The Darkness That Comes Before

2/13 - I'm currently on page 216 and it doesn't seem to be "getting better" yet.

It's not the verbosity that's bothering me. Instead, it's the utter lack of characterization, combined with the lack of visuals. I feel like I can neither "see" nor "know" any of these characters. They're simply ciphers moving about.

Not only that - this is not one of my usual things to complain about, but out of a Cast Of Thousands, literally 3 women have appeared "on-screen." Two are literally whores, and the third is a harridan who is described as "whorish." I don't have a problem with reading about misogynistic societies, but it almost seems like women here simply don't exist!

2/14 - I nearly, nearly gave up on reading this last night. However, I decided to plow through just so I don't get castigated by the fanboys for reviewing a book I didn't finish. Now on page 432.

Starting with Part 3, the book has improved a bit. The writing has become a bit smoother, some characters have begun to emerge, and a couple of women even get to have a POV. This was the author's first book, and I feel like I'm almost seeing him learn how to write fiction as I read. (I'm sure he's written plenty of academic papers; he definitely has a command of English - I'm actually pretty impressed that I'm reading an unrevised proof, and there's only been one typo so far ["sneak peak" instead of "sneak peek."] Not bad.)

I'm still not won over. I feel like the first third of the book needs a serious revision/edit, but my current opinion is upgraded from one to two stars.

2/16 - Finished it yesterday. As I expected, it doesn't end on any sort of note of resolution. And I'm not feeling that motivated to go pick up the next volume. The various factions of military, magical and political forces in this vaguely-Babylonian world can go philosophize about their Holy War without me.

Incidentally, I noted that among the gushing praises on the back of this book are recommendations from both Steven Erikson and John Marco. I've tried both of those authors: John Marco was a did-not-finish, and Steven Erikson was a this-is-not-for-me. I actually find the quality and style of writing here to be similar to Erikson, and I would say I didn't like it for similar reasons. If you love Erikson (which many people do) you may very well like this series. But my final rating is hovering around one-and-a-half stars.

I'm really conflicted about this book.

On one hand, it's extremely well-written, with engaging characters that draw you in and a fantasy world that's refreshingly different from the usual. I was immediately intrigued when I saw the recommendation card in the bookstore that said "Fans of George R.R. Martin and Guy Gavriel Kay will love it!" And I have to admit, I can see the similarities. It's the first book in a complete trilogy, which is great, and I'm so engaged that I'm constantly wondering how it will all end.

However, I just can't overlook how the book portrays women. There are only two women in the main cast, and both are prostitutes. One is a concubine, and the other is like a call girl in this world. The "call girl" is smart and sympathetic, but the other is just a complete idiot. And the backdrop is dominated by men, with very few women as side characters, and none of them are sympathetic. The way the male characters talk about, think about, and observe women is almost always demeaning. Individually, I might be able to ignore these things in a book that I'm otherwise enjoying, but all of them together are really starting to get to me. It's easy to say that it's just the characters' view and not necessarily the author's, but when it's this pervasive, I can't help but wonder.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to continue reading the series.

I had heard a great deal about this trilogy. Many comments praised it as a blend between Dune and The Lord of the Rings, while others complained about the complexity involved in its reading.

Well, once I read the first volume, I must say that both opinions are true.

"In the Beginning Was the End" is one of the best fantasy books I have read, and in terms of complexity, I would place it just one step below Malaz, with which it has a lot in common.

The trilogy is set in the continent of Eärwa, where different civilizations have developed after the Apocalypse, a dark time when the No God, summoned by The Consult, walked among men, sowing chaos and death. But it seems that, once again, the tension is rising and the drums of war are resounding. The different factions of the continent will once again face each other over religious issues, claiming sacred territories, trying to settle old grudges, and exalted by faith. In that scenario, the different characters of the trilogy will unfold and appear, expanding the borders and motives of the conflict in such a way that, in the end, something more than religion will be at stake, and where the schools of magic (The Scarlet Spires, The Mandate, or the aforementioned Consult) will give a new dimension to a Holy War that threatens to become a second Apocalypse. As if that were not enough, two antagonistic characters will finally adorn the plot: Anasûnimbor Kelhus and Cnaiür urs Skiotha.

Kelhus belongs to the ancient dûnyainos people, secluded from the world and eager to constantly expand their knowledge, and possessors of a superhuman intelligence. He will be the backbone of the story. He stands out for his supernatural powers and his dialectics, which is capable of manipulating anyone.

Cnaiür, the Scylvendio, is no less than the prototype of a barbarian. He is the first to join Kelhus on his journey and one of the few who is able to stand up to him.

Drusas Achamian, is a wizard of the Mandate, a school whose members have daily nightmares related to the first apocalypse. He is one of the most charismatic characters in the book. He is in love with Esmenet, a prostitute whose fate will also be important in the story.

In addition to all this plot that I already find fascinating, we have the monsters or other races that Bakker puts on the table and that distinguish these books from any other and that are really terrifying. The sranc, which are like small white and bloodthirsty orcs. The skin spies, creepy creatures that get inside a person and go on to spy on the different factions. And finally, the inchoroi, which are barely mentioned in this book and promise a lot, at least judging by their appearance.

I devoured the first volume in a week, and any fan of Malaz, Dune, or Grimdark or adult fantasy should read it. A saga that is a bit forgotten nowadays, and that's something I don't understand.

A Darkness that Comes Before serves as an apt warning for new readers venturing into this world.

Make no mistake, it is a dark place indeed.

It is a brutal, miserable, misogynistic, and abusive realm, a place filled with suffering and hopelessness.

Bakker's prose and immersive writing style are truly among the best I have ever encountered. Despite the torturous nature of this place, I simply could not turn away or stop thinking about it.

What's truly impressive is that this is more or less just a pretext for an upcoming war. There are very few battles, but when they do occur, they are absolutely riveting.

The story is full of prophecy, religious faith, and tribal pride. I am very much looking forward to book 2, although I may need to take a short break to let a little bit of sunlight in. ;)

Overall, it's great stuff.

\"The World Sleeps Slave to Its Own Ignorance\". \"The Dark Before\" by R. Scott Bakker, the initial installment of the \"Prince of Nothing\" trilogy, is a polarizing work that elicits either intense love or hatred, depending on the reader's expectations. A Holy War looms on the horizon, with a web of intrigue and politics entangling a world steeped in ancient history and populated by characters of dubious moral character. Bakker constructs a complex and multifaceted world-building, replete with rich historical details, profound philosophical musings, and deep-seated themes such as power, religion, and the very essence of human nature. The vivid descriptions and meticulous world-building create an immersive and captivating setting that draws the reader in and refuses to let go.

The writing style is masterful, capable of evoking powerful and evocative images that linger in the mind long after the book is closed. The interactions between the characters are rife with tension, as their motivations and internal conflicts are explored in great depth. Bakker fearlessly tackles the darkest and most profound questions of life and the human condition, unafraid to confront the uncomfortable truths that lie beneath the surface. \"Faith is the truth of passion. Since no passion is truer than another, faith is not the truth of anything.\" This novel demands patience from the reader, but the rewards are well worth the effort. It offers a story that is rich in meaning, philosophy, and introspection, providing ample food for thought that extends far beyond the confines of the simple plot. It may not be suitable for those seeking a light-hearted or conventional read, but for those who are willing to engage with its complexity, it offers a memorable and stimulating reading experience. If you are a fan of Erikson, Herbert, Martin, and Tolkien, then this novel is an absolute must-read, with the hope that the remainder of the trilogy will maintain the same exceptionally high standard.

I didn't truly "read" this particular book as I simply couldn't manage to finish it. It initially appeared to be a promising one. In fact, I had perused a few pages carefully before purchasing it. I probably should have foreseen this outcome, but the section that I did read was somewhat interesting. Next time, I will make sure to start from the very beginning.

The characters in this book are disappointingly flat, lacking any real engagement or distinctiveness. They all seem to blend together and even the female characters sound exactly like the male ones. There is no clear description provided as to what some of the characters look like. The world created within the book is filled with complex and large words, and there is no indication or clue as to how they should be pronounced. It gives the impression that there are six levels of separation between the actions taking place in the book and the reader, resulting in the reader feeling completely detached from everything.

Ugh. I truly desired to have a liking for this book. I am almost the perfect target audience for it. I have a penchant for fantasy books that lean towards the more serious side. I relish when they have a fixation on history and are extremely detailed in their development. Given that I study medieval history, I was able to pick out all the allusions to the real Crusades. However, I cannot say that I would wholeheartedly recommend it. For all its good qualities, it ultimately gets a bit too caught up in trying to maintain its own self-importance to succeed as a captivating story.

Let's commence with the positive aspects: Bakker is an excellent worldbuilder. He has dedicated time to crafting numerous religions, philosophies, and political factions in his world, and has assembled them in a manner where they mostly make sense in relation to one another. Even better, he doesn't dump all this information into a prologue (which would have made for a startlingly dull 50 pages) but introduces it in a mostly natural way, trusting his readers to keep up (or, if they can't, to be able to quickly refer to the handy appendices at the back). It's refreshing that he assumes his readers can follow his narrative without excessive handholding. Bakker also handles his world's history well. Not only is it well-developed, interesting, and rather unique, but the different characters' varying responses to its history make the world feel old in an effortless and authentic manner. By the end, I was enjoying Bakker's fake excerpts from his world's history books and philosophical treatises more than the actual story itself. He's also (with the exception of some clumsy dialogue and some occasionally overwrought prose) a rather good writer with a knack for surprising word choice.

Unfortunately, The Darkness that Comes Before never quite makes the transition from being a good concept to a great story. I believe there are two central issues holding it back. The first is an issue that is beginning to pose problems in the world of post-George R.R. Martin fantasy: the notion that increased "grittiness" equates to increased "reality." I truly think that's a rather terrible assumption for an author to make, and a somewhat perplexing one. Martin's world isn't realistic because it's gritty; it's realistic because characters who are capable of committing acts of cruelty or cowardice are frequently also capable of immense kindness, and because scenes of violence contrast with scenes that are heartwarming or funny. It's a realistic world because it encompasses a wide range of emotions and acknowledges that they can manifest in the same places and in the same people, even if they are contradictory.

That's where Bakker's book falls short. His characters are gritty, indeed, but they're also really flat. With the possible exceptions of Achamain and Cnäiur, everyone neatly fits into the categories of sociopaths, people on the verge of insanity, single-minded religious zealots, and a vast horde of people who aren't clever enough to avoid being manipulated by them. It's probably the most unremittingly dour book I've ever read, to the extent that Bakker's world starts to feel fundamentally unrealistic. No one is ever happy or kind; they just brood ominously, hysterically lash out at others, or attempt to move others around like chess pieces. It's the polar opposite of a fantasy novel where everyone is flawlessly noble and heroic, but that doesn't make it innovative or original – it just makes it a different flavor of one-dimensional. It makes the whole book and the entire world feel insubstantial, and it's a flaw that no number of linguistic details in the appendices can truly overcome.

The other issue, which has already been noted by others, is that the book has a bit of a problem with how it portrays women. I understand that the women in Bakker's universe are forced into a socially inferior position and most of their powerlessness stems from that. There's nothing inherently sexist about that, and you can tell a very interesting and ultimately empowering story from that perspective. The ease with which Kellhus manipulates Selwë isn't inherently sexist either – she's been horribly abused, and it's understandable that she'd latch onto the nearest person to show any sort of interest in her. The problem is that he hasn't created engaging storylines for these women or written them in an interesting way. And without that, it just becomes an endless cycle of rape, self-loathing, and abuse. Nearly all the scenes involving women in Bakker's book are upsetting and voyeuristic and fail to establish the women as unique or compelling characters. They're just victims. This problem is compounded in a rather ugly way when it's revealed that the single woman with any kind of power in this universe (and therefore a good opportunity to go beyond the victim trope) turns out to routinely use her sexuality to manipulate everyone around her and to have sexually molested her son. Yikes.

In the end, it all comes back to Bakker's central problem: he equates grittiness and cruelty with narrative realism and weight, but in the end, it only results in the opposite effect.

I was pretty sure I was going to like this.

After all, it is supposed to be of enormous scope in the same vein as Malazan. And it certainly is!

I did have a little trouble keeping the names of people and places straight at first. However, after a while, it all came together.

The story is so complex and detailed that it takes some time to fully understand and remember everything.

Although I don't LIKE Kelhus at all, I am very intrigued to see where he goes with things. His character is mysterious and has many layers.

The character building here is just spot on. Everyone is so very human, with their own flaws, desires, and motivations.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a rich and vivid world with a cast of diverse and interesting characters.

I can't wait to see what happens next in this exciting and engaging story.