The Darkness That Comes Before
First edition cover
|
|
| Author | R. Scott Bakker |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | David Rankine |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Series | Prince of Nothing |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher |
Overlook Press (US) & Orbit (UK) |
|
Publication date
|
2004 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 604 pp (Overlook hardback) |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 54529878 |
| 813/.6 22 | |
| LC Class | PR9199.4.B356 D37 2004 |
| Followed by | The Warrior Prophet |
The Darkness That Comes Before is the first book in the Prince of Nothing series by Scott Bakker. It was published in 2004.
There are also several 'supporting' characters who have significant roles throughout the books such as Achamian's old students Nersei Proyas and Krijates Xinemus and the Emperor's nephew Ikurei Conphas.
The Dûnyain - A hidden monastic sect that has repudiated history and animal appetite in the hope of finding absolute enlightenment through the control of all desire and circumstance. For two thousand years they have bred their members for both motor reflexes and intellectual acuity.
The Consult - The cabal of magi and generals that survived the death of the No-God in 2155 and has laboured ever since to bring about his return in the so-called Second Apocalypse. Very few in the Three Seas believe they still exist.
The various institutions of sorcerers in the world of Eärwa are referred to as Schools. The dominant Schools are
The Mandate - Gnostic School founded by Seswatha in 2156 in order to continue the war against the Consult and to protect the Three Seas from the return of the No-God, Mog-Pharau. Their power is the Gnosis.
The Scarlet Spires - Anagogic School which is the most powerful in the Three Seas and de facto ruler of High Ainon since 3818.
The Imperial Saik - Anagogic School indentured to the Emperor of Nansur.
The Mysunsai - The self-proclaimed Mercenary School, which sells its sorcerous services across the Three Seas.
While it is made clear in the first book in the series that anyone who possesses the ability to wield magic is amongst the Few, it is also mentioned in book 2 (The Warrior-Prophet) that unless they are part of a School as sorcerers, they are merely wizards. To the rest of the people of Eärwa, sorcery is regarded as sacrilegious and is only tolerated because of its effectiveness in battle.
There are also numerous references throughout the series to ancient artifacts that shield their bearer from any magic so long as they are held. They are known as Chorae, Trinkets, and Tears of God and they are highly sought after by many, including the Schools.
Synthesizing monotheistic and polytheistic elements, Inrithism is the dominant faith of the Three Seas, founded upon the revelations of Inri Sejenus (c.2159-2202), the Latter Prophet. The central tenets of Inrithism deal with the immanence of the God in historical events, the unity of the individual deities of the Cults as Aspects of the God as revealed by the Latter Prophet, and the infallibility of the Tusk as scripture.
The Thousand Temples - The Institution that provides the ecclesiastical framework of Inrithism. Though based in Sumna, the Thousand Temples is omnipresent throughout the northwestern and eastern Three Seas.
...
Wikipedia