Author : R. Scott Bakker
Description : In "The Warrior Prophet," Bakker hits a new high mark, as the various plots and agendas of the vast cast of characters are much clearer. The Holy War, which is essentially a medieval Crusade on steroids, is marching south towards its goal of the city of Shimeh. Being an amalgamation of forces and followers from various nations, the Holy War is plagued by in-fighting, and there is almost as much bloodshed within the Holy War as there is directed towards their hated foes.
While the nobles still lead their respective armies, it is undeniable that Anasurimbor Kellhus (the titular "Prince of Nothing") is growing in influence and is gradually becoming the de facto leader of the expedition. Kellhus, who may be even more of a demi-god in this second novel than he was in the first, continues to pursue his own agenda by seemingly coopting the agenda of the Holy War. While his precise motives for tracking down his father aren't always clear, he moves with an undeniable purpose, foiling assassination attempts while winning over the hearts and minds of those around him, even occasionally the hearts of those who hate him, or those who have sworn themselves to another.
In the midst of the Holy War, an alien race strides in the guise of men, known only by Kellhus and the mighty sorcerer Drusas Achamian . . . which of course marks both Kellhus and Drusas for death. This is inconvenient for both, as there is already a long line of people who want both Kellhus and Drusas to depart this world, as painfully as possible.
The good news is that now that the Holy War is marching, there are numerous opportunities for Bakker to demonstrate that he can play with the "big boys" when it comes to depicting the horrors of the battlefield (Bernard Cornwell and Cormac McCarthy come to mind as you read Bakker's works, as does Manda Scott). From the clash of armies to Kellhus' inhuman battle gifts to Drusas unleashing his sorcerer's rage, "The Warrior Prophet" is rife with blood and triumph.
"The Warrior Prophet" can be a difficult book at times, as literally hundreds of thousands of people are killed during the Holy War. And while many of these deaths occur on the battlefield, Bakker also shows the price of folly that comes from a flawed strategy, as he shows the horrifying cost to the Holy War as they fight to cross a blast-furnace of a desert without water. During these passages, "The Warrior Prophet" passes from the realm of mere fantasy fiction into something larger, more epic, that brings to mind the Exodus from the Bible or the more daunting passages from "The Iliad" or "The Aeniad."
While definitely a large work, "The Warrior Prophet" powers itself along quite nicely with many subplots and rich characters. You should not be daunted by the length of these books -- for one thing, the layout of the book is such that words are not "crammed" onto the page. I haven't done an official comparison, but as an example I think that John Marco's "The Jackal of Nar" is a book that may have fewer pages than "The Warrior Prophet," but thanks to its printing has many more words printed on each page . . . Lord knows "Jackal" felt like a longer book than "Prophet."
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