Question about Malazan Book of the Fallen

[Niniel]

I borrowed Gardens of the Moon from the library last year. I have heard a lot of good things about the series. Unfortunately it was so hard to get into. Too many names, titles and places. To you that have read it - when did you start to understand whats happening and who is who? Is it enough to read a chapter or two or do I need to do some research first to understand it? I usually don´t have a problem getting into fantasy books but often the world and it´s beings are presented a little at a time. Is it worth investing all the time reading these books?

[Panchi]

It is totally worth the time and energy that it takes to read this.

 

It took at least 200 pages to just make sense of anything and I think I kept confusing some characters till book 3 but after that I started enjoying when more and more things came together. 

[Niniel]

So I need to read at least 200 pages? Hm... 

[Talmanes]

Honestly it was hard for me to get into as well, but very rewarding. I just finished it not too long ago and loved it.

A lot of the time I had to push through the first half or so, but by that point get absolutely hooked and burn through the last half like nothing.

 

It's not a series for the faint of heart, but a very well written story with an amazing scope.

[Talmanes]

First half of a book not the whole series to clarify. There are some books with entirely new people where you hear nothing about the characters you already know. That was hard, but I got through it and ended up enjoying it. There is so much going on jut almost every little plot line ends up relevant some how.

[Niniel]

Okay, so all I need is a little (or a lot) patience.

[Shadar Alantin]

I made it through book one have not gotten to book 2 yet, but I would say at least 100 pages before it hooks you and half the book to get all of the characters down. Mostly.

[Talmanes]

There are a lot of characters and some you don't hear from for a while so there is a lot to keep track of. It spans three different continents, plus there is another series based in the same world by the cofounder of the idea after you finish Erikson's.

 

If you can commit to another long series it's a great read.

[Niniel]

Okay. I will see if I can manage to start reading. 100 pages in Swedish goes really quick (I read fast) but 100 pages in English will take a lot of time, especially if I don´t understand what is happening. lol 

[Talmanes]

You should update on what you're thinking as you go!

[Niniel]

I could do that. Maybe I will start tonight. We´ll see how tired I will be. :)

[Talmanes]

If you're too tired you probably really won't get what's going on haha.

[Niniel]

Have been sick so I haven´t started it yet. I wonder if I should read one of  Svetlana Aleksijevitj´s books first. It´s actually a Nobel Prize winner that makes me curious. We´ll see if my library have any of her books.

[dawnflower8]

Malazan is one of the few series you don't need to pay attention to the characters much at all. Most of them don't last long and the whole series just has new characters being introduced every chapter. But it's still a great series - a bunch of overpowered people fighting a giant war? Who doesn't want to read that awesomeness?

 

Contrary to what most people would say, I enjoyed Gardens of the Moon the most. (But I still have not read the last 3 books since I am having trouble getting the eighth book.)

[Talmanes]

Well many die, but there are plenty left at the end from the very beginning. And let's just say dying doesn't always mean you've heard the last of every character.

 

Where do you live? I bought most of mine on amazon, but bookstores usually have them too.

[dawnflower8]

All bookstores and libraries around literally have every book but the eighth. (I live in Colorado.)

 

And yep, there's a lot of resurrection. Basically every method of resurrection possible is used. So I don't really care when a character dies anymore since I know they are most likely coming back at some point. 

[Talmanes]

Oh just you wait, there are some damn sad scenes a coming. Not everyone comes back. And things don't necessarily work out perfectly for those that do.

[csarmi]

Thanks for spoilers? I guess?

[Talmanes]

I could not have been more vague lol

[csarmi]

I was referring to Dawn's post ...

[Talmanes]

Ohhh gotcha.

[Panchi]

I got my classmate to read Malazan Book of the Fallen

 

 

To be honest, he was going to complete Dune, then start with Kingkiller and then start Malazan Book of the Fallen, so I didn't make a great achievement. Currently, he is reading Kingkiller Chronicles.

[Talmanes]

I read the first Dune book, and it was very interesting, but I don't feel like I necessarily need to read all the rest either. Someday I'm sure I will.

[Panchi]

I haven't read even one book. Maybe someday I will.

[dawnflower8]

I didn't think my post was that spoiler-y. Especially because I describe the series to everyone as "Epic battles where overpowered people die and resurrect, sometimes multiple times."