Malazan

[Celebrindal]

My fuckin' book is still not here. I can't even complain about it for 3 more days.

[Heylel Teomim]

Okay, serious question...

I read Book 1 of Malazan expecting the second coming of Christ wrapped up with a little red bow made of concentrated awesome. I didn't get it.

People have told me it's a gritty series etc etc. but it just seems like a whole world full of *super* powerful characters who throw fireballs at each other. With a race of Drizzt clones flying around in the Death Star.

What gives? I *want* to like these books. Everyone whose opinion I trust tells me I need to read them. When does it hit its stride?

- H

[Kildace]

Halfway through book 2, imo. 3 and 4 are flawless. 5 is disorientating at first but still fucking awesome, and 6 is very good.

[Jadaki]

I am only about 1/4th the way through the first book and I am enjoying it quite a bit, my only problem is the lack of explanation on how some of the worlds mechanics work but I guess that comes in time.

[Tabris]

Originally Posted by Heylel Teomim

Okay, serious question...

I read Book 1 of Malazan expecting the second coming of Christ wrapped up with a little red bow made of concentrated awesome. I didn't get it.

People have told me it's a gritty series etc etc. but it just seems like a whole world full of *super* powerful characters who throw fireballs at each other. With a race of Drizzt clones flying around in the Death Star.

What gives? I *want* to like these books. Everyone whose opinion I trust tells me I need to read them. When does it hit its stride?

- H

First book is honestly not totally amazing, although if you don't like the final battle I don't really know what's wrong with you.

Second book is where it gets good. If you don't like the conclusion of the Chain of Dogs then fantasy/military fiction is not what you should be reading.

[Tabris]

Originally Posted by Jadaki

I read something online where they said you could start this series by reading books 1, 2 or 5 first and it would make no difference.

I would not read Book 2 before Book 1.

You could read Book 5 first and it would be okay, but I would not read the rest out of order. I would even go so far as to say you should really read Night of Knives in between Books 4 and 6.

[Khorum]

Originally Posted by Heylel Teomim

Okay, serious question...

I read Book 1 of Malazan expecting the second coming of Christ wrapped up with a little red bow made of concentrated awesome. I didn't get it.

People have told me it's a gritty series etc etc. but it just seems like a whole world full of *super* powerful characters who throw fireballs at each other. With a race of Drizzt clones flying around in the Death Star.

What gives? I *want* to like these books. Everyone whose opinion I trust tells me I need to read them. When does it hit its stride?

- H

If you picked up the series because of recommendations from this forum, EVERYONE pretty much mentioned that Malazan was about mythic figures with near-godlike powers in a legendary struggle about the future of their world. Comparisons with other 'gritty' fantasy series like ASoIAF go no farther than Erikson's seeming disregard for any individual character's happiness or survival. That's about it. Aside from that, Malazan is exactly what you described.

I'd recommend sticking with it till the third book though, but yeah, noone should have to slog through an incomprehensible barrier-to-entry. Even at its absolute worst though, Gardens of the Moon kicks the shit out of any other shared world fantasy crap out there.

[Kildace]

Originally Posted by Whyme

Well, I'm just about done with book 5, and I'm wondering why the heck this was not book 4. It's basically a prequel, but it comes after? WTF? If you haven't gotten this far, do yourself a favor and read Midnight Tides BEFORE reading House of Chains, you will understand a whole lot more.

I just started rereading 5 again. I think he placed them in that order because Lether is an offshoot of Dessimbelackis' First Empire and you learn a lot about the subject during Book 4.
I hadn't made the correlation before, but on the second read-through now that I care more about the details it explains a lot about the religion on the other continent.

[Whyme]

Well I just finished book 5...

Holy shit that ending ruled. I literally flung my book across my room during the head stomping scene. I thought Tehol had died, glad I picked it back up.

So Maes = water aspected, or just straight up elder god? Also, I thought that they would explain Trull's shorning, but I guess that's a ways from where they are...

On to Bonehunters.

[Tabris]

It is sad that I have a countdown for when Reaper's Gale should get shipped to me. Can't wait for that book.

[Celebrindal]

Book 1 finally got here today (one day shy of their estimated ship date). Took an entire month. I think next time I will probably just order it from Borders.

[Khorum]

Ordering from Borders has the added benefit of being able to slap the slackjawed emo faggot who said it would be instore in 3 days.

[Tabris]

FYI the Lees of Laughter's End (new Korbal Broach and Bauchelain novella) is available and being shipped out from PS Publishing, some people have it already.

[Kildace]

Originally Posted by Tabris

FYI the Lees of Laughter's End (new Korbal Broach and Bauchelain novella) is available and being shipped out from PS Publishing, some people have it already.

Are they set before or after Memories of Ice?
Just curious.

[Tabris]

Prior to, although the novellas themselves have not been published in chronological order.