[Keyoke]

Well, I went a wee camping trip, and I started reading Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson. And, I am unsure on what others thought, but, I love this book! I mean, I did love Gardens of the Moon, but, I found it a little confusing, and I had to really focus on it.

But, Deadhouse Gates seems to be even better! Tighter writing and plot. I'm only about a 1/3 way into it (300+ pages).

If I had any doubts on Erikson's abilities, they are now GONE!

Question though. Blood Follows, where should I read this book? After the third? Or before? :)

Keyoke

[Eventine]

Very solid piece of work. Here's some comments I made on the Reading in August thread:

*Possible Minor Spoilers for Deadhouse Gates / Gardens of the Moon*







As far as a review of the book goes, here is the point form version of what I liked:
*Coltaines March is great, reminds me a lot of a similar forced march in the Thomas Covenant books.

*Things are a bit easier to understand after getting the idea of Warrens, geography, political climate from the first book

*Still lot's of interesting new stuff - mainly the Soletaken and D'Ivers, Azaths

* Sense of mystery - the whole concept of Ascendancy (how do you do it, what does it mean?), the big jade statue in the desert, Azaths, Tiste Andii, Tiste Andur, Icarium

*Great characters (Any of the Bridgeburners, Heboric)

*Hints at back history - I love this in a series, probably why I'm suc a big fan of Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadow. I have a feeling this could eclipse that however.

*Political intrigue - Gods vs Gods, Humans vs Humans, other races vs humans, other races vs gods, etc.

I feel it is pretty well written. While it's not prose Erikson writes well and seems to have a pretty good sense of timing when to write about what events.

Without having finished the book, it's probably looking at an 8.5 or 9 out of 10. Take 2 off that score if you like being handed up everything on a platter and aren't prepared to wait the next 8 years or so for the series to end and all the answers come out.



And after the book finishing I'll give it an 8.5

[estranghero]

Just finished this also. Couldn't wait for a copy of 'Gardens of the Moon' so jumped in on 'Deadhouse Gates' first.

My two-cents?

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*sob*

The ending of Coltaine's march almost reduced me to tears. All that heroism, all that bravery, strategic brilliance, etc. wasted on a hill for a last stand. Though there couldn't have been any other way, the way I see it.

I think that best symbolized Erikson's work-- the courage against odds and fates and the characters' (futile or otherwise) attempts to go against it-- and hopefully, this would be his trademark for the rest of the series.

[grembel]

pormqual could have done something

he got what was comming in the end at anyrate

so looking forward to house of chains (december.. apparently)

[ChrisW]

Malazanempire.com has about 50 active members at there forum, if you have any hard questions thats the place to go. Erikson drops by and answers questions from time to time.

As for Blood Follows well I don't tink it matters if you read it before or after. Nothing will be spoiled for you either way.

[tpetty]

I enjoy collecting hardcover books - mainly fantasy - for my "library." I've wanted to read this series - but I've only seen paperback. Are these available in hardcover? I can't find them at Amazon, ebay, etc. If they aren't available in HC, I'll probably go ahead and buy a paperback. Anyone know?

[Rooster]

Are these available in hardcover?

No. Excluding Blood Follows, which isn't technically part of the Malazan series.

The fourth book seems to be coming in hardcover though.

[Hans]

I loved Deadhouse Gates.

**** SPOILERS for DG ****

The Chain of Dogs, was excellent, one of the best peices of Fantasy I have read. The Ending was sad, I couldn't believe it, after all that, when they where so close.

Also the Kalam and the Claws was an very good peice, which I enjoyed greatly. The city, the ruins, and Icarium and Mappo. It contained tons of things. The only bad thing I found was the first half of Fesilin's story, where she's in the camp, and then travelling mostly. That did drag on a bit.

And the demon Apt, lol. Uncle Cotillion.

**** END SPOILER ****

Highly Recommend, and you don't really have to have read the first book.

[tpetty]

Are these the large paperbacks, like Stephen King's Dark Tower books? Where's the best place to buy them? Thanks.

[Methion]

The books originally come out in Trade paperback (the big size) then about 9 months-1 year come out in the small size.

Blood follows is just a small stand alone novella featuring 3 characters that appear in Memories of Ice.

Memories of Ice (3rd book) features characters from the first book and follows on directly from Gardens of the moon, so it would probably be best to read the 1st book before the 3rd one. Deadhouse gates is set on a different continent with only a few characters from the first one appearing. The 4th book is going to bring all these characters together (I think).
While confusing Gardens does get really good to the end and so should be read!

I think one of the best places to get them is Amazon.co.uk