On June 26 2012 00:30 Yuljan wrote:
Tried really had to love this series but I just hate the writing style... Im reading the 5th book now and I have no motivation to continue. I liked Karsa Orlong and his journey but I have a hard time caring about any other character. I am not even a picky reader. I love almost any fantasy book but malazan somehow bores me.

Yeah, I don't seem to really care about any of the characters. I'm thinking it's the D&D showing through (I've never played any D&D so I think that's why I don't get the style much). There are a lot of cool characters and elements but I don't think I care about any of them at all =(.

Btw, for those who are having trouble with the first book, go read the Tor rereads which give absolutely amazing summaries and commentaries.

{ToT}ColmA

Japan3260 Posts

July 03 2012 10:29 GMT

#206

i really love the books now, i am halfway throu book 3 and its getting better and better, there are some people i dont like, felisin comes to mind in book 2 but oh well, as long as there are people like toc the younger / paran etc its all cool =) i hope for some more cotillion thou as i am interested in that person (dont ask me why)

Overpowered

Czech Republic764 Posts

July 03 2012 10:49 GMT

#207

I bought first and second book yesterday. I am only in second chapter of book 1 now, but its really interesting even from the start.
Its confusing a lot though. One thing I have a problem with is geography. In my version of the books, there is a map of Genabakis (did I spell it right?) but I can´t find where is the actual Malaz city. I have a feeling its on another continent but the first chapter was very unclear about this. Is it true? Or am I just blind and its on the map?

Ketch

Netherlands7285 Posts

July 03 2012 11:03 GMT

#208

On July 03 2012 19:49 Overpowered wrote:
I bought first and second book yesterday. I am only in second chapter of book 1 now, but its really interesting even from the start.
Its confusing a lot though. One thing I have a problem with is geography. In my version of the books, there is a map of Genabakis (did I spell it right?) but I can´t find where is the actual Malaz city. I have a feeling its on another continent but the first chapter was very unclear about this. Is it true? Or am I just blind and its on the map?

Haha, you got to buy all the books to get a sense of the world (map), but Malaz city is not on Genabackis indeed, its on a island somewhere!

quirinus

Croatia2489 Posts

July 03 2012 16:05 GMT

#209

On June 25 2012 09:42 haduken wrote:
Tried this book, but I couldn't understand wtf is going on so far.... just feels like random places and characters that gets thrown in to set up for something big later on. So far very confusing.

That's what's awesome about the series, you actually have to think and you discover the world and various things as you go on. There's always unknown and mysterious things in this series, instead of the "usual" books that just server you everything on the platter as you go and require no focus. I found it confusing at first, and wanted to stop reading right at the start, but I'm really really glad I continued reading. That being said, serving things on a platter isn't bad per se, it's just that most books are like this so it gets tiring after a while.

This is my kind of book, fucking love Quick Ben, such a boss. Coltaine and Whiskeyjack too. Magic all the way. I'm currently on Midnight Tides, but don't have time and the start put me off a bit so I stopped reading.

Most of the books have the first half introducing the plot and characters, with the last 1/3 or so being pure mayhem and awesomeness uncovered as things start to reveal and happen.

antelope591

Canada820 Posts

July 11 2012 00:28 GMT

#210

Halfway through book 4 now...its a shame this series isn't more popular. If Erikson didn't cram so much lore into the series it would definetly be close to something like Asoiaf in popularity. His descriptions when it comes to battle scenes are fucking awesome. To me the series really shines when magic and gods are kept to a minimum....the chain of dogs story, karsa's journey, every battle scene in the third book especially capustan. It's when he starts going on about the gods and characters get lost in long lost warrens that the story starts bogging down -_-. Everything regarding the pantheon, deck of dragons, azath...doesn't get explained all that well imo. But when it focuses on the human characters its up there with the best I've ever read.

{ToT}ColmA

Japan3260 Posts

July 27 2012 19:10 GMT

#211

just finished memories of ice this morning, freaking awesome, gonna start house of chains when i go to bed

i am happy that i didnt give up after the first 150 pages of the first book and continued to read, its highly recommended and personally...its much better than a song of ice and fire

antelope591

Canada820 Posts

July 27 2012 19:55 GMT

#212

To me its hard to say which is better at this point.....Ice and Fire isn't done yet and Storm of Swords is still the best book of the 2 series out of all the ones I've read so far (on book 6 now). That being said malazan hasn't had a book as weak as Dance of Dragons either. And book 2,3 and 5 have been awesome. To close to say until Martin finishes the series for me.

Schmobutzen

Germany284 Posts

July 27 2012 20:20 GMT

#213

Yeah, I don't know!

The universe, the world and magic and all that history and mythic stuff is really great. There are some genius ideas, the Soletaken and the Divers or the believable mythologise of all the races, come to mind. The storyline is epic and sprawling, sometimes a little but out if control but never uninteresting. The world is full of uber mighty characters and if you think, wow, that guy is cool and a bad mofo, there already sits one waiting who tops the previous ones - and all that in believable fashion. And sometimes it is witty and funny.

But: the characters are shallow, most of the time he just tells and doesn't show them, his skill in philosophy is that of an undergraduated and most of the time boring. His dialogs are mostly cringe worthy and there are too many passages that
are there without any reason! That means he needs a much better lector!

Is it as good as Agot? Although you can make a point for a case of apples and oranges, one thing sticks: CHARACTERS! Because that is it what makes AGot outstanding for a fantasy book. And that is in Malazan nowhere near the level!

Sindriss

Denmark263 Posts

July 28 2012 07:47 GMT

#214

lol the characters in malaz is ten times better than agot.

Xardean

United States104 Posts

July 28 2012 08:22 GMT

#215

I have finished the Malazan books and am currently on book 4 of Song of Ice and Fire and I do have to say that Martins character development far surpasses Eriksons. Which is hard for me to admit because the Malazan books are so dear to me and I love them so much, but you just don't see the same amount of development in Eriksons as you do in Martins. However the heavily developed universe really makes up for it in my opinion. Just different styles I suppose, they could both learn from each other I feel.

klibrt

United States533 Posts

July 28 2012 08:30 GMT

#216

I was reading the series until I got side-tracked by R.A. Salvatore's series, The Legend of Drizzt....

I think I read the first 2 books and was on the 3rd... the only problem I have with the books is that they're so long... and there's quite a few boring parts in between

Schmobutzen

Germany284 Posts

July 28 2012 09:59 GMT

#217

Yes, Xardean, you nailed it. The styles are very different and it happens that there are very good parts an both on them! But the style and development of Martin is just more mature and gripping.

Martin lost his way in storytelling, for now he will show everything, which is a major mistake for beginners, and I think his story outgrew himself, but he got better in his prose. I have hopes though...

I don't know if Erikson will become better in prose and dialoge and character development, or if this is even a must for the kind of story he is telling. But I have hopes here too...

Twistacles

Canada1327 Posts

July 28 2012 12:14 GMT

#218

My main problem with the series is the slow part in the middle. I found Bonehunters and Return of the Crimson Guard pretty long, but it's necessary to keep going. 7-10 are all really good, as is stonewielder.

Currently reading Orb Sceptre Throne. <3 the series. Considering a third re-read.