PW and Library Journal praise R. Scott Bakker's THE WHITE-LUCK WARRIOR!

This week, the second book of R. Scott Bakker's Aspect-Emperor series, THE WHITE-LUCK WARRIOR, hits shelves nationwide. Thanks to Publishers Weekly and Library Journal for these sneak peeks!

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The White-Luck Warrior
R. Scott Bakker. Overlook, $25.95 (608p)
ISBN 978-1-59020-464-1

Even fans of 2009's The Judging Eye who haven't reread it recently may be confused by the dense and complex infodump that opens this ponderous sequel. Those who persevere will be richly rewarded as the plot and characters are slowly refined. Mimara, stepdaughter of the Aspect-Emperor, outgrows revenge in favor of love; Achamian, former friend of (and cuckolded by) the emperor, undertakes a dangerous quest for truth; Cleric is a nonman whose drive to feel and remember twists attachment into terrible forms; Sorweel must decide whether to believe in the Aspect-Emperor's quest or kill him for the gods. The reader cannot tell heroes from villains, and neither can the heroes and villains themselves; all are sympathetic and horrific at once. A cliffhanger ending builds suspense for the final volume.

LIBRARY JOURNAL
Bakker, R. Scott. The White Luck Warrior.
Overlook (The Aspect-Emperor, Bk. 2). c.608p.
ISBN 9781590204641. $25.95. FANTASY

Anasûrimbor Kelhus, the Aspect-Emperor, leads the Great Ordeal, an army of troops and hostage-kings, into the unknown wastes of the Ancient North while at home his queen, Esmenet, struggles with internal strife. An expedition to the ruins of Sauglish, in search of a lost city, brings Esmenet’s daughter, Mimara, into possession of The Judging Eye, which allows her to see the good or evil in a person. Finally, the White Luck Warrior appears, a figure who is assassin as well as savior. The second volume in Bakker’s series (The Judging Eye) brings more complications to an already complex tale of ambition, prophecy, love, and betrayal. VERDICT The author of “The Prince of Nothing” series (The Darkness That Comes Before; The Warrior-Prophet; The Thousandfold Thought) understands the art of crafting fantasy epics spiced with exotic trappings and should attract fans of epic fantasy.

R. Scott Bakker's THE JUDGING EYE in Science Fiction and Fantasy News

R. Scott Bakker's The Judging Eye is given a lengthy review by Rob Bedford in Science Fiction and Fantasy News:" The Prince of Nothing trilogy established R. Scott Bakker as one of the young, pre-eminent voices in Fantasy fiction. What not many people knew when The Darkness that Comes Before hit bookshelves was just how large in scope Bakker’s vision would turn out to be. With the publication of The Judging Eye, Bakker begins The Aspect-Emperor, the second trilogy comprising the greater Second Apocalypse set of books and set 20 years later . . . The Judging Eye should satisfy Bakker’s growing legion of fans and the book should also help to lure more readers into his sway. It is a leaner, more precise novel than the three preceding novels, but no less thought-provoking and engaging. Once again, Bakker has reminded readers why he is in the upper echelon of 21st Century writers."

R. Scott Bakker's THE JUDGING EYE Tops Overlook Bestseller List

R. Scott Bakker's new novel The Judging Eye sits atop the Overlook Bestseller list for the third straight week! This long awaited new work is the first in a new triology, The Aspect-Emperor, and to the delight of many fans, picks up from The Prince of Nothing series. In a recent review in Strange Horizons, reviewer Peter Whitfield notes: "Back in 2003, when the world was young and we didn't have to worry about the economy and recycling and stuff, there came an author called R. Scott Bakker. The Darkness that Comes Before was quite hefty, and some of the character's names could give you a stroke if you tried to say them out loud, but other than that it was a bloody good read. It took the face of traditional epic fantasy and gave it a makeover. No longer did the reader have to suffer page after page of depthless D&D drivel. Now their fantasy came wrapped up in a nice little plastic bag called philosophy. Flawless world-building, striking events, and intelligent subject matter even led some fantasy purists to regard Bakker as one of the greatest living authors of the genre. Six years later and Bakker is still going, his latest book The Judging Eye forming the fourth instalment of the series he terms The Second Apocalypse. Interestingly enough, it is also the beginning of a new trilogy, following on from The Prince of Nothing. It aims to reintroduce (or introduce, depending on what you've read) the reader to the world of Eärwa, a place that Bakker himself claims "kicks some major ass." At the same time, it picks up on the events of previous books, twenty years later. As is tradition with his series, Bakker provides a short summary of "What has come before" at the end of the book. It's an accurate and extensive synopsis, but if you're new to the books it might be a good idea to just dive in and piece the bits together as you go."

R. Scott Bakker is back with THE JUDGING EYE

Following the rousing success of his acclaimed Prince of Nothing trilogy, SciFi icon R. Scott Bakker returns to the awe-inspiring world of Eärwa with The Judging Eye in February 2009.

Set in the same universe, but twenty years after the end of The Thousandfold Thought, The Judging Eye delves even further into Bakker's richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, marking the beginning of the long-awaited Aspect-Emperor trilogy. Bakker has once again written a fantasy novel that exceeds all expectations and rewards the reader with an experience unlike any to be had in the everyday of today’s literature.

Bakker's new novel has fans chomping at the bit for their own copies, and the internet is already abuzz with praise for this SciFi legend. Here's what some of the early reviewers have to say:

“This book marks a triumphant return for the most philosophical and literary epic fantasy writer around.” – The Wertzone

“It’s got everything that the preceding books had and a lot more.” – Graeme’s Fantasy Review

“The worldbuilding is once again head and shoulders above what is currently the norm in today's fantasy market. The evocative narrative is rich in details, and the Middle Eastern setting continues to be a joy to discover. The universe of Eärwa resounds with depth… It's R. Scott Bakker writing at the top of his game.” – Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist

“(Bakker) presents a literary and philosophical depth largely absent from the genre…shows maturity as an author and demonstrates why his name belongs among the best epic fantasy authors.” – Nethspace

“Extremely atmospheric.” – Kirkus

“Bakker’s lush language sometimes achieves poetry.” – Publishers Weekly