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The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince…
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The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince of Nothing, Book 1) (original 2003; edition 2003)

by R. Scott Bakker

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2,463536,057 (3.8)57
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 Tolkien and Herbert created unforgettably in the epic fantasies The Lord of the Rings and Dune. It's a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor 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.… (more)
Member:broadbem
Title:The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince of Nothing, Book 1)
Authors:R. Scott Bakker
Info:Toronto, ON: Penguin Canada, 2003.
Collections:Your library
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The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker (2003)

  1. 31
    A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (martlet)
  2. 00
    Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover (Vulco1)
    Vulco1: Both epic fantasy. Grim dark. There's magic and schools and people manipulating the politics and histories
  3. 00
    The Traitor by Anthony Ryan (caimanjosh)
    caimanjosh: Both series involve a possibly false prophet with impressive martial abilities and questionable motives. Both would also qualify as grimdark, though R. Scott Bakker's work is actually considerably darker. I quite enjoyed both series.
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» See also 57 mentions

English (48)  Spanish (3)  German (2)  All languages (53)
Showing 1-5 of 48 (next | show all)
Highly recommended to Malazan fans. I am not one of them, though. So, great worldbuilding, complex plot, flat characters and good writing, but really really boring for me. Honestly, I had much higher expectations. ( )
  milosdumbraci | May 5, 2023 |
Reread. Has not aged well.
  Adamantium | Aug 21, 2022 |
Heillandi myrk fantasía. Bakker skapar öfluga heimsmynd sem er bundin öflum með takast á og spila með almenning undir yfirborðinu og aðalpersónurnar eru breyskar og finna stöðugt til vanmáttar gegn hinu óþekkta. Vel þess virði að lesa. ( )
  SkuliSael | Apr 28, 2022 |
Surprisingly gripping. I thought the political/war-making plot would get dry. I was pleased to find Bakker's universe fairly original and thought-provoking, especially the mysterious Dunyain. I found the characters to be much more rounded than you usually find in fantasy/sci-fi. Will definitely read the next in the series. ( )
  invisiblecityzen | Mar 13, 2022 |
Surprisingly gripping. I thought the political/war-making plot would get dry. I was pleased to find Bakker's universe fairly original and thought-provoking, especially the mysterious Dunyain. I found the characters to be much more rounded than you usually find in fantasy/sci-fi. Will definitely read the next in the series. ( )
  invisiblecityzen | Mar 13, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 48 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
R. Scott Bakkerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Rostant, LarryCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
I shall never tire of underlining a concise little fact which these superstitious people are loath to admit -- namely, that a thought comes when "it" wants, not when "I" want ...
Friederich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
Dedication
To Sharron - before you, I never dared hope
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(Prologue) One cannot raise walls against what has been forgotten.
All spies obssessed over their informants.
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Wikipedia in English (1)

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 Tolkien and Herbert created unforgettably in the epic fantasies The Lord of the Rings and Dune. It's a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor 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.

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