The Darkness that comes Before by Scott Bakker
One of the darkest fantasy novels that I’ve ever read since I
joined the fray of SFF Genre freaks. The Darkness that comes before is part one
of a sweeping ambitious series known as the Prince of Nothing by Canadian
author R Scott Bakker and came out quite a few years ago. I got the book a long
while back but never did get into it for a long time. Seriously, this book had
me baulking at the incomprehensibly “awe”-inspiring prose and yet falling for
it through and through. The first few attempts I discarded the book at the epilogue
itself - for the high handed treatment and the dense language that refused to
worm through my brains.
But this time, I persisted. From what I read on the review
world – this book had polarized its readers. It’s a straight 5 or a downright
1. Nothing in between. Hate it –or-love it. And now I understand why. Am glad I
persisted with trying to finish this one. It has been a fabulous read – a difficult
book I agree –smattered with arcane philosophies that flies over your head if
you don’t concentrate, it had me making notes and re-reading passages to get
the gist, but after I finished the first book in this series, I was left agape.
At the enormity of what Scott Bakker was trying to accomplish and what he has
set in motion. It’s rich, it’s dark, it’s fantastic, riddled with philosophy,
big sweeping battle scenes that will have you howling for more, complete with an
over-arching nemesis who is hinted at and never shown – along with vulnerable
three-dimensional well fleshed out protagonist characters who sift in and out
through the lands of grey.
So here’s the plot: In the ancient land of Earwa, the world
is divided into the two religious factions that have been warring with each
other for centuries now. The Inrithis and the Fanim. Most of book one is
written from the point of view of Inrithis – the major world religion that has
dominated over the lands. By the start of the book, we learn the Inrithi have
found a new prophetic leader for their cause – the one known as Maithanet who
is now urging them to a Holy War against the Heathen ( Here – the Fanim.)
This war has many factions fighting their own private wars -
the pawns in this game vying for their own secret missions. Sorcerers,
Prostitutes, Emperors, Generals, Princes. All of them leading to their own plot
threads weaving through to enmesh during the climactic chapters of book one. Into
this fractioned world comes a monk from the Northern Wastelands – who is part
of a group called Dunyain who are disenchanted with the world and are trying to
unravel the secrets of the world by following the path of – what they call
Logos – ( My suspicion – that’s logic :)
) much of the philosophy that flows through the book comes from the thoughts of
this man. The North has been laid to waste and is now under control of the
Srancs – devilish bloodthirsty creatures about whom not much is known. Now is this
monk a devil or is he a messenger of God? As the world rumbles on towards a
catastrophic war uniting the entire lands of Inrithi under this Maithanet’s banner,
a larger threat looms over the world of humans. The threat of an evil
un-imagined known as the Consult whose only desire is to wreck vengeance and destroy
the human world. And the only ones who know about or still persist in trying to
unravel this mystery – is the School of Sorcery known as Mandate. One man –
besieged by dreams of his ancestors that run red with blood of men killed in
the First Apocalypse – is out to unravel the secrets and lay bare a conspiracy
that is even bigger than the Holy War. All these threads collide towards the end
of First Book.
Each POV is fascinating and riveting as it unfolds. Starting
with a sketchy outline peppered with rather straightforward characters that
lack any depth, Bakker takes his time unfolding his world. And what a world! (Interviews
tell me it took his fifteen years to finish his first book!) the characters are
like onions with endless layers peeling off with every new chapter – by the
end, I was sufficiently invested in pretty much all of their futures to want to
continue this mindblowing series. The detail shines through some brilliant
writing that smacks you between your ears pretty hard the first time itself. I
had myself scrambling for the thesaurus every few sentences but I settled down
for the ride as his vision slowly unfurled through the pages. Trust me, it’s a
tough ride but I would suggest you hang on – for the world he transports you to
will astonish you with its beauty and depth.
He rivals Steven Erikson in his ambitious world building –
throwing us right into the middle of this meddling confusion and slowly giving
us glimpses one by one. Characters and revelations are laid bare throughout the
book and still you’re left with the feeling there is more to it. The mystery or
the aura around the larger evil looms throughout the book gives it an edgy feel
– the prose effectively highlighting the dread and desolate nature of this
world. Grim and depressing painted rich by a prose that is literary and
sometimes pretty obtuse. I am not complaining but it does get a bit weary at
times. Especially the meandering thoughts of the sorcerers or the monk in
question, trying to understand the ways of the world. If you’re a student of
philosophy, then you’re in for a treat. You could probably write your treatise
on this book. It almost reads like a historical fiction – recounting of a world
gone to waste ages ago. Accurate detailed descriptions that come alive on the
pages.
Some people compare the style to Frank Herbert’s Dune
series. I would agree – the quotes and anecdotes helping you come to terms with
the over-arching plots written from a historian’s point of view, the way Bakker
pushes us through the thought-processes of his characters, getting insider their
heads, living their confusion and fear – reminded me a lot of Herbert’s style
of writing. I think I might just go and give the Dune a re-read now.
But one heck of a beginning to a series I am looking forward
to finish. I got four more books now to finish and am looking forward to this
jaunty ride. I give it FIVE stars – this is definitely one of my all time
fabulous reads of Fantasy. Thank you, Scott Bakker.
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