Review: The Judging Eye by R. Scott Bakker

R. Scott Bakker’s The Prince of Nothing Trilogy took the standard epic fantasy template very seriously. While it utilizes many of the usual tools, it also presents a literary and philosophical depth largely absent from the genre. The Judging Eye (US, UK, Canada) is the first book in a follow-up trilogy, The Aspect Emperor, and Bakker shows maturity as an author and demonstrates why his name belongs among the best epic fantasy authors.

The Judging Eye takes place 20 years after the conclusion of the previous trilogy – Anasûrimbor Kellhus has risen to become the Aspect Emperor – a human god who has forcibly united the nations of the south into a New Empire. Much of the intervening time has been spent in preparation for a new war with the No-God and Consult in an effort to avoid a Second Apocalypse. The Judging Eye shows us the start of this great march to war, known as the Great Ordeal.

The Judging Eye is told through three primary story arcs that generally rely on just a few points of view. The Empress Esmenet is left behind to manage the Empire as her husband leads the nations to war. The old, exiled Wizard Achamian lives as a hermit and finally sets out on a perilous journey to discover the very origins of Kellhus and the mysterious Dûnyain sect. A young barbarian King and his realm is absorbed into Aspect Emperor’s New Empire and he is forced to march into the wilds of the north under a new banner.

Anasûrimbor Kellhus has elevated himself as the God of Gods – no longer human and the central figure of a new religion, and the only religion tolerated in his New Empire. Bakker plays with the points of view – in The Prince of Nothing Trilogy, we got frequent views from Kellhus that slowly decreased in number as Kellhus increased in power and influence. In The Judging Eye, we don’t get a point a view from Kellhus the god like we had from Kellhus the man. The previous trilogy was about the origin of this newly acclaimed god and in The Judging Eye we can only look up to see him without the privilege of seeing his thoughts. The god Kellhus seemingly only looks forward to inevitable conflict with a rival, the no-god. This contrasts with the hermit-wizard Achamian, whose point of view dominates one of the three main story arcs. Achamian is obsessed with the past and finding the true origins of Kellhus the man.

This interesting aspect of looking back as the world moves forward is furthered in the story arc dominated the Empress Esmenet’s point of view. Much of this reflection focuses on the regret of choices made. Esmenet has the distance and history to see into the life of Kellhus. While she’s still dazzled when in his presence, in his absence she sees the horror and fears of past, present and future. Esmenet reveals fear of her and Kellhus’s children – each strangely powerful like their father (if not as strong) and each is not entirely sane. This backward look reveals much of the potential future – and it’s as bleak as I’ve come to expect from Bakker.

In The Prince of Nothing Trilogy, Bakker’s writing was heavy on the internal dialogue and philosophical end of things, turning off a number of potential fans. In The Judging Eye, Bakker lightens up significantly on the internal focus previously utilized, showing the deeper philosophical aspects in a much more subtle manner. The result is a much more accessible book with a faster pace that should appeal to a wider range of fans. Bakker doesn’t sacrifice the depth of his previous writing – he just shows improvement as an author as he keeps the intellectual feel to the book while making his writing more fun to read. Bakker even attempts a gallows sort of humor at times – though he has some improving to do in that area and the book’s overall feel is still depressingly dark and serious.

The Judging Eye shows influence from other epic fantasy works rather than the almost historic feel of the crusades of The Prince of Nothing Trilogy. The depth of the worldbuilding feels much greater and easily rivals works like The Lord of the Rings with its feel of a deep and tragic history to the world. Bakker further honors Tolkien with an homage to Moria – and Bakker truly stands on the shoulders of the giants that came before with an enthralling journey into the depths where you can feel the terror of the haunting dark. This series of events showcases Bakker’s writing at its best – the internal and external conflicts build, collide, and repeat in a crescendo that I could not set aside.

The Judging Eye opens The Aspect Emperor Trilogy, and as an opening book it doesn’t stand alone. Only one of the three main arcs comes to any sort of conclusion, and even that conclusion is just the end of the beginning. While the promise of greatness to come is huge, I can’t help but be a bit unhappy that I’ll have to wait for it. The Judging Eye is more accessible than The Prince of Nothing Trilogy – I suppose that one could read it without having read the previous trilogy, but to fully appreciate this book I feel that knowledge of the previous trilogy is important.

As if The Prince of Nothing wasn’t proof enough, Bakker shows again in The Judging Eye what can be done with epic fantasy – and what Bakker does is nothing short of excellence. 9/10

Related Posts: Scott Bakker Interview, Review of Prince of Nothing Trilogy (The Darkness That Comes Before, The Warrior Prophet, The Thousandfold Thought), Review of Neuropath

Scott Bakker Answers Questions Five

Canadian author (R.) Scott Bakker hit the SFF world hard to critical acclaim a few years ago with his debut The Darkness That Comes Before (review), followed shortly by the next two volumes of the Prince of Nothing Trilogy (review), The Warrior Prophet (review) and The Thousandfold Thought (review). His epic trilogy delves deeper and more philosophically than typical and tackles some weighty issues surrounding the idea of certainty. A follow-up trilogy (?) is forthcoming with The Judging Eye kicking it off sometime in early-2009.

In Bakker’s newest book, Neuropath (review), he embraces the psycho-thriller and gets a bit closer to his passions as a philosopher. The basis for the book resides in the reality of cognitive science and just what recent findings say about human consciousness.

I’m very pleased that Scott as taken the time to answer Questions Five – apparently I caught him in one of his more strident, evangelical moods.


What type of protection do you recommend for genre promiscuity?

SB: KY. It protects against chaffing and the like. Use enough of it and even half-naked barbarians and farmboys-who-would-be-king can be quite pleasurable.

So I’m told, anyway. Ahem.

Fill in the blank: Kids today just don’t appreciate the value of ___. How does Neuropath reflect this?

SB: Self-knowledge. They are told, over and over and over, “to believe in themselves,” and yet nowhere—literally nowhere!—are they taught just what it is they are believing in. Being human isn’t easy. In so many ways, we are our own biggest obstacles, and yet we teach our children to close their eyes and just pretend otherwise. We set them up to fail in all the ways that we fail. We give them little gold stickers.

Neuropath takes this as a central theme.

If Neuropath were a fortune cookie, what would its fortune be?

SB: You are not what you think you are.

Neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive science have been amassing evidence of this for decades now, and yet nary a peep makes it to mainstream culture. We send our kids to school, and instead of learning how to evaluate claims, or how to compensate for the myriad ways in which we all dupe ourselves, they are taught the precise opposite: to celebrate our stupidity, in fact.

Turn on the news. There isn’t a single crisis which does not turn on our cognitive shortcomings. Arguably, there’s no single greater cause of human misery, be it terrorist attacks or marital breakdowns, and yet we keep it hidden, and keep on pretending.

And I fear that our future will be far less forgiving than our past.

How would you interpret this fortune if were your own?

SB: That I’m not what I think I am. That despite all my hardwired tendencies to buy my own bullshit, I need to hold onto my doubt. Suspending judgment is the hard road. The high road—I hope.

Why should Neuropath be the next book that everyone reads?

SB: Because all the weaknesses I’ve referred to are factual–only our ignorance, vanity, and fraudulent culture allow us to think otherwise. The whole point of Neuropath is to suss those weaknesses out and to cut against them.

The reader is the real protagonist—or antagonist as the case might be.

The Prince of Nothing Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker

The Prince of Nothing trilogy stands apart as the single best completed fantasy series that I have read to date. Many will cry foul – “How could you dismiss the Lord of the Rings, the holy trilogy?” And many others will cry – what about Erikson and Martin (or even, what about Jordan and Goodkind *shudders the thought of Goodkind*)? Of course the caveat is the word completed, but all semantics aside; this is a superb work of speculative fiction.

The players of the story are rather familiar – a doubting sorcerer, a great warrior from a warlike people, a trodden-upon woman, and a mysterious, all-powerful, and charismatic leader. The world and its people are also nothing strikingly new – a pre-industrial world with European overtones, pale people of the north, darker skinned of the south, clashes in the desert, religious intolerance and wars. The characters are real, the battles epic, the sorcery powerful; and the beauty is what Bakker does with these elements. He creates a compelling story, that while using familiar pieces, builds into something new, something better.

On the surface, the Prince of Nothing is the history of a vast holy war, a clash of cultures and religions, and the ominous anticipation of a greater conflict, a true apocalypse. However, Bakker uses these as vehicles to do much more than merely entertain with a gripping narrative; he challenges the reader about good, evil, perception, manipulation, culture, gender, equality, and religion.

The heart of the story is a holy war, a crusade, a jihad. The condemnation of religious fanaticism, and perhaps even religion itself, is clear – or is it. Religion is just another tool Bakker uses to show us the true object of his ire: certainty. When people become certain in their actions and beliefs, there is no room for anything, or anyone else. Absolute ideas and beliefs result in absolute decisions, reactions, and solutions. The ultimate result of such certainty is horror – absolute horror. Bakker shows us this lesson through his distinct brand of looking glass.

The weighty themes discussed above may serve to scare off many a reader – don’t let them. The powerful tale is not sacrificed for a message, but enhanced. Certainty is there, in your face, challenging the whole time; but it is not heavy handed. In the end, the message is clear, but never didactic, always an element of the story. The Prince of Nothing is a great work of epic fantasy, of speculative fiction, of literature. A must read for traditional genre fans, but it also will appeal to fans disenfranchised by the genre, and fans from outside of genre.

The conclusion of the trilogy brings us to a horrifically appropriate end, but does not yield ultimate closure. While some may be less than pleased by this, I revel in the knowledge of more to come. We’ve seen the Holy War, next is the Second Apocalypse – The Aspect Emperor, a planned duology. I’ve not rated a series before, but I think it appropriate to do so – on my 10-point scale, where 5 and below are not recommended, and 10 is simply unsurpassed, the Prince of Nothing gets a 9; they don’t get any higher than that.

Related reviews: The Darkness That Comes Before, The Warrior Prophet, and The Thousandfold Thought. Interview.

The Thousandfold Thought by R. Scott Bakker

The Thousandfold Thought concludes Bakker’s Prince of Nothing trilogy, a must read for serious fans of the genre. This final chapter in the series has left me numb, yet craving more.

The book picks up where The Warrior Prophet leaves off in the city of Caraskand. Anasûrimbor Kellhus has fully assumed the role of the Warrior Prophet and controls the will of the holy war effortlessly. He consolidates his power and marches on Shimeh, the city of destiny for the holy, and for a reunion with his mysterious father.

Cnaiür continues his journey of self realization, battles insanity, and gains the attention of the Consult. After all, the Scylvendi served the No-God in the past – will Cnaiür serve the No-God in the present? Will he fulfill his desire to kill Anasûrimbor Moënghus?

Drusas Achamian lives a tortured life – the prophesized world’s savior has his worship, but stole the love of his life. Further, should he yield the Gnosis to Kellhus, the very power of the Mandate School? Is it betrayal, or destiny? Will the strength of Mandate and within Achamian be realized?

Esmenet assumes the right hand of Kellhus – a woman, a whore. How will she wield the power of the Warrior Prophet, how will she be used by Kellhus? Ever haunted by the betrayal of Achamian, can she bare this torch?

The Consult stirs, and rises to the threat posed by the Dûnyain: of Kellhus and Moënghus.

The Thousandfold Thought is the final argument in Bakker’s condemnation of certainty. The price of absolute religious, cultural, and other beliefs becomes clear as the Holy War reaches Shimeh. Bakker’s challenge to the reader is powerful, yet the story, as always, remains accessible and thrilling, without the heavy hand one might expect given what’s written between the lines.

The conclusion to the Prince of Nothing trilogy is an end; however it doesn’t provide the degree of closure craved by many readers. The Holy War is done; the Second Apocalypse is still to come. This world we be visited again in the planned duology, The Aspect Emperor.

So, on my 10-point scale, where 5 is a take-it or leave-it novel that isn’t really recommended and 10 is unsurpassed, The Thousandfold Thought rates 8-8.5, a very high recommendation. The three books of this trilogy are really three parts of a whole, and each part, while spectacular in its own right, does not stand alone. Their true greatness is in the whole of the story; the sum is even greater than its parts.

Related Reviews: The Darkness That Comes Before, The Warrior Prophet, and The Prince of Nothing Trilogy. Interview

The Warrior Prophet by R. Scott Bakker

The Warrior Prophet is the second book in Bakker’s landmark trilogy, the Prince of Nothing. As I wrote in my recent review of book one, The Darkness That Comes Before, this series has received much hype and critical acclaim. It deserves every bit of this, and more.

Bakker picks up the story where The Darkness That Comes Before leaves off; the Holy War is beginning its long march to liberate the holy city of Shimeh. Kellhus continues to learn from those around him and gains the trust of Mandate Schoolman Drusas Achamian and Conriyian Prince Proyas. Cnaiür’s prowess in war and knowledge of Kianese tactics proves valuable to both Kellhus and the Holy War itself, in spite of long held prejudices.

Great, tragic, and lucky battles ensue. The revelation of the skin spies remains largely in secret, but forces the hands of the Scarlett Spires into action. Kellhus’s influence continues to grow as he becomes a threat to the Great and the Holy War itself.

The brilliance of Bakker’s writing reveals itself in the simplicity of its presentation. By no means does this imply these books are simple. Logic and philosophy are the tools of Kellhus and a means with which Bakker creates immense depth and humanity to his characters and world. Religious parallels infuse the story and raise important questions about good, evil, damnation, redemption, and the origins of it all. However, Bakker is not heavy handed in his presentation of such important and often controversial issues. The story and its characters pull us in, and hold on with a tenacious grip.

Yes, I’m on the Bakker bandwagon, and loving it. He has lived up to and surpassed the hype, marking his place with the likes of the new generation of epic fantasy and fantastic literature. Bakker simply must be read. However, there is one important warning: the world Bakker has created is decidedly male. The books are in no way anti-woman, but the cultures of Bakker’s world are, and this can be difficult to stomach at times – of course that’s probably the point.

On my 10-point rating scale where 5 is a take-it or leave-it novel that is not recommended, and 10 is unsurpassed, The Warrior Prophet rates an 8.5. Recommendations from me don’t come much higher than that.

Related reviews: The Darkness That Comes Before, The Thousandfold Thought, and The Prince of Nothing Trilogy. Interview.

The Darkness That Comes Before by R Scott Bakker

Not since my introduction to A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin or The Malazan Tale of the Fallen by Steven Erikson has a new ‘epic fantasy’ series been recommended so highly. So, does Bakker live up to the hype? Yes. The first installment in the Prince of Nothing trilogy, The Darkness That Comes Before, earns Bakker the right to be named with the likes of Martin and Erikson, in the new breed of ‘epic fantasy’. I can only hope that the remaining installments, The Warrior Prophetand The Thousandfold Thought, continue the trend – and the hype indicates this is so.

Bakker takes the traditional ‘epic fantasy’ model and molds into something familiar, yet strikingly new. There is a young man of noble lineage from a far corner of the world seeking his destiny, sort of. There is a dark lord that threatens a new apocalypse, maybe. A seasoned warrior of unquestionable loyalty faithfully follows our prince, kind of but not really. A wise sorcerer guides our prince to his destiny, umm…not quite. Beautiful maidens are rescued and complete the characters, or not. All the usual players are present, but roles differ.

The Mandate School of Sorcery protects ancient, coveted secrets and guards against the return of the Consult – nonman followers of No-God who destroyed ancient civilization. However, the Consult has remained silent for centuries and only the Mandate even believe in its existence. Now a holy war is brewing and Mandate Schoolman Drusas Achamian must negotiate a fine line to stay alive and answer the most important question: Is the Consult involved.

Dûnyain monk Anasûrimbor Kellhus journeys south at a mysterious summons from his long absent father. His training of the mind allows manipulation of common men with little effort, and his training of the sword allows removal of obstacles with ease. Warrior-chief of a warrior society of the steppe, Cnaiür survives treachery in a great battle. Cnaiür discovers Kellhus at a scene of carnage and a connection is realized, Cnaiür knows Kellhus’s father. He joins Kellhus in his quest into uncertainty.

Bakker’s characters are flawed and simple determination of good guys versus bad guys remains illusive. Philosophy abounds with central characters of a monk and a sorcerer of schooling and the back-drop of holy war and Bakker achieves surprising depth in a story that is relatively easy to read.

What makes The Darkness That Comes Before difficult to rate is its clear place in a larger work – but a single part of a whole. So…on my 10-point scale, where 5 is a take-it or leave-novel that is generally not recommended and 10 is an unsurpassed novel, The Darkness That Comes Before rates 7.5 to 8. This is a must read for any fan of the genre, and a read that can capture fans traditionally opposed to ‘epic fantasy’.

The Darkness That Comes Before is part one of the Prince of Nothing trilogy – a very important distinction. While the end is not a cliff-hanger, it is in many ways an arbitrary ending without any resolution. This book is a beginning, but the good news is that this is a completed trilogy, not another unfinished series, and I look forward to its resolution.

Related reviews: The Warrior Prophet, The Thousandfold Thought, and The Prince of Nothing Trilogy. Interview.