REVIEW: The Darkness that Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker

The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
Publishing Information: 2003 (first publishing) 2005 (current edition)
Publisher: Overlook, Trade Paperback
ISBN-10: 1-58567-677-2
Series: Prince of Nothing (The Second Apocalypse), Book 1
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from back cover): Strikingly original in its conception, ambitious in scope, with characters engrossingly and vividly drawn, the first book in R.Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series creates a remarkable world from whole cloth -- its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals-- the kind of all-embracing universe that has thrilled readers of Stephen R. Donaldson and George R.R. Martin.

It's a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years in the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Traveling among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasurimbor Kellhus --part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence -- from lands long thought dead. The Darkness that Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.

With this stunning debut, R. Scott Bakker is poised to become one of the next great fantasy writers of his generation. The Darkness that Comes Before proves again that epic fantasy can be intelligent, majestic, and terrifying.

Upon beginning this series, I wasn't sure what to expect. Some friends and critics whose opinions I trusted had showered Bakker with praise while others had advised me to steer clear for fear of wasting precious hours of my life. However, its a wonder that this sat on my shelf for as long as it dead. Bakker's academic background is philosophy, the same discipline that I study in graduate school. I have always thought that philosophy was a goldmine of ideas for a fantasy series, and Bakker certainly found some inspiration in the tradition. I was sure that this would be a cerebral series. My only worry was that Bakker would get carried away with the philosophy influence, and the series would suffer from some kind of third-rate esoteric convoluted philosophical-psycho-babble.

My fears were quickly put to rest. Bakker uses philosophical ideas sparingly and not in pedantic way either. For example, the Dunyain are a brotherhood of monks who study the the principles of cause and effect, and by desiring and willing the causes that affect their behavior, they are able to achieve free will while the rest of the world are relegated to deterministic puppets. This is very close to Harry Frankfurt's definition of free will, a direct reference to a prominent contemporary philosopher. Still, its not important whether this is some correct, consistent theory or even good theory of free will, but rather that the monkshood in novel believes in the theory and uses it as the basis for their discipline. These foundational ideas give Bakker a unique voice and really allows him to offer something different from the more dull fantasy fare.

Bakker is not afraid to blend the magical and the mystical either - the series is replete with religious factions and movements that are often tied tightly to the magic in the world. This element was reminiscent of Frank Herbert, and I mean that as a form of high praise. Learning about the factions and their beliefs is fascinating in the same way that learning of the Mentats and the Bene Gesserit was fascinating in the first Dune book. Meanwhile, the book not only resonates with an epic feel, full of political maneuvering and the promise of epic battles, but brings with it some of the most haunting and terrifying imagery I have an encountered in a fantasy novel. The appearance of a crow with a human head is just one example of the deeply disturbing nature of some of more dark magic in the series.

This is, however, a book that is full of promises. This is clearly written as a planned trilogy, as very little is resolved in the first book. Other writers, like Steven Erikson for example, have the ability write serialized novels that introduce story arcs that get resolved in each individual book . Bakker has not attempted this and instead merely set the table for the fantasy series to come. It has resulted in a very promising first novel. Regardless, I have read enough fantasy to know though how easily things can go sour. Therefore, I must be conservative in my rating, with the proviso that this is a series I am very excited about continuing to read.


Plot……….6/ 10

Characters………8.5/10

Style………..8/10

Overall……….7/10