Book review: "The Darkness That Comes Before" by R. Scott Bakker

First I have to say I already read "The Darkness That Comes Before" and its sequel "The Warrior-Prophet" once. The books were published in Croatian and I was a member of public library at that time, so this wasn't something that I, a fantasy-fan, could miss. When third book, "The Thousandfold Thought" arrived, I wasn't a library-member anymore. Once a friend tried to borrow a book for me, but it was out at that time. And I wasn't really into buying English version of books I have already read when there are already dozes of book on my wish-list that I haven't read. But some time ago I stumbled on Wikipedia article about R. Scot Bakker and read that what I though was only a trilogy was actually a big series with some eight or nine books planned. This of course piqued my interests since these were some of the finest fantasy-books I ever read, so I decided to buy them, one at time, as time allows me.

As I said, I read this book few years ago, but only once, so this was something between read and re-read. I recognized character and events, but I didn't remember them in advance, except in most general terms.

This is a book of multiple plots, presented from sever points of view, just the kind I like. A main character, or at least the most pivotal character, is Anasûrimbor Kellhus. He is something of a monk, trained in psychology, observance, physical skills... His level of skill is actually such that other people are like children to him and most consider him a more than human: he can read their though by noticing small changes at their faces, pulse rates, etc.; he can learn language only by hearing it for few days; he can catch arrows in flight. But he is not the only one; there is whole order of people like him. Thankfully for the world, they are secluded and never go out of their fortress at North. But that has changed when thirty years ago Anasûrimbor Moënghus, Kellhus' father, got corrupted and left them. But now, he is back, at least in their dreams, commanding them to send his son to him, to Shimeh. Kellhus is now sent to journey to find his father, find him and kill him.

It is important to note that Kellhus' order has been isolated from the world for two thousand years, so he knows nothing about it. Two thousand years ago a First Apocalypse occurred: No-God tried and almost managed to destroy humanity. Not much about this is revealed, only few facts that rise more questions (in best Erikson's style). Whatever did happen, things have changed much since Kellhus' ancestor for ruler of largest human Empire of the time. Humanity is now centered on Three Seas, where they have forgot about No-God and turned to their petty human squabbles. Few of those who remember and who are always vigilant about the Consult, whose focus is the return of No-God, the Second Apocalypse and they are the members of Mandate School of sorcery. But since no one seen or heard about Consult, there are not many who believe them. One of their members is Drusas Achamian, sometimes a teacher to kings, but most often a spy in lowest quarters of Three Seas. He is sent to investigate what will Maithanet, new Shirah of the Thousand Temples (absolute religious leader of larger faith) pronounce as a target of newly proclaimed Holy War: sorceress that Faith sees as blasphemers and rivals in power, or Fanims, southern infidels that have occupied their holy city Shimeh...

It would take me to much too describe every faction, plot and important character in details, so I will just number few of them. We have Emperor Ikurei Xerius III and his nephew Conphas who are trying to restore their Empire to former glory, not shirking even from using Holy War for their purposes. There are Crimison Spires, a most powerful school of sorcery, having their own private war with the infidels. There is Cnaiür, a chieftain of Scylvendy, a warlike human race, who is shunned by other chieftains because of helping a persuasive stranger to kill his own father thirty years ago. Then there are the Fanims and their own powerful school of sorcery, Chishaurim, different from any other. There are rulers of small and large kingdoms of Three Seas, and there are small, regular people. And finally, there is the Consult, who is not so dormant as everybody believes...

In many ways, "The Darkness That Comes Before" presents the very best what fantasy can offer now. It is a beginning of long epic fantasy series, but in doesn't follow the usual tropes. Main characters are not teens or young people with no experience going out in the world for first time; here we have people in their middle years, with much experience and much going on already. We have a great worldbuilding and very imaginative setting. World here has a very rich history and detailed background, but most of it is only suggested, not openly revealed (as I said before, in style of Steven Erikson). Characters are not black-and-white and definitely not shallow: they have their own agenda, own morality, doubts, little flaws. Plot is very complex, with many subplots and small sidetracks, but it is still enjoyable, believable and easy to follow.

There is not one thing I could object about his book. Unfortunately, it lack some small detail that would make it universally loved, like ASoIaF, WoT or MBotF. When I say universally loved, I don't mean that everybody likes it; but there are lots and lots of people who like it, and even those who don't know about it and it can always be a topic of heated discussion between fans and dislikers.

Nevertheless, "The Darkness That Comes Before" (and I hope its sequels) is a great book, with great content and great style. I would recommend it to everybody who likes high and epic fantasy and is not afraid of ambitious books.

Movie review: "Limitless"

Yesterday my girlfriend and I watched "Limitless" on DVD. I noticed this movie and its good reviews on IMDB so we decided to try it. It was presented as action thriller with touch of SF. We actually watched a second movie after that, but I have napped occasionally during the movie, so I will not write a port about it. It was "Sunshine", a slow space SF where group of astronauts are traveling toward the sun to reignite it, with no communication with Earth. It has a very slow beginning, but it gets much more intense later. So I didn't fall asleep because it was boring...

As I said, "Limitless" is an action thriller. It revolves around Eddie (Bradley Cooper), a not very successful writer. After his girlfriend lefts him, he bangs into his ex-brother-in-law, who gives him some drug for which he doesn't explain the effects, called NZT. It turns out that NZT enables person to use 100% of his brain, enabling Eddie to become completely aware of his surrounding, to remember every detail of his life, with bonus of extremely strong will and self-confidence. After Vern (ex-brother-in-law) gets murdered, a big stash of NZT ends in Eddie's hands. With it, Eddie completely changes his life: he finishes his book, gets his girlfriend back, starts a comet career in Wall Street. But of course, it turns out that Eddie is not the only one who knows about NZT.

The movie is very good from beginning to end. Initial description of Eddie's life, first encounter with NZT, advantages and troubles it merits him. Later, when other players start showing up, things only get better. It doesn't become too complex story, but something that could happen to everybody (in these circumstances). Much focus is put to Eddie's experience of drug's effects.

There is only one thing that got on my nerves, but it's not a flaw of the movie. It is more a flaw in humanity itself because it is completely believable that anybody would do something like this. I am talking about the fact that after getting a limited stash of such wonderful drug (well, not counting the effects), something I think most people would be willing to take, Eddie, who now has superb intelligence and will, doesn't do much to solve his problem of this limited stash. I mean, if I was to get something like this in my hands, first thing I would do would be securing the supply of it...

Technical side of the movie is quite good. There are not much special effects, but movie looks quite good. Actors also did a good job. Except Cooper, Robert De Niro is the only star in the movie.

"Limitless" is a very good movie for everybody. It has a fair amount of action, suspense and fun. A nice watch for anybody!

MBotF reread: "Toll the Hounds" by Steven Erikson

Huh, getting closer to "The Crippled God"... I am now a bit confused about how many times have I read these last few books. I remembered events from "Toll the Hounds" very well, while "Dust of Dreams" (which I am reading currently) is almost like a new book to me, even though I would swear I have read both books only once. Since DoD is a bit shorter, I have hopes of finishing it this week.

(TOR cover)

(some fun-art)

"Toll the Hounds" is a very strange book, compared to the previous ones. Erikson always had a tendency to use his characters as tools for analyzing philosophy, psychology, history, archeology, etc., making sometimes unexpected choices as with simple soldiers uttering deep questions. But in this book this was taken to a whole new level. As before, chapters are divided by different POVs. But now, each POV consist of few pages of internal monolog or reminiscent, after which we have a page of two of actual dialog or action. I don't know how common is this, but I belong to those readers that sometimes got lost on page. Meaning, I sometimes catch myself after "reading" half of page, without knowing what I have read because I was thinking about something prior to this text. Then I have to repeat this skipped text. With TtH, this happened very often. Of course, this is not to say that this not interesting, but it is very inviting for wandering thoughts. Without all this, the book could be compacted in some 300 pages, but then it wouldn't be this book.

Of course, this is true only for first four fifths of the book. Last 150-200 pages are to be read in one breath. Really, treat yourself and somehow make your schedule so that you can read the end in one reading. Because this is one really exceptional ending. Erikson's books and endings are usually unexpected, but if someone would even suggest that he (or she) had a feeling that this was coming, I would call him a liar. Even if you hate most of this book, ending really deserve to be read.

One more difference is that this is the only book to have a narrator, one that actually addresses the readers. Kruppe was never my favorite character (not that I didn't like him, but he just wasn't among the first choices), but this role fits him nicely.

From mentioning Kruppe, you can guess that TtH takes place on Genebackis again. Chapters also follow similar concept as before, alternating between two sets of POVs. One is Darujistan residents: Kruppe, Cutter, retired Bridgeburners, Scillara and Barathol, some nobles and some more shady characters (which doesn't mean that nobles are not shady). These chapters are somewhat easier to read, with more humor and more action. The other set of characters follows Nimander Golit and his Tiste Andii traveling with Clip, Traveler, Karsa and Samar Dev, Kallor and several residents of Black Coral. These POVs are quite melancholic, almost depressing, although not uninteresting. Oh yes, I almost forgot. We are also following Trygalle Guild, accompanied with Gruntle and Mappo.

Few more things I would to emphasize. In some ways this is a Jaghut book, because we have several characters belonging to this race. Although this doesn't mean they are not mysterious any more. Next, Kallor. Most fans would say that they already had set opinion about him, acquired in "Memories of Ice". Well, typical for Erikson, get ready for surprise. Also, several fans, commenting on Malazan Reread of the Fallen on Tor.com, decreed this book a "Rosetta stone" of MBotF. Although many new facts are presented in TtH, I wouldn't call this book any more explanatory than others.

In conclusion, I admit that some readers could be off-put by this book, but if you are fans of MBotF, bear with it until the ending and rewards it brings.

Movie review: "Exam"

This Sunday I have watched "Exam". I've been planning to watch this movie for some time now, ever since I heard that it takes place in one room and that many people recommended it. I mean, it has to be a good movie to get props with all the action taking place... at one place. It turned out it is.

The movie starts with eight people coming to a room to take a final exam for a highly sought place in some mysterious company. We don't know anything about the people, the job or the company. After getting some very specific and very strange instructions, examinees are left to answer a single question in span of 80 minutes. The problems start when they discover that question is hidden and they first have to find it.

This movie is a puzzle, for audience as much as characters. You are challenged (not directly, but even so) to solve the mystery before them. Even if you fail, you will have fun guessing and second-guessing before being handed the final solution. We have a slight advantage, because at beginning of the movie we are shown some minor clues. Best way to describe this movie in few words would be "Saw, but without the blood". That is not to say that there is no violence in this movie, just not so graphical.

As I said, at the beginning to the movie you don't know anything about the job or the company. You are also let believe that the movie is happening in present. Later you find out that it actually describes a recent future, slightly dystopian. Even though you receive only few details, you get an impression of well imagined and developed background. Cast is practically unknown, but they did a very good job. As for characters, they are very interesting and diverse. You don't even get their names, instead using a "Reservoir Dogs" trick giving them color-names.

After watching the movie, you can find many objections to the story and solution, but nevertheless you don't feel cheated at the end, which is very important. During the watching you will probably be too focused to notice any flaws.

Although some will not like the realization (eight people, one room), "Exam" is a very good movie for those who like puzzles and movies that make the think and try to compete with the characters in reaching the solution.

Movie review: "Zodiac"

Unfortunately, almost two weeks passed since I watched this movie, so it is a bit blurry now. I had a week-long business-trip and several commitments after return, so only now I can write a review.

"Zodiac" is 2007 movie I knew almost nothing about, except that it was about serial killer. It turned out that it is one of that long movies based on real events. Movie depicts a stream of killings in 1960s and 1970s, starting with a serial-killer murdering two lovers in a car. There are few more murders in the movie, but most of the movie consists of police following different leads, most of them turning false. There is not much action or tension, nor much clever dialogs. Characters are not super-heroes and they are exactly role-models.

It is fairly precise and detailed movie that stubbornly follows one police and one amateur investigation, without much dramatizing. It is not movie for everybody, but I think anybody can like it if one can get into it. I started watching this movie somewhat late, around 22:00. I was also a bit sleepy, and I expected some hour or hour-and-a-half short movie. Instead, I got a two and a half hours long mastodon. I was first sleepy, but slowly the movie kept sucking me in, keeping me more and more awake.

Movie has a very good production and a very large cast. There are even some stars in it: Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. Rest of the cast is not so know, but not any weaker. Don't expect special effects. Also, there are few disturbing and violent scenes.

As I said, don't expect some happy-ending over-dramatized Hollywood-blockbuster. "Zodiac" is a serious movie, with no message, almost a documentary. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed watching it and I would recommend it to all, except there is no point in that. You have to be surprised and tackled by this movie.

Movie review: "Inception"

This weekend I watched "Inception". It was one of the most-talked-about SF movies this year, so I knew quite a lot about it. I knew that main actor was Leonardio DiCaprio and that movie was something about memory theft and implanting new memories. All of my friends that watched it said it was worth watching.

And it turns out they were right. This is one very exciting movie; it doesn't matter if you are SF fan or not - this movie is generally good. Main character is Cobb (played by DiCaprio), who is a criminal specialized in extraction of secrets from his victims' mind. His and his partner Arthur's last job is stealing information from mind of Saito, rich Japanese business man. After this job fails, it turns out it was only a test: Saito wants to hire them for something else. Although inception (implanting an idea; opposite to extraction) is considered impossible by most, Cobb decides to take the job...

First twenty minutes of the movie are very confusing: gunfights on come cruise, not much is explained, two abrupt changes of scene... But it is exciting and it only makes the audience more curious. Later in the movie all concepts are explained in much detail, but easy understandable at same time. Time in the movie is present or very close future. Although there exist advanced technology, in this case device for entering person's mind, it is not widespread. This subject is very nicely elaborated, although there were some things that confused me. I am talking about those multiple "kicking" (or dunking, I forgot which term did they exactly use for forceful waking) near the end of the movie. I think the writers got a bit confused there as well. But this was singular case; rest of the movie fits very well.

All characters get good part of the movie, so you get to know them all (cast is not super-stars, but they are all very good). After thinking about it a bit, you realize that main characters are actually bad guys. It's easy to forget it. From one side, no one is actually evil, they just have different intentions. On the other side, they are doing something equivalent to rape, maybe even worst. Maybe the director could have made this point more noticeable, but then the movie wouldn't be so likable. Cobb is definitely the main characters. Even though movie sports much of action, main theme of the movie is about the difference between dream and reality. And Cobb definitely has problems with it. Best part of the movie is that he is aware of that and he actively fights against it. I really liked the final confrontation with his wife. I must say I was surprised and impressed with maturity and clear-headedness Cobb shows while dealing with the biggest challenge of his life.

There is one more flaw I can note: action scenes in later stages of the movie get a bit boring. Even though they are done nicely, they are secondary and not in a least important to the plot. Movie wouldn't lose anything by dropping these five or ten minutes of unimportant shooting.

Never minding these two minor flaws, "Inception" is a great movie for all types (well, not kids) of audiences. It requires attention while watching it, but you will be rewarded with one of better movies of this year. A recommendation.