Deadhouse Gates minutiae question. [Expect spoilers]

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I finished Steven Erikson's Deadhouse Gates a few weeks ago, and finished up Memories of Ice just last night. But the ending of Memories of Ice brought back an issue I didn't remember being resolved in Deadhouse Gates.

I recall in Deadhouse Gates that the Trygalle Trade Guild delivered "something" to Coltaine from Dujek (I think?). With the statement that the Empire can't afford to lose someone as effective as Coltaine. That it should be used at the right moment. As I recall, Coltaine rejected it and gave it to Duiker. Right?

Well, did that "device" ever get used in Deadhouse Gates? Because I don't recall it actually being used and I remember being bothered that I didn't recall seeing it being used. But finishing up Memories of Ice reminded me all over again about that little issue that bugged me. Duiker was alive and in Darujistan, but something was "wrong" and needed caring for.

Is it possible that the "device" that Coltaine rejected and gave to Duiker, was activated upon near-death of the carrier (Duiker), and returned the body to Darujistan where Duiker was promptly healed.

Okay, am I filling in blanks that didn't need to be filled in? Did the device given to Coltaine but which ended up with Duiker ever get used in Deadhouse Gates, and I just missed it?

 

[Pants]

There's a part in Deadhouse Gates, right after the massacre at the end of the Chain of Dogs that shows those Malazan Marines (three of them, Truth... and, umm two others whose names I can't recall) going to retrieve one of the bodies that had been crucifed outside of the city. The body was Duiker's.

Now, I think I'm remembering right that just before Duiker's death, the amulet that he was given broke, most likely releasing its power and saving Duiker's life.

Hope that helps.

 

[Sugarmouse]

IIRC, it was actually a vial to be worn around Coltaine's neck. He did give it to Duiker, so that the story of the Chain of Dogs would be told correctly, and it broke either just before or during Duiker's crucifiction.

Duiker was not rescued by Gesler, Stormy or Truth - his corpse and vial was rescued by a pair of demon-invested familiars in the employ of Baruk. ^_^

 

[Pants]

Duiker was not rescued by Gesler, Stormy or Truth - his corpse and vial was rescued by a pair of demon-invested familiars in the employ of Baruk. ^_^

Well, then, whose body did Gesler and Co. recover?

 

[barsoomcore]

Well, then, whose body did Gesler and Co. recover?

None. They couldn't find Duiker and returned empty-handed, after having the dogs healed by Mappo.

 

[myrdden]

I was going to add something but it looks like everything has been covered.

When is the next book due?

 

[barsoomcore]

June 2006. ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

That's for us Canuckistani. For the Americanoi, I think Memories of Ice is just coming out now, so House of Chains will be (I guess) next summer.

Next Canadian/British book is The Bonehunters. Spoiler:

Spoiler

About Adjunct Tavore's efforts to bring Leoman of the Flails to heel.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

That's for us Canuckistani. For the Americanoi, I think Memories of Ice is just coming out now, so House of Chains will be (I guess) next summer.

And through the beauty of Amazon, you can buy the trade paperbacks now. I just had House of Chains and Midnight Tides delivered this morning from an Amazon affilitated bookstore in New York City. I know I should probably "support the local publishers" so they know just how much demand there is for Erikson... but dang it! The low lying fruit always tempts me.

As soon as my summer Micro Economics class finished Friday, I'll be diving into House of Chains pronto.

Speaking of the whole series of books, I just read that the Malazan series is actually a shared world. Originally writen by Erikson and another fellow as a movie script that was shopped around but never picked up. Erikson asked the fellow he worked on it with if it would be okay to try and put it out as a novel. The publishers balked at the "shared world" aspect and begged Erikson to not mention it.

Well, I guess the co-creator of the setting is going to get his shot as writing a book in the world as a limited release. To test the waters, publishers are still timid with the whole shared world aspect, not knowing just what to do with it. Called something like "Night of Knives", Esselmont is the fellow's name.

Anyway, hows that for hijacking my own thread.

 

[Dakkareth]

Ian Cameron Esslemont's (ICE - how's that for initials? ) novella is actually very nice (and good thing too, for the price it went for). I sure hope, he'll continue writing - the Malazan world is such a wonderful thing, we really need both perspectives to fully appreciate it .

 

[myrdden]

June 2006. ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

NOOOOOOO!!!