R. Scott Bakker

In this shattering conclusion to The Aspect-Emperor books, praised for their "sweeping epic scale and detailed historical world-building"* R. Scott Bakker delivers the harrowing and long-awaited finish to a story cycle that has stretched across seven books in two series. In The Unholy Consult, the Men of the Great Ordeal have been abandoned by Anas rimbor Kellhus, and the grand crusade has devolved into cannibalism and chaos. When Exalt-General Proyas, with Prince-Imperial Kayutas at his side, attempts to gain control of the lost Men and continue their march to Golgotterath, it rapidly becomes clear that the lost Lord-and-Prophet is not so easily shaken from the mission. When Sorweel, the Believer-King of Sakarpus, and Serwa, daughter of the Aspect-Emperor, join the Great Ordeal, they discover that the shortest path is not always the most obvious, or the safest. Souls, morality, and relationships are called into question when no one can be trusted, and the price for their sins is greater than they imagined. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Bakker's groundbreaking series is epic fantasy not to be missed. An uncompromising portrayal of a catastrophic world of myth, war, and sorcery, the scope and creativity of the Aspect-Emperor books stand alongside George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. The Aspect-Emperor Series: The Judging Eye The White-Luck Warrior The Great Ordeal The Unholy Consult * Grimdark Magazine

The highly anticipated finale to R. Scott Bakker's acclaimed Aspect-Emperor series

With The Great Ordeal, R. Scott Bakker presents the penultimate volume of The Aspect-Emperor, a series that stands with the finest in the genre for its grandiose scope, rich detail, and thrilling story. As the Fanim war-drums echo ominously outside the city walls, Empress Anasurimbor Esmenet is consumed by a frantic search for her missing son, Kelmomas. Meanwhile, her husband's Great Ordeal marches relentlessly northward, facing dwindling supplies and the harrowing decision to consume the flesh of fallen Sranc--a choice with unforeseen consequences. Far to the north, the wizard Achamian grapples with the fear that his long and arduous journey may end in futility, no closer to the truth he seeks. As the epic saga unfolds, Bakker's richly imagined universe of violence, sorcery, and philosophical depth reaches new heights, setting a new standard for the fantasy genre The Aspect-Emperor series follows Bakker's Prince of Nothing saga, returning to the same world twenty years later. The Great Ordeal follows The Judging Eye and The White-Luck Warrior, and delivers the first half of the conclusion to this epic story. Returning to Bakker's richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, The Aspect-Emperor continues to set the bar for the fantasy genre, reaching new heights of intricacy and meaning. The Aspect-Emperor Series: The Judging Eye The White-Luck Warrior The Great Ordeal The Unholy Consult

Experience your favourite fantasy worlds in this 2017 r/fantasy Stabby Award winning anthology, featuring some of the most fearsome, devious, and brutal antagonists in fantasy. Villains take centre stage in nineteen dark and magical stories that will have you cheering for all the wrong heroes as they perform savage deeds towards wicked ends. And why not? They are the champions of their own stories--evil is a matter of perspective.Authors: R. Scott Bakker - Adrian Tchaikovsky - Michael R. Fletcher - Shawn Speakman - Teresa Frohock - Kaaron Warren - Courtney Schafer - Marc Turner - Jeff Salyards - Mazarkis Williams - Deborah A. Wolf - Brian Staveley - Alex Marshall - Bradley P. Beaulieu - Matthew Ward - Mark Alder - Janny Wurts - E.V. Morrigan - Peter Orullian

Experience your favourite fantasy worlds in this 2017 r/fantasy Stabby Award winning anthology, featuring some of the most fearsome, devious, and brutal antagonists in fantasy. Villains take centre stage in nineteen dark and magical stories that will have you cheering for all the wrong heroes as they perform savage deeds towards wicked ends. And why not? They are the champions of their own stories--evil is a matter of perspective.Authors: R. Scott Bakker - Adrian Tchaikovsky - Michael R. Fletcher - Shawn Speakman - Teresa Frohock - Kaaron Warren - Courtney Schafer - Marc Turner - Jeff Salyards - Mazarkis Williams - Deborah A. Wolf - Brian Staveley - Alex Marshall - Bradley P. Beaulieu - Matthew Ward - Mark Alder - Janny Wurts - E.V. Morrigan - Peter Orullian

The highly anticipated new novel in R. Scott Bakker's acclaimed Aspect-Emperor series

The second volume in the ambitious and compelling Aspect-Emperor fantasy series

"Among the greatest . . . A plot and subplot that is like the climactic movement of a symphony." --Realms of Fantasy The acclaimed author of the Prince of Nothing series returns with a new epic fantasy series in the same richly layered universe. With this first book in the Aspect-Emperor quartet, R. Scott Bakker delves into his richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery. Remolding the fantasy genre to broaden the scope of intricacy and meaning, Bakker has once again written a fantasy series that defies all expectations and rewards the reader with an experience unlike any to be had in the canon of today's literature. An uncompromising portrayal of a catastrophic world of myth, war, and sorcery, the scope and creativity of the Aspect-Emperor books stand alongside George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. The Aspect-Emperor Series: The Judging Eye The White-Luck Warrior The Great Ordeal The Unholy Consult

First he was the Prince of Nothing, then the Warrior-Prophet. Now Anasurimbor Kellhus is the Aspect-Emperor. But is he a living god . . . or a demon from hell?

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 E rwa 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, Anas rimbor 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. The Prince of Nothing Series The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought

As the Holy War approaches its climax, emperors will fall and terrifying revelations will come to light, in the final novel of the acclaimed fantasy epic. All opposition to the man once derided as the Prince of Nothing has vanished or been vanquished. Their leaders slain, the heathen Fanim have fled in disarray. One final march will bring the Holy War to the fabled city of Shimeh. But so very much has changed. Anasurimbor Kellhus, the Warrior-Prophet, now leads the Men of the Tusk. The cuckolded sorcerer Achamian serves as his tutor, betraying his school to protect the man he believes can prevent the Second Apocalypse. The Scylvendi barbarian, Cnaiur, succumbs finally to madness. The Consult, sensing the endgame near, work frantically to prepare for the coming of the No-God. The final reckoning is at hand. Faceless assassins will strike in the dead of night. The sorcerous Schools will be unleashed. And Anasurimbor Kellhus will at last confront his father and the dread revelation of the Thousandfold Thought. The Prince of Nothing Series The Darkness That Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought

As a vast Holy War begins, a powerful new force emerges in the second book of R. Scott Bakker's "violent, passionate, darkly poetic" (SFSite.com) Prince of Nothing fantasy series. The first battle against the heathen has been won, but while the Great Names squabble over the spoils, Kellhus draws more followers to his banner. The sorcerer Achamian and his lover, Esmenet, submit entirely--only to face an unimaginable test of faith. The warrior Cnaiur falls ever deeper into madness. The skin-spies of the Consult watch with growing trepidation. And across the searing wastes of the desert, a name--a title--begins to be whispered among the faithful. Who is the Warrior Prophet? A dangerous heretic who turns brother against brother? Or the only man who can avert the Second Apocalypse? With the fate of the Holy War hanging in the balance, the great powers will have to choose between their most desperate desires and their most ingrained prejudice. Between hatred and hope. Between the Warrior-Prophet and the end of the world . . . "A class act . . . very impressive." --SFX The Prince of Nothing Trilogy: The Darkness that Comes Before The Warrior Prophet The Thousandfold Thought

'[Bakker] clamps his hand over yours and simply does not let go...Amid the cluttered shelves of the Epic Fantasy genre, Bakker is a name that stands out among not just the new writers in the crowd but established and recognized names.' - SFFWORLD'The entire series is going to set a new standard for fantasy writers everywhere.' - THE ALIEN ONLINEAll opposition to the man once derided as the Prince of Nothing has vanished or been vanquished. Their leaders slain, the heathen Fanim have fled in disarray. One final march will bring the Holy War to the fabled city of Shimeh. But so very much has changed.Anasurimbor Kellhus, the Warrior-Prophet, now leads the Men of the Tusk. The cuckolded sorcerer Achamian serves as his tutor, betraying his school to keep safe the man he believes can prevent the Second Apocalypse. The Scylvendi barbarian, Cnaiur, succumbs finally to madness. The Consult, sensing the endgame of millennia of planning, work frantically to prepare for the coming of the No-God. The final reckoning is at hand. Faceless assassins will strike in the dead of night. Kings and Emperors will fall. The sorcerous Schools will be unleashed. And Anasurimbor Kellhus will at last confront his father and the dread revelation of the Thousandfold Thought.The epic conclusion to the acclaimed Prince of Nothing trilogy.Books by R Scott Baker:Prince of Nothing TrilogyThe Darkness That Comes BeforeThe Warrior-ProphetThe Thousandfold ThoughtAspect-EmperorThe Judging EyeThe White Luck WarriorThe Great OrdealThe Unholy ConsultNovelsNeuropathDisciple of the DogLight, Time, and Gravity

The second book in R. Scott Bakker's acclaimed fantasy masterpiece, The Prince of Nothing

A startlingly original and assured epic fantasy debut. A tale of conspiracy, holy war, empire-building and intrigue set in the most vividly imagined fantasy world since Tolkien's Middle Earth.