Fantasy Book Club Series discussion
Malazan Book of the Fallen
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The Bonehunters Book 2-Beneath this name
When Cpl Shard warned Bottle about Crump, I knew it was all going downhill. A Mott Irregular on the frontline, oh my... ;)
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I just finished the first chapter in this section (I believe it's chapter 6). Boy that was a long chapter, but so amazingly good. It was a different approach to change perspective every few paragraphs, but it brought the whole fight and ensuing flight up close and personal as the different characters had to deal with their experiences.I wonder if the fire has done the same thing to this group of survivors as the Raraku desert did to the Bridgeburners, especially with everyone being bit by the rat.
Amelia wrote: "I just finished the first chapter in this section (I believe it's chapter 6). Boy that was a long chapter, but so amazingly good. ...I wonder if the fire has done the same thing to this group of survivors as the Raraku desert did to the Bridgeburners, especially with everyone being bit by the rat. ..."
Amelia a very keen observation and spot on!!! :) From HoC on is in part how the Bonehunters earned their name (just like we learn how the Bridgeburners earned their name). I hope everyone is seeing why this whole story starts with the Bridgeburners, by learning their story first, you learn the specialness of the Bonehunters. In the end you should end up feeling like a Bonehunter when this is all said and done with....I know I did!!!! All the digging you've done to find the truths....
I just hope I get to see them a little longer than the Bridgeburners, although they keep popping in as well, so I doubt their story is over for us yet.This truly is an amazing story, the whole arc. Absolutely unique, heart-wrenching but really cool all at the same time. I love it more with each new book I read.
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Amelia wrote: "This truly is an amazing story, the whole arc. Absolutely unique, heart-wrenching but really cool all at the same time. I love it more with each new book I read...."It REALLY is the most unique series I have ever read! And I think SE has ruined me, it's been so hard reading anything else without riping it apart and comparing it to SE!! I hope there is a cure for this....
Maggie wrote: "that's the great thing about this book-the threads are finally starting to pull together!"Yeah the books should really be hard to put down at this point! :)
I've taken a break between each book so far, partly to stay in schedule with the group read, but I may not be able to stop now that things are really starting to pick up.
Amelia wrote: "I've taken a break between each book so far, partly to stay in schedule with the group read, but I may not be able to stop now that things are really starting to pick up."I almost went crazy waiting the 18 months for the Crippled God to come out...I had purchased A Dust of Dreams from England (it came out there first) and so had an even longer wait for TCG! WELL WORTH THE WAIT tho!! :)
Shelley wrote: "I almost went crazy..."That's one good thing about being a first-timer; the books are already out - and I have them all. Was it silly of me to snatch up TCG when it came out even though I was on book 2 or 3? Plus, I've bought the Esslemont novels. Now I just need to work on the short stories, and the Bauchelain stuff.
Sometimes I think it would be cool to be one of the first people to discover a new awesome author, but then I think of the wait involved and am glad to discover authors when I do. (I am in the long haul for Sanderson's Storlight Archives though.)
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I haven't yet. I didn't know when they should fit in with the others. I think in my mind I had them scheduled for after I finish the others. Maybe I'll read it before then.
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That's the first one, isn't it? It's pretty short, so I think I can read that one too. I'll have to check it out when I get home. Sure would be easier to bring a smaller book to work to read on breaks. I have the trade paperback of Bonehunters - and it's a monster to carry around.
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Maggie wrote: "yup-it's smaller and an easier read"Hey Maggie I thought that ICE's books were going to be a part of this reading?!?! When I checked out the reading order, Jon had them as a part of it. If I'm mistaken then I would include them because they do add to SE's story line espcially "Return of the Crimson Guard" which most defiantly NEEDS to be read before TtH.
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What does everyone think????
Maggie wrote: "no Shelley-we decided NOT to. But that's funny you bring that up, because I was just thinking this morning that with so many people getting behind, it might be helpful to add in Night of knives as..."I'm up for it. I was planning on reading them anyway. If we make it a part of the group read, I think it would help me, at least, to know when the best time would be to read them.
BTW, Maggie, I started Night of Knives last night and brought it with me to work today so I can read it here.
Maggie wrote: "no Shelley-we decided NOT to. But that's funny you bring that up, because I was just thinking this morning that with so many people getting behind, it might be helpful to add in Night of knives as..."I honestly think that we should read them as part of this group read!! :) Even thou they are not part of the story!! They HELP so much in understanding a TON of back story and TtH just doen not make since at times without reading RoCG first! Then Stonewielder has a direct impact on The Crippled God that it should be read either before books 9 and 10 or in between them!! :)
Amelia wrote: "Maggie wrote: "no Shelley-we decided NOT to. But that's funny you bring that up, because I was just thinking this morning that with so many people getting behind, it might be helpful to add in Nig..."Wait Amelia, you're reading both Bonehunters and NoK at the same time?? Well you'll enjoy NoK I think...ICE just jumps right in!! You should read it in a week, way easier then SE to follow!! :)
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Which I know everyone would love to know THAT story!!! I think all we need to do is read NoK in a week, it's only a few pages long *compared to a SE book!:)*
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Shelley wrote: "Wait Amelia, you're reading both Bonehunters and NoK at the same time?? ..."I'm being very ambitious with this. I'm thinking of it as Cotillion telling his story. At least that's how I'm trying to keep it straight in my head. I'll see how well it works.
It would probably be better if I actually finished Bonehunters first, but I'm right in the middle of it and I didn't want to wait to start Night of Knives. Plus it's much easier to tote around with me, so I can read at times when I might not have Bonehunters with me.
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I hope so. I'm generally a very strict one book at a time person, so this is really showing my Malazan love.
Good luck Amelia!! And like Maggie said they are different subjects and NoK is like backstory for you now that you've read so many books in the series! :)
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Maggie wrote: "What does everyone think????"+1
I'll finish Reaper's Gale this week, so I'm about to read RotCG anyway. Maybe even NoK, Stonewielder and some other book (e.g. A Dance with Dragons) to give you some time to catch up, so we can start reading Toll the Hounds simultaneously.
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I'll finish Reaper's Gale this week, so I'm about to read RotCG anyway. Maybe even NoK, Stonewielder and some other book (e.g. [book:A Dance with D..."
We weren't going to start Reaper's gale until 8/15 anyway...the thought is to read Night of Knives on 8/15 instead, then Reaper's gale on 9/15, then RotCG on 10/15. That makes Toll the Hounds 11/15, Stormweilder 12/15, Dust of Dreams 1/15 and Crippled God 2/15.
Everyone ok with that?
Sounds Fantastic Maggie!!!!!!! :) I'm in!!!! :)
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the olive oil! OMG how horrible was this? and the sheer numbers of Leomans men killed, not to mention the men from the 14th...but crazy!
So what do you think of Leoman now????
Maggie wrote: "Now...back to our regularly scheduled reading:the olive oil! OMG how horrible was this? and the sheer numbers of Leomans men killed, not to mention the men from the 14th...but crazy!
So wha..."
Leoman is a monster! I feel for everyone of those soldiers....on both sides!
Maggie wrote: "So what do you think of Leoman now???? "Poor Leoman of the Flails, all those drugs and women have corrupted him! :(
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I think the betrayal with Mallick Rel broke him, and that he even screwed over Corabb was just really sad.
Maggie wrote: "You know, I originally liked him a lot. He was the only person on Felisin's team really loyal to the cause. I think the betrayal with Mallick Rel broke him, and that he even screwed over Corabb w..."
I always felt that Leoman didn't believe in anything but Leoman, member when Felisin has Leoman to open the Book and nothing is on the page???
As for Corabb (another fav of mine) thru his eyes/experiences you see every soldier ever betrayed and how it effects them to KNOW they have been USED!!
Shelley wrote: "I always felt that Leoman didn't believe in anything but Leoman, member when Felisin has Leoman to open the Book and nothing is on the page??? "Leoman believed in Sha'ik but then he failed in protecting her... he wasn't convinced of Sha'ik Reborn and she also didn't inspire him. So he probably felt empty inside and I guess that's why the book was empty too. Can't really remember what Felisin was saying about the empty pages though.
Leoman then tried to fill the emptiness with drugs and blood (attacking the Malazans against Sha'ik Reborn's orders).
When I was reading this part, I thought that Leoman might actually surrender to the Malazans. He was 'working' with a Malazan. I think he was tired of being used and seeing the fanatacism. I agree David that Leoman must have felt very empty inside. On his march to Y'Ghatan, it seemed like he was just moving forward and didn't even care where he was going. With Corabb's prodding, I think he came up with a destination and a plan, partly because his followers wanted him to have one. But the plan he devised wasn't the one that anyone expected. He certainly never told Corabb anything of it.The burning of the city was very cruel, but I think Leoman was just sick of being part of this group by then. In a way though, he gave his followers what they wanted - a glorious death in the name of the Rebellion. I didn't expect him to find a loophole for himself though. I bet this isn't the last we see of him.
I like Corabb too. Just the way he was able to escape death so many times in HoC. Then he was so stalwart and Valiant with helping Fiddler get through the ruins underground. He seems like he will become a sort of Kalam/Quick Ben figure like they were for the Bridgeburners. One of the enemies joining with the troop of Malazans, in this case those who become the Bonehunters.
Amelia wrote: "I like Corabb too. Just the way he was able to escape death so many times in HoC. Then he was so stalwart and Valiant with helping Fiddler get through the ruins underground. He seems like he will become a sort of Kalam/Quick Ben figure like they were for the Bridgeburners. One of the enemies joining with the troop of Malazans, in this case those who become the Bonehunters. "Great observation Amelia and we see what I think makes the Malazans so awesome, their ability to absorb someone like Corabb and make him a Malazan!! :)
Here's a random question that I just thought of.Steven Erikson is an archeologist and has used his work experience and knowlegde in the writing of these books. So I've heard anyway. Do you think he has actual earth-based peoples and cultures that he bases his imaginary world and people on?
For example, in this situation the Malazans kind of remind me of the Romans. Conquerors, but assimilators too. But it's not an exact match because the Malazans seem to integrate their conquered people better then the Romans did. The Romans conquered and the conquered became part of the Roman Empire, but they never became Romans.
Does this make sense?
Amelia wrote: "For example, in this situation the Malazans kind of remind me of the Romans. Conquerors, but assimilators too. But it's not an exact match because the Malazans seem to integrate thier conquered people better then the Romans did. The Romans conquered and the conquered became part of the Roman Empire, but they never became Romans. "That's probably it. Taking some characteristics from earth-based cultures but also adding enough differences to them so that they don't feel like copies.
David wrote: That's probably it. Taking some characteristics from earth-based cultures but also adding enough differences to them so that they don't feel like copies."I really like this facet of these books. I was really surprised when Mappo and Icarium were first desribed in some of the earlier books. Tusks, where did they come from, and green skin. But all of those little details and differnces make this series really come alive. It feels real and it could take up a whole world not just a tiny bit of it.
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and yes, I have always noticed the similarities between the Wickans and some Native American groups
Can't wait! The little pieces in Midnight Tides were enticing. Goodies coming up!
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It kind of seemed like he thought fire couldn't kill him...and I suppose a regular fire wouldn't have...but munitions are a different story...Poor Gesler really seems to be taking it hard though.
Amelia wrote: "Here's a random question that I just thought of.Steven Erikson is an archeologist and has used his work experience and knowlegde in the writing of these books. So I've heard anyway. Do you th..."
Amelia I have talked at length about this subject with my sister and it defiantly is a fusion of ancient cultures and modern ones, US and Canada for example are cultures that absorb peoples without trying to change who they are. However SE and ICE came up with this world, I'm forever grateful they made it for us to play in!! :)
Shelley wrote However SE and ICE came up with this world, I'm forever grateful they made it for us to play in!! :) Absolutely agree with you about that! Excellent place to spend a time in. The modern twist is interesting. I hadn't thought of that before, but I can see it now that you've pointed it out.
Maggie said "What did you all think of Truth sacrificing himself? "
I wanted him to survive. :( It was a very brave thing he did though, sacrificing himself to save the others. Now in this world, I keep expecting to see him again as a god or ascended mortal. Gesler, Truth and Stormy were already really close to ascending. (view spoiler)
Maggie wrote: "What did you all think of Truth sacrificing himself?...."When stuff like this happens I can't help but shead a tear or two and Stormy and Ges losing him was so hard to read!! :(
There are too many references to Olive Oil to not have a foreboding as to what happens next....