Well, I finally read Bakker's Prince of Nothing. The world Bakker creates is very impressive, with the Mandati and their nightmares of Seswatha and the first Apocalypse an especially haunting image. But the story is just so bleak; the characters without exception are bloodthirsty and narcissistic. Serwe was the only character I felt the slightest sympathy for. (Well, at first I liked Achamian but the ending of TTT showed him to be as self-serving and childish as anyone.) Its very reminiscent of the original Dune books but the characters are almost as unlikeable as Goodkind's. So I'll probably read The Judging Eye, but I'm firmly on team Mog-Phareau.

You mean you haven't been rooting for Kellhus? And strictly speaking, he is one character who isn't bloodthirsty or narcissistic - just callous and manipulative, with only vestigial emotions. Still, it's nice to know that someone else on this site has read the series.

Cant agree with you more.  I really dont care for the Bakker books.  Not that theyre bad writing or anything like that (Terry Goodkind, David Drake).  I just really didnt care for the story that much.  It never really seems to go anywhere in my opinion, and just keeps getting more and more dismal.  Well, at least he's writing as opposed to some guys (George, Pat, and Scott Im looking at you!!!) out there.  So I guess if you like those books thats a good thing.

Scott's been dealing with severe mental health issues, which gets him off the hook a bit (check his livejournal)

Yeah I saw that, was really dissapointed when Queen of the Iron Sands abruptly halted, but it did spur me on to check out the Burroughs Mars books.  Hope he gets it together, because I really loved the first two GB books.