Malazan: should I keep going?

[Ry]

I have now read the first 2 Malazan: Book of the Fallen novels. Spoilers ahead

I'm not sure that I should continue.

[sblock]First of all the second book really dissolved towards the end; the wizard-of-oz-like delivery from Genabackis really made it hard to take it seriously, for example. The wizard-of-oz-like "Hey, I'm the emperor of shadow but I'll save you guys anyway." wasn't so hot either.[/sblock]

But my bigger issue is that I tend to find some really great stories are getting diminished by the torrent of sidestories.

[sblock]For example, the moment with the huge flock of crows was very poetic. But right next to the back and forth of the Half-Jaghut and the way off track Bridgeburner, and the pointlessness of Kalam's entire mission, I think something's being lost.[/sblock]

So my main question is, does it improve? Is there more coherence as the stories go on?

 

[jhallum]

So my main question is, does it improve? Is there more coherence as the stories go on?

I think the end of the march is one of the Top 10 set pieces in Fantasy Literature.

I also think that the end of the next book has a set piece that isbetter than the end of Deadhouse Gates.

But if you don't like his style, Deadhouse Gates is pretty much the style of the rest of the series in terms of writing. Some people really dig it (like me), others not so much.

 

[Ry]

Does the [sblock]wizard of oz random-everything-works-out-sometimes thing[/sblock] continue?

 

[jhallum]

Does the [sblock]wizard of oz random-everything-works-out-sometimes thing[/sblock] continue?

Nope. definitely does not continue.

 

[Mallus]

They don't get tighter and more coherent, no. If you didn't find enough to like in first two books, stop now.

 

[Pants]

Deadhouse Gates is usually considered the 'best' of the series so far. If you don't like what you've read so far, then there's really no reason to continue on as it doesn't get much better than this.

Addendum: Though Deadhouse is probably the better written, more tightly plotted book, I enjoyed the next book, Memories of Ice, much more. It's obscenely bloated, but if you do continue on and you do finish MoI and you still don't like it, then by all means, quit.