One cannot raise walls against what has
been forgotten.
A score of centuries has passed since the First Apocalypse. The No-God
has been vanquished and the thoughts of men have turned, inevitably, to
more worldly concerns...
Drusas Achamian, tormented by 2,000 year old
nightmares, is a sorcerer and a spy, constantly seeking news of an
ancient enemy that few believe still exists. Ikurei Conphas, nephew to
the Nansur Emperor, is the Exalt-General of the Imperial Army and a
military genius. He plots to conquer the known world for his Emperor
and dreams of the throne for himself. Maithanet, mysterious and
charismatic, is spiritual leader of the Thousand Temples. He seeks a
Holy War to cleanse the land of the infidel. Cnaiür, Chieftain of the
Utemot, is a Scylvendi barbarian. Rejected by his people, he seeks
vengeance against the former slave who slew his father, and disgraced
him in the eyes of his tribe.
Into this world steps Anasûrimbor
Kellhus, the product of two thousand years of breeding and a lifetime
of training in the ways of thought, limb, and face. Steering souls
through the subtleties of word and expression, he slowly binds all –
man and woman, emperor and slave – to his own mysterious ends.
But the
fate of men – even great men – means little when the world itself may
soon be torn asunder. Behind the politics, beneath the imperialist
expansion, amongst the religious fervour, a dark and ancient evil is
reawakening.
After two thousand years, the No-God is returning. The
Second Apocalypse is nigh. And one cannot raise walls against what has
been forgotten...
"Exquisitely intelligent and beautifully written, R. Scott Bakker’s first novel in The Prince of Nothing series inspires both confidence and anticipation – this is fantasy with
muscle and brains, rife with intrigue and admirable depth of character,
set in a world laden with history and detail. Take note, one and all,
something remarkable has begun here…" – Steven Erikson
"The Darkness That Comes Before introduces a vast and richly detailed world for lovers of good fantasy. Bakker’s imaginative creation is an impressive addition to the genre." - John Marco
"A stunning first book, brilliant setting and characterisation, and if
this was just a warm-up then the entire series is going to set a new
standard for fantasy writers everywhere." – The Alien Online
