This is the series that absolutely broke my tiny teenage mind wide open to the sheer detail and scale a fantasy series could have. As a small example, I remember spending so much of the second book somewhat impatiently waiting to get back to the characters/events from the first book, and when it clicked that it maybe wasn't going to, and I realized that hey, maybe it didn't HAVE to and that it was WORKING - something in my perception of what a body of creative work could be absolutely shifted. My love for this series will stay infinite, even though I haven't had a chance to properly finish it. It's just so... IMPRESSIVE.
It took me 2 years to get through the 10 malazan books. It's an experience I can describe as frustrating but rewarding. It's even more rewarding when you are done the series and are able to look back and reflect on everything that happened. I do recommend reading this series on a kindle for a few reasons but the biggest one being x-ray mode which helps you keep track of names and terms.
This exactly the type of video I think the book tube community needed. A good way to introduce and explain to people what they are getting into with a series. Would love to see more videos like this. Great video.
I always found something so incredibly literary about the cryptic world of Dark Souls when I was younger and always wanted a novel of it. I remember looking online for a book that could scratch that itch and Malazan came up a lot. I started reading it recently and I wish I'd started sooner. I wouldn't be surprised if Hidetaka Miyazaki is a fan of this series. To any Dark Souls fans who feel the same as I did, I can't recommend these books enough. Yes, I realise I'm technically saying that Malazan is the Dark Souls of literature.
I have literally made the same joke, Malazan is the Dark Souls of fantasy novels lol. Hard, but once you GET it, some of the best prose and magic interactions I've ever read
@@mattstreit1116 felisin's storyline too. Gardens of the moon was epic but it wasn't ridiculously dark like deadhouse gates or memories of ice, which are both brutal
Just started Reaper's Gale....I love this series so much every book so far has been a 10/10 for me and I'm glad you're back to making content for it Daniel!!!!
@@BooksRebound I think I know what 3 pages your talking about and it broke me as well. Actually 2 big events in this book broke me. Loved all the books but Reapers Gale is my favorite next to Memories of Ice( Itkovian is one of my favorite characters).
Enjoy it, I always struggle once I get to RG. The location shift,while not bad at all, , does feel different to the massive drama of Seven cities which you've had from books 2,4 and 6. (My favourite arc of all of it) Though book 10 man....awesome
Love Malazan so much. The sheer humanity encompassed is unmatched. The series makes you feel every kind of way. Having multiple authors who are on the same page plot-wise but have very different writing styles is a game changer. Super happy you're talking about this series. Thank you.
I've just started reading the Cosmere and plan to read the Malazan books next. Between just Sanderson and Erickson, I'll have plenty of books to read for years. Even longer if I include the Wheel of Time after Malazan.
I've done the Wheel of Time three times, and the entire Cosmere for Sanderson at least twice. I just started Malazan and as this guy said in the beginning, it's really hard to follow along. I was struggling at first, but the first battle at Moon's Spawn kind of sucked me in, and now I can't get enough. Once you understand that Erikson does just kind of force a narrative, and that the perspective is a bit less structured, it makes more sense. I do highly suggest that you finish the Cosmere. If you started with Stormlight Archives (like I did) you miss a LOT of what is going on, and will have to re-read to catch everything.
IMO, read WoT before Malazan, cause once you've read Malazan and start reading WoT, you will want to throw it to the fire. Malazan is on a whole different level. It sets the threshold so high that everything is worse after reading it. And WoT has major mistakes, especially in book 1.
I finished Mistborn era 1 and 2.. almost done with the First Law trilogy.. started Wheel of Time… Riyria maybe my next book then Malazan. Wish I started reading twenty years ago. I feel like I’m going to end up dying before reading them all lol
I liked the first one a lot, but man, that was just a foreplay compared to Deadhouse gates. Brutal, all the plotlines are great, but Chain of dogs was fucking haunting.
I coincidentally finished the first book, Gardens of the Moon, today. I'm still not completely sure I understand what all I read, and there were certainly tedious parts, but I loved just about everything that took place in Darujhistan, and would love to be able to explore that city more. I'm really glad you're going to be doing more Malazan videos, as I expect they'll keep me interested in working through the rest of the series. Thanks, Daniel!
I just finished Memories of Ice a few days ago. Holy crap, this is an amazing series. I can easily see this becoming my favorite series. Steven Erikson's writing style is really clicking with me. Thank you for this series Daniel. I can't wait to see what your next episode in this series will be featuring.
I recently started Malazan and 200 pages in I'm already loving Gardens of the Moon. If this is the weakest book in the series, I'm even more excited to read the rest of the series! This is truly EPIC fantasy.
Malazan is some crazy stuff. It's glorious, I want to see Erickson get it made into something live action, faithfully. Tere are some scenes and speeches coming that I have to see acted out. preferably while Charles Danse can still be cast...
@@bulbafett5001 As a whole I think its impossible to adapt in the traditional sense. You could adapt sections of it. A movie about the chain of dogs, a movie about the campaign on Genabackis for, Maybe a story just focused on Karsa.
Definitely do a re-read, your head will pop off when you realize how much of it was foreshadowed in first books and many things will fall into place. Read it in publication order, meaning read ICE's books in between Erikson's based on when they came out. Except for Night of Knives they are happening in parallel anyway with the last 3 NOTME books taking place after Crippled God. Do what you want with prequels, both of those aren't finished yet.
Blood & Bone they are looking for certain...things...related to the Crippled God for the plot of the book, so that one is actually during The Crippled God, or slightly before.
Right now I am on book 9, Dust of Dreams, and I have loved every second of it. My favorite character who I feel does not get talked about enough is Tavore. The character's journey is so well done. I think you should read Esslemont next because he gives even more context to the Malazan world that shows how interconnected it is.
Im also on Dust of Dreams, there’s one particular chapter that was tough going but overall I’m enjoying it. Excited to get to the end but enjoying the journey
I just want to thank you, Daniel, for introducing me to Malazan. I had never heard of it until hearing you talk of it and I started reading Erikson’s books last year. I am now on book 9 and Malazan has consistently been a cathartic experience for me. I’ve never read a book series that makes me feel like I am having the mother of all drug highs. It has enriched my life more than I can put into words. Thank you thank you thank you.
I’m on House of Chains, but decided to reread the first three because I felt a little lost. I paid a bit more attention my second time through and wow. It was 100% worth restarting when I felt stuck.
First time, I read the first two. Then I took too long of a break, so when I gave the series a second try, I had to start over again. It's not a process I would recommend, but I'm glad it happened naturally for me!
Good tip! I'm on House of Chains, and I feel similarly. It's been a little while since I started the series. I took some time to read the Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear by Pat Rothfuss. Now I came back to Malazan, and I'm a little rusty. But boy is it nice to be back with a prolific author that finishes a series and does not dangle unfulfilled promises before his fans.
Love this! This kind of video is super helpful for preparing to read large series. I still need to read Malazan and Stormlight Archive, but it can be so intimidating to mentally be ready to start.
While stormlight is a large series it's actually very easi to get into. And there is only 4 books right now (although you might want to read warbreaker before book 3)
I really love this “breakdown” video format. It’s a really good way to understand whether reading a series aligns with my tastes. I’m excited to see more in the future!
My all-time favourite book series. No other series in the genre (at least in my opinion) can match the sheer scope of what Erikson achieved with MBotF.
Hello Daniel! This couldn’t have been a better timing as I just started my journey in the world. I finished the first book and it was daunting how much information was absent from the jargon being used, but it made me fall for it even more. Halfway through the second and I’m still falling in love! Great video.
Great series, great characters, great development. Once you get through the information overload of the first couple of books and the pieces start fitting together as the series goes on, it really gets you. Nothing like when 5 different storylines come together at once.
Yes! Erikson is incredible at bringing several plot lines together seamlessly in a perfect bow. I marvel at how he does it, and I look forward to how the characters come together every book.
I would recommend a re-read in published order, weaving the Esslemont books in between the Erikson ones. I've done this myself. Personally, I would say Malazan is even better on a re-read than on the original read.
my favorite series. reading this will give you some of the most epic fantasy scenes you’ll ever experience while also delivering some of the most laugh out loud absurd comedic moments. so incredibly fun and epic
This is by far my favorite series. Now there are a couple books that have some storylines that I had a hard time with, it just wasn't enjoyable... Like the kids and the crystals in the desert. But I've read this 10 book series 3 times. Each time is better as I can catch something that I missed previously. Like you said, he goes straight in and it take several books before you catch up and start understanding the world. And as you mention there are a LOT of great female characters of all types. It's not forced like today's movies and books, it is easily integrated in with great characters.
Yes! That's what I love about the fantasy genre, too. It's easier to integrate characters of all races, genders, etc. into a sprawling, imagined world. Erikson writes incredible female characters and characters of all ages and abilities. I'm thinking of Heboric Light Touch, a wonderful, complex character.
Definitely read Esslemont's novellas before doing a re-read of the main one. They take place during different times throughout the series so you're gonna want to include the novellas in your re-read.
I really like the idea behind the series breakdown video series! You included just about everything I would want except maybe a world map and maybe an overall series chronology for where the different sub-series fit in.
I think Deadhouse Gates is the most underrated book in the series. The entire chain of dogs storyline, beginning with Coltaine taking command of the 7th Army in Hissar and then the long, long running battle / evacuation of refugees all the way until the last stand outside the gates of Aren is legitimately one of the greatest storylines I have read in Fantasy Fiction. A couple of the other storylines in the book aren't quite as strong, but overall Deadhouse Gates is still possibly my favourite Malazan book (although Memories of Ice probably takes the title). Reapers Gale is also very underrated. The marines of the Bonehunters invading the Letherii Empire on their own, with Beak and his candles, is another one of my favourite storylines in the entire series.
Daniel, we don't have a very good record, you and I. Most of what you recommend to me, I don't end up liking at all. Initially, after about 12 of those with only 1 success, I gave up on your opinions... but recently I've gone back and discovered that two of the ones I had previously discounted without reading them actually turned out to be good. We still have about an 80% fail rate, but that's better than the 39% we got up to, so let's hope the trend continues. It also helps that you aren't the only one who has recommended this series to me, so I'm going to dig in.
I finished Toll the Hounds last week I’m having a little break before starting Dust of Dreams and I think I’ll go straight into The Crippled God from there I’m only on my first read of Book of The Fallen but it already feels like the crowning achievement and measure of what high epic fantasy can accomplish
@@Ulmo90 I'm part of a couple of Malazan Facebook groups but rarely I match with a reader at the same level Comment back when you finish dust of dreams 👍 Let me know your thoughts My favourite is still Deadhouse Gates
@@Akuma60 I was gonna complete my Tolkien reading after book of the Fallen before trying out any other Malazan books but I definitely wanna get the entire Malazan experience
*thank you* for doing this Daniel - my Canadian partner (who passed in 2007) put me onto this (Canadian) author (I've still got his copy of Forge of Darkness, which he bought with him on his way to Aotearoa/New Zealand, after I have lived with him in Canada) - he was excited to read it as it had just been published and he found it at the airport NOBODY I knew had heard of this awesome series - still haven't read them all, so dense, so intense (technically Forge of Darkness is part of the prequel series, set 300,000 years before the events in the Book of the Fallen (only *300,000 years* !!!) - really enjoy both the depth & complexity (OMG the depth, the complexity... - people I knew were complaining of how complex GoT was - bahhahahaha) of the world, and the philosophy ("major theme in the novel is how stories and history often blur together and the way the present is continuous and eternally reshapes itself in response to the past...questions of religion, justice, empathy.... Erikson also muses on the core questions of culture, of civilization and of being....). a series once I'm finally done reading, will likely start all over again, and get so much more each time
Just finished reading The Wheel of time for the first time, and was gonna take a break from reading for a couple weeks. But I am actually itching to read something else, so might as well jump into another epic saga after watching this :)
Do it! I've re-read Malazan 3 times and am finishing my 3rd re-read of WoT and am still of the mind that Malazan is a tier above all else. WoT is the next closest to competing with it IMO but is still not even close. Maybe if Robert Jordan hadn't repeated himself so much and instead wrote out a whole storyline in the Seanchan continent that then blended into the main continent, then WoT might have been able to play on the same field. Malazan outshines all others not just by its scale, but in its writing quality as well. Steven Erikson writes better than Robert Jordan IMO, immerses me in the world better, develops characters better, ties events and storylines together better, and creates more epic mind-blowing events that feel of greater magnitude.
This is a great start to a series! Especially for people who don't want even the spoilers of a "what you need to know to read" type of video, it's good to get all the context of the publication and stuff
Thanks Daniel for doing these reviews - I actually picked up Malazan based on your recommendations, got Gardens of the Moon as audio and... wtf.... it's like starting reading in the middle of WoT. Additionally Erickson's writing style and language make this a huge challenge. I'm happy to hear it will get better with consequent books. Maybe the prequels written after the core series deliver a smoother introduction to the Malazan world. That's something I would have loved to hear here. Btw. you know how we are all different in terms of which senses we use most as basis of our cognition, with visual, auditory, kinesthetic, haptic style etc.? I guess we prefer or find it easier to understand authors using the same sensory processing as we do. While Jordan's prose e.g. is very visual, Sandersons visual but already quite kinesthetic, Eriksons is very much on the kinesthetic and olfactory side or at least distinctively different from my own (strongly visual) perception so much so that I really need to concentrate to follow the action descriptions. With Erikson I often feel like I'm looking at sth half blind, the descriptions not making as much sense as they would with other (more visually engaged) authors. That's something you could factor in your reviews as well.
Great feedback. I also feel like my vocabulary and writing greatly improved after reading Erikson. His ability to describe extended, complex battles from multiple vantages is incredible and humbling.
Toll the Hounds is one of those rare books that leaves a lasting impression on me. Especially that last third of the book. The culminating events in that book are some of the greatest I have ever read. Ever.
When confronted with a re-read or go to ICE books, I decided for re-read. ICE books contain pretty much all the hanging threads that Erikson left, such as the Storm wall, Crimson Guard, and Kallor. Going back through gave me the questions to look for in ICE books, which he does a good job in showing. A word of "warning" (which I'm sure, you'd understand Daniel, but other reading may not), ICE is not Erikson. They do not write the same way. I'd leave the Prequel series alone until after ICE. I'm reading the sequel book now.
Gardens of the Moon is exactly 203,893 words from the first word of the excerpt of Felisin right before the prologue to the last word of the epilogue. A little trick to get precise word counts is to convert the epub into a docx, open it in Word, delete all the fluff at the front and back that isn't part of the main story, and poof, you have the word count.
Coltaine rattles slow across the burning land. The wind howls through the bones of his hate-ridden command. Coltaine leads a chain of dogs ever snapping at his hand. Coltaine's fist bleeds the journey home along rivers of red-soaked sand. His train howls through his bones in spiteful reprimand. Coltaine leads a chain of dogs ever snapping at his hand. Coltaine.
I can't believe that I have waited for so long to start with the series. I guess I was scared that I would be disappointed, but NO WAY! I am almost at the end of book 3 and it's like something is forcing me to read and read and read, it's incredible.
Honestly, I'm so glad that I persisted with these novels. Just started on The Bonehunters and I'm 100% invested. Deadhouse Gates was one of the most inspiring and soul-crushing reads I've ever embarked upon and Midnight Tides was such an amazing, palate-cleansing detour after House of Chains. Can't wait to witness the back half of this tale!
Currently rereading the series, after about 10 years. And while i'm annoyed with some jarring jumps in perspective from book to book, I find the serie's worldbuilding something to envy. I love it. I can really feel the oldschool roleplaying roots in the writing as well. There are a lot of very relatable player-like characters and a load of typical tprpg npc-like characters as well.
So my input on what to read for you, Daniel, is to reread the series. In the later books and side stories, there are details that you will miss if you aren't familiar with that core decalogy, things like character relations and bits of backstory that will only click into place with those small details in your mind. Smaller, side characters are more easily explored without the seemingly oppressive massive cast of the Book of the Fallen weighing them down. Things like the Kharkanas trilogy, Orb Scepter Throne, the Path to Ascendancy are much more self-contained stories that, while still telling very large stories, do not cover an entire globe with overlapping time periods across three books with four more spaced in-between them.
Thank you for putting this out. Bought the books a couple of years, but never bothered to make that jump...appreciate your take. Hope you put out more reviews of different series
This a perfectly timed video for me. I'm only about halfway through Gardens of the Moon. Loving it so far. I'm kicking myself for putting off starting this series for so long because of all the critiques about it being too hard to follow. It's more complex than a lot of fantasy but not in a frustrating way, at least for me.....so far!
Good video, I like these surveys of series... definitely the sort of thing I wish existed when I first started book hunting! As for continuing on with your exploration of the Malazan world, I'd recommend to just start knocking out ICE's Novels of the Malazan Empire series. They are (generally) on the shorter side and much easier to digest, so they are perfect for sprinkling in between the other readings you do.
The comment at the end reminded me I got through Wheel of Time audiobooks in 2 months on my first time through (7h 41m per day average). I am not doing that again all these years later, now that I'm out of school and have a life. Safe to say I'm a month and a half in and only on chapter 1 of Deadhouse Gates.
I don't understand why you'd want to talk about any topic without being as prepared as possible. The only thing you said about Reaper's Gale is that you don't remember it. Stunning review. I was coming to YOU because I don't remember it. Honestly, I like your take and perspective, and I have your first book in my Wish List (with Kindle, sorry). Truly, keep up the great work!
I listened to all of Malazan in about a month on my first reread which was a very immersive experience. For a reread that goes into the other books as well I would recommend starting with Ian C. Esslemont's Path To Ascendancy, then slipping in his Novels of the Malazan Empire where they take place in the overall timeline and read The God Is Not Willing after the rest. Kharkanas is so far removed from the other books that it can be read whenever really but I would just wait and hope the final book comes out soon so it is a finished trilogy.
@@juliaconnell Thy are all available on audible, at least from where I live (Germany), region-lock being a major pain in the ass with Audible. But they were available as physical MP3 CDs for a while at least, the 10 Malazan Book of the Fallen novels that is. No idea if anyone still made MP3 CDs when the Esslemont books were released on audio.
Bonehunters Deadhouse Gates Memories of Ice Crippled God Midnight Tides Those are my top 5. The last half of of Deadhouse Gates doesn’t get enough props. I loved Esselmounts series, because I loved the story about the Crimson Guard, The Segulah etc…That’s where I’d go next if I was you Daniel.
Second half of 2021 was all about Malazan for Me. Spending those 5 months in that World is an experience I will never get over. And since then.... I see a new Malazan video suggestion I couldn't click faster! Maybe I should go back x)
I really wanna own this series. I LOVE huge and massive high fantasy worlds filled with tons lore, culture, and different races. A lot of adventure and powerful magic and individuals that use that magic.
I love this series so much and I will always take more content about it. I know that it started as a role playing game and thanks to your interview with the author I seem to remember that at least one of the major battles was was decided by dice rolls. I love Dungeons & Dragons but I almost never purchase never purchase source books beyond beyond the core trio is trio. That said, if I could get a rule book is a rule book for playing in the world of malazan I would drop 50 bucks in a heart beat. I just think there are so many unique fantasy races and you don't see much of that anymore.
I appreciate these videos so much, Daniel! I read Gardens of the Moon years ago and said, “that was good, but that was a lot of work.” And then put the series down. This video has encouraged me to go back
Thank you for making this, I am planning to read Malazan Book of The Fallen after I finish Wheel of Time and I am super excited to read. I really loved this video and I will definitely be keeping up with this new video series.
That's exciting, I'd like to hear about how the series have impacted the fantasy genre as a whole. I'd also love to hear The Black Company series covered.
My favorite Malazan books are Deadhouse Gates and The Bonehunters. And my next favorites are Midnight Tides and Memories of Ice. The only book I didn't love was Dust of Dreams, but even that one is good. I will definitely reread this series one day.
I already wish I’d included main POVs for each book. What other buts of info would you like to see included in later Breakdowns?
buts
themes would be good
I think a little more on characters & basic plot would be nice!! A little more of a synopsis, also reasons to read or not read the series :)
Main POVs would be quite spoilery tbh
Include an overall amount of chapters
I, too, am constantly breaking down because of Malazan.
EDIT: I have been informed this is a video about the background and history of Malazan.
Pretty sure he had a breakdown at least twice while reading it, though. Who hasn't?
I’ve had multiple breakdowns reading that series, it’s like every time I read it I find new connections through them all
I, too have breakdowns: "To burn, fire needed fuel."
I'm a simple man, I see Malazan content, I spread it like the plague.
poliel be praised
@@emanate0 and may she not be torn asunder by vicious Hounds...oh wait...
This is the series that absolutely broke my tiny teenage mind wide open to the sheer detail and scale a fantasy series could have. As a small example, I remember spending so much of the second book somewhat impatiently waiting to get back to the characters/events from the first book, and when it clicked that it maybe wasn't going to, and I realized that hey, maybe it didn't HAVE to and that it was WORKING - something in my perception of what a body of creative work could be absolutely shifted.
My love for this series will stay infinite, even though I haven't had a chance to properly finish it. It's just so... IMPRESSIVE.
It took me 2 years to get through the 10 malazan books. It's an experience I can describe as frustrating but rewarding. It's even more rewarding when you are done the series and are able to look back and reflect on everything that happened. I do recommend reading this series on a kindle for a few reasons but the biggest one being x-ray mode which helps you keep track of names and terms.
This exactly the type of video I think the book tube community needed. A good way to introduce and explain to people what they are getting into with a series. Would love to see more videos like this. Great video.
I always found something so incredibly literary about the cryptic world of Dark Souls when I was younger and always wanted a novel of it. I remember looking online for a book that could scratch that itch and Malazan came up a lot. I started reading it recently and I wish I'd started sooner. I wouldn't be surprised if Hidetaka Miyazaki is a fan of this series. To any Dark Souls fans who feel the same as I did, I can't recommend these books enough.
Yes, I realise I'm technically saying that Malazan is the Dark Souls of literature.
It certainly has that “if you’ve finished this, you’ve really accomplished something” feel to it
@@KillerOfWhales Oh yeah that too. Both happen to be very challenging to complete.
I have literally made the same joke, Malazan is the Dark Souls of fantasy novels lol. Hard, but once you GET it, some of the best prose and magic interactions I've ever read
That's EXACTLY how I got into the Malazan series :)
Sir, I feel the same way
There is something that connects these two worlds that I really love in fiction
The Chain of Dogs and Coltaine's ultimate fate genuinely broke my heart when I read it. I was angry at what had been done.
Deadhouse Gates is the only time I've had to stop midway through a series and read something else for a bit. That ending gutted me.
Here here
@@mattstreit1116 It's that final betrayel... so close to their goal. After going through all that suffering
@@mattstreit1116 felisin's storyline too. Gardens of the moon was epic but it wasn't ridiculously dark like deadhouse gates or memories of ice, which are both brutal
It broke me utterly hope he come back I haven't finished the books
Just started Reaper's Gale....I love this series so much every book so far has been a 10/10 for me and I'm glad you're back to making content for it Daniel!!!!
Just got to dust of dreams myself
That and book 10 are the ones that I have not bought yet.
@@BooksRebound my boy Beak!!
@@BooksRebound I think I know what 3 pages your talking about and it broke me as well. Actually 2 big events in this book broke me. Loved all the books but Reapers Gale is my favorite next to Memories of Ice( Itkovian is one of my favorite characters).
Enjoy it, I always struggle once I get to RG. The location shift,while not bad at all, , does feel different to the massive drama of Seven cities which you've had from books 2,4 and 6. (My favourite arc of all of it)
Though book 10 man....awesome
Love Malazan so much. The sheer humanity encompassed is unmatched. The series makes you feel every kind of way. Having multiple authors who are on the same page plot-wise but have very different writing styles is a game changer.
Super happy you're talking about this series.
Thank you.
I've just started reading the Cosmere and plan to read the Malazan books next. Between just Sanderson and Erickson, I'll have plenty of books to read for years. Even longer if I include the Wheel of Time after Malazan.
I read Wheel of Time, then most of the Cosmere, and just started Malazan all in three years. Once you get the itch, you gotta scratch it.
I've done the Wheel of Time three times, and the entire Cosmere for Sanderson at least twice. I just started Malazan and as this guy said in the beginning, it's really hard to follow along. I was struggling at first, but the first battle at Moon's Spawn kind of sucked me in, and now I can't get enough. Once you understand that Erikson does just kind of force a narrative, and that the perspective is a bit less structured, it makes more sense. I do highly suggest that you finish the Cosmere. If you started with Stormlight Archives (like I did) you miss a LOT of what is going on, and will have to re-read to catch everything.
IMO, read WoT before Malazan, cause once you've read Malazan and start reading WoT, you will want to throw it to the fire. Malazan is on a whole different level. It sets the threshold so high that everything is worse after reading it. And WoT has major mistakes, especially in book 1.
I finished Mistborn era 1 and 2.. almost done with the First Law trilogy.. started Wheel of Time… Riyria maybe my next book then Malazan. Wish I started reading twenty years ago. I feel like I’m going to end up dying before reading them all lol
Read Wheel of Time before Malazan
Currently going through Deadhouse Gates as the Whirlwind has started to unfold...man it is brutal but I can't stop reading!
I liked the first one a lot, but man, that was just a foreplay compared to Deadhouse gates. Brutal, all the plotlines are great, but Chain of dogs was fucking haunting.
I coincidentally finished the first book, Gardens of the Moon, today. I'm still not completely sure I understand what all I read, and there were certainly tedious parts, but I loved just about everything that took place in Darujhistan, and would love to be able to explore that city more. I'm really glad you're going to be doing more Malazan videos, as I expect they'll keep me interested in working through the rest of the series. Thanks, Daniel!
I just finished Memories of Ice a few days ago. Holy crap, this is an amazing series. I can easily see this becoming my favorite series. Steven Erikson's writing style is really clicking with me. Thank you for this series Daniel. I can't wait to see what your next episode in this series will be featuring.
Nice timing, I just restarted Malazan this weekend
I recently started Malazan and 200 pages in I'm already loving Gardens of the Moon. If this is the weakest book in the series, I'm even more excited to read the rest of the series!
This is truly EPIC fantasy.
Malazan is some crazy stuff. It's glorious, I want to see Erickson get it made into something live action, faithfully. Tere are some scenes and speeches coming that I have to see acted out. preferably while Charles Danse can still be cast...
Gardens is the thinnest by the way. 😂
@@bulbafett5001 I don't think they can because a lot will be cut out from the source material.
@@bulbafett5001 As a whole I think its impossible to adapt in the traditional sense. You could adapt sections of it. A movie about the chain of dogs, a movie about the campaign on Genabackis for, Maybe a story just focused on Karsa.
@@esteban280889 hbo tv series ?
Definitely do a re-read, your head will pop off when you realize how much of it was foreshadowed in first books and many things will fall into place. Read it in publication order, meaning read ICE's books in between Erikson's based on when they came out. Except for Night of Knives they are happening in parallel anyway with the last 3 NOTME books taking place after Crippled God. Do what you want with prequels, both of those aren't finished yet.
Blood & Bone they are looking for certain...things...related to the Crippled God for the plot of the book, so that one is actually during The Crippled God, or slightly before.
I’ve slowly built an in-world timeline for the books and I have all of them lol it’s ludicrous
@@calebmauer1751 during, they make mention of the event as it’s happening because…characters and stuff lol
Yes! I felt like I finally got confident a few books in, the first time around.....but upon reread.....it's absolutely breathtaking....
Good advice! Thanks!
Right now I am on book 9, Dust of Dreams, and I have loved every second of it. My favorite character who I feel does not get talked about enough is Tavore. The character's journey is so well done. I think you should read Esslemont next because he gives even more context to the Malazan world that shows how interconnected it is.
Tavore is cold steel, for sure.
Im also on Dust of Dreams, there’s one particular chapter that was tough going but overall I’m enjoying it. Excited to get to the end but enjoying the journey
I just want to thank you, Daniel, for introducing me to Malazan. I had never heard of it until hearing you talk of it and I started reading Erikson’s books last year. I am now on book 9 and Malazan has consistently been a cathartic experience for me. I’ve never read a book series that makes me feel like I am having the mother of all drug highs. It has enriched my life more than I can put into words. Thank you thank you thank you.
I actually finished TCG this week. Phenomenal stuff
Unfortunately I haven’t read this series, YET. But when I do I will watch this video.
I’m on House of Chains, but decided to reread the first three because I felt a little lost. I paid a bit more attention my second time through and wow. It was 100% worth restarting when I felt stuck.
Did the same thing after I finished Reapers Gale... Also taking copious notes and highlighting passages... so much stuff missed.
First time, I read the first two. Then I took too long of a break, so when I gave the series a second try, I had to start over again. It's not a process I would recommend, but I'm glad it happened naturally for me!
Good tip! I'm on House of Chains, and I feel similarly. It's been a little while since I started the series. I took some time to read the Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear by Pat Rothfuss. Now I came back to Malazan, and I'm a little rusty. But boy is it nice to be back with a prolific author that finishes a series and does not dangle unfulfilled promises before his fans.
Love this! This kind of video is super helpful for preparing to read large series. I still need to read Malazan and Stormlight Archive, but it can be so intimidating to mentally be ready to start.
While stormlight is a large series it's actually very easi to get into. And there is only 4 books right now (although you might want to read warbreaker before book 3)
Bonehunters is my favorite book of the whole original series and one of my favorite all time books in general. 10/10 is underscoring, should be 25/10.
I really love this “breakdown” video format. It’s a really good way to understand whether reading a series aligns with my tastes. I’m excited to see more in the future!
My all-time favourite book series. No other series in the genre (at least in my opinion) can match the sheer scope of what Erikson achieved with MBotF.
Amen, brother!
Absolutely do a reread, in my entire journey of fantasy related fiction specifically the Malazan reread is one of the adventures I treasure the most
Hello Daniel! This couldn’t have been a better timing as I just started my journey in the world. I finished the first book and it was daunting how much information was absent from the jargon being used, but it made me fall for it even more. Halfway through the second and I’m still falling in love! Great video.
Great series, great characters, great development.
Once you get through the information overload of the first couple of books and the pieces start fitting together as the series goes on, it really gets you.
Nothing like when 5 different storylines come together at once.
Yes! Erikson is incredible at bringing several plot lines together seamlessly in a perfect bow. I marvel at how he does it, and I look forward to how the characters come together every book.
I would recommend a re-read in published order, weaving the Esslemont books in between the Erikson ones. I've done this myself. Personally, I would say Malazan is even better on a re-read than on the original read.
my favorite series. reading this will give you some of the most epic fantasy scenes you’ll ever experience while also delivering some of the most laugh out loud absurd comedic moments. so incredibly fun and epic
This is by far my favorite series. Now there are a couple books that have some storylines that I had a hard time with, it just wasn't enjoyable... Like the kids and the crystals in the desert. But I've read this 10 book series 3 times. Each time is better as I can catch something that I missed previously. Like you said, he goes straight in and it take several books before you catch up and start understanding the world. And as you mention there are a LOT of great female characters of all types. It's not forced like today's movies and books, it is easily integrated in with great characters.
Yes! That's what I love about the fantasy genre, too. It's easier to integrate characters of all races, genders, etc. into a sprawling, imagined world. Erikson writes incredible female characters and characters of all ages and abilities. I'm thinking of Heboric Light Touch, a wonderful, complex character.
I absolutely love this series, The Breakdown.
Don't get discouraged by the view count, this was great, concise and to the point.
I love that you showcase the Subterranean Press covers for the books. They're my favorite.
Each book following the first is just one soul-crushing phyrric victory after another, and I'm here for it.
Yaassss! 🙌🏼
Love seeing Malazan content on the channel... Reading Memories of Ice right now and it is blowing me away
I love this series so much, thanks mang
Thank you for making me anxious during this whole video because of the way you are holding the knife.
Definitely read Esslemont's novellas before doing a re-read of the main one. They take place during different times throughout the series so you're gonna want to include the novellas in your re-read.
I really like the idea behind the series breakdown video series! You included just about everything I would want except maybe a world map and maybe an overall series chronology for where the different sub-series fit in.
I think Deadhouse Gates is the most underrated book in the series. The entire chain of dogs storyline, beginning with Coltaine taking command of the 7th Army in Hissar and then the long, long running battle / evacuation of refugees all the way until the last stand outside the gates of Aren is legitimately one of the greatest storylines I have read in Fantasy Fiction. A couple of the other storylines in the book aren't quite as strong, but overall Deadhouse Gates is still possibly my favourite Malazan book (although Memories of Ice probably takes the title).
Reapers Gale is also very underrated. The marines of the Bonehunters invading the Letherii Empire on their own, with Beak and his candles, is another one of my favourite storylines in the entire series.
Deadhouse Gates gets a bad rep solely due to the narrative shift. Quite a shame. It has some of the best storylines of the series!
Oh yes. Beak and his candles were fantastic, and it helped me mentally understand the different ways with which different people use the warrens.
Daniel, we don't have a very good record, you and I. Most of what you recommend to me, I don't end up liking at all. Initially, after about 12 of those with only 1 success, I gave up on your opinions... but recently I've gone back and discovered that two of the ones I had previously discounted without reading them actually turned out to be good. We still have about an 80% fail rate, but that's better than the 39% we got up to, so let's hope the trend continues. It also helps that you aren't the only one who has recommended this series to me, so I'm going to dig in.
I finished Toll the Hounds last week
I’m having a little break before starting Dust of Dreams and I think I’ll go straight into The Crippled God from there
I’m only on my first read of Book of The Fallen but it already feels like the crowning achievement and measure of what high epic fantasy can accomplish
Awesome, I'm at the same point as you with the story
Maybe give the intertwined ICE books a try. Orb, Sceptre, Throne is a direct sequel to Toll of the Hounds
@@Ulmo90 I'm part of a couple of Malazan Facebook groups but rarely I match with a reader at the same level
Comment back when you finish dust of dreams 👍
Let me know your thoughts
My favourite is still Deadhouse Gates
@@Akuma60
I was gonna complete my Tolkien reading after book of the Fallen before trying out any other Malazan books but I definitely wanna get the entire Malazan experience
My condolences, friend. "You hear that... they're playing our song."
PLEASE do more of these! Malazan is awesome
*thank you* for doing this Daniel - my Canadian partner (who passed in 2007) put me onto this (Canadian) author (I've still got his copy of Forge of Darkness, which he bought with him on his way to Aotearoa/New Zealand, after I have lived with him in Canada) - he was excited to read it as it had just been published and he found it at the airport
NOBODY I knew had heard of this awesome series - still haven't read them all, so dense, so intense (technically Forge of Darkness is part of the prequel series, set 300,000 years before the events in the Book of the Fallen (only *300,000 years* !!!)
- really enjoy both the depth & complexity (OMG the depth, the complexity... - people I knew were complaining of how complex GoT was - bahhahahaha) of the world, and the philosophy ("major theme in the novel is how stories and history often blur together and the way the present is continuous and eternally reshapes itself in response to the past...questions of religion, justice, empathy.... Erikson also muses on the core questions of culture, of civilization and of being....). a series once I'm finally done reading, will likely start all over again, and get so much more each time
This series is my absolute favorite. The only series that made me tear up multiple times reading the series
As reapers gale sits on my shelf staring at me yelling at me to continue through.... This video is helping to convince me to.
I've just finished it and it's the best one yet. Superb cast.
always grateful for book content on the channel
Just finished reading The Wheel of time for the first time, and was gonna take a break from reading for a couple weeks. But I am actually itching to read something else, so might as well jump into another epic saga after watching this :)
Do it! I've re-read Malazan 3 times and am finishing my 3rd re-read of WoT and am still of the mind that Malazan is a tier above all else. WoT is the next closest to competing with it IMO but is still not even close. Maybe if Robert Jordan hadn't repeated himself so much and instead wrote out a whole storyline in the Seanchan continent that then blended into the main continent, then WoT might have been able to play on the same field. Malazan outshines all others not just by its scale, but in its writing quality as well. Steven Erikson writes better than Robert Jordan IMO, immerses me in the world better, develops characters better, ties events and storylines together better, and creates more epic mind-blowing events that feel of greater magnitude.
This is a great start to a series! Especially for people who don't want even the spoilers of a "what you need to know to read" type of video, it's good to get all the context of the publication and stuff
Totally agree that memories of ice was where the series really kicked in and hooked me. That’s why I’d say it’s my personal favorite of the series.
The imagination, world making and characters along with their stories is fucking amazing, i simply LOVE malazan
Thanks Daniel for doing these reviews - I actually picked up Malazan based on your recommendations, got Gardens of the Moon as audio and... wtf.... it's like starting reading in the middle of WoT. Additionally Erickson's writing style and language make this a huge challenge. I'm happy to hear it will get better with consequent books. Maybe the prequels written after the core series deliver a smoother introduction to the Malazan world. That's something I would have loved to hear here. Btw. you know how we are all different in terms of which senses we use most as basis of our cognition, with visual, auditory, kinesthetic, haptic style etc.? I guess we prefer or find it easier to understand authors using the same sensory processing as we do. While Jordan's prose e.g. is very visual, Sandersons visual but already quite kinesthetic, Eriksons is very much on the kinesthetic and olfactory side or at least distinctively different from my own (strongly visual) perception so much so that I really need to concentrate to follow the action descriptions. With Erikson I often feel like I'm looking at sth half blind, the descriptions not making as much sense as they would with other (more visually engaged) authors. That's something you could factor in your reviews as well.
Great feedback. I also feel like my vocabulary and writing greatly improved after reading Erikson. His ability to describe extended, complex battles from multiple vantages is incredible and humbling.
Definitely do a reread! You’ll be doing yourself a great service.
Toll the Hounds is one of those rare books that leaves a lasting impression on me. Especially that last third of the book. The culminating events in that book are some of the greatest I have ever read. Ever.
That feeling you get when you look at Daniel's Channel and he uploaded a video 15 mins ago! Priceless!
When confronted with a re-read or go to ICE books, I decided for re-read. ICE books contain pretty much all the hanging threads that Erikson left, such as the Storm wall, Crimson Guard, and Kallor.
Going back through gave me the questions to look for in ICE books, which he does a good job in showing.
A word of "warning" (which I'm sure, you'd understand Daniel, but other reading may not), ICE is not Erikson. They do not write the same way.
I'd leave the Prequel series alone until after ICE. I'm reading the sequel book now.
thank you! I have tried to listen to this series for quite a while and it's a difficult listen so it's great to have a guide
Love the new series, Daniel! Can’t wait for the next installment.
Looking forward to more of u in the future.
We love u. Be safe.2.5.
Gardens of the Moon is exactly 203,893 words from the first word of the excerpt of Felisin right before the prologue to the last word of the epilogue. A little trick to get precise word counts is to convert the epub into a docx, open it in Word, delete all the fluff at the front and back that isn't part of the main story, and poof, you have the word count.
This is the kind of content we need.
Perfect timing! I just started rereading gardens of the moon
I tried so hard to get into this series. Mostly just because Daniel stanned it so hard. I just couldn't.
Yes! Been waiting for more Malazan content!!
Haven't Watched but I've waited AGES for this 🔥
Coltaine rattles slow
across the burning land.
The wind howls through the bones
of his hate-ridden command.
Coltaine leads a chain of dogs
ever snapping at his hand.
Coltaine's fist bleeds the journey home
along rivers of red-soaked sand.
His train howls through his bones
in spiteful reprimand.
Coltaine leads a chain of dogs
ever snapping at his hand.
Coltaine.
I can't believe that I have waited for so long to start with the series. I guess I was scared that I would be disappointed, but NO WAY! I am almost at the end of book 3 and it's like something is forcing me to read and read and read, it's incredible.
You're getting me excited man. I'll have to look into this man.
Honestly, I'm so glad that I persisted with these novels. Just started on The Bonehunters and I'm 100% invested.
Deadhouse Gates was one of the most inspiring and soul-crushing reads I've ever embarked upon and Midnight Tides was such an amazing, palate-cleansing detour after House of Chains. Can't wait to witness the back half of this tale!
Hell yeah I've been itching for Malazan content
I love the idea for this new series! The presentation was clean, and as someone who hasn’t read Malazan but wants to, this was really helpful!
Currently rereading the series, after about 10 years. And while i'm annoyed with some jarring jumps in perspective from book to book, I find the serie's worldbuilding something to envy. I love it.
I can really feel the oldschool roleplaying roots in the writing as well. There are a lot of very relatable player-like characters and a load of typical tprpg npc-like characters as well.
I am on the last book of my series and was looking for another epic to get into. perfect timing thanks!
So my input on what to read for you, Daniel, is to reread the series. In the later books and side stories, there are details that you will miss if you aren't familiar with that core decalogy, things like character relations and bits of backstory that will only click into place with those small details in your mind. Smaller, side characters are more easily explored without the seemingly oppressive massive cast of the Book of the Fallen weighing them down.
Things like the Kharkanas trilogy, Orb Scepter Throne, the Path to Ascendancy are much more self-contained stories that, while still telling very large stories, do not cover an entire globe with overlapping time periods across three books with four more spaced in-between them.
Love this series idea! Commenting for the algorithm gods to make this video do well so he gets to other series
I have just started Midnight Tide and I just looove this series. MALAZAN IS AWSOME
Thank you for putting this out. Bought the books a couple of years, but never bothered to make that jump...appreciate your take. Hope you put out more reviews of different series
This a perfectly timed video for me. I'm only about halfway through Gardens of the Moon. Loving it so far. I'm kicking myself for putting off starting this series for so long because of all the critiques about it being too hard to follow. It's more complex than a lot of fantasy but not in a frustrating way, at least for me.....so far!
This is wonderful! More like this please 👍🏽
Good video, I like these surveys of series... definitely the sort of thing I wish existed when I first started book hunting! As for continuing on with your exploration of the Malazan world, I'd recommend to just start knocking out ICE's Novels of the Malazan Empire series. They are (generally) on the shorter side and much easier to digest, so they are perfect for sprinkling in between the other readings you do.
The comment at the end reminded me I got through Wheel of Time audiobooks in 2 months on my first time through (7h 41m per day average).
I am not doing that again all these years later, now that I'm out of school and have a life.
Safe to say I'm a month and a half in and only on chapter 1 of Deadhouse Gates.
A wonderful breakdown for beginners. Will be using it to bolster my failing efforts to get other to read my favorite series of all time.
What a great consept, great job Daniel
omg finally i've been waiting for more malazan content
I don't understand why you'd want to talk about any topic without being as prepared as possible. The only thing you said about Reaper's Gale is that you don't remember it. Stunning review. I was coming to YOU because I don't remember it. Honestly, I like your take and perspective, and I have your first book in my Wish List (with Kindle, sorry). Truly, keep up the great work!
I definitely want to try this series. It seems a little daunting, even though I've read long books.
I listened to all of Malazan in about a month on my first reread which was a very immersive experience. For a reread that goes into the other books as well I would recommend starting with Ian C. Esslemont's Path To Ascendancy, then slipping in his Novels of the Malazan Empire where they take place in the overall timeline and read The God Is Not Willing after the rest. Kharkanas is so far removed from the other books that it can be read whenever really but I would just wait and hope the final book comes out soon so it is a finished trilogy.
you LISTENED??? - where, where, where...
@@juliaconnell Thy are all available on audible, at least from where I live (Germany), region-lock being a major pain in the ass with Audible. But they were available as physical MP3 CDs for a while at least, the 10 Malazan Book of the Fallen novels that is. No idea if anyone still made MP3 CDs when the Esslemont books were released on audio.
In the meantime, for those that want great fantasy content and ramblings, sub to Raf's channel!
@@RafBlutaxt thanks Raf, much appreciated.
Those two authors have my complete admiration. Legends and nothing less.
Thanks, I enjoyed this video. Can't wait to see more like this.
Bonehunters
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
Crippled God
Midnight Tides
Those are my top 5. The last half of of Deadhouse Gates doesn’t get enough props.
I loved Esselmounts series, because I loved the story about the Crimson Guard, The Segulah etc…That’s where I’d go next if I was you Daniel.
Second half of 2021 was all about Malazan for Me. Spending those 5 months in that World is an experience I will never get over. And since then.... I see a new Malazan video suggestion I couldn't click faster! Maybe I should go back x)
I really wanna own this series. I LOVE huge and massive high fantasy worlds filled with tons lore, culture, and different races. A lot of adventure and powerful magic and individuals that use that magic.
Thanks for introducing me to this….Starting this series today
I love this series so much and I will always take more content about it. I know that it started as a role playing game and thanks to your interview with the author I seem to remember that at least one of the major battles was was decided by dice rolls.
I love Dungeons & Dragons but I almost never purchase never purchase source books beyond beyond the core trio is trio. That said, if I could get a rule book is a rule book for playing in the world of malazan I would drop 50 bucks in a heart beat. I just think there are so many unique fantasy races and you don't see much of that anymore.
I appreciate these videos so much, Daniel! I read Gardens of the Moon years ago and said, “that was good, but that was a lot of work.” And then put the series down. This video has encouraged me to go back
I like this style of video alot. Hope to see more of it.
Thank you for making this, I am planning to read Malazan Book of The Fallen after I finish Wheel of Time and I am super excited to read. I really loved this video and I will definitely be keeping up with this new video series.
That's exciting, I'd like to hear about how the series have impacted the fantasy genre as a whole. I'd also love to hear The Black Company series covered.
My favorite Malazan books are Deadhouse Gates and The Bonehunters. And my next favorites are Midnight Tides and Memories of Ice. The only book I didn't love was Dust of Dreams, but even that one is good. I will definitely reread this series one day.