Recommendations based on The Darkness That Comes Beforeby R. Scott Bakker

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. The Warrior Prophet

    by R. Scott Bakker
    The second book in the Prince of Nothing trilogy, following the Holy War as it marches towards Shimeh.

    "Book Two of The Prince of Nothing" finds the Holy War continuing its inexorable march southward. But the suspicion begins to dawn that the real threat comes not from the infidel but from ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Thousandfold Thought

    by R. Scott Bakker
    The conclusion to the Prince of Nothing trilogy, following the Holy War's final battle and the fate of its survivors.

    The apocalyptic holy war comes to a head in this conclusion to the groundbreaking Prince of Nothing series and casts into question all the action that has taken place before. ... (Goodreads)

  3. Memories of Ice

    by Steven Erikson
    A tale of war and magic, as old enemies and new alliances clash in a battle for the fate of the world.

    Memories of Ice takes place simultaneously with the events of, Deadhouse Gates, , beginning about four months after the events of, Gardens of the Moon, . Dujek's 2nd army allegedly goes renegade, ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Gardens of the Moon

    by Steven Erikson
    A complex and epic fantasy novel set in a world of magic, gods, and political intrigue. The Malazan Empire is in turmoil, and various factions are vying for power.

    The novel opens in the 96th year of the Malazan Empire, during the final year of the rule of Emperor Kellanved. Ganoes Paran, age 12, witnesses the sacking of the Mouse Quarter of Malaz City. Paran ... (Wikipedia)

  5. The Blade Itself

    by Joe Abercrombie
    Epic fantasy saga of an unlikely band of misfits and their struggle against an oppressive empire.

    Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead ... (Goodreads)

  6. The Crippled God

    by Steven Erikson
    Epic fantasy saga of gods, mortals and dragons fighting for control of a magical world.

    The Bonehunters march for Kolanse, led by Adjunct Tavore. This woman with no gifts of magic, deemed plain, unprepossessing, displaying nothing to instill loyalty or confidence, will challenge the ... (Goodreads)

  7. Hyperion

    by Dan Simmons
    Epic science-fiction story of a journey to the distant planet Hyperion.

    In the 29th century, the Hegemony of Man comprises hundreds of planets connected by farcaster portals. The Hegemony maintains an uneasy alliance with the TechnoCore , a civilisation of AIs . Modified ... (Wikipedia)

  8. Revelation Space

    by Alastair Reynolds
    A space opera that explores the dark side of humanity and the consequences of advanced technology.

    Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just as it was on the verge of discovering space flight. Now one scientist, Dan Sylveste, will stop at nothing to ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Warded Man

    by Peter V. Brett
    Adventure of three unlikely heroes, who must battle monsters to save their world.

    As darkness falls after sunset, the corelings rise—demons who possess supernatural powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, ... (Goodreads)

  10. Altered Carbon

    by Richard K. Morgan
    A futuristic sci-fi noir set in a world where death is no longer permanent.

    On the colony planet of Harlan’s World, Takeshi Kovacs and his partner Sarah Sachilowski, former Envoys who had returned to a life of crime, are killed by a U.N. colonial commando unit. Kovacs is ... (Wikipedia)

  11. The Shadow of the Torturer

    by Gene Wolfe
    A journey of self-discovery and exploration, as a young man seeks to unlock the secrets of his past.

    Severian , an apprentice in the Torturers' Guild, barely survives a swim in the River Gyoll. On his way back to the Citadel, Severian and several other apprentices sneak into a necropolis where ... (Wikipedia)

  12. The Black Company

    by Glen Cook
    Mercenary soldiers of a legendary company face the trials and tribulations of war.

    The series follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black Company, last of the Free Companies of Khatovar, through roughly forty years of its approximately four-hundred-year history. Cook mixes fantasy ... (Wikipedia)

  13. The Heroes

    by Joe Abercrombie
    A dark fantasy tale of a war-torn kingdom, with a band of characters on a quest for glory.

    They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. The Wise Man's Fear

    by Patrick Rothfuss
    Epic fantasy adventure of a young man's quest for knowledge, power and love.

    On the second day of his recounting the story of his life to Chronicler at the Waystone Inn, Kvothe continues the narrative commenced in, The Name of the Wind, , wherein a younger Kvothe pursues his ... (Wikipedia)

  15. A Wizard of Earthsea

    by Ursula K. Le Guin
    A young wizard embarks on a quest to master his own magical powers and battle a mysterious force of evil.

    Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Player of Games

    by Iain M. Banks
    A game-player embarks on a journey to win a tournament in a distant world, uncovering secrets along the way.

    The Culture - a humanoid/machine symbiotic society - has thrown up many great Game Players. One of the best is Jernau Morat Gurgeh, Player of Games, master of every board, computer and strategy. ... (Goodreads)

  17. Blindsight

    by Peter Watts
    A sci-fi tale of a journey to the outer reaches of space and a confrontation with alien life.

    In the year 2082, thousands of large, coordinated objects of an unknown origin, dubbed "Fireflies", burn up in the Earth's atmosphere in a precise grid, while momentarily broadcasting across an ... (Wikipedia)

  18. The Way of Kings

    by Brandon Sanderson
    Epic fantasy saga of a young king and his quest to restore order to a broken kingdom.

    The story rotates between the points of view of Kaladin, Shallan Davar, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Dalinar Kholin, and several other minor characters, who lead seemingly unconnected lives. Szeth, a Shin ... (Wikipedia)

  19. A Shadow in Summer

    by Daniel Abraham
    A group of powerful individuals seek to control the world through the use of magical beings called andats.

    The city-state of Saraykeht dominates the Summer Cities. Its wealth is beyond measure; its port is open to all the merchants of the world, and its ruler, the Khai Saraykeht, commands forces to rival ... (Goodreads)

  20. Cloud Atlas

    by David Mitchell
    A dynamic narrative spanning centuries, exploring the interconnectedness of humanity.

    The book consists of six nested stories; each is read or observed by a main character of the next, thus they progress in time through the central sixth story. The first five stories are each ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Last Argument of Kings

    by Joe Abercrombie
    War-torn kingdom in chaos, as a ruthless ruler seeks to expand his empire.

    The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only ... (Goodreads)

  22. Equal Rites

    by Terry Pratchett
    Mage battles gender prejudice to prove that girls can wield magic too.

    The wizard Drum Billet knows that he will soon die and travels to a place where an eighth son of an eighth son is about to be born. This signifies that the child is destined to become a wizard ; on ... (Wikipedia)

  23. Anathem

    by Neal Stephenson
    A philosophical novel set in a monastic society, exploring the limits of knowledge.

    Anathem is set on the fictional planet of Arbre. Thousands of years before the events in the novel, the planet's intellectuals entered concents ( monastic communities) to protect their activities ... (Wikipedia)

  24. The King Beyond the Gate

    by David Gemmell
    A warrior returns to his homeland to find it in turmoil, and must fight to restore order and protect his loved ones.

    A century has passed since the heroic defence of Dros Delnoch. But the people of the Drenai face a new terror: a mad emperor kept in power by two forces of unsurpassed evil. The Joinings are ... (Goodreads)

  25. Sword & Citadel

    by Gene Wolfe
    Epic fantasy quest to reclaim a lost kingdom and restore balance to the world.

    Severian , an apprentice in the torturers' guild, barely survives a swim in the River Gyoll. On his way back to the Citadel (whose towers appear to be disused rockets), Severian and several other ... (Wikipedia)

  26. Snow Crash

    by Neal Stephenson
    A hacker's quest in a futuristic America dealing with a mysterious computer virus.

    Hiro Protagonist is a hacker and pizza delivery driver for the Mafia. He meets Y.T. (short for Yours Truly), a young skateboard Kourier ( courier ) who refers to herself in the third person , during ... (Wikipedia)

  27. Swords and Deviltry

    by Fritz Leiber
    A thrilling adventure of swordplay, sorcery and heroism in a fantasy world.

    For the first time-the story of how the greatest heroes in fantastic literature first met. 'The two thieves had themselves been robbed by two youths, who eyed each other suspiciously over the ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Lions of Al-Rassan

    by Guy Gavriel Kay
    Epic tale of a legendary kingdom, facing the onslaught of an unstoppable force.

    Like most of Kay's novels, this contains a large amount of political intrigue and religious strife. At the opening of the novel, the peninsula of Al-Rassan (formerly known as Esperaña when under ... (Wikipedia)

  29. The Forever War

    by Joe Haldeman
    A soldier's story of the horror of war and its consequences in the far future.

    The monumental Hugo and Nebula award winning SF classic— Featuring a new introduction by John Scalzi,The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand—despite the fact that the fierce ... (Barnes & Noble)

  30. The Eye of the World

    by Robert Jordan
    Epic fantasy, filled with adventure and danger, as a group of heroes attempt to save the world.

    The Eye of the World revolves around protagonists Rand al'Thor , Matrim (Mat) Cauthon , Perrin Aybara , Egwene al'Vere , and Nynaeve al'Meara , after their residence of "Emond's Field" is ... (Wikipedia)