Re: Track the Books you Read (2007)
The Warrior Prophet is the second book in Bakker's Prince of Nothing trilogy. The series follows four main characters, Anasurimbor Kellhus (a Dunyain monk), Drusas Achamian (a Mandate sorcerer), Esmenet (an uncommon prostitute), and Cnaiur (a Scylvendi warlord). The first book in the series was well written, if a bit laborious and overly focused on mileau and world building. The second book, by comparison, is a 100% payoff for the 600 page exposition in the first book. The book is relentless and a vivid page turner.
Bakker has been heavily influenced by Dune. The main character (the titular Prince of Nothing) Anasurimbor Kellhus is spookily like Paul and Leto II Atriedes. His people, the Dunyain, are a reclusive order that teaches martial arts and complete emotional detachment from their humanity. On the other hand, Bakker doesn't have the skill for names that Herbert had, and the goofiness of the invented names is one of the big drawbacks of the book.
One of the most dissappointing aspects of the first book in the series was just how thin the invention was. Too many moments in the book were filled with identical real world analogues--you got the distinct feeling Bakker was talking about real world history dressed up in fake clothes. Some of the comparisons were just too close, in my opinion. But Bakker mixed it up just enough to keep it interesting. Perhaps because this second book is not so meditative or expository the comparisons get pushed to the background to the books great benefit. The unique aspects of the invention get to really shine without so much text to bog them down and the characters get to the really interesting parts of the larger history, even as their own arcs are a little less significant and compelling than in the first novel. As the story takes on more meta proportions the influence of Dune comes through again, more clearly than before.
Bakker's treatment of the battle scenes is superb, but he has a little trouble maintaining a consistent voice and point of view to show us what he wants us to see of the battle scenes, that makes for a few rough jumps and transitions between chapters or even within chapters.
Still very well written, a dark modern fantasy very much in the Martin vein, and highly recommended to those who like A Song of Ice and Fire.
Wild Seed is one of the best books I've ever read. Octavia Butler's characters and writing are deeply satisfying. Anyanwu is one of the most interesting and compelling female characters I've ever read and the competition between her and Doro is a superb narrative tension to build the story around. It's been a long time since I read a book in as little as two sittings, but I just couldn't put it down last night, even after having already read for three hours, I went ahead and plowed on, finishing by two AM.
Doro builds seed villages to breed humans with special abilities, healing, telekineses and telepathy. because of the peculiarities of his own wild mutation, Doro is immortal, something of a spiritual vampire, possessing new bodies for a moment or a year or two, but never dying himself. Anyanwu is a healer, another wild mutation, and because of her abilities is nearly as immortal as Doro. Doro wants to breed Anyanwu into his peoples to hopefully contribute her fine control over her gifts and healing ability into the other powers he's cultivated. Anyanwu struggles against Doro, both for her life and to protect the families and communities she builds up around her.
The quiet struggle between Doro's unempathetic treatment of his breeding stock and Anyanwu's attempts to build a community of people who are mature and civilized is powerful, heartbreaking and just a little bit uplifting. Like few books ever have, this book spoke to me. And I can't wait to read more of Butler's works.
Adam
, by Vikram Chandra, on the radio this morning, sounds interesting, but according to one of the editorial reviews above, the intimidating length might not be entirely justifed. Waiting to hear more I guess...
