The Judging Eye

The acclaimed author of the Prince of Nothing series returns with a new epic fantasy set in the same richly layered universe. With his Prince of Nothing series, R. Scott Bakker won legions of fans and comparison to fantasy luminaries such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert. Now comes The Judging Eye, Bakker’s first novel in a new series set in the world of Earwa, twenty years after the end of The Thousandfold Thought—a world that is both familiar yet profoundly changed. To prevent a second apocalypse, an emperor gathers a vast army and draws a reluctant king into holy war. Meanwhile, an empress finds herself threatened by assassins and an exiled wizard seeks his enemy’s secrets. Delving even further into his richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, Bakker delivers a fantasy novel that defies expectations.

A mysterious traveler intervenes in an epic holy war in this “impressive, challenging debut” of the critically acclaimed fantasy epic (Publishers Weekly, starred review). The first book in R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series introduces readers to a strikingly original and engrossingly vivid new world. With its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals, The Darkness That Comes Before has drawn comparison to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Frank Herbert’s Dune. Bakker’s Eärwa is a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future. As untold thousands gather for a crusade, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus—part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence—from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.

As a vast Holy War begins, a powerful new force emerges in the second book of this “violent, passionate, darkly poetic” fantasy series (SFSite.com). The first battle against the heathen has been won, but while the Great Names squabble over the spoils, Kellhus draws more followers to his banner. The sorcerer Achamian and his lover, Esmenet, submit entirely—only to face an unimaginable test of faith. The warrior Cnaiur falls ever deeper into madness. The skin-spies of the Consult watch with growing trepidation. And across the searing wastes of the desert, a name—a title—begins to be whispered among the faithful. Who is the Warrior-Prophet? A dangerous heretic who turns brother against brother? Or the only man who can avert the Second Apocalypse? With the fate of the Holy War hanging in the balance, the great powers will have to choose between their most desperate desires and their most ingrained prejudice. Between hatred and hope. Between the Warrior-Prophet and the end of the world . . .

Praised by readers and critics around the world, R. Scott Bakker has become one of the most celebrated voices in fantasy fiction. The Aspect-Emperor trilogy follows on from the acclaimed Prince of Nothing saga, and The White-Luck Warrior is the chilling second book in the new series. Ruler Anasurimbor Kellhus and his Great Ordeal march ever farther into the Ancient North, as his consort Esmenet finds herself at war. Exiled wizard Achamian, meanwhile, leads his own ragtag mission to the legendary ruins of Sauglish. Into this tumult walks the White-Luck Warrior, assassin and messiah both . . . . . . In this ambitious volume, Bakker delves even further into his richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery.

With this shattering final novel, “it can at last be said that Bakker has written the epic fantasy series of the post-Tolkien era” (Speculiction). The Men of the Great Ordeal have been abandoned by Anasurimbor Kellhus, and the grand crusade has devolved into cannibalism and chaos. When Exalt-General Proyas attempts to gain control of the lost Men and continue their march to Golgotterath, it becomes clear that the lost Lord-and-Prophet is not so easily shaken from the mission. As Sorweel, the Believer-King of Sakarpus, and Serwa, daughter of the Aspect-Emperor, join the Great Ordeal, they discover that the shortest path is not always the safest. Souls, morality, and relationships are called into question when no one can be trusted, and the price for their sins is greater than they imagined. An uncompromising portrayal of a catastrophic world of myth, war, and sorcery, the Aspect-Emperor books have earned their place alongside George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Bakker’s groundbreaking series is “no holds barred from page one” (Speculiction).

How do books attract their readers? This collection takes a closer look at book covers and their role in promoting sales and shaping readers' responses. Judging a Book by Its Cover brings together leading scholars, many with experience in the publishing industry, who examine the marketing of popular fiction across the twentieth century and beyond. Using case studies, and grounding their discussions historically and methodologically, the contributors address key themes in contemporary media, literary, publishing, and business studies related to globalisation, the correlation between text and image, identity politics, and reader reception. Topics include book covers and the internet bookstore; the links between books, the music industry, and film; literary prizes and the selling of books; subcultures and sales of young adult fiction; the cover as a signifier of literary value; and the marketing of ethnicity and lesbian pulp fiction. This exciting collection opens a new field of enquiry for scholars of book history, literature, media and communication studies, marketing, and cultural studies.

Develop your "eye" for sound movement and structure whether you are serious about purebred dogs or are an enthusiast. Learn how color, marking, size and leash position affect the look of the dog. Over 100 judging scenarios that test your eye.

As the Holy War approaches its climax, emperors will fall, and terrifying revelations will come to light, in the final novel of the acclaimed fantasy epic. All opposition to the man once derided as the Prince of Nothing has vanished or been vanquished. Their leaders slain, the heathen Fanim have fled in disarray. One final march will bring the Holy War to the fabled city of Shimeh. But so very much has changed. Anasurimbor Kellhus, the Warrior-Prophet, now leads the Men of the Tusk. The cuckolded sorcerer Achamian serves as his tutor, betraying his school to protect the man he believes can prevent the Second Apocalypse. The Scylvendi barbarian, Cnaiur, succumbs finally to madness. The Consult, sensing the endgame near, work frantically to prepare for the coming of the No-God. The final reckoning is at hand. Faceless assassins will strike in the dead of night. The sorcerous Schools will be unleashed. And Anasurimbor Kellhus will at last confront his father and the dread revelation of the Thousandfold Thought.

This book of essays inspires us to good behavior, one sharp and funny side-eye at a time. Dissects our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives.

Some passages of Scripture say, “Judge,” while others say, “Don’t judge.” Most Christians aren’t sure that they should judge anything, while others feel responsible to raise a moral standard but don’t know how much authority they have. Derek Prince cuts through the apparent conflict to answer such questions as: Who is authorized to judge? When is judgment called for? What are we authorized to judge? Where are the limits? Why does our attitude matter? In a world that turns its back on God while crying, “Don’t judge me,” Derek Prince weighs in with a scriptural affidavit for sound judgment.