Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson

Book 5 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4 out of 5

The world where the Malazan Empire exists is a vast world and includes continents where the Malazan name has never been heard. Here in this fifth novel of the epic Malazan Book of the Fallen, Steven Erikson takes us to those other places and displays more of his breath-taking and vivid imagination through world-building and myth-making. Erikson takes epic fantasy to the limits and beyond.

By doing so, Midnight Tides, seemingly represents a break from the continuity of the previous four novels. It is a different place, the story seems to have occurred in an earlier time period than that of its predecessors, and only one persona is familiar to the readers – an earlier, younger version of a Tiste Edur character named Trull Sengar, who only had a relatively small role in the fourth novel. Midnight Tides is the story of two empires, a kingdom based on total control of the resources of the continent – the Letherii Empire; and the newly-formed conglomeration of tribes previously warring against each other – the Tiste Edur (a group of people also fleetingly glimpsed in the preceding books). Lether, who has succeeded in campaigns of subjugating its neighbors in order to control their natural resources has only one great obstacle left before the total domination of the continent, the tribes of the Tiste Edur. However, the Edur have finally realized the only way stop the coming inevitable onslaught is to stop their in-fighting and unite against the larger enemy.

The tale unfolds mainly through the stories surrounding two families. The Sengars of the Tiste Edur – the warrior brothers Fear, Trull, and Rhulad, who become pivotal in the realization of the formalization of the Tiste Edur empire through their trials and most of all, disappointments; and the Beddicts of Lether, brothers also – Hull, who plans to betray Lether to the enemy; Tehol – making his way through Lether society as a seemingly-failed businessman, and Brys – the Emperor’s Champion. However, as it turns out in the other novels, the unfolding war is just a part in the bigger conflict among the gods who seem to manipulate the destiny of mortals. And it is through these immortals that Erikson reveals the background behind the history and myths of the peoples of this world, and connects the fifth novel to the vast unfolding story of the Malazan Empire.

Midnight Tides also is a novel where Erikson presents a society that is so overtly familiar to the contemporary world. He presents a society eerily and uncomfortably familiar to some readers, more particularly American society and the various mother nations of Britain and Western Europe that contributed to its culture and people. In explaining Letherii society, he presents the forces that molded today’s Western-driven culture. He presents a people relying not only in a monetary system, but on a systematic system of managing debts and credits; a society believing in the supposedly inherent greatness of its culture and its “manifest destiny” to impose that culture throughout their world; he presents a government that aims to protect the “interests” of its society by assuring that other cultures become subordinated and taken advantage of; a military that increasingly relies on impersonal destructive weaponry, taking away what little was left of humanity in what was already the most inhumane acts of society. Erikson gives a scathing rebuke of today’s ultra-competitive society bred in today’s media:

…You take your natural vices and call them virtues. Of which greed is the most despicable. That and betrayal of commonality. After all, whoever decided that competition is always and without exception a healthy attribute? Why that particular path to self-esteem? Your heel on the hand of the one below. This is worth something? Let me tell you, it’s worth nothing. Nothing lasting. Every monument that exists beyond the moment – no matter which king, emperor or warrior lays claim to it – is actually a testament to the common, to co-operation, to the plural rather than the singular.

Steven Erikson, by the way, is an archeologist by profession before he became a writer and has studied past cultures and histories. He probably knows what he is talking about. This background in archeology also shows in his writing in this novel and all the rest. His places are dotted with ruins here and there and helps define the culture of one of the people of his books and help tell their history. His writing has also shown a vast improvement from the first novel, and considering the story of Midnight Tides is, in the surface, just barely connected to the past four books, it’s almost seems like this is the way Erikson would like to start a series had he had the chance. His writing becomes crisper and clearer. And humor (albeit dark and sarcastic) has now become fully integrated.

On the other hand, some of the chinks in his writing still remain. Particularly the problem of giving ample time to develop a vast number of characters – nine hundred pages of fine print still isn’t enough. He still leaves explanation to things and events up in the air leaving this for further novels, or for the reader to research back.

Fortunately enough, Erikson’s story is so entertaining and so engrossing that the reader just moves on and enjoy the remarkable tale conjured from the creative imagination of a great writer and discovers a world so vast and dynamic, it rivals and probably surpasses any other fantasy world created before it. And the journey is only halfway over, which is great news for fantasy fans.

This review ends with Erikson's astute observation of man's progress through history:

We have a talent for disguising greed under the cloak of freedom. As for past acts of depravity, we prefer to ignore those. Progress, after all, means to look ever forward, and whatever we have trampled in our wake is best forgotten.

House of Chains by Steven Erikson

Book 4 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4 out of 5

Steven Erikson returns to the Seven Cities for his fourth book of The Malazan Book of the Fallen series, House of Chains. The last time readers visited the continent was on the second novel Deadhouse Gates, where they were witness to the grueling march of Fist Coltaine's army and refugees now known as the Chain of Dogs with its tragic end at the gates of the city of Aren.

Now, the Adjunct Tavore Paran - sister of the Bridgeburner captain, Ganoes Paran (last seen with the rest of his company in Memories of Ice) - has arrived. And she must bring together a band of new recruits with the few remnants of Coltaine’s forces for the purpose of marching against the massed armies of the Chosen One of the Whirlwind Goddess, the Sha’ik, who also is, unknowingly to the Adjunct, actually her sister, Felisin Paran.

Meanwhile, the gods are making their moves. The Chained God, of the House of Chains, (the house of gods from which this book is titled after) is recruiting and building his forces. Yet, he is not the only one with plans and schemes. Cotillion, Patron of Assassins is sending his own people to shadowy missions for purposes only known to him. Among them, the Bridgeburner assassin Kalam Mekhar, and the pair of Apsalar and Cutter (formerly known as Crokus of Darujistan).

These are just some of the numerous characters whose stories are told in House of Chains, and Erikson shows his ability in being able to blend all their tales into one great book. He had lots of practice, with three enormous tomes preceding this one and his improvement shows with each installment of his tale. He’s style is smoother and less cluttered, especially if compared to the first novel of the series - readers who loved the tale has to sometimes wonder in amazement, by this time, how one ever got through reading Gardens of the Moon. And the answer is: because it has all been such an incredible epic, so far.

The tale is divided into four parts, and for the first quarter of the book, Erikson diverges his style and presents it in a straightforward tale following the actions and events surrounding one character, Karsa Orlong of the Uryd tribe of the Teblor as he leaves on a quest for glory. His is a journey that starts in the continent in Genebackis and ends up affecting the events in the Seven Cities. Karsa even becomes the most developed character of the whole series up to this point. Then for the next three chapters Erikson goes back to his familiar style where he juggles the readers from one story thread to another, a style admittedly frustrating and confusing to some, compounded by the fact that Erikson, as is already well-known, doesn’t engage in exposition in order to explain what is really happening.

However, by now, this unapologetic style by the author seems to have a purpose. By telling his tale without any explanation of a few things, the reader is placed in the shoes of the characters. If the character is bewildered, the reader feels that confusion. Revelations occur at the same time for the character and reader creating a kind of bond between the two.

And as always, approaching the end of the book, Erikson slowly merges each storyline to an exciting and action-packed conclusion full of amazing and spellbinding scenes and also not without great pathos in the unique way which is also, by now, expected of the author.

House of Chains is a more-than-worthy continuation of a storyline that has captured the attention of readers for some time now. Unlike the two previous books preceding it which were essentially war stories, this episode is more of an adventure saga of different characters even if written against the backdrop of the approaching confrontation of two armies, but it is no less as good as the others. Erikson expands his world even more introducing his readers to some more races and creatures, highlighting the depht of the world the author created. What is even more amazing is that by this time, old characters from the previous books have managed to reach legendary status story-wise, and in the hearts of those who love the books. The name “Bridgeburner” and “Whiskeyjack” now evokes incredible emotions from everyone who knows their story. Such is the effect of Steven Erikson work. That is how amazing this series has been. And the fun shows no sign of slowing down.

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

Book 3 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4.5 out of 5


It's only his third book of a planned ten-part Malazan Book of the Fallen series but Steven Erikson is redefining the word 'epic'. One can only begin to realize that this is really only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg" that the readers are seeing at this point of the story. It's a marvel to witness the uncovering of his imagination and realize the depth of what he has created. Erikson has created a world that probably surpasses any other fantasy world that ever existed and he has yet seven more books in which he can allow his readers to explore.

In Memories of Ice, he returns to the continent of Genebackis, the setting of his first book, Gardens of the Moon. The Malazan army of Genebackis have now gone renegade under the leadership of Dujek Onearm and Whiskeyjack are trying forge an alliance with their former enemies led by Caladan Brood and Anomander Rake. They would need to find a way to come across a common ground and forget their differences because a new enemy is coming from another direction. The new empire of the Pannion Domin is flexing its muscle and it is a threat more terrible and horrifying than anything they have ever seen before. The first target of the Domin's armies would be the free city of Capustan, and it seems nothing can stop its hordes from overrunning the it. Armies are being formed. Armies that would include the undead, cannibals and beasts. They would however soon realize that this would only be a part of an even larger war. A war that has been going on for hundreds of thousands of years. A war between gods and demi-gods and everybody is being sucked in towards it.

There would be new players in the scene. There will be the caravan bodyguard captain, Gruntle, who escorts his client towards the beleaguered city and finds himself trapped in a desperate siege unknowing of the large part he is going to play in the whole war. There will be Itkovian, one of the leaders of the army hired by Capustan's leaders to defend the city, as he and his group of paladin-knights prepare themselves on what they think what would be their last act in life. There will be Silverfox of the Rhivi, a girl who is much more than she seems growing into adulthood in days instead of years.

Of course, there would be the returning characters from Gardens of the Moon like the aforementioned four war leaders, the irrepresible and enigmatic Kruppe, and Ganoes Paran, Quick Ben and the Bridgeburners (Malazan's own version of Special Forces) with the part they are going to play in these War of the Gods.

As with his previous books, Erikson has a huge cast and a huge plot, and he handles them well. In fact, a distinct improvement from his previous work can be noticed. As before, Erikson structures his plot with having separate story threads, but this time the threads are more cohesive and doesn't make the reader feel like being tossed from one place or another. Each plot thread is now handled smoothly as they ease their way towards the end of the book.

Also, here in Memories of Ice, Erikson's characters become more alive now. They become personalities. Maybe because the readers have already gotten to know them through the first book, but one can now feel being able to identify with each character, even the minor ones. So real have they become, that some readers might find themselves shedding a tear for some of them by the end of the book.

That is not to say that Erikson has already found the perfect formula for his style. Old flaws from the first two books still emerge every now and then. The story starts out slow and doesn't pick up until the second third of the book. It is also still possible for the reader to get confused at the happenings of the plot. And Erikson still doesn't take time to explain things. But these problems become less of a hindrance here in the third book than it was in the first two.

There is one area, though, where Steven Erikson has established himself in the top echelon, probably more any other fantasy writer before him. He has become a master in writing military fantasy. His battle scenes are glorious, exciting, viceral, terrifying and tragic. He doesn't shy away from the gore. However, at the same time, he emphasizes the dreadful emotions one feels on having to fight for one's life and having to take the life of another. He doesn't glorify battle. In fact, he presents it in all its tragedy for what it really is: that despite the circumstances that sometimes make it a necessity, it is still an act of mass murder. That's what makes his battle scenes compelling, and in this book he gifts his readers with not one, but two extraordinary scenes of battle that is heart-pounding and edge-of-your-seat, and one of the best-written. It even includes a sort of "covert ops insertion mission" that would probably make techno-thriller author Tom Clancy sit up and take notice.

With Memories of Ice, Steven Erikson has come to stay. His imagination is boundless and the world-building he executed to bring to life this Malazan world is nothing short of genius on par of J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a vast amazing world that is full of amazing beings that would surely become imprinted in the minds of those fortunate enough to read their story.

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

Book 2 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4 out of 5

Welcome back to the world of the Malazan Empire. This time the story takes place away from the original setting of the Steven Erikson’s first book, Gardens of the Moon, to another continent where the Seven Cities are living under the rule of the Malazan empress, Laseen. And now, trouble is brewing.

In the Holy Desert Raraku, the followers of the seer, Sha’ik greet the coming of the Whirlwind – the prophesized uprising against the Malazan Empire that will engulf the whole Seven Cities – with bloodshed and massacres and plunge the whole continent into turmoil. It will be the one of the bloodiest wars the empire has ever been involved in and will shape its destiny and give birth to epics and legends.

In the middle of this maelstrom and what will be the backbone of the book is the Malazan 7th Army and the Wickans commanded by the Fist Coltaine. Caught in the middle of a continent in flames, this formerly ragtag excuse of an army whipped into shape by the newly arrived general finds itself escorting tens of thousands of Malazan refugees on the long and distant road to safety, an ordeal that would be beset by months and months of grueling hardship and loss, faced with thirst and hunger, and constant attacks from the rebel army, compounded by the distrust between the civilians and the military. It is an epic story that is gripping, captivating and exhilarating, while at the same time, tragic and heart-wrenching. Steven Erikson paints for the reader a proud and, at times, heroic picture of the Malazan soldier facing incredible odds doing an impossible task. For military history buffs, this thread of the story would probably evoke images of Mao’s Long March, or Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, or the March to the Sea by Xenophon. Deadhouse Gates is first and foremost, a war story.

But as with the first book, Deadhouse Gates is not just one tale but several threads of tales. Fresh from Gardens of the Moon, the assassin Kalam and the sapper Fiddler, of the outlawed Bridgeburners accompany the once-possessed girl, formerly named Sorry, now Apsalar and her companion Crokus of Darujistan, hoping to help them find their way back to Apsalar’s home and father. But all is not as it seems as Kalam and Fiddler have another secret, darker and more dangerous mission while being caught up in the events of the Whirlwind. There is the Trell called Mappo and the half-Jhagut Icarium, in search for their fate and hiding a terrible secret.

It is also the story of Felisin Paran, the sister of Ganoes Paran, Bridgeburner captain from Gardens of the Moon. She and her family are swept by the ramifications of the Bridgeburners going outlaw. As the empress decides to punish Ganoes Paran’s family, Felisin’s older sister Tavore betrays her kin by facilitating their arrest to prove her loyalty and become the Empress’ new Adjunct. Felisin finds herself in a slavery mine with Heboric, a priest with no hands and the thug Baudin. Together their plot to escape would lead them to a path nobody ever expected and into the heart of the Whirlwind.

Just like in the first book, Erikson weaves these different story threads into a vast epic that would culminate into a surging climax which would glue the reader into the pages. The story is vast in scope and full of wonderful twists and turns as the current history of the Malazan Empire unfold before the reader’s eyes. It is a story of legendary figures, noble soldiers, fickle gods, ruthless armies, devious plots and heart-breaking friendships. Steven Erikson, just like in Gardens of the Moon never lets up. In fact, having gone through this before, the author refines his style and improves his writing.

Still, there is room for more improvement. There are times when the reader could get confused because Erikson doesn’t take the time to explain things. Maybe, with all the happenings he has to take note in this vast story, he forgets to explain some of the concepts he puts into it. With the enormous ensemble of characters, it would be a stretch to expect the characters to grow and evolve, although there are a few exceptions where one would really feel for a character. Examples of characters remaining stale (and in this case, even take a few steps back in terms of growth) are the Crokus and Apsalar, who in Gardens of the Moon were growing and somewhat evolving (and even compelling) characters, yet in Deadhouse Gates find themselves almost being observers in the background by the last part of the book.

Yet again, taken as a whole, Deadhouse Gates is a wonderful story. Steven Erikson is truly one of the gems of contemporary fantasy and among the authors reshaping the genre. He invites you to return to the world of the Malazan Empire, albeit on a different continent this time (reading the first story isn’t a must but is preferable). He will take the reader in a rollercoaster ride with a story of war, loyalty and friendship and if they are able to slog it out like the Malazan 7th Army through the immense weave of this amazing plot, through the battles, the bliss of triumph and the tragedy of loss, they will find in their hands a gem of an epic.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

Book 1 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen

Rating: 4 out of 5

When an author decides he should write a fantasy epic (aren’t they all epics?), they immerse themselves in one necessary activity: world-building. The author creates a continent, maps out the location of the different kingdoms and cities and determines their culture (usually based on some historical culture, frequently Western European, but more exotic kingdoms may be based on Eastern European, Middle Eastern or North African cultures. A few rare ones are Far Eastern). Then the author determines where the other non-human (or “demi-human” for the RPG crowd) cultures are existing. This means the required Elves and Dwarves and some other race seen in the usual fantasy stuff. A brief synopsis of history is developed to give the created world its soul. And then the pantheon of gods is defined, which defines its personality, morality and ethics (in doing so, it classifies the world and its creatures in black and white. Either you’re good or you’re bad). Then its cast of main characters are placed, who usually may incorporate one or more of the prototypes usually found in fantasy epics. For sure, there will be a quest, a prophesy, a Dark Lord who must be defeated.... Well, you get the picture. In recent years, there has been a move from authors (like George R. R. Martin, for example) towards a departure from the usual fantasy story elements that has been so overused and gearing towards a less fantastical, more gritty, and more “realistic” world.

Now, here comes Steven Erikson. When he decided to build a world, he decided to really build his world. And he decided to define it in what is planned as 10 standalone but interconnected novels in which Gardens of the Moon, Erikson’s first novel, is the first of these books.

“Epic” doesn’t even begin to define his creation. A world whose story spans continents and epochs, a huge ensemble of characters, both seen and hidden, all contained in a complex and pleasantly convoluted storyline that one can’t even begin to attempt to summarize without losing one’s mind. Gone are the usual elements in fantasy writing. There are no elves, no dwarves or your usual non-human races, instead Erikson creates his own list of non-humans. There is no quest here, only a world at war with itself for many years. And Erikson drops the reader right in the middle of that war without so much as a warning. And there is no sanitized version of combat here. Erikson describes war in terms of violence and gore. It hurts like hell when a fireball is cast at you (imagine yourself being hit by napalm).

In Gardens of the Moon, Erikson shows us his world through the eyes of a large cast who have their own storyline threads which only converge at the very end of the book. We follow a group of elite soldiers known as the Bridgeburners, as they jump from one suicidal mission to another in the service of the Malazan Empress, Laseen, who seems to be determined to kill all of them since they are associated with the previous Emperor, who she incidentally assassinated to get to the throne. We follow Ganoes Paran, a young Malazan captain as he takes over command of the Bridgeburners in their current mission in Darujistan, the last of the Free Cities coveted by the Malazan Empire. We follow the personages of Darujistan as they prepare themselves for the coming inevitable assault of the empire.

Gardens of the Moon is not for everyone though (and this is definitely not a fantasy for kids), it demand a lot of its readers. It will probably turn some readers away as there are so many events, so many personalities (including gods who involve themselves in affairs of mortals, and mortals who aspire to ascend to godhood just like it was the next step of existence only a few can attain), so many complicated threads that it is sometimes dizzying. Characterization suffers, too (the writer has little room to develop his characters as a result). The author has managed to blur the lines between black and white making everyone grey. No one really knows who the real good guys here are. Heck, unless you’re paying attention, no one is really sure who’s doing what to whom. And Erikson never takes the time to explain things. He leaves you questioning until you can figure out the answer a few chapters and one week later. This can be both good and bad as there are no dragging exposition parts but can leave the reader really lost. It probably would help if you try to read this not as a story of a character or a group of characters as they go through situation after situation trying to solve an issue, but as an on-going history of a world that is told through the eyes of each character in the book.

If you can hang on and push yourself past the daunting task of reading Gardens of the Moon, you will be rewarded in an amazing journey through a jaw-dropping, thoroughly amazing world that is so rich and unique, unlike any other world seen in fantasy before. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, just the first book. And if Gardens of the Moon is any indication, it’s going to be one hell of a long, bumpy and wonderful ride.