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Atrocity Tales
The False Sun
A story set in the far antiquity of Bakker's fictional world world of Eärwa, the setting for his Prince of Nothing and Aspect Emperor series.
18 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
R. Scott Bakker
33 books2,238 followersRichard Scott Bakker, who writes as R. Scott Bakker and as Scott Bakker, is a novelist whose work is dominated by a large series informally known as the The Second Apocalypse which Bakker began developing whilst at college in the 1980s.
The series was originally planned to be a trilogy, with the first two books entitled The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect-Emperor. However, when Bakker began writing the series in the early 2000s, he found it necessary to split each of the three novels into its own sub-series to incorporate all of the characters, themes and ideas he wished to explore. Bakker originally conceived of seven books: a trilogy and two duologies. This later shifted to two trilogies, with the acknowledgement that the third series may yet also expand to a trilogy.
The Prince of Nothing trilogy was published between 2003 and 2006. It depicts the story of the Holy War launched by the Inrithi kingdoms against the heathen Fanim of the south to recover the holy city of Shimeh for the faithful. During the war, a man named Ansurimbor Kellhus emerges from obscurity to become an exceptionally powerful and influential figure, and it is discovered that the Consult, an alliance of forces united in their worship of the legendary No-God, a nihilistic force of destruction, are manipulating events to pave the way for the No-God's return to the mortal world.
The sequel series, The Aspect-Emperor trilogy, picks up the story twenty years later with Kellhus leading the Inrithi kingdoms in directly seeking out and confronting the Consult. The first novel in this new series is due for publication in 2009.
Whilst working on the Prince of Nothing series, Bakker was given a challenge by his wife to write a thriller. To answer this, he produced a science fiction thriller based around a serial killer who can control and influence the human mind. This book, Neuropath, was eventually published in 2008. Inspired, he wrote a second thriller titled The Disciple of the Dog in 2009.
The series was originally planned to be a trilogy, with the first two books entitled The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect-Emperor. However, when Bakker began writing the series in the early 2000s, he found it necessary to split each of the three novels into its own sub-series to incorporate all of the characters, themes and ideas he wished to explore. Bakker originally conceived of seven books: a trilogy and two duologies. This later shifted to two trilogies, with the acknowledgement that the third series may yet also expand to a trilogy.
The Prince of Nothing trilogy was published between 2003 and 2006. It depicts the story of the Holy War launched by the Inrithi kingdoms against the heathen Fanim of the south to recover the holy city of Shimeh for the faithful. During the war, a man named Ansurimbor Kellhus emerges from obscurity to become an exceptionally powerful and influential figure, and it is discovered that the Consult, an alliance of forces united in their worship of the legendary No-God, a nihilistic force of destruction, are manipulating events to pave the way for the No-God's return to the mortal world.
The sequel series, The Aspect-Emperor trilogy, picks up the story twenty years later with Kellhus leading the Inrithi kingdoms in directly seeking out and confronting the Consult. The first novel in this new series is due for publication in 2009.
Whilst working on the Prince of Nothing series, Bakker was given a challenge by his wife to write a thriller. To answer this, he produced a science fiction thriller based around a serial killer who can control and influence the human mind. This book, Neuropath, was eventually published in 2008. Inspired, he wrote a second thriller titled The Disciple of the Dog in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 30, 2017
This short story is best read after completing The Prince of Nothing trilogy and before starting Aspect-Emperor. It reveals important things about the motives of the Inchoroi and their collaborators from humans and Nonmen.
The style is beautiful and lyrical, although the parallel timeline was a bit confusing in the beginning, things clicked into place once I looked up a couple of the names.
Great story overall, but it won't make much sense unless you are a fan of the series. You could still enjoy the literary delight, given the sheer beauty of the prose.
The style is beautiful and lyrical, although the parallel timeline was a bit confusing in the beginning, things clicked into place once I looked up a couple of the names.
Great story overall, but it won't make much sense unless you are a fan of the series. You could still enjoy the literary delight, given the sheer beauty of the prose.
January 23, 2022
For those looking; The False Sun can be found in the appendices of The Unholy Consult.
October 17, 2018
As usually, Bakker proves that he can deliver the ultimate best when it comes to short stories as well.
February 14, 2019
"So death denies you your lesson"
June 19, 2024
Beasts only show the white of their eye in terror. Men show it always.
-- Gottagga, The Book of Chalk
For I have seen the virtuous in Hell and the wicked in Heaven. And I swear to you, brother, the scream you hear in the one and the sigh you hear in the other sound the same.
-- Anonymous
September 5, 2024
Sadly this is the last bit of original Bakker fantasy I'll ever get to read most likely, a ~40-page short story found in the appendix of The Unholy Consult. This was much easier to follow than The Four Revelations of Cinial'jin, and thus much more enjoyable, though I didn't find it particularly memorable relative to the highlights of the main Second Apocalypse series. Having finished TUC before reading this, the ideas of the Consult's origins and the Inverse Flame were not new or all that mindblowing to me. Seeing an Inchoroi somewhat casually interact with (and even show care for?) a human was interesting and amusing, though. It's clear that Bakker's worldbuilding and lore are deep enough that he could take us to a huge variety of past places and stories through these short stories, if he found it in himself to ever write anything again.
June 15, 2023
Jolly good! I hope he writes more of these, it’s amazing to get a glimpse of such key events from the distant past of this world
January 24, 2026
Great short story and must read for TSA fans
October 31, 2022
El hechicero Shaeönanra se reúne con su rival Titirga sobre las ruinas de la antigua Viri, la llegada de un tercer invitado podría cambiarlo todo.
Pedazo de historia corta llena de revelaciones y mucha traición,
poco a poco el motivo y objetivo de los Inchoroi/el Consulto se devela.
Pedazo de historia corta llena de revelaciones y mucha traición,
»¿Esto era lo que buscaba mi maestro? ¿Derribar las Barricadas?
»Y sus maestros antes que él, —responde el No-Hombre—. Durante más de doscientos años.
»¿Y qué hay dentro?
»La verdad que mis hermanos no pudieron soportar.
[…]
»Eso dice el Fuego Inverso.
poco a poco el motivo y objetivo de los Inchoroi/el Consulto se devela.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews