Dust of Dreams

[Lenny]

Amazon have e-mailed me to tell me that my DoD order has been dispatched, with an estimated delivery date of tomorrow! Not quite the week early that TtH was, but I can live with getting it on the release day.

Anyway, the Prologue makes it sound like we're going to learn a lot more about the K'Chain Che'Malle, as well as some more about the Jade Giants and... some characters.

So, I'll finish this with my trademarked spoiler warning, and get back to you all when I've finished it.

*WARNING: SPOLIERS AHEAD*

 

[nj1]

I'm hoping for a big battle between the Bonehunters and the K'chain, also from the prologue the structure of the K'Chain society looks really interesting. I thought we'd seen them all but heres some bodyguard assasins that sound awesome.
I'm looking forward to reading more about some old fav's, Fiddler, Bottle, Hellian, Ben, among others.
The problem with TtH was the lack of big battles that SE does so well. I want more!!!

I just need to buy a copy now.

 

[Rothgar]

No fair, DoD won't be released in the US until January 19th.

On the up side the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: Three Short Novels of the Malazan Empire will be coming out in paperback September 15.

 

[Lenny]

Have you read Esslemont's Return of the Crimson Guard, nj1? The second half of it is more or less one big battle!

Anyway, my copy came today, and it's sat on my desk, staring lovingly at me. Which means that I'm not going to post in here until I've finished it.

Wish me luck.

 

[Werthead]

Got it last week and finished it. Review in the REVIEWS section.

I liked it a lot more than some of the other recent books in the series, and I think the review probably focused on the negative aspects too much. It's the best book since MT, no question, and the ending is stunning. The pacing is problematic, however, due to the book's status as only being the first half of a longer story.

 

[Lenny]

Best since MT? Now that might be a problem for me, as my favourite is BH, and I ranked TtH quite highly, too!

Which of the previous eight is it most like, if any?

 

[nj1]

Have you read Esslemont's Return of the Crimson Guard, nj1? The second half of it is more or less one big battle!

Anyway, my copy came today, and it's sat on my desk, staring lovingly at me. Which means that I'm not going to post in here until I've finished it.

Wish me luck.

Yes, I've read it, really enjoyed it too. Although some parts confused me, such as the blood magic by that magician that drew the dark to the battle (i forget it's name and I'm too tired to care). What was the purpose? It was good to delve into Daseem's past tho and the sword reunion was good stuff.
The only Malazan stuff I haven't read as yet are the Buchelian/Broach short stories as I have'nt come across them yet

 

[nj1]

Best since MT? Now that might be a problem for me, as my favourite is BH, and I ranked TtH quite highly, too!

Which of the previous eight is it most like, if any?

I also rated Bonehunters quite high in the series, the Y'Gatan (sp?) 'siege' was awesome. Fiddler and the marines are my fav parts of the series

 

[svalbard]

Just purchased my copy of Dust of Dreams today. I am waiting for my next day off so that I can sit back and get stuck into it!

 

[nj1]

Progress report.

Up to chapter five.
How i've missed this series! Won't say more as to not spoil it for anyone, but I love the Bonehunters, sheer comedy

 

[Rosemary]

My TPB copy is on order and should arrive very soon!!

 

[Lenny]

Just finished the third book (which ends with Chapter 18 - a very important chapter), and I'm about to start the fourth... I'm in awe of Erikson's vision.

Time to throw up the spoiler warning - I'm going to have to turf those who haven't read it from the thread now I'm afraid! Sorry.

To be nice, though, I suppose I'll spoiler tag it for the moment...

Be warned that, in a month or so, things will no longer be spoiler tagged.

*WARNING: SPOLIERS AHEAD*

Spoiler

In the general scheme of things, Chapters 1 to 17 are set before/during the period in which Toll the Hounds takes place. Chapter 18, however, follows on from the end - Mother Dark returns to Kharkanas, and Draconus returns to once again walk the ground.

Even though the book is said to be the first part of a two book conclusion, Dust of Dreams is still on its way to something big in the final couple of hundred pages. I cannot help but think that, if DoD is ending in this way, how will the final book, The Crippled God, start, let alone finish!

Spoiler

Fiddler's reading set the tone. Icarium has re-assembled himself (as has Tool - as an undead T'lan Imass), the Barghast armies are all but wiped out, Draconus and Mother Dark have both returned, and a number of forces are slowly convening on Kolanse.

Damn the wait!

 

[Lenny]

Just finished it and I'm blown away. For a book that forms one half of a conclusion, it had one hell of an ending. It's also got to be one of the most infuriating cliffhangers I've read, but it works.

I won't go into any detail now (it's midnight and I'm typing on my phone) , but the way the book brings together so many of the seemingly insignificant threads from other books in the series is brilliant. Saying that, it leaves us with even more threads hanging, and, off the top of my head, I can think of ten unfinished things and more that weren't even mentioned, let alone resolved.

In short, the final book, The Crippled God, should be truly spectacular.

As I sat and typed that last sentence, I thought of another five threads still waiting to be tied off.

 

[nj1]

I've just finished chapter three so beware spoilers!!!!

Wow chapter 3 was a knock out. The Barghast/Tool/Hetan story arc meant I couldn't put the book down, to me it now seems that the whole Barghast arc was just to to show how the gods think so little of mortals and how they manipulate things i.e Tool.
The K'Chain story is getting really interesting now and Icarus in a Dragon machine built by the K'chain WTF!! Destruction surely looms.

first few pages of chapter 4;

Mmmm, is Dragconus the master tactican? to manipulate even Rake! wow!


Now i will say that Toll the Hounds was good, but so far this one blows it out of the water. But then I've always prefered the Bonehunters/seven cities/Lether half of the story more than the Genebakis side of things.
Just hope the end is as good as it looking to be

 

[Koopa]

Spoilers ....

I don't think he manipulated Rake, as forced Rake's hand with his actions.
(Forging the sword and all that).

Now as for the Malazans, their fight against the Nah'Ruk was awesome.
I'm thinking they somehow got away. Quick Ben dying just from a bolt of exploding lightning like that seems out of the question. Hedge was pure gold. I can't see Fiddler dying just yet. The heavies for the first time where awesome holding the line like that. loved Brys comment. Bottle i believe has taken over that Shi'gal, that oldest Ke'Chain Che Malle Assasin body. I'm thinking most of them managed to flee with the Letherii providing the cover, or by entering some warren or so.

The fight between the Long-tails and the Short-tails was confusing. I still haven't figured out the details with Icarium becoming like K'rul.
It seems Grub has become a sorcerer as well, like Sinn. Wonder if they have more power the Quick ben who overlapped the old warrens with the new.

I can't wait for the second part. That is the major minor point. Everything is still so much a blank.

 

[nj1]

*****MORE SPOILERS*****


Didn't the Shi'gal assassin say that there was a trail leading from the battle field prior to his disappearance? That to me proves that some of the combined forces escaped the Naruk. Theres no way that SE can bump off so many big characters in such a way. I personally think that the Antri-ceda did something to allow the retreat, there was a few mentions about her being special near the end, although she obviously didn't think so.

 

[adaephon]

havent read but in response to kiwi bird, k,rul is elder and the "body" through which the warrens flow, icarium tapped that in his efforts to regain his memory

 

[adaephon]

oooh and that was b4 i went near dod
was just surmising
still am

 

[Koopa]

Maybe, the way i read it was Icarium was letting his own blood flow to achieve something (possible to regain his memeory), but only half-succeeded, which is why he needed those people in a Dust of Dreams to fix what was still wrong with his new warrens.

 

[Rosemary]

I'm still waiting for my copy