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Steven Eriksons Malazan series
- Thread starter Scorch
- Start date
neg
Explorer
Cthulhu's Librarian said:
Off Topic:
VHPS is the first major New York publisher I have worked for. Prior to this I worked for a local Minnesota publisher that was small to medium sized, but nothing like the New York behemoths.
For VHPS my former territory was the Upper Midwest: MN (based), IA, WI, and NE. But they just promoted me, and I work for mass merchandise now calling on Levy in Chicago. A much different line of work to be sure.
I will pass on hellos when I see everyone at presales in a few weeks!
On Topicish:
So does anyone think they should make a d20 campaign product off of these books at some point? I mean they are making The Black Company d20, why not Malazan?
-neg
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
Yes, I do. For the warrens, for the Deck, for the Houses and Holds and Thrones, for the gods and their servants, for all that, yes.
The BIG problem will be balance. Why would anyone want to play Fiddler when you could play Anomander Rake? Or at any rate, if Fred is playing Rake and George is playing Fiddler, how do you run a game that allows them both to contribute and have fun?
The BIG problem will be balance. Why would anyone want to play Fiddler when you could play Anomander Rake? Or at any rate, if Fred is playing Rake and George is playing Fiddler, how do you run a game that allows them both to contribute and have fun?
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
Well, yeah, that's kind of my point.myrdden said:
I'm not saying it's a problem that can't be solved, but it's still a problem.
Liminal Syzygy
Community Supporter
Yes, it would be great to see such a product -- I would definitely buy it. But from the interview on Tor's web site it seems the warrens-driven magic system was purposely created to be vague and not easily translatable into an RPG.
DrBloodmoney
First Post
Hi all,
My first post here. Followed a link that Neil posted over at www.malazan.com.
Just wanted to say that on a good number of webforums that I hang out at for Sf/F books, most of the members had purchased the Malazan books from overseas. I have imported all of them so far, and will probably continue to do so until the US publication catches up to them.
That being said, I did buy Gardens of the Moon in HC (despite the horrific cover-art) and will continue to buy the rest in HC as well (because I'm a HC junkie).
But the cover-art really might be hurting sales. I personally can't stand it. But I generally find that I like the UK cover art much more than the US anyways. Much less cartoony and Darrell Sweet-ish. I tend to appreciate the more understated look on my books. Like the recent Bakker hit (thank God Tor didn't pick him up and screw up the Canadian cover-art) The Darkness that Comes Before. Overlook did a good job of keeping that nice art when they published in America. I wonder why Tor couldn't do that as well.
My first post here. Followed a link that Neil posted over at www.malazan.com.
Just wanted to say that on a good number of webforums that I hang out at for Sf/F books, most of the members had purchased the Malazan books from overseas. I have imported all of them so far, and will probably continue to do so until the US publication catches up to them.
That being said, I did buy Gardens of the Moon in HC (despite the horrific cover-art) and will continue to buy the rest in HC as well (because I'm a HC junkie).
But the cover-art really might be hurting sales. I personally can't stand it. But I generally find that I like the UK cover art much more than the US anyways. Much less cartoony and Darrell Sweet-ish. I tend to appreciate the more understated look on my books. Like the recent Bakker hit (thank God Tor didn't pick him up and screw up the Canadian cover-art) The Darkness that Comes Before. Overlook did a good job of keeping that nice art when they published in America. I wonder why Tor couldn't do that as well.
Liminal Syzygy
Community Supporter
Another vote against the cover art for the US books... I know the UK versions aren't ideal but the US aren't an improvement by any means. Sorry, neg. 
Pants
First Post
I just finished Deadhouse Gates last night. Good book and in some respects, very good, but I can't help but think that I might've thought it was better if every Erikson fan hadn't hyped its greatness to me over the last year and a half. Seriously, near every fan claimed it was the best book written. Ever.
It was good, don't get me wrong, but I can't help but think that the overabunance of spastic hype didn't get to me in some ways.
Oh well, spoileristic comments to follow:
Yeah, it is kind of ranty, but I'm overall pleased with the book. I started Memories of Ice last night and I'm looking forward to it. I hope the hype on MoI doesn't get to me like it did with DG.
It was good, don't get me wrong, but I can't help but think that the overabunance of spastic hype didn't get to me in some ways.
Oh well, spoileristic comments to follow:
Icarium and Mappo were the stars of the book. Two truly cool characters, especially Mappo. Out of everyone in the book, I looked forward to reading about these two the most. Erikson really knocked these two out of the ballpark with an excellent mix of mystery, character development, and emotion. Absolutely great in every way.
Felisin. Probably the worst part of the book. For the first 3/4 she's an annoying bitch - I'm talking Sansa annoying here. But while Sansa grew to become one of the most heart-wrenching characters in aSoIaF (granted it took 3 books, compared to Erikson's 1, so it's probably not an apt comparison), Felisin just changes... in one scene. I'd accept it if it had something to do with her becoming Sha'ik, but according to her... it didn't, not really at least. Oh well, her final scene with Baudin was really good, it almost made me disregard the rest of the book where she was annoying.
The Chain of Dogs. Good but probably the most overhyped part of a book ever. The end is excellent, but I couldn't help the detached feeling I felt throughout the rest of the plot-line. Erikson was tugging at my emotions, just in the wrong ways. Yeah, everything is terrible, people are starving and dying, the nobles are big, naive jackasses, Coltaine is doing the impossible. This would be good if Duiker and the soldiers didn't break out with philosophical ramblings every other paragraph. THAT was the bad part. I don't mind philosophy mixed in with my fantasy, if it is done well and it is kept in moderation, but Erikson just went overboard.
Despite that, the very end of the Chain of Dogs, from Coltaine's last stand to Duiker's 'death' is bloody amazing. Very emotional and extremely well written. I applaud this part.
When I first finished Gardens of the Moon I thought that the introduction of the Azath House was way too deus ex machina. I'm not sure if I really think that anymore, but I wonder if Erikson could have handled it better. Dropping vague hints about the Deadhouse in Malaz would rectify the situation, since we wouldn't really know what a Deadhouse is, but when it finally shows up it would seem like less of a 'pulled out of nowhere' kind of thing.
Finally, some questions for those of you in the know. If any of these questions are answered with spoilers from later books, just tell me so:
1) DG mentions that Ammanas and Cotillion are Kellanved and Dancer Ascended. GotM and DG both mention that Quick Ben was once a High Priest of Shadow. However, if I have my facts straight, Quick Ben joined the Bridgeburners during Kellanved's reign, so how could he have been a High Priest of Shadow if Ammanas didn't exist back then? Unless he became a High Priest of Shadow after he joined the Bridgeburners, which then kills my whole point. So, did I spot an inconsistency or will this be addressed later on?
2) What exactly do the T'lan Imass look like? The descriptions are vague, but I've got this wacky idea that they vaguely resemble humans in form.
Felisin. Probably the worst part of the book. For the first 3/4 she's an annoying bitch - I'm talking Sansa annoying here. But while Sansa grew to become one of the most heart-wrenching characters in aSoIaF (granted it took 3 books, compared to Erikson's 1, so it's probably not an apt comparison), Felisin just changes... in one scene. I'd accept it if it had something to do with her becoming Sha'ik, but according to her... it didn't, not really at least. Oh well, her final scene with Baudin was really good, it almost made me disregard the rest of the book where she was annoying.
The Chain of Dogs. Good but probably the most overhyped part of a book ever. The end is excellent, but I couldn't help the detached feeling I felt throughout the rest of the plot-line. Erikson was tugging at my emotions, just in the wrong ways. Yeah, everything is terrible, people are starving and dying, the nobles are big, naive jackasses, Coltaine is doing the impossible. This would be good if Duiker and the soldiers didn't break out with philosophical ramblings every other paragraph. THAT was the bad part. I don't mind philosophy mixed in with my fantasy, if it is done well and it is kept in moderation, but Erikson just went overboard.
Despite that, the very end of the Chain of Dogs, from Coltaine's last stand to Duiker's 'death' is bloody amazing. Very emotional and extremely well written. I applaud this part.
When I first finished Gardens of the Moon I thought that the introduction of the Azath House was way too deus ex machina. I'm not sure if I really think that anymore, but I wonder if Erikson could have handled it better. Dropping vague hints about the Deadhouse in Malaz would rectify the situation, since we wouldn't really know what a Deadhouse is, but when it finally shows up it would seem like less of a 'pulled out of nowhere' kind of thing.
Finally, some questions for those of you in the know. If any of these questions are answered with spoilers from later books, just tell me so:
1) DG mentions that Ammanas and Cotillion are Kellanved and Dancer Ascended. GotM and DG both mention that Quick Ben was once a High Priest of Shadow. However, if I have my facts straight, Quick Ben joined the Bridgeburners during Kellanved's reign, so how could he have been a High Priest of Shadow if Ammanas didn't exist back then? Unless he became a High Priest of Shadow after he joined the Bridgeburners, which then kills my whole point. So, did I spot an inconsistency or will this be addressed later on?
2) What exactly do the T'lan Imass look like? The descriptions are vague, but I've got this wacky idea that they vaguely resemble humans in form.
Yeah, it is kind of ranty, but I'm overall pleased with the book. I started Memories of Ice last night and I'm looking forward to it. I hope the hype on MoI doesn't get to me like it did with DG.
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