Malazan Book of The Fallen Book Club (Book 2) Book • Page 10

I’ve done week one’s reading. Audiobook is so weird to keep track of that with.

 

Alright so this week's reading actually started yesterday (the 14th) and will go through Sunday the 20th. We'll be reading chapters 3-5, which will complete the first "book" in the novel. It's a longer reading than last week (nearly 100 pages) to make up for last week's shorter section.

What are everyone's initial thoughts on the characters/setting? This book introduces some major players in Mappo and Icarium. Icarium is one of the most fascinating and important characters in the whole Malazan world. It also introduces some of the first unlikable characters in Felisin and Mallick Rel. Goddamn you, Rel. Also, Iskaral Pust is hilarious.

I mentioned earlier that it took me 3 tries to get this one down. I was so put off by the desert city setting and the lack of most of the Bridgeburners. However I now feel that Coltaine's story alone is worth the price of the entire book.

Anyways, I won't say anything else (kinda feel like I said too much). Interested in what others think!

 

I am officially done with this week’s reading, too, and continuing on.

His writing is so much better I’m not even entirely sure the same human was in charge of choosing words. That being said, I’m still not sold on the style of storytelling. But I’m just enough intrigued, I guess.

Felisin is an...interesting...character. Waiting for a reveal.

 

I'm inching my way to the finish line. As the various plots reach their climax I'm enjoying it more and more CH18ish SPOILERS I like Kalam a lot but man is his plot dull so far. Some really good stuff though, looking forward to see how this wraps up.

 

it also took me multiple tries to get into this book originally. I was like .. yeah this desert is cool but where is whiskeyjack and quick Ben? But then I fell in love with the new cast hard. This is the book that made me obsessed with the series and blown away by how he weaves all these hundred tiny (seemingly insignificant) strings and POVs together into one crazy plot. If anyone is kinda put off by the abrupt change I promise it pays off.. trust in the Erikson system haha.

Time to go refresh myself on the first reading so I don't post spoilers.. glad people are hanging in there still :)

 

Curious, what is it about his style of storytelling you're not sold out on?

The second you finish it, come in here and post a knee-jerk reaction lol

Yeah this series is absurdly rewarding on a repeat read, especially this book. So many little things unnoticed. And yes, trust in Erikson!

 

He’s clearly done the world building work, but instead of laying the foundation for the reader, he’s thrown us in (which isn’t bad, it works for the most part), which constantly creates this tension of withholding for the sake of withholding instead of creating something stronger.

Maybe it’s a different experience reading them over listening.

He’s done a much better job on this book of helping us “see” the world already, though. So maybe it’s a writing thing he overcame as he became a better writer.

 

Yeah his anthro/archaeology background really comes through in this book. Some points I was like "ok cool this guy knows his rocks and stuff" lol. Part of the draw for me to this series is that lack of exposition and how you're just dropped in. I get that that can be maddening for some readers but it was refreshing to me upon discovering the series.

 

I'm really digging this so far, just finished chapter 3, but man if it doesn't give me the same vibe as the first bit of GotM. Totally different tonally, but I still finish each chapter saying "wait...what did I just read?"

And I dunno if I'm reading it wrong, but I don't mind Felisin so far? I feel for her for sure, but wondering where it's gonna go.

 

Don't forget the Reread if things are confusing! I've been using it a lot the second time through:

Malazan Reread of the Fallen | Series | Tor.com

 

DG CHAPTER 21 MAJOR SPOILERS Jesus, that chapter ending sequence was fucking BRUTAL and by far the best thing in the series so far. Coltaine's death was almost hard to read, such a sad end for the Chain of Dogs. Rest of the plots are picking up and I'm getting ideas of where they'll possibly converge in these last 60-70 pages.

Time to finish this.

 

That’s probably my favorite part of the series so far.

 

Final stretch!

 

Lots of stuff to discuss after this week's reading that I'll post about tomorrow.

This coming week's reading will be chapters 6 and 7. Only two chapters, from its pages 175-259 in my book so it's a decent chunk. OP updated.

 

Bright and early discussion post for last week's reading, so avoid reading if you haven't read up to chapter 5.

- I love the scene where the 7th is doing a battle drill and they finally start to succeed and Coltaine gives them lancer support. You get to meet Corporal List (who dies during every drill) and he is one of my favorite characters in the book. Also every scene with Bult is great.
- How do people feel about Iskaral Pust? I liken him to Kruppe in that he is so out there as a character in his mannerisms/speech that he is either a love/hate kind of character. I certainly think he's hilarious and prefer his antics to Kruppe's monologues.
- You really start to see how things are not going well for Felisin in the mining camp. Not an easy section to read.
- We get another encounter with the Deck of Dragons in Kalam's section where he runs into an outpost and encounters the so-called seer. I really enjoy every scene with the Deck because it gives major foreshadowing.
- Apsalar reveals the lingering effects of her possession by Cotillion by straight up murdering people in the city of G'danisban. I'm pretty sure it's finally made clear at this point that Emperor Kellanved/Dancer never died and instead became the Ascendants known as Shadowthrone/Cotillion. At least this is where Crokus and Fiddler figure it out.
- Toblakai. Remember him.
- How did you feel about Shai'k's sudden death? Certainly caught me off guard the first time through!

 

Finished Deadhouse Gates the other day and never posted about it (outside of needing to post about a particular chapter). Overall I liked it, and the last 1/4 or so was great but I'm still not quite head over heels with the series yet even if I do like it.

SPOILERS The Chain was the highlight of the book and Duiker was never a favorite of mine I still really felt for his tragic end (although it seems like it's safe to assume we'll see him revived by Baruk in a future novel. I'm pretty interested in seeing the eventual Sha'ik/Tavore confrontation, thought that plotline ended well. Mappo/Icarium are the highlights, character-wise, of the book, definitely assume a Quick Ben-like situation where Erickson is going to slowly reveal more and more of why Icarium is so important. My problem mostly still lies in the fact that, even 850 pages later, I still just wanted to see more of Rake and Ben. I lived for the quick cameo of Kalam talking to QB and just wanted to see what he was doing.

Not quite sure if I want to continue on to Memories of Ice or switch to something else (perhaps it's finally time for me to start up The Great Hunt). It's been a good ride so far though! Glad I still have so much more in this universe to explore.

 

Yes, this.

I also think we should consider doing a book outside of the series between each one, just to keep everything exciting?

 

I think the first three books work really well as a trilogy almost. I wouldn't stop now, I'd read Memories first if I were you (or else you'll end up having to read 1 and 2 again like me maybe). Memories is essentially what's going on in Genabakis during Deadhouse, picking up with the other characters right after Gardens. Aka if you're missing the bridgeburners and Rake, HIGHLY recommend reading Memories asap.

 

Yeah that's a good point. Memories of Ice and Deadhouse Gates take place concurrently.

 

I'd argue the last book in Memories of Ice is going to make you not want to stop.

 

Memories of Ice is my favorite after an initial read through the series. Some of the scenes in that book are more vivid than entire books written by other authors.

 

SAME. I get emotional from just seeing that book on my shelf hahah. It's been my favorite for sure. (I'm mid book 5 currently)

 

In the meantime, that shadowthrone/cotillion = kellanved/dancer reveal in last weeks reading... that was pretty world shattering for me. Did anyone see that coming? I did not but if you look back to their dialogue in Gardens they allude to it so MUCH.

The parting between Fiddler and Kalam hurt me. And the Felisin part was extremely hard to read . At least Fiddler acting all Gral was a pick me up.

Looking forward to spending more time with Duiker and Heboric and Coltaine this week

 

Yeah that reveal was huuuge

 

There's so much allusion to it in Gardens but it's the first book and we're too busy wondering what the hell is going on half the time, so it's easy to miss. They are literally standing on the road in the first chapter of Gardens hanging out lol

And yes Gral Fiddler is best Fiddler