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The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach #4-6
The Second Collected Tales of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach
The necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach - scourges of civilization, raisers of the dead, reapers of the souls of the living, devourers of hope, betrayers of faith, slayers of the innocent and modest personifications of evil - have a lot to answer for and answer they will, but first they must lie, murder and cheat their way through three more escapades in some of the deprived fringes and impoverished communities of the Malazan Empire. Much to the shame of their long-suffering general factotum, Emancipoor Reese...
Here then - for readers' delectation and entertainment - are those escapades, namely the novellas The Wurms of Blearmouth, The Crack'd Pot Trail and The Fiends of Nightmaria . . .
Here then - for readers' delectation and entertainment - are those escapades, namely the novellas The Wurms of Blearmouth, The Crack'd Pot Trail and The Fiends of Nightmaria . . .
320 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2018
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759 people want to read
About the author
Steven Erikson
130 books15.1k followersSteven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist. His best-known work is the series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 24, 2018
I received a review copy of The Second Collected Tales of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Steven Erikson and Bantam Press.
I was pretty excited to read more about everybody's favourite necromancers and their trusted manservant's dark and often humourous adventures. In the main Malazan series the deadly duo are only seen in Memories of Ice but have featured in 6 short stories, 3 of which are collected in this volume. If you are new to the Malazan world I would not recommend starting here.
The Wurms of Blearmouth - 9/10
This is probably my favourite of the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories. It follows 5 or 6 point of view perspectives and is set on an island where ships are often found wrecked on the beaches. It is ruled by a mad sorcerer known as Lord Fangtooth Claw and any strangers who arrive in his domain are typically tortured and murdered. Bauchelain and company arrive and demand an audience with the ruler. Many other parties turn up on the island chasing the mages for deeds previously done and we also witness the politics of this village which is mainly set in a bar - it all makes for an interesting mix. My favourite scenes always included Bauchelain and Mister. Reece. Bauchelain comes across as being like an intelligent, noble Victorian gentleman who just happens to be extremely witty and is also an expert mage and summoner. He is always the cleverest man in the room. This story has suprising depth for its 120 or so pages and it has a very satisfying conclusion that I didn't see coming. There were one or two mini-scenes which I thought were needless and didn't add to the story such as a young girl who pisses on her potential lover whilst sitting on his lap.
Crack'd Pot Trail - 4/10
This is probably the worst story I've read that's set in the Malazan world. I'm only rating it so high because it is well written and I guess the concept is quite interesting. My main disappointment is that the titular characters of this story collection are featured for less than one page in a 160-page story. Presented in the first person perspective of a chronicler called Flicker as he travels on a 20 or so day pilgrimage with warriors, other poets, and bards. Essentially, this short narrative boils down to different poets telling a story to the witnessing crowd when they are travelling or resting by a fire during the evening and if the audience doesn't like a certain tale then that poet is then killed and eaten by the other members of the entourage. Some of the poems and songs are interesting - one, in particular, recites details about series favourites Anomander Rake and Draconus. Another is about Kalam and Laseen. All being said, I only vaguely cared about 2 or 3 of the characters and if this was not a short story I would have not finished it. If I had personally paid for this book described as 3 tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach I would have felt cheated by this addition.
The Fiends of Nightmaria - 7.5/10
This story was as comic as it was gruesome and dark and Erikson returns back to form with this entry. I'm not sure what the duo have gotten up to since we last saw them but Bauchelain is now King Bauchelain the 1st of Farroq with Korbal Broach as the grand bishop. Korbal Broach's relationship with the new King is excellent throughout all these stories. Broach is a very talented mage and also a Soletaken (he can turn into a crow) but he adores the dark arts, is quite childlike and Bauchelain often keeps his good friend in check. While Bauchelain is summoning demon princes to haunt his castle to kill a missing God, Broach has many headless soldiers that he's reanimated to follow him. Apart from the scenes featuring these two, there are perspectives from a gang of warriors who suprise, suprise, wish to kill the necromancers, a group of wannabe thieves including Symon the Knife (who is awful with a knife), and a lizard creature ambassador who speaks for the Fiends of Nightmaria. This was pretty enjoyable and I read it in one sitting. Similar to the pissing scene in The Wurms of Blearmouth - there is another needless scene where a demon masturbates and 'spurts' over a warriors face before running away. I'm not sure if Erikson has fewer boundaries in his more comic side projects such as this and Willful Child but that was completely needless.
To conclude, I'm glad I got to read this as Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are brilliant characters for all their schemes and evil nonsense. I'm sure they've travelled half the known world wrecking havoc and ruining the lives of all who are unfortunate enough to cross their paths. I would definitely pick up any further adventures the two necromancers decide to act out. For the most part, this was highly enjoyable however, the second story left a sour taste in my mouth. I'd still recommend this for fans of Malazan however with me explaining the second story and how it doesn't really fit in this collection, perhaps other readers will look at it in a different manner and not be disappointed like I was.
I was pretty excited to read more about everybody's favourite necromancers and their trusted manservant's dark and often humourous adventures. In the main Malazan series the deadly duo are only seen in Memories of Ice but have featured in 6 short stories, 3 of which are collected in this volume. If you are new to the Malazan world I would not recommend starting here.
The Wurms of Blearmouth - 9/10
This is probably my favourite of the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories. It follows 5 or 6 point of view perspectives and is set on an island where ships are often found wrecked on the beaches. It is ruled by a mad sorcerer known as Lord Fangtooth Claw and any strangers who arrive in his domain are typically tortured and murdered. Bauchelain and company arrive and demand an audience with the ruler. Many other parties turn up on the island chasing the mages for deeds previously done and we also witness the politics of this village which is mainly set in a bar - it all makes for an interesting mix. My favourite scenes always included Bauchelain and Mister. Reece. Bauchelain comes across as being like an intelligent, noble Victorian gentleman who just happens to be extremely witty and is also an expert mage and summoner. He is always the cleverest man in the room. This story has suprising depth for its 120 or so pages and it has a very satisfying conclusion that I didn't see coming. There were one or two mini-scenes which I thought were needless and didn't add to the story such as a young girl who pisses on her potential lover whilst sitting on his lap.
Crack'd Pot Trail - 4/10
This is probably the worst story I've read that's set in the Malazan world. I'm only rating it so high because it is well written and I guess the concept is quite interesting. My main disappointment is that the titular characters of this story collection are featured for less than one page in a 160-page story. Presented in the first person perspective of a chronicler called Flicker as he travels on a 20 or so day pilgrimage with warriors, other poets, and bards. Essentially, this short narrative boils down to different poets telling a story to the witnessing crowd when they are travelling or resting by a fire during the evening and if the audience doesn't like a certain tale then that poet is then killed and eaten by the other members of the entourage. Some of the poems and songs are interesting - one, in particular, recites details about series favourites Anomander Rake and Draconus. Another is about Kalam and Laseen. All being said, I only vaguely cared about 2 or 3 of the characters and if this was not a short story I would have not finished it. If I had personally paid for this book described as 3 tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach I would have felt cheated by this addition.
The Fiends of Nightmaria - 7.5/10
This story was as comic as it was gruesome and dark and Erikson returns back to form with this entry. I'm not sure what the duo have gotten up to since we last saw them but Bauchelain is now King Bauchelain the 1st of Farroq with Korbal Broach as the grand bishop. Korbal Broach's relationship with the new King is excellent throughout all these stories. Broach is a very talented mage and also a Soletaken (he can turn into a crow) but he adores the dark arts, is quite childlike and Bauchelain often keeps his good friend in check. While Bauchelain is summoning demon princes to haunt his castle to kill a missing God, Broach has many headless soldiers that he's reanimated to follow him. Apart from the scenes featuring these two, there are perspectives from a gang of warriors who suprise, suprise, wish to kill the necromancers, a group of wannabe thieves including Symon the Knife (who is awful with a knife), and a lizard creature ambassador who speaks for the Fiends of Nightmaria. This was pretty enjoyable and I read it in one sitting. Similar to the pissing scene in The Wurms of Blearmouth - there is another needless scene where a demon masturbates and 'spurts' over a warriors face before running away. I'm not sure if Erikson has fewer boundaries in his more comic side projects such as this and Willful Child but that was completely needless.
To conclude, I'm glad I got to read this as Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are brilliant characters for all their schemes and evil nonsense. I'm sure they've travelled half the known world wrecking havoc and ruining the lives of all who are unfortunate enough to cross their paths. I would definitely pick up any further adventures the two necromancers decide to act out. For the most part, this was highly enjoyable however, the second story left a sour taste in my mouth. I'd still recommend this for fans of Malazan however with me explaining the second story and how it doesn't really fit in this collection, perhaps other readers will look at it in a different manner and not be disappointed like I was.
September 20, 2018
3.5 stars
Mages, [Reece] concluded, were obnoxious in so many ways it was almost pointless listing them.
With all the high drama and world shattering battles, it’s easy to forget that Steven Erikson also writes comedy that borders on insanity. Whist there are more than a few snippets in the Malazan Book of the Fallen, from Iskaral Pust to Tehol and Bugg, Telorast and Curdle to the Mott Irregulars, his boundary pushing is on full view in these short stories. Anyone who has read the main series will have their own opinion of the terrible duo, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: necromancers, mages, adventurers, unlucky masters of … well, anywhere really. In all honesty, if you haven’t read those books, I wouldn’t start here. It’s just too niche, too specifically weird to be the first time you meet this world. Saying that, if that’s what you’re in to, go for it, but seriously, considering all the people who struggle with Gardens of the Moon (for whatever reason), choosing to go with this first is more like avoiding the black runs to ski on blancmange filled with sharks in clown costumes.
And yet the book is a reminder of the author’s peerless ability to sketch vibrant characters in little more than a few lines and a handful of what looks like (but isn’t) offhand comments. Of course, there are times where this goes perhaps a little far. Right at the outset of ‘The Wurms of Blearmouth', there’s a TMI introduction to one Felittle, a young lass with a tendency to pee all over her paramours, which is a tad more than I ever needed to know. Just a smidgen. So i’ve shared the love. You’re welcome. Even so, what Erikson can do really, really well is take you from those moments of thinking ‘what in the ever loving hell am I reading’ to laughing out loud in a few sentences. His prodigious talent for imagining bizarre situations is only emphasised when the stories are shorter, though I hesitate to call them more focused because that would suggest a linear practicality these tales do not share. All three are flat out bonkers, that kind of zany, bouncing off the walls type criss crossing of people and events that still manages to come together in the end. None of this should work at all.
But it does because within each piece of madness, there is something that grabs the attention and won’t let go. I especially love the way Bauchelain and Korbal Broach have all this magic but every time you meet them, they’re always trying to come back from one disaster or another. That Bauchelain acknowledges it here only makes me all the more amused because it underlines their ongoing astonishment about why it keeps happening to them: given our record thus far when assuming positions of authority, even I must acknowledge that trial and error remains an important component in our engagement with power’. Emancipor Reece as the long suffering servant is a perfect foil for their villainy, the precarious nature of his position (the former holders are all dead) always seeming to turn out for the best. So far. Besides, the phrase ‘we’re all mad here’ is all too apt. We’ve got dead men who refuse to stay dead, lizard cats who remember being something more, demons, gods in hiding, and more bizarre names than you can shake a stick at. It’s crazy, but remains that rare type of madcap humour that never ceases to surprise.
Whist this collection hasn’t found a place in my heart, it provided some laughs and I consider it time well spent. Definitely worth a go if you enjoyed the darker comedic side of Malazan or want something to keep you going until the release of The God is not Willing.
ARC via fantasybookreview.co.uk
Mages, [Reece] concluded, were obnoxious in so many ways it was almost pointless listing them.
With all the high drama and world shattering battles, it’s easy to forget that Steven Erikson also writes comedy that borders on insanity. Whist there are more than a few snippets in the Malazan Book of the Fallen, from Iskaral Pust to Tehol and Bugg, Telorast and Curdle to the Mott Irregulars, his boundary pushing is on full view in these short stories. Anyone who has read the main series will have their own opinion of the terrible duo, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach: necromancers, mages, adventurers, unlucky masters of … well, anywhere really. In all honesty, if you haven’t read those books, I wouldn’t start here. It’s just too niche, too specifically weird to be the first time you meet this world. Saying that, if that’s what you’re in to, go for it, but seriously, considering all the people who struggle with Gardens of the Moon (for whatever reason), choosing to go with this first is more like avoiding the black runs to ski on blancmange filled with sharks in clown costumes.
And yet the book is a reminder of the author’s peerless ability to sketch vibrant characters in little more than a few lines and a handful of what looks like (but isn’t) offhand comments. Of course, there are times where this goes perhaps a little far. Right at the outset of ‘The Wurms of Blearmouth', there’s a TMI introduction to one Felittle, a young lass with a tendency to pee all over her paramours, which is a tad more than I ever needed to know. Just a smidgen. So i’ve shared the love. You’re welcome. Even so, what Erikson can do really, really well is take you from those moments of thinking ‘what in the ever loving hell am I reading’ to laughing out loud in a few sentences. His prodigious talent for imagining bizarre situations is only emphasised when the stories are shorter, though I hesitate to call them more focused because that would suggest a linear practicality these tales do not share. All three are flat out bonkers, that kind of zany, bouncing off the walls type criss crossing of people and events that still manages to come together in the end. None of this should work at all.
But it does because within each piece of madness, there is something that grabs the attention and won’t let go. I especially love the way Bauchelain and Korbal Broach have all this magic but every time you meet them, they’re always trying to come back from one disaster or another. That Bauchelain acknowledges it here only makes me all the more amused because it underlines their ongoing astonishment about why it keeps happening to them: given our record thus far when assuming positions of authority, even I must acknowledge that trial and error remains an important component in our engagement with power’. Emancipor Reece as the long suffering servant is a perfect foil for their villainy, the precarious nature of his position (the former holders are all dead) always seeming to turn out for the best. So far. Besides, the phrase ‘we’re all mad here’ is all too apt. We’ve got dead men who refuse to stay dead, lizard cats who remember being something more, demons, gods in hiding, and more bizarre names than you can shake a stick at. It’s crazy, but remains that rare type of madcap humour that never ceases to surprise.
Whist this collection hasn’t found a place in my heart, it provided some laughs and I consider it time well spent. Definitely worth a go if you enjoyed the darker comedic side of Malazan or want something to keep you going until the release of The God is not Willing.
ARC via fantasybookreview.co.uk
August 31, 2022
Ecco cosa c'è che non va. Sono i matti che comandano. Chi ha deciso che fosse una buona idea? Gli dei, suppongo, ma sono più pazzi di tutti gli altri. Viviamo sotto il tallone nervoso della follia, è
quello che facciamo, e c'è da meravigliarsi se poi beviamo, o peggio?
La maggior parte degli uomini sognava le stesse cose: un corpo caldo su cui sdraiarsi, facendo eco ai loro grugniti animali; compagnia durante i pasti; conversazione decente e il pavimento privo di scarti. Ma pochi uomini immaginavano che una donna potesse desiderare le stesse cose e poi trovarle in un cane".
-The Wurms of Blearmouth: 4 stelle
In cui il trio, sopravvissuto ad un naufragio, approda in un villaggio in cui vige la pena di morte per gli stranieri.
Si abbandona completamente la vena horror e si da il benvenuto alla comicità sfrenata. Una lezione molto illuminante sulla natura della tirannia. Una struttura narrativa a più livelli che racchiude il genio e la bravura di Erikson in tutto il suo splendore.
-Crack'd Pot Trail: 2 stelle
In cui un gruppo alla caccia del maledetto trio attraversa una piana desolata e si sfida a raccontare storie al costo della propria vita.
Erikson si diletta in un esercizio di stile a tratti noioso e prolisso, troppo dialogato. Una sequela di racconti nei racconti, poche dinamiche e intrecci e cosa peggiore la mancanza del trio di protagonisti. Flicker il narratore, è un buon personaggio ma non è bastato per mantenermi sveglio.
-The Fiends of Nightmaria: 3 stelle
In cui il trio deve affrontare un gruppo di ladri incompetenti, la presenza del Dio Indifferente (a Farrog?) e una possibile guerra contro gli uomini lucertola dell'Impero di Nightmaria.
Il tema comico diventa preponderante, annichilendo completamente quel poco di horror presente nei primi racconti. Erikson si lascia prendere la mano, pur riuscendo a caratterizzare in modo solito tutti gli innumerevoli personaggi presenti. Sembra però di assitere ad un film della Marvel in cui ad ogni frase viene aggiunta quella comicità gratuita che alla lunga rischia di ottenere l'effetto opposto. Una cosa è certa, vi farete grasse risate.
"Era un pozzo", disse Mortari dietro di loro. "Pieno di gatti annegati, galleggianti, dondolanti e puzzolenti. Fu allora che trovai la nonna".
quello che facciamo, e c'è da meravigliarsi se poi beviamo, o peggio?
La maggior parte degli uomini sognava le stesse cose: un corpo caldo su cui sdraiarsi, facendo eco ai loro grugniti animali; compagnia durante i pasti; conversazione decente e il pavimento privo di scarti. Ma pochi uomini immaginavano che una donna potesse desiderare le stesse cose e poi trovarle in un cane".
-The Wurms of Blearmouth: 4 stelle
In cui il trio, sopravvissuto ad un naufragio, approda in un villaggio in cui vige la pena di morte per gli stranieri.
Si abbandona completamente la vena horror e si da il benvenuto alla comicità sfrenata. Una lezione molto illuminante sulla natura della tirannia. Una struttura narrativa a più livelli che racchiude il genio e la bravura di Erikson in tutto il suo splendore.
-Crack'd Pot Trail: 2 stelle
In cui un gruppo alla caccia del maledetto trio attraversa una piana desolata e si sfida a raccontare storie al costo della propria vita.
Erikson si diletta in un esercizio di stile a tratti noioso e prolisso, troppo dialogato. Una sequela di racconti nei racconti, poche dinamiche e intrecci e cosa peggiore la mancanza del trio di protagonisti. Flicker il narratore, è un buon personaggio ma non è bastato per mantenermi sveglio.
-The Fiends of Nightmaria: 3 stelle
In cui il trio deve affrontare un gruppo di ladri incompetenti, la presenza del Dio Indifferente (a Farrog?) e una possibile guerra contro gli uomini lucertola dell'Impero di Nightmaria.
Il tema comico diventa preponderante, annichilendo completamente quel poco di horror presente nei primi racconti. Erikson si lascia prendere la mano, pur riuscendo a caratterizzare in modo solito tutti gli innumerevoli personaggi presenti. Sembra però di assitere ad un film della Marvel in cui ad ogni frase viene aggiunta quella comicità gratuita che alla lunga rischia di ottenere l'effetto opposto. Una cosa è certa, vi farete grasse risate.
"Era un pozzo", disse Mortari dietro di loro. "Pieno di gatti annegati, galleggianti, dondolanti e puzzolenti. Fu allora che trovai la nonna".
July 9, 2024
Irregular segunda parte de este recopilado de relatos situado en el mundo de Malaz. Los nigromantes Bauchelain y Korbal Broach vuelven a las andadas en estos tres relatos que para mi gusto son un pelín más flojos que los del primer libro.
Las serpientes de Blearmouth(****): Un naufragio lleva a nuestros héroes a las tierras de Fangatooth Claw, un mago tirano. Tienes un sepulturero no-muerto que nadie cree que esté realmente muerto, un recaudador de impuestos que se nombró a sí mismo y que honestamente cree que el dinero que recauda beneficia a todos, y una serie de otros personajes ridículos que trabajan para el tirano.
Como siempre Bauchelain tratará de sacar provecho de la situación urdiendo un plan maestro. El mejor relato de los tres y el que calificaría como imprescindible si te gustan los personajes.
El sendero de la olla y el crujido(**): Un grupo de viajeros compuesto por guerreros, poetas y espadas juramentadas a la decencia dan caza a Bauchelain y Korbal. Los nigromantes no aparecen y los viajeros empiezan a pasar hambre así que deciden comerse a un poeta cada noche, el que cuente la peor historia. Flojo.
Los demonios de Nightmaria(***): Bauchelain ha conseguido erigirse rey de Farrog y ha encarcelado a buena parte de los bardos, artistas y poetas de la ciudad. El pais vecino, Nightmaria, está gobernado por demonios y estos le declaran la guerra. El despiporre de lucha y sangre está garantizado.
Una historia con toques de humor donde aparecen algunos personajes que aparecian en el anterior cuento.
En general son unos relatos que se me han hecho largos y que pese a tener ideas interesantes quedan lejos de los del primer libro. Café para muy cafeteros.
Las serpientes de Blearmouth(****): Un naufragio lleva a nuestros héroes a las tierras de Fangatooth Claw, un mago tirano. Tienes un sepulturero no-muerto que nadie cree que esté realmente muerto, un recaudador de impuestos que se nombró a sí mismo y que honestamente cree que el dinero que recauda beneficia a todos, y una serie de otros personajes ridículos que trabajan para el tirano.
Como siempre Bauchelain tratará de sacar provecho de la situación urdiendo un plan maestro. El mejor relato de los tres y el que calificaría como imprescindible si te gustan los personajes.
El sendero de la olla y el crujido(**): Un grupo de viajeros compuesto por guerreros, poetas y espadas juramentadas a la decencia dan caza a Bauchelain y Korbal. Los nigromantes no aparecen y los viajeros empiezan a pasar hambre así que deciden comerse a un poeta cada noche, el que cuente la peor historia. Flojo.
Los demonios de Nightmaria(***): Bauchelain ha conseguido erigirse rey de Farrog y ha encarcelado a buena parte de los bardos, artistas y poetas de la ciudad. El pais vecino, Nightmaria, está gobernado por demonios y estos le declaran la guerra. El despiporre de lucha y sangre está garantizado.
Una historia con toques de humor donde aparecen algunos personajes que aparecian en el anterior cuento.
En general son unos relatos que se me han hecho largos y que pese a tener ideas interesantes quedan lejos de los del primer libro. Café para muy cafeteros.
May 13, 2024
This collection of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories was noticable weaker than the first one, yet still very enjoyable and most importantly, funny.
I will not say much about it a whole, you can find all that in my review of the first collection, so let's just look at the individual stories.
1. Crack'd Pod Trail: I can see why is one is pretty hated by a lot of people. It does not really match well with other BaKB stories, since the titular characters are barely in it. It also barely has a story and therefore it is purely satirical, comedywise and themewise. I still found a lot to love in it and it made me laugh several times, but I would say it should have atleast been shorter, much shorter, and it would make its strong points shine more. 6/10.
2. The Wurms of Blearmouth: This novella is right up there with Healthy Dead as my favorite of BaKB stories and one of my favorite pieces of short fiction overall. I would say Healthy Dead is probably funier, but TWoB honestly have great story with a good twist and it manages to be a thrilling ride while still being funny as hell. 10/10.
3. Fiends of Nightmaria: In this story, Erikson's dark humor probably shines the most and he flexes his unrivaled ability to create such an interesting situation with multiple POV characters. However, the story was probably the least interesting out of all six and it even felt a bit repetetive with no stakes, so I could not bring myself to enjoy it as much, despite laughing a lot the whole time. 7/10.
And the whole collection? 7,5/10. Still enjoyed it a lot but I probably would not mind if Erikson decided not to return to this series, unless he has some truly original ideas where to take it.
I will not say much about it a whole, you can find all that in my review of the first collection, so let's just look at the individual stories.
1. Crack'd Pod Trail: I can see why is one is pretty hated by a lot of people. It does not really match well with other BaKB stories, since the titular characters are barely in it. It also barely has a story and therefore it is purely satirical, comedywise and themewise. I still found a lot to love in it and it made me laugh several times, but I would say it should have atleast been shorter, much shorter, and it would make its strong points shine more. 6/10.
2. The Wurms of Blearmouth: This novella is right up there with Healthy Dead as my favorite of BaKB stories and one of my favorite pieces of short fiction overall. I would say Healthy Dead is probably funier, but TWoB honestly have great story with a good twist and it manages to be a thrilling ride while still being funny as hell. 10/10.
3. Fiends of Nightmaria: In this story, Erikson's dark humor probably shines the most and he flexes his unrivaled ability to create such an interesting situation with multiple POV characters. However, the story was probably the least interesting out of all six and it even felt a bit repetetive with no stakes, so I could not bring myself to enjoy it as much, despite laughing a lot the whole time. 7/10.
And the whole collection? 7,5/10. Still enjoyed it a lot but I probably would not mind if Erikson decided not to return to this series, unless he has some truly original ideas where to take it.
January 21, 2020
Skipped Crack'd pot trail, it was boring and tiresome. First work of Eriksons that I've ever hated.
The other two short stories were really good though. The "Fiends of Nightmaria" was particularly funny. 1st and 3rd stories are well worth the read.
The other two short stories were really good though. The "Fiends of Nightmaria" was particularly funny. 1st and 3rd stories are well worth the read.
October 17, 2020
A good book but a bit of a mixed bag in the particulars, 3.5 ish but I erred on the side of 4, and mostly for the same reason in each of the three stories. It suffers from meandering and lack of editing crowding the bits that are truly delightful in their villany, humour and insightfulness. If you are tolerant of this it is a fun and engaging read, jampacked with stories within stories, subplots, observations and hints at grander things. But it would have benefited from a harsher editor.
March 24, 2025
I have to admit, I was a little disappointed by this one- in particular, the Crack’d Pot Trail. While I normally find the prose to be a fun test of my reading comprehension, it just became a slog. It was like all of Erikson’s worst tendencies were in full force. Not terrible, just far below an otherwise stellar average
June 5, 2023
Exaggerated jokes seasoned with a pinch of satire. Too much? I am not sure.
Crack'd Pot Trail on the other hand "aims high" and, for me, stands out.
Crack'd Pot Trail on the other hand "aims high" and, for me, stands out.
October 9, 2019
The itinerant necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach contiue spreading chaos in their wake, accompanied by their hapless manservant, Emancipor Reese. From the desolate Wreckers' Coast of Elingarth to the deserts in the farthest corner of the continent of Seven Cities, wherever they go, death and disaster swiftly follows. Steven Erikson continues to use the duo's adventures to tell stories filled with macabre humour and flowery prose that is sometimes too wordy for its own good.
While in general the stories are full of the gallows humour and sociopolitical and philosophical diatribes that made "Malazan Book of the Fallen" such a unique and memorable experience when it comes to epic fantasy, I felt that the middle of the 3 short novels, "Crack'd Pot Trail", took things too far. Clearly trying to evoke one of Erikson's favourite characters, Kruppe, the Eel of Darujhistan, the story is told in first person by Flicker, one of the poets stuck traversing a desert along with a band of self-righteous champions who pursue the elusive necromancers. As the privations of the desert drive men to desperation, Flicker and his fellow poets find themselves competing to tell the most interesting stories to avoid the fate of being the next one sacrificed to keep the group alive. It's not the casual cannibalism that really drives the story down, but rather, the unrelenless assault of overtly flowery language that sometimes drives the pace to a halt. The gristly climax of the story feels slghtly abrupt, before leaving the readers stranded.
Fast forward just a bit and the last novel takes up the slack, being well-paced, punchy and full to the brim of absurdities. I actually felt that it went a bit too much in the opposite direction, with 2 groups of characters both performing slapstick routines as they are set on a course for an inevitable collision; but despite that, I was able to read it in one sitting, and it was an amazing chage of pace from "Crack'd Pot Trail", which, while being full of Erikson's impressive writing, was nonetheless, a slog at times.
If you want quirky Malazan humour not related to anything in the main books and absurdity tunred up to 11, this is the book for you. If you are not familiar with these 2 already, then you are likely to find yourself bewildered, though the stories are pretty standalone.
While in general the stories are full of the gallows humour and sociopolitical and philosophical diatribes that made "Malazan Book of the Fallen" such a unique and memorable experience when it comes to epic fantasy, I felt that the middle of the 3 short novels, "Crack'd Pot Trail", took things too far. Clearly trying to evoke one of Erikson's favourite characters, Kruppe, the Eel of Darujhistan, the story is told in first person by Flicker, one of the poets stuck traversing a desert along with a band of self-righteous champions who pursue the elusive necromancers. As the privations of the desert drive men to desperation, Flicker and his fellow poets find themselves competing to tell the most interesting stories to avoid the fate of being the next one sacrificed to keep the group alive. It's not the casual cannibalism that really drives the story down, but rather, the unrelenless assault of overtly flowery language that sometimes drives the pace to a halt. The gristly climax of the story feels slghtly abrupt, before leaving the readers stranded.
Fast forward just a bit and the last novel takes up the slack, being well-paced, punchy and full to the brim of absurdities. I actually felt that it went a bit too much in the opposite direction, with 2 groups of characters both performing slapstick routines as they are set on a course for an inevitable collision; but despite that, I was able to read it in one sitting, and it was an amazing chage of pace from "Crack'd Pot Trail", which, while being full of Erikson's impressive writing, was nonetheless, a slog at times.
If you want quirky Malazan humour not related to anything in the main books and absurdity tunred up to 11, this is the book for you. If you are not familiar with these 2 already, then you are likely to find yourself bewildered, though the stories are pretty standalone.
November 4, 2025
Necromancers are the realist😎!!
This collections of novellas surpasses the first collection (which were already an easy 5⭐).
Wurms of Blearmouth and Fiends of Nightmaria have the most laughs but Cracked pot trail has the biggest laughs. Belly laughs were it took me awhile to compose myself before I could continue😂😂🥳🥳
Whether it be an artist (talented or not) , a critic, a fan, a noble warrior on a quest, a horny sister trying to escape her three brothers determined to insure her celibacy, an inn keeper, a tyrant wizard, a cowardly king, a tax collector, a di'vers (shapeshifter who turns into multiple creatures), a bunch of hapless thieves, a lizardly ambassador, a walking corpse, an elder god etc. All get skewered, literally and figuratively
👏👏👏👏yes I am giving myself a hand at a damn fine review😌
This collections of novellas surpasses the first collection (which were already an easy 5⭐).
Wurms of Blearmouth and Fiends of Nightmaria have the most laughs but Cracked pot trail has the biggest laughs. Belly laughs were it took me awhile to compose myself before I could continue😂😂🥳🥳
Whether it be an artist (talented or not) , a critic, a fan, a noble warrior on a quest, a horny sister trying to escape her three brothers determined to insure her celibacy, an inn keeper, a tyrant wizard, a cowardly king, a tax collector, a di'vers (shapeshifter who turns into multiple creatures), a bunch of hapless thieves, a lizardly ambassador, a walking corpse, an elder god etc. All get skewered, literally and figuratively
👏👏👏👏yes I am giving myself a hand at a damn fine review😌
July 8, 2023
Szlak Potłuczonych Dzbanów to małe arcydzieło
pozostałe dwa dosyć przeciętne eh eh
pozostałe dwa dosyć przeciętne eh eh
January 30, 2025
Malazan continues to be well written and witty.
Sometimes you just want Taco Bell though
Sometimes you just want Taco Bell though
October 14, 2023
This is Erikson’s most comedic and light-hearted set of stories set in the Malazan world.
A fun read but did not engage me as much as the first collected stories, mainly because these stories have less of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach in them.
A fun read but did not engage me as much as the first collected stories, mainly because these stories have less of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach in them.
April 6, 2021
CRACK'D POT TRAIL
It's funny. I was very much looking forward to resuming the dark, outrageous adventures of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, only to find that they weren't in the story until the last two pages. Be that as it may this was a fun story, and dark and outrageous enough to fit the bill regardless.
Crack'd Pot Trail follows a group of pilgrims, artists, and hunters of the necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach as they all attempt to cross the Great Dry. It is narrated by a poet named Avas Didion Flicker, and if it wasn't clear before just how much fun Erikson is having with these novellas, his indulgent narration style in this installment would clear things up right away. This is Erikson giving no fucks, playing with poetic prose and offering deep-cut commentary on the relationship between art, its creator, and its audience.
It's hard to even describe this one from a plot-centric view, but if you're up for something different you should give it a shot. Plus, if you're a fan of the gallows humor that often permeates Erikson's work, you'll find it here in spades.
THE WURMS OF BLEARMOUTH
The absurd adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Mancy the Luckless continue in this bizarre examination of tyranny.
In West Elingarth's Forgotten Holding winter makes the seas surrounding the town of Spendrugle a virtual death trap, and a sorcerer named Fangatooth Claw has recently seized power at Wurm's Keep. So when strangers begin to shipwreck on the island, one boat after another, a host of classically-zany characters in true Erikson fashion begin to converge.
The Wurms of Blearmouth is the first of these novellas that actually made me realize (or maybe just remember?) that the published order of the stories is not the same as the chronological sequence of events. That being the case, this one takes place before the last, Crack'd Pot Trail. It also felt more like the earlier novellas than the last one, which I enjoyed. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were featured more heavily, and it was a return to a more traditional storytelling style, which was welcome. Erikson displays effortless characterization, hints at his larger world, and summons hilariously ridiculous situations; all the things I've come to expect from these novellas.
“When you’re dead, it pays to remain optimistic, or so I have found.”
THE FIENDS OF NIGHTMARIA
The Fiends of Nightmaria is the sixth and most recent novella in Steven Erikson's Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series, and it is the furthest along in the timeline chronologically. It is also the only entry other than The Healthy Dead earning the full five stars from me. I contemplated a four-star rating but decided that it made me laugh too many times to miss full marks, especially being the shortest installment thus far.
This takes places almost entirely in the span of one night in Farrog, where King Bauchelain the First has recently achieved the tyranny he has so eagerly sought. Grand Bishop Korbal Broach is free to... experiment... to his heart's delight, and everyone's favorite manservant Emancipor Reese is, as usual, along for the ride. The novella features the famous Party of Five, the most insanely incompetent group of burglars I've ever read about. I couldn't decide if I needed frequent breaks from their ridiculousness or if I wanted them on every page, but I certainly couldn't stop laughing. Characters from the Crack'd Pot Trail crew are also featured, and engage in their own twisted hijinks. Erikson is just an expert in shenanigans, I don't know how else to put it.
It struck me while reading this one that the novellas are the perfect foil for the main series. Whereas the main series encompasses themes of compassion, the novellas cover themes of greed and ruthlessness, like some dark mirror-image. Which, of course, is fun to indulge in from a satirical point of view.
“Convenient, wouldn’t you say, that our kingdom borders a xenophobic but wealthy mountain empire of unhuman lizard people?”
It's funny. I was very much looking forward to resuming the dark, outrageous adventures of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, only to find that they weren't in the story until the last two pages. Be that as it may this was a fun story, and dark and outrageous enough to fit the bill regardless.
Crack'd Pot Trail follows a group of pilgrims, artists, and hunters of the necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach as they all attempt to cross the Great Dry. It is narrated by a poet named Avas Didion Flicker, and if it wasn't clear before just how much fun Erikson is having with these novellas, his indulgent narration style in this installment would clear things up right away. This is Erikson giving no fucks, playing with poetic prose and offering deep-cut commentary on the relationship between art, its creator, and its audience.
It's hard to even describe this one from a plot-centric view, but if you're up for something different you should give it a shot. Plus, if you're a fan of the gallows humor that often permeates Erikson's work, you'll find it here in spades.
THE WURMS OF BLEARMOUTH
The absurd adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Mancy the Luckless continue in this bizarre examination of tyranny.
In West Elingarth's Forgotten Holding winter makes the seas surrounding the town of Spendrugle a virtual death trap, and a sorcerer named Fangatooth Claw has recently seized power at Wurm's Keep. So when strangers begin to shipwreck on the island, one boat after another, a host of classically-zany characters in true Erikson fashion begin to converge.
The Wurms of Blearmouth is the first of these novellas that actually made me realize (or maybe just remember?) that the published order of the stories is not the same as the chronological sequence of events. That being the case, this one takes place before the last, Crack'd Pot Trail. It also felt more like the earlier novellas than the last one, which I enjoyed. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were featured more heavily, and it was a return to a more traditional storytelling style, which was welcome. Erikson displays effortless characterization, hints at his larger world, and summons hilariously ridiculous situations; all the things I've come to expect from these novellas.
“When you’re dead, it pays to remain optimistic, or so I have found.”
THE FIENDS OF NIGHTMARIA
The Fiends of Nightmaria is the sixth and most recent novella in Steven Erikson's Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series, and it is the furthest along in the timeline chronologically. It is also the only entry other than The Healthy Dead earning the full five stars from me. I contemplated a four-star rating but decided that it made me laugh too many times to miss full marks, especially being the shortest installment thus far.
This takes places almost entirely in the span of one night in Farrog, where King Bauchelain the First has recently achieved the tyranny he has so eagerly sought. Grand Bishop Korbal Broach is free to... experiment... to his heart's delight, and everyone's favorite manservant Emancipor Reese is, as usual, along for the ride. The novella features the famous Party of Five, the most insanely incompetent group of burglars I've ever read about. I couldn't decide if I needed frequent breaks from their ridiculousness or if I wanted them on every page, but I certainly couldn't stop laughing. Characters from the Crack'd Pot Trail crew are also featured, and engage in their own twisted hijinks. Erikson is just an expert in shenanigans, I don't know how else to put it.
It struck me while reading this one that the novellas are the perfect foil for the main series. Whereas the main series encompasses themes of compassion, the novellas cover themes of greed and ruthlessness, like some dark mirror-image. Which, of course, is fun to indulge in from a satirical point of view.
“Convenient, wouldn’t you say, that our kingdom borders a xenophobic but wealthy mountain empire of unhuman lizard people?”
March 6, 2022
The weakest book written by Steven Erikson so far. I found it a lot weaker than the first set of tales of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach mainly because large parts of the stories focused on other characters. The parts which did have the necromancers were always the highlights.
The Wurms of Blearmouth - 4.5/5
The best out of all the 3 stories. It follows straight after the events of the Lees of Laughter End. Our heroes end up on a land populated by wreckers and face a sorcerer named Fangatooth Claw. There is a collection of hilarious characters, quite a few surprises, plot twists and plenty of humor.
Crack’d Pot Trail - 1/5
This tale is almost unreadable. The first work from Steven Erikson which I did not like and struggled to read. The tale is a big metaphor for modern entertainment but it just did not work for me. The biggest problem is that the story almost has no Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. The main characters are a group of artists, hunters and knights that are going through a desert trail and due to a lack of food the artists end up getting eaten.
The Fiends of Nightmaria - 3/5
This is the funniest of the 3 stories but still suffers from the fact that again the focus is not on Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. But at least they do feature in parts of the story. Bauchelain is now king of a state and as usual hilarity ensues. The story also features two other groups. One group is made up of the survivors from the Crack'd Pot Trail and the other is a group of thieves trying to rescue the head of the thieves' guild from prison. There is a lot of dark humor, blood, guts, gore, demons and undead.
The Wurms of Blearmouth - 4.5/5
The best out of all the 3 stories. It follows straight after the events of the Lees of Laughter End. Our heroes end up on a land populated by wreckers and face a sorcerer named Fangatooth Claw. There is a collection of hilarious characters, quite a few surprises, plot twists and plenty of humor.
Crack’d Pot Trail - 1/5
This tale is almost unreadable. The first work from Steven Erikson which I did not like and struggled to read. The tale is a big metaphor for modern entertainment but it just did not work for me. The biggest problem is that the story almost has no Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. The main characters are a group of artists, hunters and knights that are going through a desert trail and due to a lack of food the artists end up getting eaten.
The Fiends of Nightmaria - 3/5
This is the funniest of the 3 stories but still suffers from the fact that again the focus is not on Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. But at least they do feature in parts of the story. Bauchelain is now king of a state and as usual hilarity ensues. The story also features two other groups. One group is made up of the survivors from the Crack'd Pot Trail and the other is a group of thieves trying to rescue the head of the thieves' guild from prison. There is a lot of dark humor, blood, guts, gore, demons and undead.
June 29, 2025
don't have as much to say about this because my general feelings are still the same as the first volume. if you enjoyed those, you'll surely enjoy these as well. i did think stylistically these three are more unique, especially crack'd pot trail, so they may be more hit or miss.
the wurms of blearmouth - fun but didnt enjoy it as much healthy dead or laughter's end. theres too many characters in this story to really keep track of. the lord and scribe in the keep, the townspeople, the guy on the beach, bauchelain and broach, the others from the shipwreck, the chanters chasing the shipwreck, thats almost 20 it just gets messy. also i found the humor really edging the line of too crass for me.
crack'd pot trail - wow this was a weird one. bauchelain and broach hardly appear in it. the writing style is one of eriksons most out there, so indulgent and ridiculous its almost hard to follow the plot. definitely a tongue in cheek joke about creators and their audiences as well, with characters literally singing for their supper or they'll be supper.
the fiends of nightmaria - this one was the star for me all because of the party of five! every cut back to them had me laughing out loud i adored them. nice to actually have bauchelain, korbal broach, and emancipor reese show up on page again after the last one. and we kept the remains of the crack'd pot trail crew as well. i actually thought the joke about the "fiends" of nightmaria was the weakest part of the story ironically. but i would still say it was my overall favorite of the six just because of the party of five, i know i will be retelling and quoting that all the time!
the wurms of blearmouth - fun but didnt enjoy it as much healthy dead or laughter's end. theres too many characters in this story to really keep track of. the lord and scribe in the keep, the townspeople, the guy on the beach, bauchelain and broach, the others from the shipwreck, the chanters chasing the shipwreck, thats almost 20 it just gets messy. also i found the humor really edging the line of too crass for me.
crack'd pot trail - wow this was a weird one. bauchelain and broach hardly appear in it. the writing style is one of eriksons most out there, so indulgent and ridiculous its almost hard to follow the plot. definitely a tongue in cheek joke about creators and their audiences as well, with characters literally singing for their supper or they'll be supper.
the fiends of nightmaria - this one was the star for me all because of the party of five! every cut back to them had me laughing out loud i adored them. nice to actually have bauchelain, korbal broach, and emancipor reese show up on page again after the last one. and we kept the remains of the crack'd pot trail crew as well. i actually thought the joke about the "fiends" of nightmaria was the weakest part of the story ironically. but i would still say it was my overall favorite of the six just because of the party of five, i know i will be retelling and quoting that all the time!
Read
October 9, 2025hAnother fun collection of tales for these two characters. I'd say the first set is stronger, but still worth reading this. Though the second of these is so bizarre. Overall there is just a real lack of presence from the titular characters and Emancipor Reese. They don't do much, and I love it when Emancipor is the dour foil to the other two. Enjoyed the actual thread through the stories as well. Just hits home how well Erikson can create memorable characters with so little time.
Wurms of Blearmouth strongest of the three. Fun hijinks, enjoyed the setting and the continuation from Lees of Laughters End. Really liked some of the characters here. The lady with mouths for nipples will haunt me.
Wtf was cracked pot trail. I knew going into it that it was a meta commentary on what a story actually is and yeah, it was. Somewhat hard to read because of the extreme (but purposeful) purple prose. Once I got to grips with it and understood what was going on I had more fun, and really enjoyed the end. Disappointing to only have literally one paragraph with Bauchelin and Korbal though.
Fiends of Nightmaria funny but not exceptional. The Party of Five stuff was quite entertaining though. An enjoyable tale but not that memorable really.
Wurms of Blearmouth strongest of the three. Fun hijinks, enjoyed the setting and the continuation from Lees of Laughters End. Really liked some of the characters here. The lady with mouths for nipples will haunt me.
Wtf was cracked pot trail. I knew going into it that it was a meta commentary on what a story actually is and yeah, it was. Somewhat hard to read because of the extreme (but purposeful) purple prose. Once I got to grips with it and understood what was going on I had more fun, and really enjoyed the end. Disappointing to only have literally one paragraph with Bauchelin and Korbal though.
Fiends of Nightmaria funny but not exceptional. The Party of Five stuff was quite entertaining though. An enjoyable tale but not that memorable really.
February 26, 2022
Zastanawiałem się, czy obydwa tomy opowiadań Stevena Eriksona można polecić czytelnikom, którzy znają już Malazańską Księgę Poległych, czy też uznać je za wprowadzenie w świat MKP. Ci pierwsi nie potrzebują takich polecanek (zwłaszcza że bohaterowie tych opowiadań znani są ze swojej drugo lub trzecioplanowej roli w trzeciej części cyklu). A ci drudzy i tak będą zaskoczeni ogromem tego świata, na który te opowiadania ich na pewno nie przygotują.
Zatem nie wiem. Ważne jest, że Malazańska Księga Poległych święci w Polsce triumfy w swoim nowym wydaniu. Chyba nawet większe niż kiedy cykl był wydawany za pierwszym razem. Sam się obawiałem tego powrotu. Cyklu aktualnie słucham (niedawno został wydany audiobook "Wspomnienia Lodu"). Do opowiadań wróciłem z przyjemnością. Można ich słuchać niezależnie od kolejnych powieści. Bez obaw o spoilery, czy niezrozumienie. Styl Eriksona bywa specyficzny, tak jak i czarne poczucie humoru i grozy, które cały czas towarzyszy przygodom tej nietypowej pary oraz ich sługi. Na pewno nie ma tu szablonów gatunkowych. Tak samo jak w powieściach czytelnik nie będzie wiedział, co mu spadnie na głowę. Choć w mniejszej skali.
Zatem nie wiem. Ważne jest, że Malazańska Księga Poległych święci w Polsce triumfy w swoim nowym wydaniu. Chyba nawet większe niż kiedy cykl był wydawany za pierwszym razem. Sam się obawiałem tego powrotu. Cyklu aktualnie słucham (niedawno został wydany audiobook "Wspomnienia Lodu"). Do opowiadań wróciłem z przyjemnością. Można ich słuchać niezależnie od kolejnych powieści. Bez obaw o spoilery, czy niezrozumienie. Styl Eriksona bywa specyficzny, tak jak i czarne poczucie humoru i grozy, które cały czas towarzyszy przygodom tej nietypowej pary oraz ich sługi. Na pewno nie ma tu szablonów gatunkowych. Tak samo jak w powieściach czytelnik nie będzie wiedział, co mu spadnie na głowę. Choć w mniejszej skali.
January 29, 2022
Listen, I love Erikson - I think MBOTF is the best fantasy series of all time. One of my favourite parts of the series is Erikson’s writing style - he is smart, poetic and funny and I love the way he plays with language. But more importantly for me at least is the hard-core fantasy storytelling.
This book is Erikson just going off. It is all of the wordplay and humour, along with the neckbeardy sexuality, without the substance. I like that he tried this Canterbury Tales thing, and he is hilarious, but it all felt very self-indulgent and masturbatory. I didn’t hate the stories but I certainly didn’t love them. I would even tell hard-core fans of the series to take a pass on these ones.
Like if anyone is entitled to self indulgence it’s Erikson, but I don’t read him for his literary grace, I read him because I’m interested in undead dinosaurs with sword arms smashing armies. I don’t feel like these stories delivered.
This book is Erikson just going off. It is all of the wordplay and humour, along with the neckbeardy sexuality, without the substance. I like that he tried this Canterbury Tales thing, and he is hilarious, but it all felt very self-indulgent and masturbatory. I didn’t hate the stories but I certainly didn’t love them. I would even tell hard-core fans of the series to take a pass on these ones.
Like if anyone is entitled to self indulgence it’s Erikson, but I don’t read him for his literary grace, I read him because I’m interested in undead dinosaurs with sword arms smashing armies. I don’t feel like these stories delivered.
March 7, 2019
I was only reading this for 'The Fiends of Nightmaria" as i'd read the others in the series previously.
This was as usual for this whole series a bit of a hodgepodge of things. It has some great humour, some subtle references to the larger Malazan world and a fair bit of violence. It ties in more with the frankly awful 'Crack'd pot trail' but at least this one is bearable.
I find this series very odd as the main characters often take a bit of a back seat to the others which is a shame as Beachelain Korbal Broach and Emancipoor Reese are great characters with a fun dynamic. I'm always left feeling like i've barely glimpsed them rather than read a nice short story about their (mis)adventures.
Still its short and entertaining so worthwhile if you're giving this series a go.
This was as usual for this whole series a bit of a hodgepodge of things. It has some great humour, some subtle references to the larger Malazan world and a fair bit of violence. It ties in more with the frankly awful 'Crack'd pot trail' but at least this one is bearable.
I find this series very odd as the main characters often take a bit of a back seat to the others which is a shame as Beachelain Korbal Broach and Emancipoor Reese are great characters with a fun dynamic. I'm always left feeling like i've barely glimpsed them rather than read a nice short story about their (mis)adventures.
Still its short and entertaining so worthwhile if you're giving this series a go.
February 16, 2020
Not quite as entertaining as volume 1 of the Collected Tales. This collection has the classic Erikson literary touches but lacks a bit of focus. The second tale, that of the Crack'd Pot Trail was particularly let down by a failure to establish context and stakes even if it was slightly redeemed by the ending. Overall, the difficulty of placing these stories in the timeline (of both Bauchelain & Korbal Broach and the main series) made the exercise of reading more difficult than necessary.
May 12, 2019
Essentially a horror series, the books have nightmare scenes of necromancy and gore, but really the horror comes from the broken and depraved humans and other species we meet along the way. Arguably, the only sane one in the book is Bauchelain. Things get really dark, especially in book two. Read with caution.
August 10, 2022
dark and hilarious
Very funny, very dark and original. These 3 stories continue the tale of two sorcerous psychopaths , being pursued by a collection of fools and other psychopaths.
Expect undead demons and plain murder, but all done in the best possible taste ( or maybe worst)
Very funny, very dark and original. These 3 stories continue the tale of two sorcerous psychopaths , being pursued by a collection of fools and other psychopaths.
Expect undead demons and plain murder, but all done in the best possible taste ( or maybe worst)
May 20, 2023
I'm indifferent to Bauchelain and Korbal Broach as characters, but I like Erikson lampooning authors, critics and fans, so I'm down with this collection. The Crack'd Pot Trail was enough fun for the entire book - I wish they'd let Brash Phluster sing a bit more. The other two stories are fine as well.
February 20, 2024
Written humor really is not my thing. The last collection was less than the sum of its parts, whereas this one is right around the same, despite Crack'd Pot Trail being the only relatively strong entry. I must say it is about the strongest entry in the whole sequence, however, which has to be worth something.
Read
June 1, 2020Good short stories. If you already like the main characters it's a great expansion on them. The second story "the crack'd pot trail" wasn't my fav and I almost skipped it half way through. It's a bit of a drag, but the other 2 stories are great.
October 7, 2021
12-ту з 12-ти книг малазанської серії, тобі ж цю книгу, не обов'язково читати. Найслабша за всі. Читав тільки для завершення довгого кола-шляху. Не скоро я повернусь до цього автора - виснажив він мене
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October 30, 20203 and a half stars
August 17, 2021
I have to say I really enjoyed this one. For a quick read it was sharply written, nicely paced and very amusing in places
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