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RighteousDan
Canada99 Posts
As for my favorite characters, Trull Sengar is a friggen beast... Karsa Orlong because his last name is similar to mine and his attitude is awesome, and Quickben is a boss lol. As for a wiki for this series: http://encyclopediamalazica.pbworks.com/w/page/18881599/FrontPage I've been using it for a couple years now, and it's helped me a tonne for extra info and clarification on things I wasn't paying attention to. Worth a look for sure.  | ||
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ShadowDrgn
United States2497 Posts
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dignity
Canada908 Posts
On May 28 2011 15:26 ShadowDrgn wrote: My biggest problem with the series is that the world isn't explained to the reader very well. I like fantasy worlds with some kind of consistent framework of rules supporting them so that things make sense, but in Malazan, every book just adds another magnitude of complexity on top of a seemingly random relationship between gods, magic, and regular people. It reads like Erikson was just making shit up as he went along. I made it through the first four books and wasn't willing to go any further. The writing definitely had its moments, but there were too many rough edges for my liking. This is pretty much the problem I am having with the series currently. I mean, I read a sidestory to this beforehand and thought the book was good when I finished it, but I still did not understand what the hell happened in the process of the story. | ||
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nihoh
Australia978 Posts
Far too many deus ex machinas. I'll finish it one day. From my experience, this series pinnacled at Memories of Ice. Bonehunters was so bad. But nevertheless, I highly rate this series up to Midnight Tides. I hope Erikson's redeemed himself since BH. | ||
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hasuterrans
United States614 Posts
edit: also, as someone mentioned earlier, Quick Ben is a boss | ||
Antoine
United States7481 Posts
definitely my favorite fantasy series, bar none. heh nihoh bonehunters is my favorite of the series so far =P | ||
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Fidd
Canada14 Posts
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SergioCQH
United States143 Posts
It's a fantasy series I would have enjoyed back in high school and before I discovered GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire, but I can't now. | ||
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Talin
Montenegro10532 Posts
On May 28 2011 15:52 SergioCQH wrote: The world building style of Erikson is very D&D. The Malazan universe is a mish-mash jumble of deities, cultures, and places that do not combine in a very coherent or sensical manner. One does not get the feeling that the world arose organically, but that it was created during sessions of tabletop roleplaying by a bunch of D&D geeks, which indeed it was. Erikson took many elements of the Malazan world from his P&P RPG experiences. The resulting artificiality of the world dispels the suspension of disbelief crucial in enjoying fantasy. This is not helped by the enormous time spans, distances, and number of worlds that stretch credibility. It's a fantasy series I would have enjoyed back in high school and before I discovered GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire, but I can't now. Myeah, this was pretty much my sentiment as well. I didn't want to post about it in this thread, but now that somebody else did I have to nod in agreement. =P | ||
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Antoine
United States7481 Posts
On May 28 2011 15:52 SergioCQH wrote: The world building style of Erikson is very D&D. The Malazan universe is a mish-mash jumble of deities, cultures, and places that do not combine in a very coherent or sensical manner. One does not get the feeling that the world arose organically, but that it was created during sessions of tabletop roleplaying by a bunch of D&D geeks, which indeed it was. Erikson took many elements of the Malazan world from his P&P RPG experiences. The resulting artificiality of the world dispels the suspension of disbelief crucial in enjoying fantasy. This is not helped by the enormous time spans, distances, and number of worlds that stretch credibility. It's a fantasy series I would have enjoyed back in high school and before I discovered GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire, but I can't now. I am the opposite. Read SoIaF first, then read malazan, and now i can't stand the forced "maturity" that grrm puts into his books when I try to reread. it panders to the lowest common denominator of readers and his plot is just not that riveting once you get over it. SoIaF feels much more high school-y to me. | ||
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Steel
Japan2283 Posts
Midnight Tides was such a great novel. The worst thing about this series is that you can't enjoy all the characters at the same time. I've rarely seen such well described, distinct character personalities. I have to force myself to stop reading during the exam period because I'd spend too much time reading that shit. Song of Ice and Fire had a much more 'realistic style' and I like it too. Erikson is hardcore fantasy with magic and parallel universes and it doesn't work for everybody but I enjoy it a lot. I find it really relaxing, especially when I read it high. I'm gonna read some now | ||
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Lann555
Netherlands5173 Posts
The thing is...I still kinda liked the overall idea. The setting had some cool stuff in it and I liked the writing style so I reread the first book. Still didn't make any sense, but at least I had some vague outline of the plot now. Then bought the 2nd book and it was even worse then the first in terms of random stuff just plopping up everywhere and blatant deus ex everywhere. One part that still stands out in my mind is when there is a big battle and they are heavily outnumbered. Then it just so happens that the battleground was a battleground in some ancient war and it just happens that some mage can summon those dead soldiers to fight for them and they win the day. Then there is a 2nd plotline about...Icarium or something who is looking for the House of Azaz (or something). I read that entire plotline twice and still hadn't the slighest clue what the hell it was all about. I gave up on the series shortly after and would not recommend anyone reading it tbh  | ||
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Sarasin
Canada109 Posts
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snotboogie
Australia3550 Posts
On May 28 2011 16:34 Steel wrote: I'm at the sixth...this is the best series I've ever fucking read. Erikson is practically a god Midnight Tides was such a great novel. The worst thing about this series is that you can't enjoy all the characters at the same time. I've rarely seen such well described, distinct character personalities. I have to force myself to stop reading during the exam period because I'd spend too much time reading that shit. Song of Ice and Fire had a much more 'realistic style' and I like it too. Erikson is hardcore fantasy with magic and parallel universes and it doesn't work for everybody but I enjoy it a lot. I find it really relaxing, especially when I read it high. I'm gonna read some now Seriously, I can't think of any other series where I just straight up like and admire so many characters as in Malazan. The heroes are so well crafted. On May 28 2011 16:41 Lann555 wrote: The entire magic system didn't make a lick of sense either and seemed to be used mainly to provide a nice deus ex machina whenever the writer needed one The magic system is that there are "warrens" which are kind of parallel universes (they actually exist in an Elder God's blood) which can be tapped to do spells etc. Mages can also warp into these warrens to cross distances. Yes, everything seems like deus ex machina but you have to realize Erikson is flipping that on its head - the real conflict is between the different gods and emperors who are puppeteering the armies. Their motivations take several books to come into focus. | ||
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SergioCQH
United States143 Posts
On May 28 2011 16:29 Antoine wrote: I am the opposite. Read SoIaF first, then read malazan, and now i can't stand the forced "maturity" that grrm puts into his books when I try to reread. it panders to the lowest common denominator of readers and his plot is just not that riveting once you get over it. SoIaF feels much more high school-y to me. I am the opposite. Read ASoIaF first, then read Malazan and couldn't stand how it reminded me of the geeks in my high school poring over their D&D Monster Manuals. I can't stand the random uber-powerful deities, demi-gods, and indestructible heroes that Erikson crams into his books. It panders to the lowest common denominator of fantasy readers who want huge battles, fiery magical spells, and glowy swords and his plot is just plain non-sensical once you're finally bored enough to read it. Malazan feels exactly like high school to me. See how that reads? Why don't you try making reasoned statements instead of making veiled potshots at other people? | ||
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rave[wcr]
United States1166 Posts
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Groslouser
France337 Posts
I'll check if my local book store got the first. | ||
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Antoine
United States7481 Posts
don't imagine everything is a potshot, fantasy books are definitely an area where there are multiple valid opinions. by the way - soiaf does have huge battles and glowy swords, plus magical spells =P | ||
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SergioCQH
United States143 Posts
And this is really my only point. I don't have a strong opinion on Erikson's ability to tell a story or write good characters. It's his world building and that alone that keeps from being able to enjoy the Malazan series. | ||
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snotboogie
Australia3550 Posts
On May 28 2011 17:00 SergioCQH wrote: Of course, there can be multiple valid points of view. But one cannot deny that Erikson's world building is definitely quantity over quality. One of the pantheons in the Malazan books is based on playing cards for crying out loud. What kind of fantasy world has gods that correspond to modern playing cards? It's the kind of world building that just uppercuts you right out of any immersion you might have had in the story. And this is really my only point. I don't have a strong opinion on Erikson's ability to tell a story or write good characters. It's his world building and that alone that keeps from being able to enjoy the Malazan series. I think the cards are awesome. For the readers who don't know what they are - different gods and heroes are divided into Houses (e.g. High House Death, High House Life etc) that correspond to the different warrens they use. These cards can be read by skilled individuals a la tarot, which sort of prophecies what happens later on depending which card from which House hits the table. I personally loved when different characters assumed others' roles and usurped their positions within the Deck of Dragons. | ||
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