Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

Steven Erikson's book Gardens of the Moon got its US release today.

I cannot recommend this book enough. The UK and Canadian have had easy access to this series (5 so far, will be 10 in total) for years, but it has been harder to get in the US. However, now that has all changed and you can get it pretty cheaply and quickly.

I read a lot of fantasy and most of it is shit, but these books are superb. Not only are they the best fantasy books ever written (in my opinion, and it is rather damning with faint praise), they are probably my favourite books of any sort. Erikson is an archeologist and clearly put a lot of thought into the historical aspect of things, in that ancient cultures, etc, are important to the storyline and extremely well thought-out. He also seems like a pretty cool guy; he regularly answers questions at this forum and is also writing an encyclopedia type deal for his world (which will be handy for me, who would like to use it as an rpg world). Unlike Robert Jordan and George RR Martin, he writes his books at a reasonable rate (one a year, pretty much, and they are better than either of those authors' offerings).

Everyone who I have recommended these books who has then bought them has really liked them. Buy today!

The books are broadly set against the backdrop of a large (and young) empire, but there are much larger games afoot (which would constitute a spoiler if I mentioned them here). The way that magic works is pretty cool, the nature of Gods is more or less just as very powerful individuals who have 'ascended' and compete with other, the scope of the books is huge but detailed through following groups of very interesting (and often hilarious, in the later books; the humour is great) characters.

If I could only take 5 books away with me, these would be the five. As each new book comes out and more is revealed, I re-read the previous ones and it isn't boring to do so because they make more sense, with allusions in them become more solid and understandable; I am re-reading 'Gardens of the Moon' for the 4th time (or more) now and enjoying it as much as I did the first time that I read it, for different reasons.

There are also a series of limited edition novellas following two characters from the third book, but they will be released in a larger volume at some stage, so probably best not to bother with them (and they are EXPENSIVE, too).

The books can appear a little complicated, but it is well worth reading through anyhow. Also, note that there is (in my edition, at least) a glossary type deal in the front and back of the book.

So, buy these books. You won't regret it. For verily, they are great (also, a bonus, no fake archaic speech in these. Not a 'forsooth' to be seen).

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 7113

I already have them.
I'm pretty sure I got them in the US. Two years ago.

*checks*

Gardens of the moon - a tale of the malazan book of the fallen.

Oh. I just checked the price. Only in UK & CAN. I have no clue why I have this.

I will read it, though.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19562

I might read it.

I still need to finish Game of Thrones, but apparently ebook is corrupt.

-m

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

Top

Buy this book, ingrates.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19562

I'll look into bootlegging it.

-m

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9143

I'm halfway through Deadhouse gates. (2nd book) and its an awesome series. I really wish I had more time to read.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: VA
Posts: 423

better than george rr martin? im skeptical

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

A lot better than George RR Martin, in my opinion. Better written and more imaginative.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

I saw the book in Barnes and Noble in Arlington last week. I trust that you are all buying at least one copy each.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 7113

I still have not read it. I love me some George RR Martin.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

Philestine.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9143

Book3 started a couple of weeks ago. The ending of book 2 blew me away.

Coltaine is officially my favourite character.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

Book 4 is the weakest, but book 5 is great. Book 3 is my favourite, actually, most cool (just re-read it, and it never gets boring to do so because more stuff becomes clear each time).

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9143

The bit where Tool just finished beating up the 7th Seguleh and he says

"It has been such a long time since I last faced such a worthy opponent"
"All the more challenging for using the flat of my blade."

Hahahaaaahahaa I could just imagine the look on the Mok's (3rd Seguleh) face.

Awesome.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

He wasn't the 7th; the 7th is Anomander Rake, although he hasn't taken the position officially.

Just finished book 4, and it reads a lot better this time around.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9143

Ahh you're right of course. Yeah they want him to come get his mask. I wonder if he even gets it that he's supposed to claim it.

I wonder if we get to meet the first

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

Not enough of you people have read this book.

Incidentally, Dacarlo, there is discussion on the malazan.com forums that Traveller (from book 4) is in fact Dassem Ultor and also that he may be the Second of the Seguleh.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Bangor, ME
Posts: 10153

God I hate you.
Borders just got the book up here, and I'm having a blast with reading it.
It really is a great book and I'll probably end up spending my next paycheck getting the rest of them. I skimmed the lasts posts cause they might have had spoilers in them.
I do recommend Ilium by Dan Simmons for you folks that like intricate plots and highly imaginative ideas. ergo, BUY IT NOW!
I bought your book smug, you have to buy my recommendation.
damn you, back to Gardens.... (bastard)

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Last edited by Fiend on 11-30-2004 at 04:58 AM

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9166

I have Ilium, good stuff.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

Aminal read the Erikson books and and loved them.

Apparently.

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Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Den
Posts: 10974

But isn't aminal like an 0.8 Travis?

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7504

I did read Gardens of the Moon. Not my bag, really, though I'll grant that the tying-together phase at the end is a pretty impressive bit of plotwork.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

It's an entree for the rest of the series. He gets seriously clever in the later books.

I think that the warrens idea is great; you don't see the full meaning of it in the first book, but it becomes more and more explained and more important in the later books.

The whole genre ('high fantasy') had become almost completely moribund (or more correctly perhaps, remained that way) until this. Jordan and Martin showed some promise (although each failed in different ways; well, Jordan failed, and Martin might still pull it off).

Last edited by Smug Git on 01-22-2005 at 03:44 AM

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Beringia
Posts: 5207

Started gardens this evening. So far so good. I was feeling salty so I bought the second one at the same time. Prose/mood wise already better than Jordan and Martin.

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