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The Darkness That Comes Before (Prince of Nothing)
 
 

The Darkness That Comes Before (Prince of Nothing) (Paperback)

by R.Scott Bakker (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 592 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Trade Division) (1 Mar 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0743256689
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743256681
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 4.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 581,745 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

The Darkness that Comes Before is a strong, impressive, deeply imagined debut novel. However, this first book of an epic fantasy series is not accessible; it reads like a later volume of a complicated ongoing series. Author R. Scott Bakker has created a world that is very different from JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, yet in depth of development comes closer than most high-fantasy worlds. In addition to providing five appendices, Bakker attempts to make his complex world clear to readers by filling the prologue and opening chapters with the names of characters, gods, cities, tribes, nations, religions, factions, and sorcery schools. For many readers, this approach will have the opposite effect of clarity. It's like demonstrating snowflake structure with a blizzard. --Cynthia Ward, Amazon.com


Synopsis

A score of centuries has passed since the First Apocalypse. The No-God has been vanquished and the thoughts of men have turned, inevitably, to more worldly concerns... Drusas Achamian, tormented by 2,000 year old nightmares, is a sorcerer and a spy, constantly seeking news of an ancient enemy that few believe still exists. Ikurei Conphas, nephew to the Nansur Emperor, is the Exalt-General of the Imperial Army and a military genius. He plots to conquer the known world for his Emperor and dreams of the throne for himself. Maithanet, mysterious and charismatic, is spiritual leader of the Thousand Temples. He seeks a Holy War to cleanse the land of the infidel. Cnaiur, Chieftain of the Utemot, is a Scylvendi barbarian. Rejected by his people, he seeks vengeance against the former slave who slew his father, and disgraced him in the eyes of his tribe. Into this world steps Anasurimbor Kellhus, the product of two thousand years of breeding and a lifetime of training in the ways of thought, limb, and face. Steering souls through the subtleties of word and expression, he slowly binds all - man and woman, emperor and slave - to his own mysterious ends. But the fate of men - even great men - means little when the world itself may soon be torn asunder. Behind the politics, beneath the imperialist expansion, amongst the religious fervour, a dark and ancient evil is reawakening. After two thousand years, the No-God is returning. The Second Apocalypse is nigh. And one cannot raise walls against what has been forgotten...

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Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Like reading a very interesting ancient history textbook, 13 Oct 2004
Tired of reading books that create a world in which nothing is explained? Tired of reading books that skimp out human culture and make each realm a carbon copy of the one before? You need a book that gives you interesting cultures, religions, and so forth without drowning in pedantic detail. You will like The Darkness that Comes Before.
It is not an easy ride. Those looking for skimpy light fare will hurry past this one. The first 100 or so pages are thick in details and names that the mind shudders to remember them all. Some names seem unpronounceable, others full of dots accents and circumflexes to the point of drowning.
But soon the mind remembers each one. Some things are only mentioned- hinted at, but the interest on each one does not die away.
And the villains! Trust me, you will never look at a Trolloc in the same way. The same childish, cardboard cut-outs of the real thing. These villains exude such an aura of palpable menace that you would scream if you could but your larynx has already distatched itself from your throat and hidden itself under the sofa.
The prose is brilliant as well. IT is written with such a great use of vocabulary and metaphors that your mind reels, like when you took your first sip of wine, and entrance into another world full of vivid descriptions.
The plot flows well, with interesting events popping up. It flows well, political intrigue is better than most, you can gradually fell the escalating fundamentalist religous antagonism building up in Sumna and the tension in the Emperor's court.
So overall the Darkness that Comes Before is a great worthy of your time if you want to be immersed in a rich evocative fantasy that will be lauded for decades after its release
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Top class stuff, 13 Aug 2005
Despite reading complaints regarding the highly detailed and complex world created by Bakker which stated his book was quite hard to get into i bought it because of the promise of a darker, more mature fantasy than normal. I was not disappointed. Bakkers writing and the world he creates have a depth and subtlety which are all to rare in the fantasy genre and the story/characters are as dark as anything those other masters , George R.R Martin and Steven Erikson, could hope to conjure. I hesitate to go into any great detail on the book itself for fear of introducing spoilers but suffice to say that the writer and book are of the very highest class and have even attracted deserved praise from the quality, literate papers such as the Guardian as well as his successful peers.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars High standard but not for everyone, 19 Mar 2008
The Darkness that Comes Before is an impressive debut. The world that R. Scott Bakker has created is complex and multi-layered, dark and gritty. Thrown into the mix is cultural differences, religion, language, schools of wizadry, fanatic zealousness, greed, political intrigue, love, betrayal, conflicting loyalties, each facet showing an amazing depth in its detail.
Bakker writes with confidence, providing a fine, well rounded ensemble cast, all of them 'human,' that is, flawed, with their own dreams and ambitions.
His world is extremely grim, and sometimes seems to take itself a little too seriously, unlike, say, Joe Abercrombie's recent trilogy, but it is intelligently written, although not the easiest of reads. From the outset the detail is there, in terms of names, places, history, concepts, almost to the point of feeling a little overwhelming.
The author is clearly passionate about psychology and philosophy, and these two threads underpin the whole book. The concept of human psychology that his central character employs to understand and manipulate all those around him is interesting and original, although it does seem at times like a psuedo-scientific version of new-age self-help manuals, you know the type - 'understanding body language,' and the concept makes the central character remarkably unappealing!
Bakker's world and style aim for dark realism, reminiscent of Martin and Erickson, and i would place him between those authors - not possessing Martin's skill at characterization or humour, but definitely showing more heart than Erickson. To truly enjoy a book I need that sense of empathy - worrying about characters, smiling when they smile, caring for them, about them, and that is where Erickson falls flat on his face, but there are a few characters here that do inspire that kind of feeling (although not all, including a suprisingly cold and soulless central character). I care what happens to them enough that i want to buy the next instalment, anyway. And i suppose, that is what it is all about.
Overall it is an intelligently written, captivating piece of fantasy, although its adult themes and depth of detail mark it out as not for everyone. There is potential for this series to be truly great.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars worth the effort
R Scott Bakker doesn't mess about. He comes at you with strange and varied philosophies from the beginning. It makes him a fresh and original voice in the fantasy landscape. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Paul Sheridan

2.0 out of 5 stars Not poor but not good either
Entertaining enough but doesnt compare to the very best of the genre...will appear dated and be pretty much forgotten in ten years time.
Published 24 months ago by D. Nelson

5.0 out of 5 stars The work of genius
Wow, what an amazing book. Bakker's debut novel is packed with political intrigue, philosophical poignancy, awesome characters and complex and involving story lines. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2007 by J. Dicker

3.0 out of 5 stars Dour
R Scott Bakker's "The Darkness That Comes Before" is reasonably well-written. However, it is to my taste at times rather ponderous and unremittingly dour. Read more
Published on 18 Jul 2007 by MKJ

5.0 out of 5 stars Just a really good read
I have been rading fantasy fiction for the best part of thrity years and I love it when I find a new author. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2007 by Amanda van der Straaten

2.0 out of 5 stars The cover art is interesting as is the blurb...
This book was an impulse buy bred out of a need for a new author and an ongoing interest in all things 'concerning dragons and wizards'. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2007 by S. ten Have

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent start to the Prince of Nothing Trilogy
This is another one of those books that assaults you with so many cities, lands, names, factions, races, etc. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2007 by J.Yasimoto

4.0 out of 5 stars Promising Start
This is a very good start to a new fantasy series.

The world it is set in is interesting and nicely complex; the characters all have flaws, and this dirtiness (if... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2006 by T. Watson

3.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic take on history
Take the story of the first crusade. Add a false prophet, a wizard and a harlot and mix together with a bucket full of outlandish names, a few strange creatures and enough padding... Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2006 by Mr. Peter Parsons

3.0 out of 5 stars No lighter moments to brighten the gloom
This is well written, but I personally found it all a bit long-drawn out and pretentious. I made my way to the end of the book because I wanted to know how it all ended, but it... Read more
Published on 24 Aug 2006 by Mrs. K. Brown

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