Thoughts Before We Start...

[Kitty G Books]

Hi guys so I was a little late getting to the party on setting up this thread for Malazan 3, Memories of Ice. Mainly this is due to only just finishing up Deadhouse and then not receiving my copy of the book until today (so not knowing what the chapter layouts were) but now that both of those have finished and happened here we go with our March Readalong beginning tomorrow!

So, I personally cannot wait for this book because I keep hearing very wonderful things surrounding this one in particular and I know a lot of people hold this book very dear out of the series and say it's the real starting point for the series!

I am also really excited to see what has been happening with some of our old characters from Gardens, and what they've been up to, who they've been meeting etc.

I have heard that this takes the brutality and harshness from Deadhouse and combines it with the wonderful characterisation from Gardens for a recipe of awesome heartache and to me that sounds good.

I hope you'll all join me once again with this readalong, and I look forward to it :)

[Paul]

I'm looking forward to it. Once again, I have a few books ahead of this one at the start of the month. Not sure when I'll start but it'll probably be around the middle of the month. Hope everyone has a good time reading.

[Alex]

I am hoping the pace picks up a bit in this third installment. Though even if it doesn't it will still be a fantastic ride. I am very much looking forward to the discussion and have enjoyed getting to know you guys through the series. It looks like I will start this in the next few days after I finish off the first Mistborn book that I am behind on for the Cosmere group.

[Evan]

I think you guys will enjoy this one. As it does pick back up with alot of characters from Gardens. Though it isn't the "true" sequel to Gardens of the Moon, if you feel like using such a term. No, that book doesn't come until later.

This is for the moment tied for my favorite book in the series, it and the fifth installment, Midnight Tides. It just has some amazing moments in it.

Alex you might still find the pacing somewhat stilted as the series goes on. Gardens is easily the most quickly paced of all the books. I can see how you would hope that wasn't the case though. Have no fear though, no Malazan novel is without an absolutely monster ending.

Without thinking too much on it, I'd say Memories of Ice is fairly clearly the most brutal book in the series. It's harsh man.

Beyond that, and you'll probably think this is a goofy statement, but this is when the series starts to get kind of weird. In an absolutely good way, but strange.

Erikson's writing continues to get even tighter, very cogent and precise. With a novel that pushes as many pages as this one does. I don't feel like Erikson wastes our time with what he presents us. Alongside that, I also feel like through each book, Erikson tries to experiment with his writing and the way he presents the narrative. It is more obvious in some books than others. But it is always fascinating.

Hope you guys enjoy it. I'll try to be more involved with this one than I was on Deadhouse Gates. Still don't have my copy of the book though haha.

[Alex]

And I don't mean to sound like I didn't like DG, because I did in fact love it. I just preferred the breakneck pace of GotM. I think I am still in the process of getting a feel for the dynamics that define the series. The pacing of GotM may have been featured in the one book while the other have a slower burn to their pacing.

[Dale]

Really looking forward to this one as well and getting back to some of the old characters. Racing to finish another book so I can start ASAP looking forward to everyone's thoughts as we go along as well :)

[Alex]

James that will work out is Paul keeps the same schedule as last month, he will start around the middle of March. MoI has more pages at a smaller font so get ready for it!