Malazan Book of the Fallen Series

cbsam74 · 16-02-2012 4:10pm #1

Hope I am not repeating a theard that was started before. Only new to reading High fantasy books ( just over a year) and I am thinking of buying the Malazan Book of the Fallen....Is this a recommended read as I am aware their is a good few books in it.

mcgovern · 16-02-2012 4:58pm

I've only read the first few, and while v.good, they are heavy going.

Zapp Brannigan · 16-02-2012 5:01pm

Best series I've ever read. The world is so well realised and it's incredibly deep. Not for those who just want a bit of light reading though.

ixoy · 16-02-2012 5:15pm

One of my favourite series but also the most demanding. There's ten books in the main series, each clocking in at about 800-900 pages and there's a huge cast spread over different continents in different eras.

Erikson doesn't make it easy at times - he'll rarely have characters explain their motives clearly or what's going on. The fun is inferring and working out the plots in your head, making the connections and realising the fiendish intricacy of the huge picture he's building. It's what makes it tough going, teasing out what's happening, and makes it rewarding to when the connections snap together - something that happens in book one might not have pay off until book 4 but when it does, it can make it more pleasing.

So if you're ready for a little bit of work, but more reward then it's highly recommended - all circa 9000 pages of it

sea_monkey · 16-02-2012 5:19pm

great series, ive read it a few times now

the malazan novels by esselmont are great too

sea_monkey · 16-02-2012 5:19pm

great series, ive read it a few times now

the malazan novels by esselmont are great too

cbsam74 · 17-02-2012 10:00am

Thanks everyone for replying back to me and giving me some insight to the series, just went ahead and order the first book 'Garden of the Moon' looking forward to it.

AnCapaillMor · 17-02-2012 11:32am

Stick with it, it took me 3 attempts to get into it. He literally jumps into the middle of it and it can overwhelm you, there's so much going on and so many great characters. Flew through the other 9 books once i finished the first.

fitz · 20-02-2012 12:37pm

Also, be prepared to be put through the emotional ringer. He makes George RR Martin look generous and kind to his characters...

Spoilers if you haven't read the full series -

Whiskeyjack, Itkovian, Beak, Trull, Rake, Stormy and Gesler, Tool and Hetan, Mappo...the list goes on...

....but these in particular left me in a complete heap.

Cardinal Richelieu · 20-02-2012 5:16pm

Esslemont books which are set in the same world, help fill in the background to Erikson Books.

Beruthiel · 20-02-2012 5:21pm

cbsam74 wrote: »

Is this a recommended read as I am aware their is a good few books in it.

Oh yes.
Absolutely love this series.
Some truly fantastic characters and an epic, sweeping read.

Boro · 22-02-2012 2:57pm

Loaned book one (GoTM) to a friend, he came back after getting about 100 pages into it: "I think you gave me the wrong book, this isnt book 1!"

You get thrown right in at the deep end with that book (and then a significant change again going to the 2nd book) but persevere with it and you will be well rewarded!

mar-z · 25-02-2012 1:37pm

One of the most challenging series I've read even just in terms of keeping track of characters. Very much thrown in the deep end at the start.

But one of my favourite ever series!

gufnork · 25-02-2012 1:47pm

mar-z wrote: »

One of the most challenging series I've read even just in terms of keeping track of characters. Very much thrown in the deep end at the start.

But one of my favourite ever series!

I still haven't decided whether i love or loath it. I finished the second one a while ago and can't quite bring myself to pick up the third. Think the second one kind of staunched my enthusiasm a little. I definitely preferred the first one. Although i'm pretty sure that would change upon a second reading.

Zapp Brannigan · 25-02-2012 2:17pm

gufnork wrote: »

I still haven't decided whether i love or loath it. I finished the second one a while ago and can't quite bring myself to pick up the third. Think the second one kind of staunched my enthusiasm a little. I definitely preferred the first one. Although i'm pretty sure that would change upon a second reading.

You didn't enjoy the Chain of Dogs? It's one of my favourite storylines of the whole series.

gufnork · 25-02-2012 4:30pm

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

You didn't enjoy the Chain of Dogs? It's one of my favourite storylines of the whole series.

Only read the first two so far, Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates.

Didn't dislike them, just think maybe they overwhelmed me a little on first reading, particularly the second one.

mar-z · 25-02-2012 4:58pm

Is Chain of Dogs being made into a movie? I thought I heard something about that.

Sorry for the off topic.

Zapp Brannigan · 25-02-2012 5:11pm

gufnork wrote: »

Only read the first two so far, Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates.

Didn't dislike them, just think maybe they overwhelmed me a little on first reading, particularly the second one.

The Chain of Dogs was one of the main storylines in Deadhouse Gates...

I remember hearing something about movie rights, but I don't think it'd be possible to pull of the scope. There's a lot of background information that would take up too much time for a movie.

gufnork · 25-02-2012 5:20pm

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

The Chain of Dogs was one of the main storylines in Deadhouse Gates...

I remember hearing something about movie rights, but I don't think it'd be possible to pull of the scope. There's a lot of background information that would take up too much time for a movie.

Yeah, to be honest i remember Deadhouse Gates being a bit of a blur. Think i pretty much zoned out and went through a lot of it on auto-pilot. Definite re-read needed there then

Zapp Brannigan · 25-02-2012 5:23pm

gufnork wrote: »

Yeah, to be honest i remember Deadhouse Gates being a bit of a blur. Think i pretty much zoned out and went through a lot of it on auto-pilot. Definite re-read needed there then

This is a series where you really can't just skim the pages. Everything is important. It's crazy how much stuff I missed on my first read through (and second for that matter!)

ixoy · 25-02-2012 6:40pm

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

This is a series where you really can't just skim the pages. Everything is important. It's crazy how much stuff I missed on my first read through (and second for that matter!)

I really need to do a re-read of this at some point. With "Orb Sceptre Throne" I'm missing out on things that happened relatively recently so who knows what I missed in the earlier books.

Codofwar · 26-02-2012 11:23am

Fantastic series so far, currently reading House of Chains and its brilliant. Very heavy going series at times and i have read a few books inbetween each of them so far but they dept of all the characters and story line in general is fantastic..

shockwave · 26-02-2012 7:58pm

I read the first book and found it a real slog, bought the second book and couldnt face it, its been sitting there for 2 years now

cbsam74 · 27-02-2012 10:42am

Original Poster here.. Starting reading the first book "Gardens of the Moon" over the weekend... It's heavy going, lots of characters and def thrown into the deep end but I have to say that I am really enjoying it so far.

gufnork · 27-02-2012 11:01am

cbsam74 wrote: »

Original Poster here.. Starting reading the first book "Gardens of the Moon" over the weekend... It's heavy going, lots of characters and def thrown into the deep end but I have to say that I am really enjoying it so far.

Yeah, gardens of the moon was very good. I believe he wrote that one a fair bit before the rest. I liked it a lot.

AOH77A · 28-02-2012 12:27pm

Best series I have read, heavy going but that makes it all the more enjoyable.

The series is so good it can make it hard for subsequent books to compare.

Just started the Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and found it boring and simplistic in comparison to the Malazan books.

AnCapaillMor · 28-02-2012 12:45pm

In all fairness a metal gear solid plot is more straight forward than the malazan books.

Picked up an audio version of gardens of the moon, really looking forward to the tehol\bugg conversations when i eventually get to those books on audio.

Zapp Brannigan · 28-02-2012 1:16pm

Just a heads up for people. Erikson is doing an AMA on Reddit

fenris · 28-02-2012 1:22pm

I usually read the books first then when a new one comes out audiobook from the start of the series to catch up, otherwise you just miss too many details.
Bearing in mind that each audiobook is about 16 hours long it can take a few weeks to get caught up again!

Boro · 29-02-2012 1:00pm

Chain of Dogs was one of the most epic stories I have ever read. The sheer emotion of the end of it was breathtaking. I really didnt like the other arc covered in Deadhouse gates though and when I re-read the book, I tend to skip over those sections.

ixoy · 02-03-2012 11:50pm

For fans of Mr Erikson, here's one insanely long and detailed Q & A session. Anything with potential spoilers is marked as such.
It's really really long!

Silvio.Dante · 03-03-2012 9:02pm

Well I'm kicking off with Gardens of the Moon tonight. I'm doing so with some trepidation as I've heard some very mixed reactions and that GOTM is a rough ride.

However I'm used to heavy, complicated series like the Wheel of Time, which I love.

I've been taking it easy with David Eddings which was great but I need a challenge and I think I've found it...;)

pljudge321 · 04-03-2012 12:50pm

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

However I'm used to heavy, complicated series like the Wheel of Time, which I love.

The Malazan world is in a whole different ballpark to the Wheel of Time in terms of complexity.

Silvio.Dante · 04-03-2012 6:26pm

pljudge321 wrote: »

The Malazan world is in a whole different ballpark to the Wheel of Time in terms of complexity.

Really...:eek:

AnCapaillMor · 04-03-2012 11:23pm

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Really...:eek:

Most definately, wot has one central plot, malazan has so many plots, stories and don't even get me started on characters.

Silvio.Dante · 05-03-2012 8:38am

The big question for both of you, is it worth the effort..?

AnCapaillMor · 05-03-2012 9:11am

Yeah most definately, took me 3 attempts to read the first book, its gets confusing as he throws so much at you with little or no introduction but once you get your head around it all, it's captivating.

AnCapaillMor · 05-03-2012 9:11am

Yeah most definately, took me 3 attempts to read the first book, its gets confusing as he throws so much at you with little or no introduction but once you get your head around it all, it's captivating.

pljudge321 · 05-03-2012 9:57am

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

The big question for both of you, is it worth the effort..?

Hells yes

Silvio.Dante · 05-03-2012 10:40am

Thats good to know...:)

Tym · 06-03-2012 1:19pm

The books are okay. They kind of need to be edited down a little and the characters aren't really that deep. But its a nice fantasy series to read.

Tar.Aldarion · 07-03-2012 1:35am

My favourite series that there is, after that it's a song of ice and fire.

I don't think it's that challenging to remember anything or that it is demanding, if you read them together and relatively fast. Otherwise tou forget so much. He also hurts your heart with his killings

ixoy · 07-03-2012 12:14pm

Good news is there is still plenty to go.
Erikson is working on his Karkanas trilogy, followed hopefully by a trilogy around Karsa.
Esslemont has two more books to go as well: First one is back to Jacuruku and tentatively called "City in the Jungle". The final one is currently called, intriguingly, "Assail"...

Silvio.Dante · 07-03-2012 1:30pm

A question about Esselmonts work. Can it be read in conjunction with Erikson or is it to be read completely serarately..?

AnCapaillMor · 07-03-2012 1:32pm

Definately read it later.

fitz · 07-03-2012 1:36pm

AnCapaillMor wrote: »

Definately read it later.

Reading the lot in the order they were published is what Erikson has recommended.

ixoy · 07-03-2012 1:49pm

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

A question about Esselmonts work. Can it be read in conjunction with Erikson or is it to be read completely serarately..?

Well from Esslemont's comments "Stoneweilder" is contemporary with "Orb Sceptre Throne". "Orb Sceptre Throne" is (sort of) a sequel to "Toll the Hounds". You could read "Orb Sceptre Throne" before "The Crippled God" for example (from a chronological perspective) but, under no circumstance, read it before "Toll the Hounds" as it has major spoilers.

Silvio.Dante · 07-03-2012 4:05pm

Wow I'm so glad I've found these books. It's going to be some adventure. Sorry if that sounds childish....... No, in fact I'm not sorry at all...:)

Tar.Aldarion · 08-03-2012 6:59pm

Enjoy, great pleasure reading them.

The AMA on reddit was great thanks ixoy

Zapp Brannigan · 08-03-2012 7:23pm

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Enjoy, great pleasure reading them.

The AMA on reddit was great thanks ixoy

giftgrub · 15-03-2012 11:22am

I've decided to have a go at this series as soon as I finish a Song of Fire and Ice.

I'm a sci/fi and fantasy nut but i do like to take a break when i finish up a big series, so it'll be a little Elmore Leonard in between.

Go Raylan

Malazan Book of the Fallen Series

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