Book Review: R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing Series

I just finished the 2nd book in this trilogy and I have to say I love it so far. The plot, the characters, the world it takes place in... It's all so incredibly complex that it keeps me thinking about it even after I've finished the books. The series is essentially a political intrigue set in a fantasy universe that has clearly been modeled on our own, roughly around the time of the crusades. While there are a number of similarities between the world Bakker has created and our own history, it is definitely not a historical fantasy. This world is unique and very different from ours, despite having similar problems of holy war, racism and religious fanatacism. It ties in a number of real social issues, including sexism and homophobia, but they are never entirely in the spotlight; they primarily come into focus only when important to the characters.

And the characters... Some of the most complicated, real people I have discovered in a series of books. The main character of the series, Kellhus, has a god-like intelligence that allows him to see into people's minds via their facial expressions, body language, etc., understand their motivations and subconscious thoughts, and ultimately manipulate them. The story revolves around how he becomes a central figure in the holy war by posing as a prophet, but the story switches perspective between a large cast, including leaders of countries, zealots, a tribal warrior, a prostitute, a magician who aids the holy war despite believing he's damned... The list goes on.

The one thing I didn't like about the book is that at times it feels too complicated. As much as I love the politcal intrigue, I occasionally found myself flipping back several hundred pages to figure out who a character was or what was going on. That said, I wouldn't want this story watered down. I love the heavy influence of various philosophies and the way the logic of the character's actions is exposed, and I don't think it would be half as enjoyable to read if it were easy to understand.

If you enjoy long, thought-provoking books you will probably love this series. Despite its length, it never felt dry or slow-paced to me, and as I said it still keeps me thinking about it after I've finished. If that's not the mark of a good book, I don't know what is.