Richard Scott Bakker
The Prince of Nothing ed. The Overlook Press 2008 |
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A score of centuries has passed since the First Apocalypse and the thoughts of men have turned, inevitably, to more worldly concerns...A veteran sorcerer and spy seeks news of an ancient enemy. A military genius plots to conquer the known world for his Emperor but dreams of the throne for himself. The spiritual leader of the Thousand Temples seeks a Holy War to cleanse the land of the infidel. An exiled barbarian chieftain seeks vengeance against the man who disgraced him. And into this world steps a man like no other, seeking to bind 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 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... |
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The Holy War fomented by the mysterious prophet Maithanet between "the two great faiths of Inrithism and Fanimry" in The Darkness That Comes Before (2004), the critically acclaimed first book in the epic fantasy trilogy by Canadian author Bakker, explodes in this compelling, if overly long, sequel set in the medieval world of Eärwa. Like many a traditional historical chronicle, the book mentions a plethora of people and places only in passing, but the all-too-human tale of love, hatred and justice, centered on the sorcerer Drusas Achamian and the monk Anasûrimbor Kellhus (aka "the prince of nothing") and their respective harlot lady friends with hearts of gold, Esmenet and Serwë, keeps the pages turning. The final cinematic scene, of a vast landscape filled with enormous armies, nicely sets the stage for book three of this daringly unconventional series in the Tolkien mold. |
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Will Kelhus be able to rise to claim his role within the ascendancy, or will he be overtaken by his enemies--both within and without? Will he reach the ancient city of Shimeh and reunite with his father? Upon the apocalypse, will there be survivors left to write the history of the Holy War? |
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Un Grim Fantasy (o più precisamete un Grimdark Fantasy, come è più normalmente conosciuto) che ha avuto un discreto successo nel mondo anglosassone ma che non ha avuto una traduzione italiana, come altri certamente, ma forse anche per il forte tema religioso che ne è alla base, nel senso che le religioni, tutte, vengono mostrate per quello che sono: invenzioni umane per ottenere qualche scopo ma che possono acquisire una forza morale e di guida per molte persone portandole a fare cose che altrimenti non sarebbero mai state capaci di fare, ma chi mantiene consapevolezza della vera natura delle religioni è chi ne sarà capace di trarne i maggiori benefici. |
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