The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker

Don’t get me wrong – it’s written really well, Bakker certainly has a way with words. And that sums this book up quite nicely – I’m rather divided over it ). Wow, I’ve read what I have written so far and realized that my intended praise is undistinguishable from my criticism. And indeed, if not for the presence of magic and non-human beings, The Darkness That Comes Before would read like an amateur rendition of the first crusades. Most of them are variations of European and Near East cultures and beliefs the Christians and the Muslims, the Byzantium and the feudal kingdoms of medieval Europe, the countless philosophical schools of Middle Ages – all is there, only slightly altered to fit the world built with magic. The amount of detail created – and borrowed – by Bakker is indeed staggering his world is rich and varied, the many cultures and beliefs fitting nicely together. His research cannot be faulted it had been truly extensive and its results had been nicely – and thoroughly – incorporated into the fantastical setting of Bakker’s world. So it doesn’t come as a big surprise that they somehow failed to share their knowledge with others, and in the consequence, the majority of the humanity is heading blindly and meekly, like lambs, to their slaughter.īakker based his story on the real history of medieval crusades.

Unfortunately those in the know are few and far between, and do not enjoy any kind of esteem from their contemporaries. An almost 650 pages long, heavy piece of literary work (both literally and figuratively), Bakker’s debut had been a resounding one as well.Ī time of Second Apocalypse is nigh… Sounds captivating, doesn’t it? It means that the First Apocalypse had already happened, that it wasn’t as all-encompassing as to kill everyone, and that survivors managed to carry the knowledge of that terrible event through the centuries to come.

The first installment in the famous grimdark sequence The Prince of Nothing, The Darkness That Comes Before, is as long and convoluted as its title. And thus I can give you the first review from my summer readings :). I’m back from vacation, at least for a few days ).

The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker