The Not a Book Club Club discussion
This topic is about
Memories of Ice
Malazan
>
MoI: Book One - The Spark and the Ashes
date
newest »
newest »
Sheeeeeit, how could I forget about Toc the Younger?! Back in the house! Glad he's back and with Tool no less!
Comments from the prologue...I'll try spoilerize myself on this thread until I finish book I:- So we see Pran Chole, the T'lan Imass bonecaster from GoTM that entered Krupe's dream to help save Tattersail
- Now we know why Tool says he is clanless (his sister slaughters his clan)
- What lies dead beneath this mound? What is this damaged Warren? (I assume it's not the same Warren that Icarium damaged...but the time frame is about right)
- What Warren is this? It is not Tellann or Omtose Phellack.
- We hear about the first Gathering of the T'lann Imass, where the make make themselves immortal.
- Pran Chole says "I have spirit walked into the future" and looked upon his face of 200,000 years - they get their endless war. I assume this refers to when he entered Kruppe's dream.
- What lies dead and buried beneath/inside this Warren and has been freed?
Prologue Ch 1:
- "3 years after the fall of the crippled god" - this is the first reference I've seen to the crippled god.
- So the crippled god has been defeated. It fell from the sky and broke into pieces - someday it seems it will reassemble its scattered pieces and make a comeback.
- The first empire we saw glimpses of buried beneath Raraku has emerged
- K'rul, the god we meet in GoTM that helps Kruppe, makes his appearance, alongside brother Draconis and Sister of Cold Nights.
- The High King Kallor - We've heard of him before. He is Brood's 2nd in command in GoTM. In DHG Kalam comes across a tower in the Imperial Warren and sees a sigil that he last saw when fighting Rake and Brood - specifically, on the standard of the company of Brood's forces commanded by High King Kallor..."Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben...keep your heads low, my friends. There's a madman in your midst"
- I keep hearing that humans emerged/came from/were born of the Imass. How exactly? This is not clear to me.
- Who is this beast in white fur, older than the elder gods, trailing the 3 gods?
- The Sister of Cold Nights has been hiding among humans as a sorceress. Who is she when masquerading as a human? We hear the curse from Kallor - you shall die torn to pieces on a field of battle. The Sister says it can only come from betrayal. The only thing that leaps to mind so far is Tattersail - she is betrayed Hairlock, and pretty much torn to pieces on the field of battle when she releases her warren. This would also explain why K'rul and Pran Chole intervene to help remake her into a soletaken. But maybe this is just a red herring.
- So Kallor incinerates his kingdom of 7 million to spite the elder gods and prevent them from freeing them. He has made a wasteland of the continent. I wonder if this is Raraku or the plains crossed during the Chain of Dogs where everything was dead.
Sheesh I am doing this part in audio so I had to take notes while driving. Not sure I can keep this up for subsequent chapters :P
Mod
This sounds VERY unsafe..
In my defense, traffic was horrible, and I was barely moving while writing, most of the time.
Alex wrote: "Get a dictophone."yeah, i was thinking to use the google now voice interface to pause and record notes. but a dictophone would look so much cooler.
The meeting of minds in this part was really awesome. Rake, Brood, Whiskeyjack, Dujek, Kallor. The list goes on and on. It was great.Rake becomes a favourite of mine in this part.
That was wicked cool. My respect for Whiskeyjack went up a couple notches after the standoff
Geoff wrote: "The meeting of minds in this part was really awesome. Rake, Brood, Whiskeyjack, Dujek, Kallor. The list goes on and on. It was great. Rake becomes a favourite of mine in this part."The standoff was really awesome and written in a very cinematic manner. Can you just imagine that standoff scene on the silverscreen, right until the part where Paran made a sudden appearance and silver chains of sorcery were enveloping him from his own image on the table.
And guys, how terrifying are the K'Chain Che'malle!! The first impression in my head was the Xenomorphs from Aliens but with blades for hands!
Sky wrote: "Alex wrote: "Get a dictophone."yeah, i was thinking to use the google now voice interface to pause and record notes. but a dictophone would look so much cooler."
Yes, I can only imagine the explanation to the police officer who pulls you over for not using a hands free device! Better hope the officer is a Malazan fan.
Justine wrote: "Yes, I can only imagine the explanation to the police officer who pulls you over for not using a hands free device! Better hope the officer is a Malazan fan. "
Texting while driving is dumb, but they really need to clarify the laws. My car has a big touch screen with GPS etc that I can legally use while driving. I can turn my AC up and down. A can play with the radio. But can I click on my dash mounted phone to change my destination in waze? Is there a law against using pen and paper while driving?
Alex wrote: "TS wrote: "And guys, how terrifying are the K'Chain Che'malle!! The first impression in my head was the Xenomorphs from Aliens but with blades for hands! "The image in my mind has always been a v..."
Good one!
Alex wrote: "Previous theory already de-bunked. Lady Ency, son of Draconis, who forged the sword and was slain by its current owner Anomander Rake."Yeah, and ironically, Draconis is apparently imprisoned inside the sword he himself fashioned.
I didn't quite get the part when they imprison Kallor and Draconis says that the sword is finished but now its properties must be altered. Altered how? My guess was that the eternal hell in the sword's warren was either meant for The fallen/chained god, or for Kallor? What did they intend to alter it to, after the death of Kallor?
Looks like I'm not too late to jump in! This part made me really start enjoying the Bridgeburners. Generally slow, though; there are some intense new developments and revelations, so it's very easy to overlook that all that's happened in the entire section is the meeting of the minds and the preperation to face the Pannion Domin.
Favorite scene of the entire section: Brood loosing the straps on his hammer, Rake drawing Dragnipur, and Whiskeyjack ramming his sword in the ground between them and Silverfox. I think that shit shaved some years off my life span.
Favorite scene of the entire section: Brood loosing the straps on his hammer, Rake drawing Dragnipur, and Whiskeyjack ramming his sword in the ground between them and Silverfox. I think that shit shaved some years off my life span.
Not too late? The group read only started two days ago :P I think some of the other commentators are either: insane and read the book in a day (insane in a good way!), started early, or already read the book previously. I think I'll be reading this one for the next few weeks :P
Also, given the name of the 10th book is The Crippled God, it's surprising to not only see him so heavily in play so early on in the series, but also already perceived as a major threat, enough that Elder Gods are beginning to come into play. It's also feels a bit anticlimactic, considering how the confrontation between him and Quick Ben went.
Sky wrote: "Not too late? The group read only started two days ago :P I think some of the other commentators are either: insane and read the book in a day (insane in a good way!), started early, or already r..."
Well at least I'll have company in taking it slow! I'll be juggling this along with buddyreads of Guards! Guards! and The Way of Kings.
Well at least I'll have company in taking it slow! I'll be juggling this along with buddyreads of Guards! Guards! and The Way of Kings.
I also immediately liked Gruntle. Picker tooYeah, I started a few days early so I'm already onto the second section. Love these threads, great to see stuff that I missed and others are picking up on
Sky wrote: "Not too late? The group read only started two days ago :P I think some of the other commentators are either: insane and read the book in a day (insane in a good way!), started early, or already r..."Finished this book last month, so memory still fairly fresh. I loved this book so will be interested in the discussions.
Mod
Haha. I find it hard since I really, really love certain characters and since the cast is so huge you don't get enough time with them.
Mod
I wouldn't mind a book or two focused on Rake.
I'm not sure. I've never really looked into Malazan like I tend to do most of the books I end up reading. That way, most of it gets to be a [pleasant] surprise.
Whiskeyjack actually reminds me a lot of Croaker, from The Black Company. You never really know what's going on in their head, but they just never seem out of their element, no matter how radical and insanely farfetched things get for them.
Whiskeyjack actually reminds me a lot of Croaker, from The Black Company. You never really know what's going on in their head, but they just never seem out of their element, no matter how radical and insanely farfetched things get for them.
Rabindranauth wrote: "I wouldn't mind a book or two focused on Rake."As do I. Erikson is writing a new trilogy, The Kharkanas Trilogy, with focus on the Tiste Andii I believe.
That was the impression I got from that scene
Alex wrote: "Wow, talk about a tense scene to finish this section off.
I know what K'Chain Che'Malle are since we see them later, but Erikson writes horror well. I can imagine reading this for the first time. ..."
Yea, I've been looking forward to finalky reading them. Their backstory got spoiled for me a few weeks ago, made me put down MoI for a bit, as a result.
I know what K'Chain Che'Malle are since we see them later, but Erikson writes horror well. I can imagine reading this for the first time. ..."
Yea, I've been looking forward to finalky reading them. Their backstory got spoiled for me a few weeks ago, made me put down MoI for a bit, as a result.
I finished this section a few days back but have having to much fun reading section two to collect all my notes (none of which were taken while driving :)) Anywhoo since I am almost done with section 2 better post these:- Who are these evil necromancers Bauchelain and Broach? What is their relationship to Rake?
- Toc the Younger wakes up in the Warren of Chaos. A one-eyed wolf finds him. This also seems to be the one-eyed beast that trailed the 3 elder gods in the prologue. This beast was said to be older than the elder gods themselves. The last sentence of the prologue "The portal that opened before him (the wolf) revealed a grey-streaked swirling storm of power. The beast hesitated, then strode into it. And was gone." <- entering the warren of chaos.
- The wolf is worshiped by mortals like a god?
- The wolf does something to Toc. It is not clear to me if he just wakes him or somehow merges with him/joins his soul. Later we see Toc having visions of other wolf-like creatures and is able to communicate with Lady Envy's Ay.
- Toc meets Tool and Lady Envy, daughter of Draconus, who forged Dragnipur.
- There is a tear/rent inside the Warren of Chaos. Is this the same rent/tear we saw in the prologue, or are all Warrens now damaged, poisoned by the crippled god?
- We've seen in DHG and this book, to seal a tear in a Warren you must patch it with a soul. Or lots of souls
- Whatever the tear inside Dragnipur's Warren, it seems to require a buttload of souls to patch
- Who is the Matron of the K'Chain Che-Malle? She was the original soul sealing the rent. If the rent is the same as the prologue, was it one of the two Jaghut children sent into the warren?
- New god being worshipped, Treach/Trake, the Tiger of Summer. Arguments over whether he is a god or a first hero. The Summer Tiger - any relation to The Summer Boar?
- Picker's cursed arm band - that can't be good.
- The Crippled God is back, biatch
- It wasn't clear from the prologue, is the crippled god that which lied dead buried and warded in the hold with the rent that the two children were sent into? Maybe his soul originally sealed the rent? Is he the matron? But that implies female.
- QB is a badass, how he sneaks in and steals his pebble back.
- We learn more about Burn and why she sleeps, and why all these chapters start with Burns Sleep year xxxx. So the CG is poisoning her (and all the Warrens). She went to sleep as sort of a protective defense. If she wakes the world will end. If she dies the CG will win and destroy all magic
- Brood has been tasked with waking Burn with his hammer. But to waken her would destroy all life. It is a huge burden. So far he chooses not to answer the call.
- Burn has "10s of years" left
- Paran is freaking out man. He's got the blood of one of the hounds in him. He escaped Dragnipur's Warren. He's sent the 2 hounds somewhere else...where exactly...From Dragnipur (the warren/hold of Dark?) to ...? Is the rent in this warren related to the rent in the prologue? And his dreams of running on all fours - really the hounds or mis-direction? Maybe a wolf or one of the Ay or other four legged creatures? Tiger?
- Paran is ascending. Yet he resists.
- We keep hearing Silverfox is also a soletaken. Seems to be a fox, given her name. Does she have another soletaken soul inside her, besides the 3 cadre mages? Or does she just have the ability to shapeshift? For a while I thought she had merged with Pran Chole as well, but no.
- Silverfox is a flesh and blood Imass. What they were once before they decided to become immortal in the first gathering for and endless war against the Jaghut.
- Silverfox is the leader of the Imass now. She calls them to a second gathering. For her blessing. And then what?
- She is a bonecaster and Imass because her rebirth occurred inside the warren of the Imass, maybe?
- We hear the name Nightchill has been around a long long time, going back centuries. In the prologue on of the elder gods is named Sister of Cold Nights...Any relation of just coincidence?
- Bellurdan is also inside Silverfox it seems. Isn't Bellurdan's race Thelomen also part Jaghut? I wonder how the Imass feel by being lead from someone who has a part-Jaghut soul inside her.
- So inside Silverfox is Tattersail, killed by Bellurdan, lover to Nightchill. What a cozy group of souls that must be!
- We keep hearing Silverfox is also a soletaken. Seems to be a fox, given her name. Does she have another soletaken soul inside her, besides the 3 cadre mages? Or does she just have the ability to shapeshift?
- The great ravens were born of the maggots of the chained gods rotting flesh. Each carry within them some of the chained gods power.
- Brood is also ascendant - I didnt get that in the last two books...Just thought he was a powerful warlord.
- Why does Kallor hate Silverfox? What past or secret do they share?
- Kallor's warren was once the warren now claimed as the Imperial Warren. This is why Kalem came across his tower when travelling inside the imperial warren in DHG.
- QB is meeting with all the hedge-witches, sacrificing goats, etc to find out more about Burn. He has a humorously post-modern conversation with on witch. "You speak of the world as a physical thing, subject to natural laws. Is that all it is?" "No, in the end the minds and senses of all that is alive define what is real - real for us, that is." "That is a tautology." "So it is".
- Why does that witch prefer the cold? Whoever she is she offers her help to QB when the time comes.
- we learn lots about holds (which we saw in DHG when Icarium and Mappo find this ancient deck in Pusk's sub-basement)...Holds were before houses. Before holds were nomads. What did nomads use? Travelling wagons - Dragnipur - the first warren?
- Paran is "The Wanderer Within the Sword." His card has now appeared in the deck of dragons. He must find the answer for his own creation. As of yet he is unaligned. Once he chooses, shit will go down.
- The segulah are badass
- Kruppe is as awesome and funny as ever. I wonder if Kruppe and Pusk are brothers.
- Paren enters a house of the Azath...the one from GotM, where Raest is entombed. Rallick Nom and Vorcan are there sleeping...(Finnest, which also means "house" or "hold"..
- So houses of the Azath are the houses from the Deck of Dragons. If one is unoccupied and you enter it, you become King of that house, ala Kellenvad and Dancer?
- Lots of hints everywhere of a war coming. I guess between the crippled gods and all other gods. Everything else going on are just opening gambits in the war, including Pannion Seer.
- The Azath need Paran to be master of the deck for the coming war
- Paran finds a lot of lost houses from the deck, lots on unknown unaligned, inside the Azath house. Is it his job to find all these forgotten houses/warrens/powers, and rally them to the war?
- Paran stumbles into the Hold of Beasts - The T'lan base of power before the gathering (older than Tellan), when they were flesh and blood. There awaits him two thrones, presumably for he and silverfox.
- Will silverfox undo the first gathering and return the Imass to flesh and blood mortals?
- QB has 12 souls inside him. Explains why he can access 7 warrens (but why only 7 at a time?)
Awesome, Sky! Some really kick ass observations and theories. I can't really comment on them, but, damn man, you are perceptive.
This book is really starting off well. (: I think the Sister of Cold Nights' name being so close to Nightchill has to be more than a coincidence...even Kallor points that out...Cloth held to his face, Kallor's snort was muffled. ' "Nightchill",' he murmured. 'Such a lack of
imagination ... Did K'rul even know? Ah, what irony . . .'
This may also explain why Kallor effing hates Silverfox, based on his interaction with the Elder Gods in the Prologue.
Also in reference to Draconus being killed by his own sword Dragbipur and being imprisoned within in it, I vaguely remember that Paran encounters some guy when he enters Dragbipur in GotM. Paran asks for his name and he just says that Rake killed him or something like that...maybe that's Draconus?
Looking forward to the next section!
Good catches and hunches Peter! At the time Kallor said "such a lack of imagination" I wondered what he meant - didn't catch it at that time!Good memory about the last book too!
Thanks Sky. (: At some point I should go back and see what actually happens in that scene of GotM...
Not much. I checked, and didn't feel all that enlightened by rereading that scene.
Ah...oh well then... (x Thanks for checking Justine!
Find it interesting that no one from Dujek's host knows that they are not, in fact, rebels except for Whiskeyjack. Wondering how that reveal is going to happen and the backlash.
Paran! Holy shit, man. Master of the Deck. Had a feeling that something more would come of him releasing those hounds of shadow and drinking the blood. His role just got much more interesting
How funny was the sappers stealing the table back from Brood? Those damn sappers
Quick Ben's power is crazy. Went head to head with what I think was the Crippled God and then it was mentioned that he could access 7 warrens at a time but actually had more than that at his disposal. Starting to think he's more than just human. He also finds out Burn is dying and that Brood has the means to save her
Know there's more to this section I'm forgetting but that stuff really stood out.
Oh shit, Silverfox! Seems like she could end up being one of the most important players. Kallor fears her, big time and I'm thinking that Nightchill is the sister we meet in the prologue who helped put him in his living prison