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      The Darkness That Comes Before

      by R. Scott Bakker
      Published
      Jun 2004
      Main Genre
      Fantasy Fantasy
      Rating
      Pages
      589
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      Series
      The Prince of Nothing Book 1

      About This Book

      A mysterious traveler intervenes in an epic holy war in this "impressive, challenging debut" of the critically acclaimed fantasy epic (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

      The first book in R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series introduces readers to a strikingly original and engrossingly vivid new world. With its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals, The Darkness That Comes Before has drawn comparison to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Frank Herbert's Dune.


      Bakker's Eärwa is a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future. As untold thousands gather for a crusade, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus—part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence—from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.

      Series Placement

      Book 1
      View full series order

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      General Fiction Speculative Fiction

      Subgenres

      Fantasy

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      Formats & Editions

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      Paperback

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      Paperback
      Jan 2003 Penguin (Canada) ISBN13 9780143013747 ISBN10 0143013742
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      Trade Paperback
      Jun 2004 Overlook Press ISBN13 9781585676774 ISBN10 1585676772
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      Paperback
      Jun 2005 Little, Brown ISBN13 9781841494081 ISBN10 1841494089
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      Trade Paperback
      Sep 2008 Overlook Press ISBN13 9781590201183 ISBN10 1590201183
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      Hardcover

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      Hardcover
      Jun 2004 Overlook Press ISBN13 9781585675593 ISBN10 1585675598
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      eBook

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      eBook
      Sep 2008 Overlook ISBN10 B00345GBSS
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      eBook
      Sep 2008 Orbit ISBN13 9780748120130 ISBN10 0748120130
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      eBook
      Jul 2015 Overlook Press ISBN13 9781590203859 ISBN10 1590203852
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      Audio

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      Audible
      Jun 2012 Audible Studios ISBN10 B008EPNAFA
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      MP3 CD
      May 2016 Brilliance Audio ISBN13 9781522607724 ISBN10 1522607722
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