Breath of fresh air

I've read a fair share of Fantasy novels and I'm a big fan, but after a while the archetypal and in many cases formulaic plot structures can get a bid tiresome.

A mock-up of medieval Europe with new names, a little sorcery and some unspeakable evil overlord who needs to be defeated by the hero. I can take comfort in the formula, but a recent fantasy series I read has been a refreshing mix up.

R. Scott Bakker's "Prince of Nothing" trilogy has been amazing. It's still a throw back an older historical era, but instead of western Europe its set in something that could be considered similar to the Mediterranean. The technology and pervasive religious beliefs are more akin to 33 A.D. then the 1200's.

Most interesting though is the authors protagonist. The main character could be considered a primitive attempt at genetic engineering. His tribe of people have lived in almost perfect isolation for almost 2000 years, during which they engaged in a rigorous selective breeding program and culling the weak from their gene pool. He ventures forth with almost super human intellect, perception and reflexes and finds himself dumped into the chaotic environment of a slew of primitive civilizations. Realizing how easy it is to manipulate these people he slowly begins to twist their perception of him.

We see this character mostly through the eyes of people who don't have the benefit of his selective breeding and over the course of the series he is viewed as messianic figure. When the story is seen from the point of view of this super human the reader sees him for what he is, practically a sociopath.

It's fantastically written, and several of the forces in the series could represent differing philosophical view points such as nihilism and scholasticism. I recommend it.