Background: I bought R. Scott Bakker’s first book purely based on its appearance on ‘top fantasy’ lists and its comparisons to the ‘realistic’ fantasy authors of Steven Erikson and George R..R. Martin. Bakker comes from an English critique and Philosophy background and it shows. His prose is often quite moving: either beautiful in its poetry or sickening in its brutality. His characters, setting, and background all teem with philosophical underpinnings. Set in a world mirroring Europe and the Middle East during the First Crusade the book is schizophrenic in its soaring heights and puzzling lows.
Setting: The characters all have odd names (quasi-Germanic?)- more so than typical fantasy, so much so that I have trouble remembering the characters by name (which is a problem). The world of oddly named characters has already been destroyed by one Apocalypse. Another is sure to follow, at least according to the Quixotic order of Sorcerers, The Mandate. Cursed with dreams detailing the recollections of their founder’s experience during the first apocalypse, they know with certainty that the Apocalypse is real, but after years of vague warnings the Great Factions of the world ignore them. The world’s great religion has experienced a renaissance under a new pope-equivalent and a Holy War is imminent. Great Factions jockey for position amidst alliances of heathen sorcerers and scheming religious orders. In the midst of this volatile setting, an outlander monk emerges with powerful, unique knowledge that is sure to change the course of history. Overall, the setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths. The depth and richness of the book is engrossing and thought-provoking. When I wasn’t reading it, I often found myself considering the world and the story, which is high praise indeed.
Story: The plot and the characters are fascinating and maddening in equal turns. First, my qualms: The titular “Prince of Nothing” is a do-it-all to the worst degree. Bred for intellect, practitioner of the “Logos” philosophy, superb combatant, able to read people’s thoughts through their facial twitches, and crafter of perfect statements for nearly every situation, the character is maddening in his perfection. Although his “gee whiz” powers are adequately explained, the idolatry, worship, and praise heaped upon him in his (so far) limited screen time is tiresome. Secondly, all the female characters of note are highly sexualized and often brutalized. Now, I’m OK with characters being raped, beaten, and treated like shit: those types make for better stories than those living idyllic lives. However, the absence of a single female character that isn’t defined by her sexuality is troublesome.
That being said, there’s a lot to love in the book. The main character, a wizard/spy with low self-esteem, is likeable and relatable for his failings. He’s a great stand-in for every person that’s been forced to give up what they love for their career. The scheming royal family is delightful in their paranoia and arrogance. The typical barbarian archetype gets nicely twisted and featured. The book definitely feels like “Book 1” as it’s more meant to set the stage than really go into depth. The climax is adequate, but leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
Overall: B. Ultimately, the book’s glaring issues detracts from a story that I read in record time. I believe that the female characters will manage to stop being whores (literally in one case) and develop, but I’m concerned that the sequels will focus too much on the Jesus stand-in/Canon Sue to the point where I’ll grow annoyed (see Sword of Truth for this type of decay). Despite its flaws, it’s a visceral kick in the face of a fantasy novel that endeavors to tackle philosophy, religion, and politics.
Glad you’ve enjoyed the book. I’m nearly through with the 4th book ‘The Judging Eye’ and have been happy with them all. Yes, Anasurimbor Kellhus is almost ‘too perfect’, but I think that’s the big flaw in itself, especially when you see it from the perspective of the warrior Cnaur who loathes him.
I, too, gave up on the Sword of Truth books after a while, but I still find Bakker’s books well worth it.
@ruined: Cnaur is definitely the saving grace of the too-perfect Kellhus. I was considering that the series is a look at the all-too-perfect archetype, but I think I need to read more of the series to be certain. I’m glad to hear that the books maintain a good level of quality!
See, here’s the thing with Kelhus being too perfect: this is much more forgivable in a villain than a hero. And make no mistake: Kelhus is the villain. He’s a main character, one of the protagonists, and the title character of the series, but he’s nonetheless a villain. You’re meant to gee-whiz at his abilities, yes, but you gee-whizzed at Darth Vader and Hannibal Lector as well.
His villain status becomes clearer in the second book. I don’t think this is much a spoiler, really. Remember Kelhus’s time with the trapper, in the north, right at the beginning of the book? He spelled out for us what he was like, what he was after, and how he saw everyone else around him.
There’s the No-God and the Fanim and the various cruel, scheming Inrithi nobles who threaten the characters we actually care for (Achamian, Esmenet, Cnaiur), but the real drama comes in wondering how well each of them will resist Kelhus’s influence.
The book does suffer a *lot* for being essentially one long prelude – lots of events are put into motion, but nothing *happens*.
I got started on the Prince of Nothing trilogy a few years ago and agree with most everything you’ve said here. One of Bakker’s strong points is his world building (my favorite part of the fantasy genre). The world is engrossing and deep. But, in addition to the story so often being dark and brutal for seemingly no other reason than to be dark and brutal, the main character (who’s name I have forgotten by now) and his Jesus/Moses/Muhammad-like escapades only grow to greater and greater levels of eye-rolling heights as the trilogy continues.
I barely picked up the second book, some five months after the first, but am ultimately glad I finished the series. But, I very much doubt that I’ll pick up Bakker’s next triology in the world featuring the titular Aspect-Emperor.