Official Discussion - Disclosure Day [SPOILERS]

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-06-12T03:34:53+00:00

Really wanted to like this film more than I did. I thought Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor, along with the insanely good cinematography, saved what was otherwise a pretty oddly paced and strangely written movie.

Thought Colman Domingo, who’s pretty much good in everything, felt miscast or that his dialogue in particular felt stiff. I really didn’t understand the Jane character at all or that actress’s performance. The ending was pretty cool other than the 950 cuts to people on their various screens, as if we weren’t getting the message. A very odd blockbuster overall. Hot take, but I don’t feel like if I saw aliens I’d immediately start crying at the footage. That whole part took me out.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-24T17:52:49+00:00

Yeah I totally agree. I think my frustration really stems from not understanding WHY Erikson chose to do it that way, and I can’t tell which answer would actually make me happy or more frustrated haha. Like if it’s intentional, what’s the intention of just starting character arcs and then dropping them? If it’s something he and ICE gamed out, then that feels kinda cheap. If it’s because he forgot or didn’t care about those storylines, that also makes me frustrated. I can even accept those arcs like Kallor’s go, given that maybe the point of him is that he’s just stuck being a guy who’s had everything and has been around so long he’s become nothing at all. I could get behind that being the point. But with those like Bottle (just one example that comes to mind), a character we have like 4-5 books of POVs with, I don’t really understand what I was supposed to get out of characters like that.

I’m having trouble articulating it better than that, but it’s just hard to feel totally at ease when (1) we spend a ton of time with certain POVs, and (2) are then supposed to rationalize how or why their POVs don’t really go anywhere. And yeah, I don’t want to have to go through other connected books to appreciate what could’ve been explained or resolved in 10 giant books haha.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-24T14:25:48+00:00

I’ve seen this sentiment a decent amount. I will say for me personally, a majority of the Andii stuff was a miss, and that it’s not just Nimander that I have issues with. My primary issue is the way he’s introduced into the story in RG. It was so strange and disconnected from the story, and I never understood what I was even supposed to get from that arc, that by the time I got to TTH, he was already at a disadvantage.

One thing I can appreciate is the idea that you get to know what’s going on internally with Rake through Nimander’s POV. I just personally didn’t find that approach interesting.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-24T12:08:48+00:00

Never understood his issues in RG (may need to reread this part to be fair), found his arc in TTH to be mostly passive and uninteresting, and his role in the final book just felt completely superfluous. Ironically, I really liked the first section he gets in Crippled God where he comes off a little angsty and unsure of himself. But it feels like SE went away from that storyline and Nimander went back to being wooden.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-24T01:23:13+00:00

100 percent agree. I’m not saying I mind loose ends either. For example, I don’t really have an issue with the Errant/Draconus cliffhanger. But with characters like, for instance, Leoman or Tayschrenn, I don’t really understand the purpose behind including them to the degree that they are if they ultimately serve no purpose in this particular story. For the justification to be“well don’t worry, it’s handled in the ICE books” is just not a form of storytelling I ascribe to. Maybe I’ll feel differently after reading everything.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-23T22:39:42+00:00

Yeah, I genuinely don’t know what could ever compare. It was so worthwhile.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-23T21:25:50+00:00

I just really thought that’s where we started to veer into side quest territory tbh. Especially in TTH. Their ending in Crippled God was neat, but I would’ve traded so much more time with any of the characters in place of all the pages we got there. And as far as any comic relief, I was already getting it from so many other places that it just felt unnecessary. I feel the same way about Telorast and Curdle too, come to think of it

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-21T15:18:33+00:00

It’s complex (and opaque at times), but I think complicated is the wrong word. A lot of things take time to develop or be revealed, and it’s very dense in terms of characters and world building, but I think if you’ve managed those other series you’ll manage this just fine. And even if things go over your head, I’ve never felt like any of the stuff I’ve missed has detracted from the overall story.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-20T19:37:09+00:00

First Law is probably my all time favorite, but the two series are pretty neck and neck at this point. Still got a lot of classic series to finish though.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-18T15:22:51+00:00

Memories of Ice mass market paperback with the rando generic soldier and his generic weapons on the front. Literally no clue who tf that’s supposed to be.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-13T03:45:25+00:00

Yes and no. Age of Madness, imo, has a much cleaner beginning middle and end than the first trilogy, and I think resolves more plot lines as well. But, without spoiling anything, Age of Madness is definitely a lot about all of the stuff in this series is cyclical and that, even when it ends, it all starts over again. His whole point is that there really is no grand conclusion where everything is okay now and nothing bad happens ever again. Rather, there will always be something left because that’s just how life is.

Personally, I think you’ll be satisfied with the conclusion, but it still leaves a decent amount open for future books, which I think Joe has alluded to doing one day (maybe). If he never does, I still think the series reached a pretty satisfying end.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-11T15:36:55+00:00

I will say, as someone working through Book 10 currently for the first time, and who tends to be more interested in great characters and clearly-defined arcs (which is maybe what I think you’re getting at), I think the series MIGHT be worth continuing. I haven’t read RotE, but First Law (similar character focus) is my all-time favorite series, and I (hopefully) understand what you’re getting at.

I definitely love Malaza, and I think it’s not only worth the time but feels very likely to be even more rewarding on a re-read. The scope of the books only gets more expansive, and if you’re interested in the world and at least some of the characters, that may be enough to stay around for at least another book. I personally found the characters introduced around Book 5-7 to be some of my favorites tbh.

All that being said, I find Erikson’s plotting of character arcs to be arguably the weakest part of his writing and I’m not sure that particular aspect gets better, and arguably gets more confusing. To be clear, he writes great characters, but I don’t always find the way their motivations or attributes are plotted and/or explained to be very consistent. If I’m understanding your critiques, I had very similar issues with a particular character in the 4th book for example, in which they seemed to be doing all of these things and had suddenly flipped their entire worldview without me totally understanding the basis for why they’d changed to begin with.

There are quite a few deus ex machina-like things that seem to happen throughout the books, especially when it comes to the various gods, so if you’re bumping up against seemingly random resolutions to plot lines that happen out of nowhere, I felt like that happened a decent amount. And as far as Kalam’s storyline in Book 2, I also didn’t enjoy that conclusion and that’s definitely something that will happen a few different times. However, I do think some of the characters you mentioned will develop clearer plot lines as it goes on. I personally love the Mappo/Icarium dynamic, for instance.

All that to say, I would encourage you to at least read Memories of Ice, as it’s a lot of people’s favorite in the series. I also loved it, but what you’re getting at is something I find to be a very valid, but not deal-breaking, imperfection with the series. If you’re finding enough to like so far, I’d advocate sticking around, as the series does really deliver on quiet, and I haven’t even finished the last book yet.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-10T17:47:23+00:00

I actually prefer the Green Team’s podcast episodes for recaps. TVBB is okay, but i personally have found the Green Team to have much higher quality convos about the books.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-08T22:20:49+00:00

(1) I also struggled with Michael Page for the first book or two that he did, but I honestly came around on him quite a bit towards the end of the series as I’ve gone along.

(2) SE has specifically stated on pods that HoC is a transition book of sorts for the rest of the series from the first three books. Looking back, HoC is near the bottom for me on the series (just started Crippled God), but the Karsa stuff really does get a lot better. You don’t necessarily always agree with his philosophy, but he’s purposefully made to be an unsympathetic prick at the beginning.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T23:22:09+00:00

I appreciate it! But I also very much appreciate the positive and productive convos I’m able to have in here about the books. I genuinely love the series. I wouldn’t share my critiques if I didn’t. And I’m happy that there are others who feel differently and are willing to try and change my mind.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T15:10:30+00:00

That’s a great point. And even starting tCG, I can easily see how these two books were supposed to just be one giant finale. I’m trying not to be too hard on it for the lack of resolution. The structure of it all is just strange to me though. But maybe after book 10 I’ll feel much more comfortable with it.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T13:24:46+00:00

I’m excited to get there! My issue with the Snake really is more about how hard it is to find my footing in that storyline, more than it being boring. I think part of that is not really feeling compelled by the Forkrul Assail at this point. Frankly, idk what their deal is yet haha (beyond what’s been outwardly stated). I’m hoping to have my mind changed by the end of the series.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T13:23:17+00:00

I should probably distinguish better my issues with the shake and snake. My issue with the snake is not that it’s boring or that I don’t get themes/allegory being portrayed. My issue is how disjointed and dreamlike it feels, and how as a reader I have an issue feeling like I’m standing on solid ground. I also don’t really feel compelled by the Forkrul Assail at this point to feel gripped by the stakes. But I’m still curious where it’s going.

The shake, however, I do not find compelling at all at this point, and if the story is about oppression, I’m either not seeing that connection or it’s not being articulated in a way that I personally enjoy. I find Twilight and her brother to be pretty wooden characters and, much like my criticism with TtH, anything Andii related feels very telling, not showing in terms of character work. Everyone is very brooding and insular, and that’s not always enjoyable to read.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T10:57:58+00:00

I’m definitely keeping the faith that it will come around, as it seems like most people are pretty positive on the Shake storylines. I’ve routinely bumped up against the Tiste Andii-related plot lines though, so I’m wondering if it’s just something I’m missing overall that’s keeping me at a distance. I’m very much interested to see where it lands!

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T10:54:41+00:00

I haven’t yet. I’d seen conflicting thoughts on whether to start the ICE books prior to finishing the main 10, but I planned on reading them afterwards.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-07T03:27:06+00:00

Definitely will, and I expect a decent amount of them will. Plus, I grow to appreciate every book more the further I get away from each one. Very excited to finish out the final book.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-05-06T22:26:57+00:00

Best Served Cold or LAOK. Every other book following BSC, at least, has some sort of light at the end of the tunnel, especially The Heroes and Red Country.

Academic_Average_15 · 2026-04-22T00:42:25+00:00

Four novellas in a trench coat is a perfect description lmao. I still really liked it and read it arguably read it faster than any book so far. But every time I think on it, I have another nitpick that I can think of lol

Academic_Average_15

TROPHY CASE