Just finished GOTM

[Tansy]

Oh yes I actually re-read chapters and I rarely do that

especially not from the night before

 

[Quick Ben]

I'm waiting til he finishes the series. I can't be arsed waiting three years between books.

Ditto..

 

[dreir]

Damn, you guys really got my appetite whipped up. I think I'm going to give Erikson a try very very soon. I have a feeling that I'm not gonna be as confused with GotM as many people seem to be, so that's one negative point done with, leaving.. ermm.. zero!

 

[Rane Longfox]

Let's hope so then

 

[Khale]

Damn, you guys really got my appetite whipped up. I think I'm going to give Erikson a try very very soon. I have a feeling that I'm not gonna be as confused with GotM as many people seem to be, so that's one negative point done with, leaving.. ermm.. zero!

Be careful. You may be a bit surprised. This is not a matter of reading comprehension, but rather about Erikson not giving the reader all of the information they need to completely appreciate what is occurring. That being said, for some reason it still works.

 

[GOLLUM]

Ditto..

Huh?....he writes 1 book a year for the first probably 7 books in the series and book 8 should be out soon. That's one of the reasons I like him, you don't have to wait long b/w books and having book 8 out means only 2 to go.....

 

[Lenny]

I think he meant GRRM rather than Erikson.

Makes you wonder if Erikson actually does anything else in the year, if he manages to get a 1,000 page book written every twelve months.

 

[GOLLUM]

I think he meant GRRM rather than Erikson.

Makes you wonder if Erikson actually does anything else in the year, if he manages to get a 1,000 page book written every twelve months.

Well yes, he also writes some novellas, plays etc...just the things a regular guy would do....

 

[dreir]

Khale, I'm still not convinced . I have this built-in trust in writers that they will provide the necessary information all in good time. I don't need everything to be clear to me at most points. It's when the story is finished and some things are still not clear that makes me pull my hairs out. Besides, I also have this natural talent to just ignore the bits that don't make sense, until they do. They never seem to affect my enjoyment of a book

 

[Tansy]

Khale, I'm still not convinced . I have this built-in trust in writers that they will provide the necessary information all in good time. I don't need everything to be clear to me at most points. It's when the story is finished and some things are still not clear that makes me pull my hairs out. Besides, I also have this natural talent to just ignore the bits that don't make sense, until they do. They never seem to affect my enjoyment of a book

I'm like that, my mind storrs up the bits that I didn't quite make sense until it gets more information and assimilates them when appropriate

I loved GoTM and didn't find it confusing

Having said that I still haven't picked up DHG again, think that is to do with too m any books in my to be read pile though as I am looking forward to continuing the story

 

[Khale]

Khale, I'm still not convinced . I have this built-in trust in writers that they will provide the necessary information all in good time. I don't need everything to be clear to me at most points. It's when the story is finished and some things are still not clear that makes me pull my hairs out. Besides, I also have this natural talent to just ignore the bits that don't make sense, until they do. They never seem to affect my enjoyment of a book

Ok, I follow you now and agree. It was my understanding that people posting that the story was confusing were merely referring to the fact that story-lines can be confusing "at that time" and you just have to trust that you will figure it out later when more information is available.

That certainly is the case when you get to Deadhouse Gates. In my opinion, that book made the plot in Gardens seem as simplistic as a child's book. Nonetheless, I thought both were very good.

Here is a snippet from a review of DG that I thought was very entertaining and accurate:

If you're looking for a low-calorie dish of light fantasy, this ain't it. If you're looking for a nine-course riot of taste and texture, exotically spiced to make your eyes water, your heart pump faster and your brain do cartwheels inside your cranium, I know a great little Thai place downtown. Or, if you want something analogous to that in your reading, stop at the 'E's and pick up the latest from Steven Erikson.

 

[DarrellR]

Huh?....he writes 1 book a year for the first probably 7 books in the series and book 8 should be out soon. That's one of the reasons I like him, you don't have to wait long b/w books and having book 8 out means only 2 to go.....

Heh let's not forget on top of this Erikson did not create the Malazan world on his own. His co-creator, Ian C Esslemont has now began writing upon the series/world as well. So while you have the novels by Erikson you now have Esslemont's. He has written one (Night of Knives) thus far with the second (Return of the Crimson Guard) due this summer though some have obtained an earlier unedited version I believe through the publisher.

There also the side novellas though smaller in volume that were written as well. They cover the travels of two characters that appear in Memories of Ice. So when it comes to the Malazan world there is quite a bit of reading out there.

 

[Rane Longfox]

though some have obtained an earlier unedited version I believe through the publisher.

That's not strictly accurate, it was a limited edition release from PSPublishing, while the mass-market release is in august from Bantam/Transworld. It wasn't unedited, just really badly proof-read

 

[dreir]

Hey guys, guess what?

I just got myself GotM!!

So far, so good

Btw, the copy I have says it has a new foreword by the author. It's quite illuminating, too. I'm not sure just how new this new foreword really is, but if you guys want me to quote it here, I can do that (unless this would infringe on any copyright acts?).

- Dreir -

 

[Quick Ben]

Huh?....he writes 1 book a year for the first probably 7 books in the series and book 8 should be out soon. That's one of the reasons I like him, you don't have to wait long b/w books and having book 8 out means only 2 to go.....

Meant G.R.R.M mate, I know Erikson is 'prolific' at churning out huge books within the span of a year Whilst Martin has taken up to 5 years between books

One of the reasons why, when I have so much else to read, I started on Erikson first - no time to start on A Song of Ice and Fire and leave myself hanging.

 

[Quick Ben]

Ok, I follow you now and agree. It was my understanding that people posting that the story was confusing were merely referring to the fact that story-lines can be confusing "at that time" and you just have to trust that you will figure it out later when more information is available.

That certainly is the case when you get to Deadhouse Gates. In my opinion, that book made the plot in Gardens seem as simplistic as a child's book. Nonetheless, I thought both were very good.

Here is a snippet from a review of DG that I thought was very entertaining and accurate:

Yep I agree completely.

There's that many things going on in the Malazan world that I found it easier to just let myself 'go with the flow' and not worry about why or how certain things happen. You can't possibly have yourself investigating every little detail as to what's going on. A general outline of the plot and following the sequences should be enough to take you to the end where everything becomes clearer. Don't worry too much about the complexities.

I didn't really find the Gardens plot too confusing, well not after the first half anyway but DhG was all over the shop. Probably the most confusing book I've read to date (though admittedly that's not saying much ) especially the Icarium/Mappo storyline. But it also ties up nicely at the end so no harm done.

 

[dreir]

Finished GotM!!
(I know it sounds like I took a long time but I actually read the bulk of it within the last 2 days.. been too busy prior to that)

Now I can't wait to read DG
Not to mention MoI which most of you guys think is awesome..

Thanks to you people now i have to fork out the dough for 7 more books!

- Dreir -

 

[Sar]

I just finished GOTM as well. I really enjoyed it. I found that the way he jumps the story line around and then ties it together reminds me of Tad William's story telling. It adds a certain element of suspense to the story. You keep thinking, "How is this going to connect?" It's a good affect.

I also like that in the preface of the new edition of GOTM Erikson says, "piss on compromise."

Awsome!

 

[dreir]

Yeah, possibly the most inspiring preface I've ever read, lol..

- Dreir -

 

[nj1]

Just finished GotM and must say I really enjoyed it (picked up the paper back for £3.99 last week from WHSmiths).
What I want to know is what was the point of the coin bearer, I mean what did he have a coin for?
It seemed to me that he was only a small part in the actual plot and didn.t really affect the outcome of the story, except for lobbing a brick and witnessing some events that would scar you for life. Why did he recieve so much protection?

I'm diving straight into Deadhouse Gates next and hope it's as good as GotM.
Also was there any mention of the gardens on the moon, if not why the name for the book?