Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson is perhaps the greatest high fantasy book ever written. The series comprise of 10 books, and then there are more books complementing the main series but those books were written by Ian Esslemont, his co-creator of the Malazan world.
A warning though, it is a very rewarding and an epic journey to finish the 10 books but then the author has a very uncompromising style of writing, which actually adds a layer of genius to it. Be forewarned that you don't get spoon-fed as to what is happening. The author's style may not be appealing to some readers but, hey, it's your loss for missing out on perhaps the best piece of literary work on the genre of high fantasy.
On FB book clubs I am a member of are actually divided on Malazan. Some say they can't finish Book 1 because they get so confused. Some give up on Book 2 because they are still so lost and dazed with the story. However, to those who actually got past the confusion and just let the story unfold as they go along will just be left in utter awe on how great every facet of the book is: the characters, the magic, the battles, the worldbuilding, the prose. Ah! A super tough grind of a read because it has probably the highest count of words but I tell you it's the best fantasy book ever written.
As mentioned earlier it is a 10-book series. Usually trilogies were the norm, and I was reluctant to take on this bad boy because 10 books is too much money for a series. I think I became a very voracious reader back then that trilogies bored me already and that's why I took on Malazan. The thing with Malazan is when you turn the last page as you finish the book is you'll feel this odd sensation.
What I'm saying is as a bookworm you feel like you found the Holy Grail of high fantasy or like you embarked on a difficult journey or quest and you saw through the end of the quest, that sort of thing. We have a joke on our Malazan group like when somebody finishes the series we tell them, "You have ascended." Ascension in the book means is the transition of mortals into godhood or demigodhood, and so finishing the book being compared to ascending is quite a common expression.
Perhaps, another thing you can say is that Malazan is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill book. This book will leave you emotionally drenched. You'll curse (the Malazan way, of course), you'll laugh, you'll get excited, you'll feel your innards getting pulled, you'll be in tears. I'm telling you, this is not just a mere story-telling affair, you'll be sucked in on the world. As the title says "Book of the Fallen" you can already pretty much gauge this is not going to be a happy story.
Perhaps, another way to appreciate this is read Game of Thrones first. When you've read Game of Thrones prior to Malazan, you can more see the complexity of the overall Malazan world. You will acknowledge that Steven Erikson is one heck of a genius, an author who is on a class of his own. The Ian Esslemont books are good but somehow the writing style of Erikson is truly just on a higher plane.
Don't get me wrong, GoT is good, in fact it was my all-time favorite back then but when I got introduced to Malazan suddenly GoT felt like high school stuff to me. I was actually going to say kindergarten stuff but GoT has some explicit content, so I can't say it is kid's stuff. But just saying Erikson really upped the ante on high fantasy writing further than George Martin.
I guess Malazan have an upper hand on every aspect of fantasy writing over GoT. From a hardcore fantasy reader, I guess what I loved about GoT at first was that George Martin put in a lot of characters and so many deaths and veered away from usual fantasy tropes, you know elves and dwarfs. But then when you read Malazan you can't help but compare. Game of Thrones have only three dragons, Malazan is peppered with dragons, and that is just the start. The storylines can span millions of years back, lots of magic and uber-powered beings.
Then you've got the best characters ever written. For me, notable characters are Anomander Rake, Shadowthrone, Tehol, Bugg, Karsa, Icarium, Kalam, Gesler, Quick Ben, Lt. Pores, Kruppe, Iskaral Pust, Braventooth, Fiddler, Hedge to mention a few. You can also treat this book like a badass anime, gory and brutal, yet the prose is so lyrical you might think it was written by Shakespeare himself.
Beyond command of words, Mr. Erikson has also a good grasp of political, social and economic ideas that most likely mirrored from what the author experienced from being a true blue dig archeologist. His insights are so spot on, just really, really spot on. Although there were some characters that kind of had too much philosophical meanderings, but then those soliloquys are what truly brings out the character in a character.
On the the progression of the storylines, forget about predicting what will happen, because you can't. I can usually predict what is going to happen on a lot of books I've read, but Sir Steven just ruined my record. All the predictions I said were like darts hitting the wall and not even hitting the border of the dartboard. Ha! That's how unpredictable this book is.
Probably I'll just say a bit about each book to give you a bit of some expectation, but of course I won't spoil.
First book is Gardens of the Moon
GotM, as with any first book, will introduce you to the main characters, and who you thought were main characters. GotM will set up the political scenery of the whole series, but just a little. You will be as confused like a lamb separated from the flock.
Book 2: Deadhouse Gates
Deadhouse Gates will continue where Book 1 left off storyline-wise, but this time more about the magic system and more characters are introduced. Prepare to meet Iskaral Pust here. Epic battles abound. Coltaine and the Chain of Dogs will be the main focus here. You will still be confused here as I've said, but then just focus on the Chain of Dogs, and you'll be good. You'll need a lot of Kleenex here. I'm telling you, I don't cry but this is gonna make your tears well up and eventually those tears will succumb to gravity.
Book 3: Memories of Ice
As new events transpired, former warring parties are forced to join forces. Not only mortals are warring, the gods have also gotten into the mix. The initial confusion you've thought has started unknotting will suddenly take a backseat as more sources of knots of confusion surface up. More interesting characters show up here. I think my favorite here are Bauchelain and Itkovian. The takeaway here is that you'll have a slight grasp of what's happening now. If you thought the battle scenes on Book 2 were the best you've read, the ones here are going to make you forget the battle scenes on GoT. For me, Book 3 is my favorite in terms of battle action.
Book 4: The House of Chains
This is a bit of flashback as the story focuses on Karsa Orlong's origins. Karsa was introduced in Book 2, but then he takes his own story arc to a different route but eventually it will tie up nicely with the main story. Karsa is like Conan the Barbarian or Hercules. Karsa performed the most individual epic feats and yet you'll get scared to root for this guy because he is bent on his mission of destroying civilizations. It's scary because you will think he can carry it out. This book will also feature a lot of Icarium screen time, a walking nuclear bomb, who is another fan favorite.
Book 5: Midnight Tides
Now the story completely veers away from the Malazans and Karsa and jump into a whole new continent named Lether. The story of brothers is the main theme here--actually two sets of brothers, the Sengar brothers and the Beddict brothers. The book features the comic yet genius Tehol Beddict. This is actually my favorite book for the sole reason of Tehol Beddict. The comedy is utter genius while the genius part is utterly witty. Oh, yeah, you'll need Kleenex on this part too. Lots of Kleenex. Even though Tehol will make you laugh non-stop, there is a part here that is extremely gut-wrenching. Even Tehol's antics will not and cannot soften the tragedy to befall on this book.
Book 6: The Bonehunters.
With the betrayal and political twists happening in the Malazan Empire, a division of Malazan forces were tasked to quell rebels that rose up from Book 2. A threat of civil war and perhaps the greatest escape scene and individual duels you'll see will happen on this book. The ending here is where perhaps the most epic mano a mano duels happened. This is really where the petulant stench of politics among the Malazans comes to a head.
Book 7: Reapers Gale
The Malazans and Letherii have finally clashed. The story tidying up just a bit more now in this part. More gods appear here and when gods appear things are going to be messy. Many things happening here and a lot are revealed. Gods and ascendants are coming head to head too. Oh, by the way, the Emperor of Lether has a magic sword that makes him undefeatable, and he sends word to all renowned fighters from all over the planet to fight him. So many story arcs fleshing out here. Again, remember this is a book of tribute to the fallen, so you might need to get those Kleenex at the ready again.
Book 8: Toll the Hounds
Book 8 was a bit of a slog in the beginning on my first read because Book 7 and Book 8 were my first copies and read them without Books 1-6. In my country it's hard to get copies here. I actually completed the series through Bookdepository.com, so I found the first part a bit of a slog as I don't know what happened previous to Book 7 events. But when I was able to read the whole series in order, I was actually dumbfounded how great Book 8 is.
Here, the gods are more present and meddling. Then the epic battle between two of the best swordsmen in the realm squares off. The anticipation of that duel will already make your hair all over rise up. I think I felt this sensation when there is a game 7 on a playoff game in the NBA involving my favorite team. There's a bonus epic duel at the end too. This book is also a set up to the conclusion. Like maybe after Midnight Tides and Memories of Ice, I would pick this one as my third favorite.
Book 9: Dust of Dreams
Book 10: The Crippled God
Okay, so Book 9 and Book 10 are actually one book but because it was too long the publisher decided to release them as two books. The real enemy has been revealed and finally the true mission of the Malazans have been made clear. And you thought you've seen an epic battle from the previous books you've read, you are utterly mistaken. The most epic battles are going to happen here.
The Malazans had seen the worst and yet what they have faced so far is nothing compared to what they will be facing soon. You'll feel the futility and courage at the same time. This is perhaps the only book that I paused for a long time after I closed the book. After the pause, I just stared at the book and at the name of the author inscribed on the cover and said, "Thank you, sir." And then this lightness of being came over me for a few minutes. That's how epic it was for me.
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