Steven Erikson completes the MALAZAN series

[Evil Agent]

I'm still about 75% certain this is going to be the literary equivalent of the Lost series finale...

Noooooooooo!

 

[Ashenburger]

I think Erikson's biggest problem in the later books is that the characters who emerge later in the series aren't particularly as interesting as those who came before. Up until #5 he's still cranking out really interesting characters, but after Midnight Tides they seem to dry up. The new characters who emerge after that are generally dull and uninspiring, especially the approximately 14,000 individually named Bonehunter POVs we get to spend time completely pointlessly in Books 6-7 and 9.

The story development remains interesting, but the later books do suffer in comparison to the earlier ones.

Very true, and for this reason I am actually both looking forward to reading the book and sort of nervous for a giant let down. The last few books have left me wanting more. The ending of his books are usually exciting but the way there haven't really been as much fun as the earlier ones were.

 

[Roland 85]

I severely disliked books 6-8. He managed to get a different thing wrong every time, but still they are extremely chaotic, with plot-lines that go all over the place to end in limbo or off-screen.

That said, my favorite is actually Midnight Tides, followed by Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice in that order.

 

[Lfex]

Indeed. One of the oddest things about Malazan is that the books are 1,200-1,300 pages long in paperback but in terms of word count are shorter than the longest Wheel of Time books which only just scrape over 1,000.

Erikson uses a lot of one-liner based dialog which tends to increase page count in relation to word count.

 

[kater]

Excellent news, big smile on my face and congratulations to Mr Erikson for a fantastic, sustained level of productivity.

I've just finished my complete re-read through and each book has had its moments. MoI is obviously the big impact book but I think there is so much to take in with the series I wouldn't want to judge it until the picture is complete. This, Republic of Thieves and Evolutionary Void I am salivating about. Gimme.

 

[Alchemist]

But this isn't really the place for this, maybe I should start a new "The decline of the Malazan series" thread.

You mean "The Fall of the Malazan series"

As for favorite book, of the first three I like them about equally for different reasons. The first book is sort of like the first love experience--it isn't your best, but it is your first taste of something amazing. The second book was the most dramatic and, perhaps, the most cohesive as a novel. The third was also quite dramatic although seemed less cohesive, more like two or three novels rolled into one, but it brought the world and uber-story into a larger picture that helped the whole thing begin to make sense.

 

[End Of Disc One]

If you haven't read 4 yet, just keep in mind that the first 1/4 of it focuses entirely on one character. This can be a bit jarring and off-putting if you don't know it's coming. Otherwise it's great.

 

[Roland 85]

You mean "The Fall of the Malazan series"

I'd post in this one ^_^

 

[pat5150]

Map of the Lands of Fist (Korelri, Theft, Mare, etc) here.

Cheers,

Patrick

 

[Seli]

Map of the Lands of Fist (Korelri, Theft, Mare, etc) here.

Cheers,

Patrick

Thanks Patrick.

Slowly we're getting to the crucial bits: what is less important, timeline or geography

 

[End Of Disc One]

I'm not expecting any timeline errors in Stonewielder. Esselmont seems to know the world a bit better than Erikson.

 

[KatG]

Do you think the whole series held up in the end? Should I tackle it again?

 

[Third Eye]

Do you think the whole series held up in the end? Should I tackle it again?

Unless you have a passion for Cultural Anthropology don't waste your time

Kidding of course. Erikson really is in the wrong business I think though. I found the Malazan books from the beginning to be more about world building than any tangible story telling. I never felt any depth of character. And his plot lines are too thin. They stretch out in a hodgepodge mess.

What do you think?

 

[End Of Disc One]

I'd say he's in the right business since he is now a best seller.

 

[INeedAUserName]

This was the next book series I was going to start in on. I've heard mixed reviews about it, though, which has kept me from leaping in with both feet. The fact that it's completed/near completed is another reason for me to take the plunge, though.

 

[Third Eye]

I'd say he's in the right business since he is now a best seller.

Goodkind and Brooks are best sellers. Best seller doesn't equate to quality literature. Nickelback sells tons of records. They are also the worst rock band in the last 10 years.

That being said Erikson has talent in loads. But I found nothing engaging or compelling about his characters. They felt paper thin. Everything seemed to be filler for the admittedly remarkable world he created.

 

[End Of Disc One]

Goodkind and Brooks are best sellers. Best seller doesn't equate to quality literature. Nickelback sells tons of records. They are also the worst rock band in the last 10 years.

Which is why I respect Nickelback as businessmen.

 

[Third Eye]

Which is why I respect Nickelback as businessmen.

That is the fundamental problem. Too many people view Art as business. Literature, Music, Painting, etc... if one takes the approach that they are going to create for the sole purpose of getting rich the inadequacy shows in the end product. If the purpose of the artist is to create art for art's sake and they happen to get rich in the process more power to them.

 

[Evil Agent]

Book 1 was great, but a bit of a rough start for the series (the writing isn't the best, and the story/world is very confusing at first).

Books 2 and 3 continue to get better and better (although I struggled a bit with the first half of Book 3, which has a couple totally unnecessary storylines).

Some people seem to think that a decline begins in Book 4, but I think the quality stays strong for Books 4, 5 (my favourite), and 6.

I've only read up to Book 7, and I'd say the first 50% was slow, the last 50% was epic. Unfortunately I've heard that Book 8 is the slowest of the series, and Book 9 doesn't sound all that different.

It's unfortunate, because it seemed to me that Erikson was improving steadily up to the midway point. It seems that his writing has continued to improve, in a technical sense, but his control of the overall plot began to waver and get bogged down with unnecessary subplots and too much introspective philosophizing.

 

[End Of Disc One]

Book 1 was great, but a bit of a rough start for the series (the writing isn't the best, and the story/world is very confusing at first).

Books 2 and 3 continue to get better and better (although I struggled a bit with the first half of Book 3, which has a couple totally unnecessary storylines).

Some people seem to think that a decline begins in Book 4, but I think the quality stays strong for Books 4, 5 (my favourite), and 6.

I've only read up to Book 7, and I'd say the first 50% was slow, the last 50% was epic. Unfortunately I've heard that Book 8 is the slowest of the series, and Book 9 doesn't sound all that different.

It's unfortunate, because it seemed to me that Erikson was improving steadily up to the midway point. It seems that his writing has continued to improve, in a technical sense, but his control of the overall plot began to waver and get bogged down with unnecessary subplots and too much introspective philosophizing.

I'd say Dust of Dreams is less introspective and slow than Reaper's Gale, but also less epic for the most part. Overall I enjoyed it more, and it's certainly a huge step up from Toll the Hounds.