Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Jul 23, 2013 Daniel Millard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm not quite sure how to write an effective review of this book, so I'll write one that represents how I'd have preferred to read a review prior to experiencing the first of Erikson's Malazan novels.

This book is night as compared to the day of typical high fantasy. It is quite complex, often confusing, and Erikson does very little in the way of providing background. Rather, he drops the reader into a continent-spanning conflict that progresses at a fairly rapid rate. My typical expectations of I'm not quite sure how to write an effective review of this book, so I'll write one that represents how I'd have preferred to read a review prior to experiencing the first of Erikson's Malazan novels.

This book is night as compared to the day of typical high fantasy. It is quite complex, often confusing, and Erikson does very little in the way of providing background. Rather, he drops the reader into a continent-spanning conflict that progresses at a fairly rapid rate. My typical expectations of plot were completely dashed, there is no absolute right and wrong, good and evil, evident in the story, and each character is as interesting and yet relatable as the last. I thoroughly enjoyed having my expectations of a novel almost completely defied.

Despite the central plot revolving around the empire's invasion, there are numerous, varied, and very interesting subplots involving everything from subjects of childlike innocence to government-toppling assassinations to the possession of character's souls by gods and other powerful beings. I don't pretend to comprehend the complex magical system that Erikson has created for his world, and this is one of my minor frustrations with the book. Another was the repeating climaxes that marked the last one hundred pages or so: Oh the bad guy is dead! But he's alive! But he's dead! We don't know!

To these relatively minor complaints, I'd like to add a whole lot of praise: Erikson is almost like reading a far more capable version of J.R.R. Tolkien. He manages a near-unparalleled level of descriptiveness, character introspection, and rich in-world engrossment, but offers substantially less dry prose for readers to enjoy. Put simply, Erikson's writing will be off-putting to some because of its sheer scope and complexity, but not because it is dry.

Another area where Erikson absolutely excels is literary drama. The snippets of verse, song, etc. that he inserts before his chapters really help build a sense of lore around his creations, and I enjoy them immensely. There were at least half a dozen chapters that ended on a profound note, whereafter I found myself thinking "man, this is good stuff". Some of his characters, most notably the devious Kruppe, are among the most unique that I've ever experienced in fantasy.

Malazan's beginnings are very powerful and promising. I am told that this book is the most enjoyable upon second read, so when (and if) I finish the series, I anticipate coming back around to this again. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2013 Brightlord Sabri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: malazan-book-of-the-fallen-series

First i want to thank Seak (Bryce L.) for his review because without it i wouldnt have found the courage to start reading this master piece.

Reading this book is like solving a puzzle, at the start you get little scatered pieces and you dont know where they fit in the whole picture but your curiousity keeps you going so you look for more pieces and at the end you get rewarded for your patience and dedicating yourself to solve the puzzle by the most awesome result ever.
Im not saying the start or ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 12, 2014 Joey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-library

A great read. Alot is happening in this book but Steven Erikson keeps it uncluttered and brings everything together perfectly at the end. Not at all hard to follow as the griefers may say but use the glossary often. Don't let the Dramatis Personae at the beginning discourage you either. Most of the characters listed barely have a role and are mentioned only once or twice. Highly recommended read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2019 Filip rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-stars, fantasy

Ok, what did I just read?

They warned me that the author doesn't do ANY hand-holding and they were right.
They warned me that the first volume reads like halfway into a second book of a trilogy and they were right.

It was NOT an easy read. It wasn't bad though. The world is fascinating, reading it I realized how I got used to low-magic fantasy settings or urban fantasy books and this one, with more gods than mosquitos and powerful wizards everywhere was really interesting. There are so many mysteri ...more

Like · see review