The Darkness That Comes Before is the first book in R. Scott Bakker's epic fantasy trilogy The Prince of Nothing. Set in a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, four people are swept up in the launch of an imminent crusade, during which they are ensnared by mysterious traveler Anas�rimbor Kellhus, whose magical, philosophical, and military talents have origins in a distant time. "[An] impressive, challenging debut . . . [the book's] willingness to take chances and avoid the usual genre clich�s should win many discriminating readers." --Publishers Weekly