Malazan Book Of The Fallen

[Crayzor]

Over the last few months I have been reading The Malazan Book Of The Fallen, an epic fantasy series of nine books by Steven Erikson, with a tenth being published at the end of the year. I am currently on the seventh novel, Reaper's Gale, and have been thouroughly loving it all. The scale on which the story takes place on, with dozens of characters and a created history that reaches back over 100,000 years. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest works of fiction in recent years.

But what do my fellow Escapists who have read all or any of the series think? Which characters/plotlines have you enjoyed the most? What do you think of Erikson's willingness to kill off central characters to benefit the plot, something I have not seen the like of in other novels?

 

[Skuffyshootster]

Hmm, I've never heard of them, but from the way you described it they sound like something I would immensely enjoy.

Off to Barnes and Noble!

 

[Darwins_Folly]

This series and George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire are the two single greatest fantasy series I've ever read. I cant believe how many fantasy fans have not read the Malazan series. For sheer scope of imagination noone touches Erikson.

 

[ThaBenMan]

I tried reading Gardens of the Moon, and I only got about 1/3 of the way through before I had to put it down - I just couldn't get into it. I had heard the series is comparable to A Song of Ice and Fire, but I just prefer that much more to Malazan. I think there might just be too many different creatures and cultures with long, almost unpronounceable names, and I didn't like the characters as much.

 

[Darwins_Folly]

I found the first book hard to get into as well the first time i read it. Its well worth getting through though. The second book blew me away, so did all the ones that follow.

 

[TheLazyKnight]

I had planned on starting that series some time ago but I never get around to it...
Maybe when I'm done with Mistborn...

 

[The_Decoy]

Over the last few months I have been reading The Malazan Book Of The Fallen, an epic fantasy series of nine books by Steven Erikson, with a tenth being published at the end of the year. I am currently on the seventh novel, Reaper's Gale, and have been thouroughly loving it all. The scale on which the story takes place on, with dozens of characters and a created history that reaches back over 100,000 years. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest works of fiction in recent years.

But what do my fellow Escapists who have read all or any of the series think? Which characters/plotlines have you enjoyed the most? What do you think of Erikson's willingness to kill off central characters to benefit the plot, something I have not seen the like of in other novels?

Absolutely love it. Best series I've read, and I read rather alot. Redefines epic, and the large cast and willingness to kill major characters means you can never tell what is around the next corner, or if anyone is safe.

Though I was devastated when Anomander died D:

Favourite characters have to be the Malazan marines - Erikson just handles their banter so well, especially the Bridge Burners, Quick Ben, Hedge, Fiddler and the rest of the old guard are stunning. Though Shadowthrone, Kruppe and the Magi of Shadow (I forget his name) are wonderfully weird in their own ways.

All in all I find the series to be a nice break from the usual fantasy fare as it fails to adhere to "good vs bad" and gives strong characters with excellent plot arcs. It feels more natural than most comparable works I've sifted through at any rate.

Question: Have you read the one's by Esslemont? Night of knives wasn't up to much, but Return of the Crimson Guard was much better. Did you think they were up to Erikson's standard?

 

[Darwins_Folly]

Has anyone read the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas? They're a couple of awesome characters too.

 

[Seerio]

This is also my favorite series. I read up to the beginning of reapers gale but then went on hiatus. Have since recently picked it back up and restarting it. im burning through memories of ice atm. I took the liberty of reading night of knives too. It was ok, but the main series is better. I can't find return of the crimson guard anywhere so I'll have to hold off on that for now.

But yeah, Deadhouse Gates is probably my favorite so far. There is nothing more epic than the Chain of Dogs. Also, the banter between Tehol Beddict and Bugg is fucking amazing. And just thinking of some of the ridiculous characters is pretty funny in itself - case in point: Spindle wearing his dead mother's hair as a shirt.

 

[The_Decoy]

Has anyone read the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas? They're a couple of awesome characters too.

Yup, finished them a couple of weeks back. Really enjoyed them, even if they were awful short

 

[Gadzooks]

Well I was happily reading through the series, and then I read Dune and it broke me, as now Malazan seems so poorly written =S

If you are reading through the novels, try and bear with them, as the plot sort of comes together at the end of each book, alleviating some confusion.

Still, I don't know how I feel about this series. I enjoy parts of it, and then drag my brain through huge chunks of text without really being interested. I found Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire much tighter, and the plot direction much more obvious. Perhaps if you want a challenge, these are the books for you... I'll just have to wait until I've read them all to make up my mind.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

I agree with the people who prefer A Song of Ice and Fire. I enjoyed Martin's storytelling more than Erikson's. However, I've only read Gardens of the Moon... maybe I should pick up others in the series.

Still, I rather like the new series I just picked up. Heir of Autumn by Carwyn and Fahnestock is some of the best fantasy I've read recently.

 

[Beartrucci]

Well I was happily reading through the series, and then I read Dune and it broke me, as now Malazan seems so poorly written =S

If you are reading through the novels, try and bear with them, as the plot sort of comes together at the end of each book, alleviating some confusion.

Still, I don't know how I feel about this series. I enjoy parts of it, and then drag my brain through huge chunks of text without really being interested. I found Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire much tighter, and the plot direction much more obvious. Perhaps if you want a challenge, these are the books for you... I'll just have to wait until I've read them all to make up my mind.

Well I'm reading Dune at the moment, enjoying it so far (only about 50 pages in), I'll read A Song of Ice and Fire after I finish it.

 

[benylor]

Ah, personally, I quite liked Dune (I read the original and Messaih, but couldn't really get any further for various reasons) but Malazan Book of the Fallen is my favourite series of all time. To have so many wonderfully developed characters... every single death is either tragic or (in a very memorable case of one of Karsa Orlong's victims in the... fourth book? If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about) satisfying and hilarious.

It's very hard to get through the start of the novels in general, but once the build-up to the first crescendo starts, you can't put the book down. And they tend to be around 1000 pages long, each. And there's going to be ten of the fuckers eventually.

 

[Gadzooks]

Yeah, the advice I keep getting is to persevere and I will enjoy it, so I guess I'll push through. Besides I already own most of the books anyway, it only makes sense to give 'em more of a try.

 

[Crayzor]

Over the last few months I have been reading The Malazan Book Of The Fallen, an epic fantasy series of nine books by Steven Erikson, with a tenth being published at the end of the year. I am currently on the seventh novel, Reaper's Gale, and have been thouroughly loving it all. The scale on which the story takes place on, with dozens of characters and a created history that reaches back over 100,000 years. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest works of fiction in recent years.

But what do my fellow Escapists who have read all or any of the series think? Which characters/plotlines have you enjoyed the most? What do you think of Erikson's willingness to kill off central characters to benefit the plot, something I have not seen the like of in other novels?

Absolutely love it. Best series I've read, and I read rather alot. Redefines epic, and the large cast and willingness to kill major characters means you can never tell what is around the next corner, or if anyone is safe.

Though I was devastated when Anomander died D:

Favourite characters have to be the Malazan marines - Erikson just handles their banter so well, especially the Bridge Burners, Quick Ben, Hedge, Fiddler and the rest of the old guard are stunning. Though Shadowthrone, Kruppe and the Magi of Shadow (I forget his name) are wonderfully weird in their own ways.

All in all I find the series to be a nice break from the usual fantasy fare as it fails to adhere to "good vs bad" and gives strong characters with excellent plot arcs. It feels more natural than most comparable works I've sifted through at any rate.

Question: Have you read the one's by Esslemont? Night of knives wasn't up to much, but Return of the Crimson Guard was much better. Did you think they were up to Erikson's standard?

No I haven't read any of Esselmont's works, but I think I will once I'm done with the main series. At the moment, my favourite characters are Ganoes Paran, Fiddler, Karsa Orlong and Trull Sengar, although I'm wary of liking any character too much as they could be killed off at any minute, such as:

Spoiler

{Whiskeyjack getting killed by Kallor in Memories of Ice}

I can never see a character's death coming.