R. Scott Bakker is a Canadian author famous for his epic fantasy novels. He's best known for The Prince of Nothing series, notably the first book The Darkness That Comes Before, blending philosophical insight and complex storytelling.
If you enjoy reading books by R. Scott Bakker then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoyed R. Scott Bakker's ambitious, detailed world-building and philosophical touches, Steven Erikson is worth trying next. His epic series, Gardens of the Moon, launches readers into the vast world of the Malazan Empire.
Erikson's works are complex tales filled with challenging moral questions, a huge and varied cast, and a sense of history that feels deep and ancient.
Gene Wolfe's novels offer layers of depth, symbolism, and subtle storytelling that fans of Bakker often appreciate. Wolfe weaves intricate and intellectual tales with a darkly poetic style, as seen in his classic work, The Book of the New Sun.
If you're drawn to the thoughtful side of fantasy and like books that reward careful reading, Wolfe might become one of your favorites.
Glen Cook writes gritty, down-to-earth fantasy filled with morally ambiguous characters and a realistic approach to warfare and intrigue. He pioneered this style in the genre with his novel The Black Company, a story about mercenaries caught in larger conflicts.
Cook shares Bakker's darker perspective on humanity, exploring themes of duty, survival, and the harshness of war.
Mark Lawrence pens dark fantasy filled with antiheroes and narratives rooted in violence and power struggles. His series, beginning with Prince of Thorns, introduces characters whose morality is gray at best.
Readers who appreciated the tense and morally complex character dynamics found in Bakker's fiction will feel right at home with Lawrence's work.
Joe Abercrombie's novels, full of sharp wit, gritty action, and flawed characters, appeal to readers who enjoy R. Scott Bakker's darker and more cynical vision of fantasy.
Abercrombie's The Blade Itself features intriguing characters caught in challenging situations, often dealing with the harshness of survival, power politics, and the brutality of combat.
Ian C. Esslemont co-created the Malazan universe with Steven Erikson and offers a fresh perspective through his novels. His style is intricate and thoughtful, exploring deep histories, morally gray characters, and expansive, detailed worlds.
Fans of Bakker's dark, philosophical storytelling might appreciate Esslemont's Night of Knives, a tense and atmospheric glimpse into a pivotal night of intrigue and dark magic.
Anna Smith Spark writes vividly dark fantasy characterized by poetic, sharp prose and intense emotional depth. Her narratives explore power, desire, and violence without compromise, echoing some of the challenging themes that readers enjoy in Bakker's work.
Start with The Court of Broken Knives, which showcases her unique voice and relentless exploration of ambition and brutality.
Michael R. Fletcher crafts dark fantasy rooted in psychological complexity, madness, and morally intricate characters. His writing is gritty and confrontational, pulling no punches in depicting deeply flawed individuals and disturbing situations.
If you enjoy the philosophical darkness in Bakker's stories, you might appreciate Fletcher's Beyond Redemption, an intense exploration of delusion, manipulation, and power.
K.J. Parker's novels are sharp and witty, full of clever plotting and morally ambiguous characters. Parker tackles complex themes through dark humor and an unsentimental approach to human nature, much like Bakker's works.
Try The Folding Knife, where Parker portrays political intrigue, power struggles, and the unpredictable consequences of ambition.
C.S. Friedman is known for writing fantasy novels with psychologically rich characters and morally complex worlds. Her style often examines human nature, power dynamics, and emotional depth, themes closely aligned with Bakker's style.
A good starting point is Black Sun Rising, the first book in her Coldfire Trilogy, offering an austere and absorbing exploration of morality and darkness.
Paul Kearney writes vivid, gritty fantasy that emphasizes military realism and morally complex characters. His work often focuses on the hardships of warfare and politics within richly portrayed worlds.
Fans of Bakker might appreciate Kearney's series, particularly The Ten Thousand, a powerful portrayal of warfare, brotherhood, and survival.
George R.R. Martin is famous for his detailed world-building and intricate plots driven by morally ambiguous characters. Like Bakker, Martin does not shy away from dark, realistic portrayals of human nature, politics, and the consequences of violent conflicts.
His series A Game of Thrones introduces readers to a vast, detailed political struggle filled with memorable characters and unexpected twists.
Clive Barker's stories blend fantasy and horror, creating works full of vivid imagery and unsettling themes. Barker explores psychological depth and the darker aspects of human nature.
Readers who enjoy Bakker's exploration of philosophical themes and dark atmospheres might appreciate Barker's Weaveworld, a novel that mixes imagination, horror, and intricate worldbuilding.
M. John Harrison's style is atmospheric and challenging, with narratives that often blur boundaries between fantasy, sci-fi, and literary fiction. Harrison's themes include existential questions, complex identities, and the fragility of reality.
Readers who appreciate the deeper themes and complex narratives found in Bakker’s works may enjoy Harrison's novel Viriconium, a moody exploration of a decaying, dreamlike city.
Matthew Stover's writing features intense action, complex morality, and philosophical undertones. His narratives typically involve gritty character studies amidst high-stakes conflicts.
For readers who appreciate Bakker's combination of gritty realism and philosophical depth, Stover's Heroes Die offers a gripping story where fantasy meets science fiction, filled with vivid action and biting social commentary.