#001 Intro: Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen #1) by Steven Erikson Read-Through
Not a lot can be said about this novel that hasn't been said before. Statements like: "Better than Game of Thrones" (To be fair the first book in the "A song of Ice and Fire" series, though a beast in itself, doesn't take the throne for the Best Fantasy Series in my opinion) or "If you didn't enjoy it, you didn't read it HARD enough" (read harder fools!) are a dime a dozen. What I can say, and I know a lot of other people out there will have the same sentiments as I do, is that I have never read this series/author before.
The earth trembles at the feet of a thousand MBoF fanboys marching through the dusty fields towards the B&M HQ. Cries of rage from countless mouths break the silence of the night. The previously unlit landscape, now, showered in an orange glow by the flickering of a hundred torches raised with the spirit of outrage and shame.
I know next to nothing about this novel other than it created a decades-long turmoil within SFF fans. Basically, people either love it or hate it and, depending who you ask, they really, really, REALLY love this novel or think that it's the worst invention of the human imagination far worse than molding ergonomic nipple forms on breastplate armor. I was so moved by this small anarchy in the geekdom that I was inspired (Yes, I thrive in the suffering of others) to document my reading of this book and create this blog site to cement my future as a foremost commentator on SFF literature and a widely respected savant of the arts as well as a widely-renowned and loved public figure who...
What I do know about this book made me very interested in bumping it up on my reading list. First, it has one of the most complex (complexest) worlds ever in SFF. Second, it has the most unique characterization and intricate plot lines in modern SFF History. Third, it is very, very hard to read (I was told that if you multiplied hard to the power of infinity this novel will still be more difficult to get through). The third item, I was told, is mostly because there is no hand-holding by the author to bridge the sophisticated world-building with the reader's expectation.
What more can I say? I love a good challenge (and awesome pain, yes, give me more, More, MOAR!). More importantly, I love me some good Epic Fantasy right about now. So, for these reasons and a whole lot more that are not listed in this short read-through introduction because I'm too lazy to write them all (and because my real job is killing all the free time I have) I am proud to declare that we will be conquering The Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen #1) by Steven Erikson as the first ever (ever, ever, ever...) pick for my awesome, awesome read-through.
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Hopefully, I'll be able to get the prologue and first few chapters in next week. My kindle is telling me that this is going to be a long read (688 pages, to be exact). And yes, I will be reading the ebook version of this novel. I do have a copy of the Trade paperback edition but I can't seem to find it anywhere (oh, well). It has this same cover, just so you know. It's not as good as the original cover though.
Awesome Covers
My Cover
There are a few things I'd like to discuss (courtesy of Wikipedia), without spoiling ourselves, before we begin. This novel was first published in 1999; a weird time where Nu-Metal was in full swing and European Power Metal sees the release of classics such as Edguy's "Theater of Salvation" and Sonata Arctica's debut album "Ecliptica". The entire Malazan world was the brainchild of Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont as a setting for a role-playing game. Apparently, Esselmont has his own series of novels based on this world that ties in with the plot of this series. I haven't really heard much from Esselmont's Malazan books and, from what I understand, Erikson's MBoF is the prime literature of the Malazan World. Well, here goes nothing...
The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting, and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.
For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.
But it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand....