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Can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading SciFi.

The first chapter was rather nice. Crisp writing, good characterizations. I wonder if this will continue. I hope it does.

Ahhh...such a breath of fresh air after Stephen Baxter bunching up his fists and writing such imaginative and varied characters. The last bit there, that was sarcasm.

A thousand-page tome, again. Ah well. Here goes nothin'...

The middle overs are through, thank goodness, and the slog overs have begun. Time for fun.

And thus ends perhaps one of the best, and longest, chapters of the entire series so far; chapter seven, book six : the Battle of Y'ghatan. If ever a tv show be made of this battle, it would take a minimum of two episodes to finish. Well done Erikson, for making it so...cinematic.

Corabb Bhilan Thenu'alas is fast becoming oncall of my favourite character of the series so far, and his conversations with a bemused Leoman rival those between Tehol and Bugg.

0213 hrs : 930 pages! Oh dear.

Bugg roars. Brizad nudges. Ruin beckons. Udinaas betrayed. Qan waits. Brys...waits.

War!

Rhulad has done it!

While the Edur storyline is heavy and deep in fantasy lore (and thus occasionally worth skimming through), the Letherii storyline is lighter and filled with political intrigue and diabolical plans, especially when Tehol gets involved.

Tehol Beddict is, far and away, my favourite character from the series. That, and his partnership with Bugg : exquisite. Rereading Midnight Tides always makes me nostalgic. :)

The tale of the Malazans halts for a while as Trull Sengar takes us east to the continent of Lether to meet Rhulad, Tehol, Brys, and some Elder Gods.

"Even so, what I, Karsa Orlong, shall shape, you cannot imagine. No-one can." I tremble at that thought; in anticipation as a reader; in unbridled terror were I a denizen of the realm whose tale weaves through these books.

The character of Karsa Orlong represents a huge gamble for Steven Erikson. This is likely one of the most significant characters of the series, and his early exploits ensures that readers will almost certainly not root for him. They might develop a grudging respect for his ruthless efficacy, but rooting for him is going to be...problematic. If Erikson can pull it off, it will be an incredible achievement.

Karsa Orlong is scary as it is, but as a tool of the Chained One...my oh my, as Kruppe would exclaim.

Ah. Karsa Orlong's tale. Well, to some extent.

The book where the series really begins to come together, and more plot points and threads are revealed and explained than any other instalment I recall in my previous foray through the first eight books.