with its warning against prophecy) by Vaughn Roycroft «The Fury of the Gods» (Book #3 in the «Bloodsworn Saga» Trilogy, Epic Fantasy inspired by Norse Myth) by John Gwynne The final two novels in the «City of Victory» Trilogy by Adrian Goldsworthy (Historical Military Fiction set during Emperor Trajan’s Campaigns) The final two novels in «A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅) On my MBR List this Autumn, I might start on, the «Boudicca» Series by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction, about the famous Celtic Queen and her rebellion seeking revenge on the Romans) and the «Gael Song» series by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set during the Viking Invasions of Ireland)! I also plan to read «The Power Broker», catching up with the «99% Invisible» year-long readalong! Cheers! 😊

The problem with the ending is that the main takeaway from Toll the Hounds was that redemption has to be earned, it cannot be given to somebody. This is the main theme of the Dying God vs. Cult of the Redeemer storyline. Now we are at the end of The Crippled God and suddenly everyone is convinced that the crippled god deserves to be saved and brought home but.. the CG has done nothing at all to deserve compassion, mercy or redemption. He has been a dick to pretty much everybody up until book 10 of the series where his characters suddenly changes to the point that he is a totally different character. His actions have caused immense suffering to millions of people but at no point does he seem to acknowledge that.

"Many say postmodernism doesn't stand for anything and they're wrong. It critiques other things." If you are only standing for critique and criticism of something, then you stand for nothing. All postmodernism can hope for is being a criticism of historical meta narratives that hopefully result in a dialectic process to avoid making similar mistakes. And in that way, Hegel wins. Otherwise, it's simply replacing a meta narrative with another meta narrative. And that simply creates more strife than fixing anything. Put another way, post modernism as it's currently implemented in society replaces one idealogy with another hegemonical ideology; there is no working together, it's my way or the highway, pushing folks to turtle in the extremes and shout past one another. I truly believe postmodernism is a useful tool, but fails to affect meaningful change in the world other than to devolve societies. It's better as a philosophical talking point than a real world position.

Great video Andy! This was cathartic to watch. I REALLY did not like Oathbringer after thinking books 1 & 2 were brilliant for the most part. Like you said at the end reading this has zapped my energy for this series. I still want to continue but I am much less enthusiastic going into books 4 & 5. Hope you enjoy the rest of your day!

Lord of the Rings isn't modernist literature.

This is the book where the series started losing me, then book 4 basically was the nail in the coffin. Shame.

Christ Andy you fell off.

Thanks for these- the books are so dense and chaotic and these have helped me keep pace with everything

Just finished the books. Its crazy and I absolutely love them! Never felt that alone after finishing a book, I will read them again

I’ll say this, not every book or series will land with everyone. It won’t resonate to the point of deeper connection. That being said, it’s an installment, and not everything is meant to be explained in this book. Some answers come later. I really enjoyed it, I felt like it was long, but it helped develop the story to mature sufficiently, and so I had no issue with it.

This is probably one of the best review of WoK I have seen on BookTube. I decided to read the series since it is impossible to ignore Sander's name in fantasy literature at the moment. Now, I read Mistborn first and wasn't impressed. But figured I'd try WoK anyway since it was supposedly more mature...it's not. I basically agree with every single point. I'll add a major problem is that the book is overwritten. With such basic prose, thin themes, and pretty simple characters I likely wouldn't mind if the book were some 300 pages. But this is a book with over 1,000 pages, trodding over the same ground without exploring or revealing anything meaningful. Kaladan is the perfect example, you can likely cut 90% of their flashback chapters and not lose a single thing in the story. We learn pretty much everything we need to know about them through context clues and subtext from their first introduction and later first chapter. We learn he was betrayed, that he hates lighteyes, that he has a saviour complex, and I think we even learn he failed his brother somehow. Really, what more did these flashbacks reveal that we already didn't pick up in this first chapter? So instead of trusting we understand all of this, we have to go over Kaldan's entire lifestory from birth to be sure we understand everything about them we should have picked up from their first introduction. But I want to really praise the point you made at the end about unequal power structures and the, for lack of a better term, racism we see in the book. And it's a problem with a lot of fantasy, typically written by white-male authors who have never experienced actual oppression. But you absolutely hit the nail on the head that Kaladan's hatred of lighteyes is not the same as Alethi treatment of darkeyes. The lighteyes are those in power. They make all the rules. They are in charge of every system of government. They hand out the punishment. And they control where you live and where you die. And they instill a systemic structure of oppressing darkeyes who they rule over. So, to then try to essentially say that Kaladan is just as bigoted by seeing Dalinar and Adolin as just like the rest of the lighteyes is to fundamentally not understand this power imbalance and how systemic racism actually works. Whether Kaladan hates lighteyes has no effect on Alethi society or even any lighteye he comes across. But whether a Lighteye dislikes a darkeye, you can bet it will have profound effect on that specific person and anyone around them. Great insight.

I don’t see how LotR is modernist? You spent zero time defending this point, LotR in fact makes most of its core themes the fact that it is staunchly traditionalist and anti-modern. Numenor, etc is held up as some halcyon Golden Age

Loved this

Where is the vlog for The Crippled God you mentioned here and in your discussion on The Fantasy Nutwork? I can’t find a playlist section for your channel and a search didn’t bring it up. I’m reading it now and wanted to watch your videos after the chapters to help catch the things I missed.

I didnt like it bc everyone's gaze is always swinging

The companion book to Marx's capital goes sooo hard. I love all the content you bring my boy. Keep it up as much as you can. You're the working man's booktuber. I said it and I'll stick to my word.

I’m so happy your loving this series! Kitty G was the one that got me to read moontide quartet back in 2016! I’m hoping your reviews help bring visibility to the series! I hope you love the rest! 👍👍👍🙏🙏

Oh wow I also just read my first ever GGK books this year with Lions and Arbonne! A Song for Arbonne became my new favorite book of all time, and I thought Lions was masterful too. Right with you on being in awe of how much story he can pack into these normal-sized standalones. Almost done with Elderlings and can’t wait to try out the Soldier Son trilogy after!

The Illearth War book 2 of Thomas Covenant. One of the things done really well in book 1 is the struggle of the main characters conscience (or lack thereof) with the Land. In book 2 this rejection and distance is still there except Donaldson brings in new characters which augment and in some way should *help* Covenant to accept this world, it exists, it's real, and he should work to aid them. One of these new characters is a foil for Covenant and let's just say he fits in with this world, and accepts it, more easily than Covenant because of a disability this new character has. This person should essentially prove to Covenant that he can and should accept the reality of the Land, if this new character can then he should too. It's an interesting juxtaposition and it is the background to all their interactions - this difference, yet extreme similarity these two men have. It was a great addition to the sequel and allowed more exploration of Covenants psyche and that of this new character.

What do you think about my admittedly simple premise of what makes a good fantasy sequel? Also, check out my review of Mage's Blood here: th-cam.com/video/sZyUN3ROZLk/w-d-xo.html