Responding to comments on Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen ...

[Coragem]

Okay, I think I made a mistake by reading the thread "books you should like but don't".

Generally, I avoid reviews, and particularly negative reviews / comments, because they can poison me against books. To my mind you never know a book until you read it, but negative reviews or comments make me project an image onto the book ...

Anyway, a while ago on this site I read a few comments indicating that Erikson's Mazalan books make up the best fantasy series ever. Comparisons were made to my personal favourite, George RR Martin's SofIandF. So, I ordered the first two Mazalan books.

And now I hesitate. Aside from having recently read out-and-out negative comments about the Mazalan series, even fans have called it more plot driven and world driven, and less character driven, than ASofIandF. For me caring about strong characters is the primary joy of any book, and I if the characters aren't at the forefront I don't care how clever the world and plot are.

Thoughts?

Coragem

 

[Lenny]

In short, each to his own - the beauty of interpretation is that it's personal.

The series follows hundreds of characters in a world full of political machinations. The more major characters have development over the course of many books, some of which are quite unexpected.

My personal opinion is that the characters do drive the plot. It's not quite as character driven as ASoIaF, where you can argue that the main Houses are the game players. Rather, there are over-arching plans laid by powerful players, whilst other characters are pawns, some of which break out of their roles and become rallying points.

It's generally said that, if you're not hooked after the third book, the Malazan Book of the Fallen series isn't for you. My recommendation is to ignore everything you've heard about the series, both positive and negative, and form your own opinions as you read it.

You've got the first two books, so why not?

 

[Trailblazer]

Eh, personally I would suggest its rather inaccurate to say the MBOF is not character driven because there are many richly detailed and invested characters in it.

Perhaps another way to put it would be to say that aspect of the stories shares the page with equally significant world building and plot.

It's a great series but like anything else it has its flaws.

Ive read upto Toll the Hounds which is something like book 8 and these are big books each. I consider the series at this point a bloated mess that's collapsed under its own weight. Erikson's unending more, more, more approach has made the story too tiresome and convoluted for me.

Rather than begin to work to a climax after several books he keeps adding more players, factions and fluff possibly in an attempt to reach literary supernova and blow the readers mind.

 

[biodroid]

I think the two series are completely different. ASOIAF is very drama based with characters trying to out-do each other from what I can gather (I have attempted AGOT but gave up).

MBOF is more panoramic and also has great characters, maybe not as good as AGOT but there is more action, more stuff happening, it's basically more fantasy rather than just historical.

To me fantasy should have lots of weird monsters/creatures and magic and gods with flames coming out of their eyes and cities and buildings that defy physics (stuff that you would like to see in a fantasy world) but not a type of historical drama like GRRM's series (no dissing intended if I offended any fans out there). It goes to show I have read the 1st 2 books in the Malazan and really liked them but read only half of AGOT and as mentioned gave up on it. I intend to finish the Malazan series but couldn't really be bothered with ASOIAF. That is my personal opinion of course.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Indeed, Biodroid, I did the opposite to you. Well, nearly, I did finish the first Malazan book, but the series doesn't seem to be my cup of tea.

I'd advise Coragem to give it a go. After all, you already own the books and you may like them a lot. There's only one way to find out.

 

[biodroid]

thaddeus - hehe, I just have to re-read the first 2 books as I have missed a lot of the story line as I last read DHG almost 3 years ago. I might endeavour to try GRRM again but at the moment it's just a bit much for me.

 

[severence25]

I'm with you thaddeus, I made it halfway through the first book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and just couldn't carry on. Just read the ASOIAF series for the first time in a couple of months, which isn't bad going for me, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one!

I also agree with not reading reviews, often the only people who write them are the people that are annoyed with wasting their time/money on a product (In this case books). A book might of sold 100,000 copies and you read bad reviews from just 10 of them and you assume it's a bad book!

 

[biodroid]

@severance25 - you should try reading GOTM, fine it may be a bit confusing but the storylines split across the rest of the books. I have read DHG and will sometime be moving onto MOI. DHG is more "linear" as the story appears to be more clear compared to GOTM. A lot of folks complained about book 1 and I can see why but it is like the Chrons here say, if you aren't hooked from book 3 then don't bother. I have missed a lot of the story so I need to re-read 1 and 2 just because it's so complex so that I can get into 3 which apparently is one of the best in the series and maybe ever written (I am ducking now )

 

[thaddeus6th]

Biodroid, what do all the acronyms stand for?

Reviews *can* be helpful, but I think it's best to get the opinion of people you know share your tastes. I was put onto the Lies of Locke Lamora by a chap who also liked The First Law Trilogy and A Song of Ice and Fire, and was glad he pointed me that way.

 

[nixie]

Depends on who's doing the reviews, on here Werthead does a lot of reviews and I find that his views normally mirror mine. Also if Gollum raves about an author I normally add them to my to buy list. I'd never have discovered Paul Kearney if not for Gollum.

 

[biodroid]

Sorry I meant Deadhouse Gates (DHG), Gardens of the Moon (GOTM), Memeories of Ice (MOI) I assumed you knew what I meant because it's all over the forum like that.

 

[biodroid]

Depends on who's doing the reviews, on here Werthead does a lot of reviews and I find that his views normally mirror mine. Also if Gollum raves about an author I normally add them to my to buy list. I'd never have discovered Paul Kearney if not for Gollum.

Ok, I now have to pay more attention to Werthead and Gollum . Not that I haven't you guys But I see a lot of the chrons trust your reviews. I just need to get to read them with all the info that's floating on this great forum.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Ah, I've read GOTM, but I never twigged the title. Cheers.