The Warrior Prophet
As a young girl my favorite genre, both for reading and writing, was fantasy. I had no idea that stories about magic and unicorns were silly, and loved drawing maps of temples, caves, cities, and mythical continents. As I grew older, however, I read less and less of it, concerned with how my reading choices would reflect upon my intellect and cultural acumen. By the time I reached my late adolescence, the books I read were either well-established literary classics or those likely to be approved by my McSweeney’s-revering friends.
But, let’s face it, I was never and never will be cool. So, it’s been a relief and a rediscovery to once again sink my teeth into a fantasy series, albeit with no unicorns. I’ve just completed the second book of the Prince of Nothing series, by R. Scott Bakker.
Of course, it isn’t “just” fantasy - it’s smart, philosophical, and literate, with an eye towards human history, philosophy, and the functioning of complex societies. There is much more depth, and much more fodder for analysis, than in most of the fluff fantasy I read as a young girl. I covered my copy of “The Darkness that Comes Before” with notes and charts and tables detailing my thoughts on the various themes and motives, usually while in a state of giddy elation.
To tell the truth, I don’t think I’d have been satisfied with fluff. But it’s a wonderful feeling to be pulled along by the author, not just by well-crafted prose or psychological insight but simply caring about the characters and wanting to know what happens to them. When one becomes focused on ‘literature’, sometimes reading-for-pleasure falls by the wayside, but with the best books, one not need be sacrificed for the other.
I did have misgivings about the book, but I will speak about them in a different post.
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