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Toll the Hounds (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

July 01, 2008
I'm an enormous Erikson fan, and read all seven of his previous novels with relish. I was eagerly awaiting the release of 'Toll the Hounds.'
Sadly, this novel is a significant fall for Erikson from the ranks of the fantasy mighty.

The novel is largely set in Dariujistan, where the entire cast of characters ultimately converge, including Cutter, Iskaral Pust and the beligerant Karsa Orlong. The city is also the setting for such notables as Anomander Rake and the broken remnants of the Bridgeburners.

Darujistan itself is cloaked in a darkness, and Anomander Rake broods within; in short, his usual enigmatic self.

Effectively, the plot builds upon the basis that a Tyrant is prophesised to conquer ... Read More:

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Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

February 12, 2008
I was intrigued by the reviews of others on here I decided to start reading this and `The Blade Itself' (Joe Abercrombie) while in between George R.R. Martins books. The positive seemed fairly consistent but it didn't start well when I read the new Preface to this edition which presented the author as a rather immature, if not arrogant writer.

Ignoring this factor I plowed on and read the book in a few days. There are a few important factors about this book that may well put people off. It is a book that reminds me of characters from a roleplaying game rather than fully rounded or fleshed out characters from a novel. The writing is desne and tries to convey so much plot and so many characters that they never feel much more than ... Read More:

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Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

October 01, 2001
I can understand some of the other reviews about complexity and you dont get any feeling for the characters (so far) im on toll of the hounds the latest and i love all the characters. After reading through them, so MUCH about each character is spread out over all the books you cant understand the characters properly until you have read at least the first 7 books. By house of chains i was thinking "aahhhh so thats why he behaves like that" or "i see, thats what happened to them all those years ago" ive found that fantasy series like this one are impossible to review properly until you have read the series, yes 1 book might be better than another and yes 1 of the books might wander of in a different direction, you have to take the story in as a Whole. for ... Read More:

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Reaper's Gale (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

April 07, 2008
this is one of those books that you just cant put down. i looked forward to this book for so long after reading bonehunters and it delivered everything id hoped for and more the bonehunters marines storyline is my personal favourite but all are exceptional steven erikson is by far the best fantasy writer ever. a great addition to an already perfect series.

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Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

October 01, 2002
The others were great fantasy masterpieces. This is simply a masterpiece. Most of the time truly great literary works are novels although in the last century Tolkein and Rowling seem to have reversed the trend and Steven Erikson continues the new tradition.
Memories of Ice is not just a dark fantasy. That has become a cliche. This is a tradgedy book. I'll try not to give it away, but if I'm going to right this review I have to refer to the greatest part of the book: the end. I have never cried at either a film or book (I am 14 but still...) but this is the closest I've come. There is a death, but it is not simply boohoo my favourite character is dead to save their friend. This death has a real purpose in the big picture and it makes it all the more ... Read More:

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House of Chains (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

September 01, 2003
a lot of flak is pointed at house of chains because it focuses on one character for the first section, but what a character! Karsa orlong explodes ontot he page and pushes this book beyond the ordinary into the fantastic. The remainder of the book is no less breathtaking with many story arcs folding into each other as another convergance takes place. This is a most tragic novel and builds to a very unexpected ending.

Erikson remains unlike any other author i have read in the gritty realism of his characters within the world they inhabit. This is not typical fantasy, its soemthing so much more.

Highly recommended.

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Midnight Tides (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

March 01, 2005
I'm getting older and my memory is not as crisp and fresh as it once was, and for that reason i've been trying to ration the Malazan Books of the Fallen. The problem is that if I read all those currently in print, by the time the remaining parts are released I'll be struggling to remember what happened in the previous installments. As a result of all this, I've just completed Midnight Tides.
This novel takes you away from the previous events and characters of the previous four books and introduces another story thread to the whole saga. Initially I was a little disappointed by this, but that feeling soon evaporated once I'd read the first chapter or so.
The thing I enjoy most about Steven Erikson's writing/storytelling is the complexity of the plot involving ... Read More:

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The Bonehunters: 6 (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

April 02, 2007
I'm getting older and my memory is not as crisp and fresh as it once was, and for that reason i've been trying to ration the Malazan Books of the Fallen. The problem is that if I read all those currently in print, by the time the remaining parts are released I'll be struggling to remember what happened in the previous installments. As a result of all this, I've just completed Midnight Tides.
This novel takes you away from the previous events and characters of the previous four books and introduces another story thread to the whole saga. Initially I was a little disappointed by this, but that feeling soon evaporated once I'd read the first chapter or so.
The thing I enjoy most about Steven Erikson's writing/storytelling is the complexity of the plot involving ... Read More:

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Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

by: Steven Erikson

March 01, 2000
Read a critics review of Erikson and the words 'complex, challenging and even messy come up, and with good reason. If this book was a religious testimony it would have scholars and clerics studying it for hundreds of years and would have spawned a thousand sub religions. It's scope is immense.

I make it 45 characters of significance some are gods, some demi gods or other beings of power. There are several competing factions and within these factions are competing powers, interests, scores to be settled and double crossings.

In short this is a book that needs a certain amount of commitment and concentration, it is a book to read in a quiet room when you are mentally alert not one to read for 5 minutes whilst being jostled on a bus or read in 3 page installments ... Read More:

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Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: The Collected Stories: 1

by: Steven Erikson

2008-03
I'm only half way through the second of the three included stories, but i have to say it's pure gold. On top of that, the book itself is fantasticly made. It really shows you what hardback books should look like...

However, as a word of warning, this probably isn't the book for you if you're not already a Malazan fan. Trying to read it without getting at least a couple of books into the series would be infuriating, as the stories are too short to really explain much, let alone explain things we should already know, such as what a Mortal Sword is...