This video finally pushed me to start Malazan, which I've wanted to do for years. Five months later and halfway through midnight tides and I'm a full blown addict! These books are fantastic! For anyone intimidated by the length, these books move at a great pace and don't feel padded at all. I've been reading one a month and taking 2-3 week breaks after each to avoid burn out. Strategy working really well. Thanks for finally pushing me to start the series!
That's incredible! Thanks for coming back just to let me know. 😁 yeah Malazan is intimidating, but for the right audience, it is like nothing else. I so glad it found you! Enjoy!
LOL i didn't even notice the books were a printout until you pointed it out. And then once you pointed it out I feel dumb for not seeing how obviously fake that is.
I don’t think it is obvious at all, I think his wife did a really remarkable job. Certain “books” even appear to have wear and tear on them. Props to her for the detail.
I am currently reading GotM. I have watched dozens of lore videos, read dozens of articles and THIS VIDEO has been the BEST at making things clear and making this digestible. THANK YOU! Been reading GotM for a month and a half and only half way through. This helped a ton!
What I really like about Malazan is that you never know what you will get in a scene. There are so many scenes, where in any other series the hero would swoop in and save the day to just ... not and they just die. But there is also scenes where literal divine intervention is what keeps a characters head attached to their shoulders. You never know if somebody makes it out of a dangerous situation alive or not.
I really love watching these book guide videos. You do such a great job building hype and describing these series. I’m convinced you’ll convince me to read every fantasy series you post about
I’m on book three and have been using the tor summaries and commentary to help understand each chapter after I’ve read it. I’m enjoying the book but still feel confused at least half the time. It’s definitely worth the extra effort but it’s not the relaxing reading experience I’m used to. I will say character development and humour has vastly improved since book one.
The fact that the Malazan book of the fallen treats the reader like an intelligent person capable of thinking for themself is in and of itself one of the best parts of the series. I remember going though my first ready of Gardens of the Moon and being able to figure out through context (and sometimes the glossary) how the magical system more or less worked. My one big disagreement is that the second novel doesn't obviously follow the first. Again, the first book sets up Mappo and Iccarum, as well as the whirlwind rebellion and gives you existing characters in which to take you through the journey with. Just like the first book, if you paid attention, it was all there from the beginning. I had the book recommended to me by a friend who actually knew Erikson as a family friend back in Alberta and one of the interesting details they shared was that Erikson (and maybe Esslemont as well) table gamed a lot of the events of the books, D&D style. It allowed for the flow of the stories to have that random chaotic factor that feels so fluid and present throughout the story. You can see where Erikson wants to go sometimes but knowing that detail, you can also see that the dice didn't align and instead characters die, unexpected events occur, and the grand heroics that are more common in other books are sometimes muted by the critical failures that tug on your heartstrings as much as any success might have. Overall, the series is truly a masterpiece. I've read the wheel of time, game of thrones, the stormlight archive, earthsea, mistborn, and many others and Erikson's books are just so underrated that it hurts. I hope one day the wider public sees the genius in these books. Edit: if anyone is looking for a great underrated series; try the Dune Prequel books [Sisterhood of Dune | Mentats of Dune | Navigators of Dune] by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. They are standalone (if you haven't read Dune or its sequels), and dance brilliantly around the themes of power and extremist beliefs. If anyone likes Sci-fi and hasn't tried them, they were so much better than I could have expected.
Great job on this rundown! I have tried to read the first book for 4 years now, it was one on the few great series I have yet to read. Today I don’t know it just clicked and I flew through 400 pages. I am in love and after this video helped me understand the wider context of the universe, it’s so good!! I love how niche it is as well.
I have very recently finished the 3rd novel - 'Memories of Ice', and I can definitely say that this series is well and truly EPIC, and Steven Erikson is a genius. If you haven't yet read it or are planning to do so, I would highly recommend it without a shadow of a doubt. It is a little confusing at the start, and new readers might take some time getting used to it, but oh boy, once you get a hang of it, you're in for a ride... an experience like no other, believe it or not. JUST GO FOR IT! Mate, just found out your channel through this vid, and I must say that you've done a pretty good job of explaining what the series is all about. 'The World' section was very nicely done in particular. I would like to thank you for spreading the word about Malazan in such a great way. Subscribed, and will be checking other stuff on your channel too. Cheers!
Perfect timing! I am currently almost finished with Book 9 on my first read through. Love the two videos you’ve posted so far. Keep up the good work. Btw, I’m loving the little clips you toss in the middle of your videos. Definitely got the right kind of humor. Between that and your fam making you the picture of the book spines, I’ll def be watching more of your stuff!
@@cronkthebookguy Yeah. It’s been WORK getting here lol. Started the series in January. Basically a book a month. It ain’t easy, but I know if I took a break, I’d never finish
The best breakdown of malazan I have ever seen. I am halfway through book 1 and was just trying to understand the larger scope. A small part of me was considering DNFing it even though I knew it had to be amazing and your video convinced me to push along. It also helped me to get a much better understanding of the plot lines and the larger world happenings. You rock.
My feelings exactly !!!!! I have read almost every major epic fantasy you can imagine and just wasn't feeling this but this really helped me push thru and very grateful I did
Malazan is criminally underrated. It’s my favorite epic fantasy by far. I wish there were multiple different prints and leather bound editions for it because this series deserves it by far. I bounced off the first book at first because this series doesn’t hold your hand at all, it trusts your intelligence. And I was more used to handholding in the fantasy genre at that point, but I’m so glad I gave it another shot. Malazan is written so well that I don’t have to perfectly understand everything that’s going on or how the world/magic works. Somehow it gives just enough and withholds enough to stimulate my imagination and keep me invested, all the while its prose is doing it in an entertaining and interesting way, while also having deep meaning behind its stories and characters, which sends me through a rollercoaster of emotions. Not many epic fantasy series’ can juggle and balance all these acts, yet in my opinion, Steven Erikson is the best at it in the epic fantasy genre.
I read book 1 early this year and because everyone says it's so complex I started taking notes. By the middle of the book I just forgot to keep the notes and devour it. I loved it. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. And my confusion was mostly because I didn't understand why everyone said it was confusing 😅 Now, watching this video, maybe I'll be glad for those notes when I read the other ones
Only just started and I wanted to say that its mad Malazan has only sold 3 million copies. In youtube land it is literally in every video I see, and I had never heard of it. Now I know why! Because no one else outside of booktube reads it! Thanks for explaining how popular a series is, as it gives a lot of context as to why I have never heard of this book series
Oh absolutely! I hardly know anyone outside of booktube who's actually read it. And honestly...I don't want to slander other book tubers....but I think some just read Malazan for the 'status' it grants, not for the enjoyment of the art. It creates a snob environment I really don't like.
I'm in my 30s and I have two other friends who read. I just started reading about 2 months ago. They've both read Witcher, WoT, kingkiller, Sanderson, etc. Etc. But neither of them have ever heard of Malazan. Haha ima start it next after I finish book 3 of first law and mistborn (I'm reading these two series at the same time...book 1 book 1, book 2 book 2, book 3 book 3.) I really like this system because it allows for me to build anticipation for reading the next book. I might pair malazan with stormlight or the expanse...too much on my tbr to choose!
@@moresoysauce5489and exactly the fantasy nowadays kills it. Expectations. Everyone thinks they read a new book. But all are on the same pattern. This is not. So when they get it they cry and they quite. I read it when it came out. I saw it… “strange” but I’m a sci-fi fan so I just adjusted my mind to a different style and continued reading. In sci-fi it’s not new to be different. In fantasy it is. See Dune -> Culture-> Asimov’s-> Philip K Dick -> Ender’s -> Lem-> … all are written differently. Nobody cares. In fantasy? You just see. Everyone says it’s too hard to read.
@@nazimelmardi I'm on memories of ice now. Maybe I was at an advantage because I was told it was difficult / non-conventional but I thought Gardens of the Moon was awesome. There is a lot of "uh idk what that is" and "who the fk is that guy" but the amount of cool shit he managed to squeeze into on little 600 page book was super fun. I felt like Deadhouse Gates was trying too hard (I preferred the chaos of book 1) but memories of ice I'm about half way through and it feels like a perfect balance :)
This helped so much. I've been working my way through the first book. It's dense and I like finding resources to understand. But no one had explained "the point" of the series like this. Thanks!
I've just started Malazan and the map part of your video was so unbelievably helpful! Thank you so much for giving such a thorough intro, it makes it feel much less daunting :)
Great vid. Your video helped me get going, had Gardens of the Moon in my shelf for 3+ years.. and now, it's the best thing I've read in my entire life. Was a real home run for me. Thanks for making this video
Excellent video! Thank you for making it. Enjoyed the funnies sprinkled in as well. Funnily enough, I too am reading this after finishing up WoT - which I loved with every fiber of my being. Currently in Gardens of the Moon and not disappointed in the least, the witty adult banter is refreshing and the magic system is delicious. Happy reading!
The explanation of the regions that each of the books take place in was really helpful! I’ve always heard vaguely that Malazan is notoriously hard to get started with, and now I understand why. Erickson’s computer dying 🤯 I had never heard that before
Just found my new favorite booktuber. Came from your new Daniel Greene books review (that I completely agreed with although I don't regret buying and reading the books and will continue doing so because Daniel absolutely deserves my support). I wanted to see if you have anything about malazan because this is how I judge a person; Discworld? Malazan? Yes, you say? You are now on my radar.
What a great video! No other video on this topic is as good as yours, trust me I watched all of them lol. Your video is the one which gave me the push to start it yesterday and I am already 25% through the first book! It's so good!
I’m a veteran like you who’s read 17 of the books so far-what a fantastic overview! It’s nuts to me that there’s still so much to dig into with the prequel series and novellas
You rock! Every video you make, makes me more excited to start reading a series. I'm now less intimidated for reading Malazan. First finishing WoT (starting with book 10 soon) and perhaps then I'll give Gardens of the Moon a go.
As someone who has tried more than once to start the Malazan series, thank you very much for this intro! It's super helpful and will help me to continue, knowing that the first books are almost completely unconnected from one another! Thanks for doing this!
I saw all your videos, I liked them all but I resisted the urge to subscribe to a booktube channel. You are in my recommendations and I watch every new videos rightaway. And today, after Blackadder and Frasier I am officially subscribed, I cannot resist anymore. I like a bunch of booktubers but only you made the impression that we could be friends. Actually you remind me a lot of a friend of mine back in university 🙂
Thanks for the maps explanation. Im halfway on book 4 for and I thought the 7 cities was in nortern Dsenebakis. 😊 Things I would like to understand better... the position of Warrens and the position of each seat of the house in Deck of Dragons. How do they correlate to the normal world. Like in book 4 there is a attack on one house seat and I was suprised it was in a normal world?
Possibly 1 of the most original stories, and a completely unique magic system,. Amazing hardcore fantasy world/universe concepts so new that will make it hard for people to identify with. There is almost/ possibly nothing like it in any world. Think the author and a friend have created a roll playing universe that they have played for years. This fills out the universe and established the history, politics, military, religion, and just about everything. Worth the time and worth looking into the background.
almost done with gardens of the moon. Have 4 chapters left. bought on audible doing the audiobook. i listen at work. The man who reads the book does a phenomenal job. For me this was an easy to get into book. I think the word most people miss when talking about this book(all though they say the series is tough). Is the word Dense.e. Its just a dense book that the read is def dropped into. I think it starts absolutely perfect. The fall of pale and intro of characters worked for me. the magic system had me hooked but again its dense with 0 handholding. I will also say that after listening to a couple chapters at work at the end of the day id jump on the wiki and read the summery of what i had listened to and I always got it. If you are looking for an adventure this is it. I have also heard some say they didnt like the character work but I quite did. Tatersail,Paran,Kalim,Kruppe(this is my guy lol),Loran,Hairlock(fucking evil wizard puppet yo come on so cool) Quick ben, etc I loved them. I remeber distenictly the scene with quick ben and kalim exchanging looks behind whiskeyjacks back and like thats the character work . so for this is a 10 for me
Phenomenal vid kronk!! Not many ppl would have the dedication to simplify this world to such an easy way to grasp! P.S. not gonna lie.... I was hooked after book 1 because I saw the scope and the imagination and said GIVE ME MORE 😭🤣🤣🤣
I wanted to read Malazan and started Gardens of the Moon and I thought that I had started book two of the series Man it was so confusing that I just gave up After watching you explain I might give it another try You have become my favourite TH-camr Thank you
I’m so excited to read this series!! I just finished Way of Kings, and half way done with wheel of time. I’m studying up before I dive into this series though I know it’s a different ball game! 😊😅
Other than Malazan and wheel of time being in the same genre they really aren’t comparable. Malazan is every bit as good as the wheel of time. There isn’t an argument to be had about it. For anyone who hasn’t read it yet, I can help you out. There are alot of characters ALOT. Every single one is either an immovable object or an unstoppable force and they are constantly at odds and Death is just another rebirth.
My favourite series I've read. By far. I can definitely see why some people would bounce off of it though. Drops you into the middle of a world and slowly gives you info through characters' perspectives
I finished Malazan a few months ago with my only previous fantasy experience being video games, TV, and reading LotR and the Hobbit. I encourage anyone who likes fantasy and darker stories to at least try this series. I know for a 100% fact that it will forever remain the best thing I’ve ever read
Anyone that wants to start Malazan and struggles with Gardens of the Moon just read Paths to Ascendency by esstlemont. Introduces the world, magic, characters on a lot more conventional fantasy story level. Makes starting the main 10 a lot easier. Novels of the Malazan empire completes the storyline for multiple arcs in the main 10 and adds further world building and lore. Recommend straight after finishing the main series. Kharkanas will make you question everything you know about the series so maybe first chronologically but absolutely leave till last.
About 150 pages into Gotm and im completely hooked. Im a huge fan of Dark Souls and Bloodborne and its definitely scratching that itch. I LOVE puzzling out story and motivations and alien worlds. So far i feel like i know what's going on... but with the feeling that some understandings and presumptions are going to be subverted which im excited for!
Great Video! Thanks for your extensive explanation. I’ve been deliberating whether to try this one for a couple of years…you might have convinced me to try at least the first three. Sounds like you want to have time to read all the way through the series at once so you can remember the characters and plot lines. Very helpful!
@@CaseyPomeroy-u3v yes but I guess going into the book I knew from what everyone told me that it would be a little confusing and to just keep going, that really helped I just finished the first book and I have the next two ready to go.
Thanks so much for this! I'm late to Malazan but I'm slowly making my way through Gardens of the Moon and loving it. Your explanations are clear and cogent, and I loved your enthusiasm. I look forward to watching more videos!
Todd here. Over a year ago I tried reading the Malazan series. I read the first three books, and had no idea what was going on. I was confused on which character was speaking, and where they were on the map. I gave the series up. I want to try it again. This video was very helpful. Have a happy Autumn!
I’m almost done with Reaper’s Gale and I already know this is my favorite book series ever. I just randomly happened to see Gardens of the Moon in a used bookstore and the owner told me I had to read it. He’s my hero!
After reading everything malazan kruppe is actually my favorite character ! Imagine matching wits w/the gods and maintaining such a fun and lowkey demeanor :) lol my second favorite is quick ben ! What the hell i love all the characters ! I have read thousands of books “and own an entire library room in my house and malazan is the TOP epic out of them all .
I just finished Gardens of the Moon and I honestly didn't think it was overly difficult to keep up with, but I did do it in smaller bites. This video makes me feel so much more prepared for what's to come though so thank you!
Excellent video, thanks! I'm glad I ran across it. It took me quite some time years ago to get through the main 10 book series, but a couple years ago re-read the entire series including the Esslemont books and the prequels and the novellas, but not the incomplete sequels. The second time through was so much more fun and enjoyable having an understanding of what was going on, and I did it without reading any other books in between, yes it took a long time. Definitely my favorite book series.
I have read the full Book of the Fallen series three times. For huge fans of the series who only read it once - I highly recommend doing it a second time.
This video helped a lot. So far I haven't read the series. And hey, I don't have a problem with long books or long series, but I've been constantly pushing those further down my TBR. Waiting for your next video with a lot of curiosity. Congratulations on the channel.
Great video! I've read books 1 & 2 and I quite liked Gardens a lot but got a bit burned out with Deadhouse Gates. But everytime I watch a video about Malazan I want to try it again. Haha.
New sub - why? Required Monty Python reference deployed! Yep, only that....oh, and I guess your presentation style is engaging - somewhat. lol :) *races off to Amazon for a first copy of the Malazan series*
I don't know why but among the nearly infinite memorable scenes in the series, the one that always comes to mind is when the Heavies held the unexpected retreat against the Che'Malle
Right?? I started off hating him as a war hungry bully lacking the thoughtfulness and restraint of Bairoth Gild. Then he started talking about the wounds his father inflicted on him through his disapproval and rejection and breaking prisoners free... And I was like, am I rooting for this raping raider to escape?
I'been drown to this series, intrigued by It so much time... But at the same time taken aback for it's lenght and complexity that I'd never though of reading it at some point. Despiste of this, your video has made me change the perspectiv and might finnaly give It a chance 😂
Excellent video. I just started Reaper’s Gale. Love the books but it’s definitely dense and can be hard to connect the dots all the time. I look some things up but I also had to accept that I’m just not going to understand everything first read through. Still great!
I started reading this series around 2005-2006. I got up to book 6 and stopped there. I have the remaining 4 books on my self but its probably been over a decade since I read book 6 that I think I need to start from the beginning. With the rate I read books and the sheer size of each novel I think it will take me approx 3 years + to get through all ten! 😮
Lol even in the author intro for gardens of the moon, Erickson straight up said he got rejected from multiple publishers because he didn’t want to lower the scope of the story. And I’m glad he held out lol
Great video. One thing tho. That empire from book three came from the southern part of Genabackis. A certain large character we meet in book 4 is from the mountains in the north of genabackis
OMG! I didn't pick up on either those things. Thank you! I always thought that certain large character came from the far west of the Seven Cities continent, for some reason. But, that explains why he ends up where he does too. Nice!
I feel better. I thought I was the crazy one because I watch summaries of the book (chapter summaries) before I read, then read the book then read the chapter summaries in the wiki lol
Man the series only gets better I am currently reading house of chains It's unbelievable The sheer scale and number of races This book even being 4th is still setting it up And it's very much fun I am having a great time reading malazan series
Really appreciated the video and all the work done you nailed it ! You made a very good analysis on the the series, and I hope through your video many of you will jump into this superbe fantasy world ! Even if it’s intimidating at first it’s so rewarding going through the books and piece by piece making the puzzle to understand the complexity of the story ! Currently at book 5 all the new characters are exciting to discover ! Keep up the quality work man 👏
I just finished House of Chains. To say I feel finally comfortable in this world, in Erikson's style of writing and in the overarching, Crippled God, set up plot was underselling it. I felt confident. Came back here to refresh the book to map location and oh boy. Oh no...
Just came to left my Like. I had to stop the video cuz I'm on Book 2 and don't want spoilers, I'm not English native and it's already complicated to read; I enjoyed Game of Thrones but seems like this is the peak of the iceberg!!
I'm currently halfway through deadhouse gates and I've heard the ending holds such a lasting impact that you don't want to read anything else for a while... And I don't think I'm ready for it😢
The Chain of Dogs storyline is peak fantasy IMO and yeah it'll probably stick with you for life. Though I might rank Memories of Ice, Reaper's Gale and The Crippled God slightly higher as books than Deadhouse Gates I do think the Chain of Dogs remains the single most impactful plotline in the entire series. Keep going!
I’m reading (well, listening) to Book 1 rn, and what u said about how many readers will take notes reminded me of when I was reading Game of Thrones books. I actually printed out family genealogy charts for all the main families, a map of Westeros (actually a map of the theorized world that included Essos all the way to Asshai)-I actually folded it in half and laminated it and made it my bookmark! How big brained is THAT!? and at the end of every chapter I’d read an online summary and jot down notes…so I guess I’ll have to do the same with this!
Enough people who don’t have English as a first read it, so the words are fine it’s just sprawling and philosophically exploratory.. I like that, a lot of people really don’t and that’s ok
As someone who has finished book 3 and is currently reading book 4, I must be an outlier when I say this but Malazan doesn't feel very confusing to me at all, I am picking up a lot of the plotlines and recognising hints that will be totally revealed later on. I see a lot of people say it's very all over the place as the main criticism but for me I just recognised that it's a very different type of story. Before Malazan, I mainly read Sanderson and my advice to new readers is to remove your preconceptions and expectations for what a fantasy novel is supposed to be. Let the Malazan present itself to you don't try to subconsciously box it in to what you wish it was. If you do this, Malazan becomes way more enjoyable. Sometimes it just takes a little shift in perspective.
SO I have watched both of your recent Malazan videos and it was precisely at the 24:38 mark that I realised the "shelf" with all the books in the series IS FAKE. Not too proud of how long it took me to realise, but I thought it was funny to share. Great videos by the way, I am looking to jump into the series soon :)
This video finally pushed me to start Malazan, which I've wanted to do for years. Five months later and halfway through midnight tides and I'm a full blown addict! These books are fantastic!
For anyone intimidated by the length, these books move at a great pace and don't feel padded at all.
I've been reading one a month and taking 2-3 week breaks after each to avoid burn out. Strategy working really well.
Thanks for finally pushing me to start the series!
That's incredible! Thanks for coming back just to let me know. 😁 yeah Malazan is intimidating, but for the right audience, it is like nothing else. I so glad it found you! Enjoy!
LOL i didn't even notice the books were a printout until you pointed it out. And then once you pointed it out I feel dumb for not seeing how obviously fake that is.
I know, me toooo!! 😅
I also was completely fooled lol
I don’t think it is obvious at all, I think his wife did a really remarkable job. Certain “books” even appear to have wear and tear on them. Props to her for the detail.
The best fantasy series ever written, in my humble opinion. Feels like a huge world, fleshed out and adult. A breath of fresh, if complicated, air 😂
Facts.
This is my favorite fantasy series ever. Thank you for bringing your signature positivity to it! Man, I love watching your videos.
I am currently reading GotM. I have watched dozens of lore videos, read dozens of articles and THIS VIDEO has been the BEST at making things clear and making this digestible. THANK YOU! Been reading GotM for a month and a half and only half way through. This helped a ton!
What I really like about Malazan is that you never know what you will get in a scene. There are so many scenes, where in any other series the hero would swoop in and save the day to just ... not and they just die. But there is also scenes where literal divine intervention is what keeps a characters head attached to their shoulders. You never know if somebody makes it out of a dangerous situation alive or not.
I really love watching these book guide videos. You do such a great job building hype and describing these series. I’m convinced you’ll convince me to read every fantasy series you post about
I’m on book three and have been using the tor summaries and commentary to help understand each chapter after I’ve read it. I’m enjoying the book but still feel confused at least half the time. It’s definitely worth the extra effort but it’s not the relaxing reading experience I’m used to. I will say character development and humour has vastly improved since book one.
Hang in there!
The fact that the Malazan book of the fallen treats the reader like an intelligent person capable of thinking for themself is in and of itself one of the best parts of the series. I remember going though my first ready of Gardens of the Moon and being able to figure out through context (and sometimes the glossary) how the magical system more or less worked. My one big disagreement is that the second novel doesn't obviously follow the first. Again, the first book sets up Mappo and Iccarum, as well as the whirlwind rebellion and gives you existing characters in which to take you through the journey with. Just like the first book, if you paid attention, it was all there from the beginning.
I had the book recommended to me by a friend who actually knew Erikson as a family friend back in Alberta and one of the interesting details they shared was that Erikson (and maybe Esslemont as well) table gamed a lot of the events of the books, D&D style. It allowed for the flow of the stories to have that random chaotic factor that feels so fluid and present throughout the story. You can see where Erikson wants to go sometimes but knowing that detail, you can also see that the dice didn't align and instead characters die, unexpected events occur, and the grand heroics that are more common in other books are sometimes muted by the critical failures that tug on your heartstrings as much as any success might have. Overall, the series is truly a masterpiece. I've read the wheel of time, game of thrones, the stormlight archive, earthsea, mistborn, and many others and Erikson's books are just so underrated that it hurts. I hope one day the wider public sees the genius in these books.
Edit: if anyone is looking for a great underrated series; try the Dune Prequel books [Sisterhood of Dune | Mentats of Dune | Navigators of Dune] by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. They are standalone (if you haven't read Dune or its sequels), and dance brilliantly around the themes of power and extremist beliefs. If anyone likes Sci-fi and hasn't tried them, they were so much better than I could have expected.
Honestly an amazing series
Love it
Great job on this rundown! I have tried to read the first book for 4 years now, it was one on the few great series I have yet to read. Today I don’t know it just clicked and I flew through 400 pages. I am in love and after this video helped me understand the wider context of the universe, it’s so good!! I love how niche it is as well.
@@yodaTVmediawelcome to the fandom.
@@nazimelmardi thanks, update I’m about to begin house of chains 😀
I have very recently finished the 3rd novel - 'Memories of Ice', and I can definitely say that this series is well and truly EPIC, and Steven Erikson is a genius. If you haven't yet read it or are planning to do so, I would highly recommend it without a shadow of a doubt. It is a little confusing at the start, and new readers might take some time getting used to it, but oh boy, once you get a hang of it, you're in for a ride... an experience like no other, believe it or not. JUST GO FOR IT!
Mate, just found out your channel through this vid, and I must say that you've done a pretty good job of explaining what the series is all about. 'The World' section was very nicely done in particular. I would like to thank you for spreading the word about Malazan in such a great way. Subscribed, and will be checking other stuff on your channel too. Cheers!
I BELIEVE you mean "without a KURALD EMURLAHN of a doubt" 🤓😜❤️
@@TheDylls of course! 😝
Perfect timing!
I am currently almost finished with Book 9 on my first read through. Love the two videos you’ve posted so far. Keep up the good work.
Btw, I’m loving the little clips you toss in the middle of your videos. Definitely got the right kind of humor. Between that and your fam making you the picture of the book spines, I’ll def be watching more of your stuff!
Wow, up to book 9?! Great stuff! You're in for an excellent finale. 👌
Thank you! Glad you like my humour, it's a little out there. 🤣
@@cronkthebookguy Yeah. It’s been WORK getting here lol. Started the series in January. Basically a book a month. It ain’t easy, but I know if I took a break, I’d never finish
The best breakdown of malazan I have ever seen. I am halfway through book 1 and was just trying to understand the larger scope. A small part of me was considering DNFing it even though I knew it had to be amazing and your video convinced me to push along. It also helped me to get a much better understanding of the plot lines and the larger world happenings. You rock.
My feelings exactly !!!!! I have read almost every major epic fantasy you can imagine and just wasn't feeling this but this really helped me push thru and very grateful I did
the way i literally have malazan in my cart right now and this video just dropped and i opened youtube at the exact second it did
just finished, you convinced me... my journey begins now
So how did you like it?😊@@mollyjaynereads6682
Malazan is criminally underrated. It’s my favorite epic fantasy by far. I wish there were multiple different prints and leather bound editions for it because this series deserves it by far.
I bounced off the first book at first because this series doesn’t hold your hand at all, it trusts your intelligence. And I was more used to handholding in the fantasy genre at that point, but I’m so glad I gave it another shot.
Malazan is written so well that I don’t have to perfectly understand everything that’s going on or how the world/magic works. Somehow it gives just enough and withholds enough to stimulate my imagination and keep me invested, all the while its prose is doing it in an entertaining and interesting way, while also having deep meaning behind its stories and characters, which sends me through a rollercoaster of emotions. Not many epic fantasy series’ can juggle and balance all these acts, yet in my opinion, Steven Erikson is the best at it in the epic fantasy genre.
I read book 1 early this year and because everyone says it's so complex I started taking notes. By the middle of the book I just forgot to keep the notes and devour it. I loved it. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. And my confusion was mostly because I didn't understand why everyone said it was confusing 😅 Now, watching this video, maybe I'll be glad for those notes when I read the other ones
Only just started and I wanted to say that its mad Malazan has only sold 3 million copies. In youtube land it is literally in every video I see, and I had never heard of it. Now I know why! Because no one else outside of booktube reads it! Thanks for explaining how popular a series is, as it gives a lot of context as to why I have never heard of this book series
Oh absolutely! I hardly know anyone outside of booktube who's actually read it.
And honestly...I don't want to slander other book tubers....but I think some just read Malazan for the 'status' it grants, not for the enjoyment of the art. It creates a snob environment I really don't like.
I'm in my 30s and I have two other friends who read. I just started reading about 2 months ago. They've both read Witcher, WoT, kingkiller, Sanderson, etc. Etc. But neither of them have ever heard of Malazan. Haha ima start it next after I finish book 3 of first law and mistborn (I'm reading these two series at the same time...book 1 book 1, book 2 book 2, book 3 book 3.) I really like this system because it allows for me to build anticipation for reading the next book. I might pair malazan with stormlight or the expanse...too much on my tbr to choose!
@@moresoysauce5489and exactly the fantasy nowadays kills it. Expectations. Everyone thinks they read a new book. But all are on the same pattern. This is not. So when they get it they cry and they quite. I read it when it came out. I saw it… “strange” but I’m a sci-fi fan so I just adjusted my mind to a different style and continued reading. In sci-fi it’s not new to be different. In fantasy it is. See Dune -> Culture-> Asimov’s-> Philip K Dick -> Ender’s -> Lem-> … all are written differently. Nobody cares. In fantasy? You just see. Everyone says it’s too hard to read.
I read the series in high school to college. It's my favorite cough high fantasy series, followed by the first 3 books of the Shannara series.
@@nazimelmardi I'm on memories of ice now. Maybe I was at an advantage because I was told it was difficult / non-conventional but I thought Gardens of the Moon was awesome. There is a lot of "uh idk what that is" and "who the fk is that guy" but the amount of cool shit he managed to squeeze into on little 600 page book was super fun. I felt like Deadhouse Gates was trying too hard (I preferred the chaos of book 1) but memories of ice I'm about half way through and it feels like a perfect balance :)
This helped so much. I've been working my way through the first book. It's dense and I like finding resources to understand. But no one had explained "the point" of the series like this. Thanks!
I've just started Malazan and the map part of your video was so unbelievably helpful! Thank you so much for giving such a thorough intro, it makes it feel much less daunting :)
Great vid. Your video helped me get going, had Gardens of the Moon in my shelf for 3+ years.. and now, it's the best thing I've read in my entire life. Was a real home run for me. Thanks for making this video
Excellent video! Thank you for making it. Enjoyed the funnies sprinkled in as well. Funnily enough, I too am reading this after finishing up WoT - which I loved with every fiber of my being. Currently in Gardens of the Moon and not disappointed in the least, the witty adult banter is refreshing and the magic system is delicious. Happy reading!
The explanation of the regions that each of the books take place in was really helpful! I’ve always heard vaguely that Malazan is notoriously hard to get started with, and now I understand why.
Erickson’s computer dying 🤯 I had never heard that before
Good! Glad it helped.
omg I know, right? I cannot imagine his pain.
That’s why I love the maps lol maps are fucking integral to fantasy books.
Seriously, I would have ragequit writing and burned my house down if I lost an 800 page book manuscript.
@@Wordsalad69420 same!
Just started the series and I’m thoroughly enjoying book 1. I love your enthusiasm and humor ✨ great video
Just found my new favorite booktuber. Came from your new Daniel Greene books review (that I completely agreed with although I don't regret buying and reading the books and will continue doing so because Daniel absolutely deserves my support). I wanted to see if you have anything about malazan because this is how I judge a person; Discworld? Malazan? Yes, you say? You are now on my radar.
What a great video! No other video on this topic is as good as yours, trust me I watched all of them lol. Your video is the one which gave me the push to start it yesterday and I am already 25% through the first book! It's so good!
I’m a veteran like you who’s read 17 of the books so far-what a fantastic overview! It’s nuts to me that there’s still so much to dig into with the prequel series and novellas
Funny enough, I just finished Gardens of The Moon of the first time, and I LOVED IT. So if it's only up from here, then I'm in for a long journey!
Thank you, I've been bracing myself for this for a while and this video makes me finally feel ready.
Bravo! This is such a good video! It's well-explained and clear. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will read Malazan!
You rock! Every video you make, makes me more excited to start reading a series. I'm now less intimidated for reading Malazan. First finishing WoT (starting with book 10 soon) and perhaps then I'll give Gardens of the Moon a go.
Malazan is the best, and therefore I strongly support this video.
As someone who has tried more than once to start the Malazan series, thank you very much for this intro! It's super helpful and will help me to continue, knowing that the first books are almost completely unconnected from one another! Thanks for doing this!
Traveling right now (near your neck of the woods 😊) and have this video saved! I'm so excited to watch it!
I saw all your videos, I liked them all but I resisted the urge to subscribe to a booktube channel. You are in my recommendations and I watch every new videos rightaway. And today, after Blackadder and Frasier I am officially subscribed, I cannot resist anymore. I like a bunch of booktubers but only you made the impression that we could be friends. Actually you remind me a lot of a friend of mine back in university 🙂
Thanks for the maps explanation. Im halfway on book 4 for and I thought the 7 cities was in nortern Dsenebakis. 😊 Things I would like to understand better... the position of Warrens and the position of each seat of the house in Deck of Dragons. How do they correlate to the normal world. Like in book 4 there is a attack on one house seat and I was suprised it was in a normal world?
Possibly 1 of the most original stories, and a completely unique magic system,. Amazing hardcore fantasy world/universe concepts so new that will make it hard for people to identify with. There is almost/ possibly nothing like it in any world. Think the author and a friend have created a roll playing universe that they have played for years. This fills out the universe and established the history, politics, military, religion, and just about everything. Worth the time and worth looking into the background.
almost done with gardens of the moon. Have 4 chapters left. bought on audible doing the audiobook. i listen at work. The man who reads the book does a phenomenal job. For me this was an easy to get into book. I think the word most people miss when talking about this book(all though they say the series is tough). Is the word Dense.e. Its just a dense book that the read is def dropped into. I think it starts absolutely perfect. The fall of pale and intro of characters worked for me. the magic system had me hooked but again its dense with 0 handholding. I will also say that after listening to a couple chapters at work at the end of the day id jump on the wiki and read the summery of what i had listened to and I always got it. If you are looking for an adventure this is it. I have also heard some say they didnt like the character work but I quite did. Tatersail,Paran,Kalim,Kruppe(this is my guy lol),Loran,Hairlock(fucking evil wizard puppet yo come on so cool) Quick ben, etc I loved them. I remeber distenictly the scene with quick ben and kalim exchanging looks behind whiskeyjacks back and like thats the character work . so for this is a 10 for me
Phenomenal vid kronk!! Not many ppl would have the dedication to simplify this world to such an easy way to grasp!
P.S. not gonna lie.... I was hooked after book 1 because I saw the scope and the imagination and said GIVE ME MORE 😭🤣🤣🤣
It is only truly going to get better ! Insanity in a book but still my favorite series and world of all time !
I wanted to read Malazan and started Gardens of the Moon and I thought that I had started book two of the series
Man it was so confusing that I just gave up
After watching you explain I might give it another try
You have become my favourite TH-camr Thank you
Lmao that’s how I felt when i hit midnight tides lol where the fuck is this? Who are these people? What is happening? Lol
I’m so excited to read this series!! I just finished Way of Kings, and half way done with wheel of time. I’m studying up before I dive into this series though I know it’s a different ball game! 😊😅
Other than Malazan and wheel of time being in the same genre they really aren’t comparable. Malazan is every bit as good as the wheel of time. There isn’t an argument to be had about it. For anyone who hasn’t read it yet, I can help you out. There are alot of characters ALOT. Every single one is either an immovable object or an unstoppable force and they are constantly at odds and Death is just another rebirth.
My favourite series I've read. By far. I can definitely see why some people would bounce off of it though. Drops you into the middle of a world and slowly gives you info through characters' perspectives
Love this! Just finished Memories of Ice and this video makes me even more excited to continue
Thank you for being your most authentic self fellow reader :)!
I have bought Books 1 & 2. They arrive tomorrow.
Came for wanting to know more about the series I've seen referenced so often and in a way that sparked my curiosity.
Stayed for the humor. Lol
I finished Malazan a few months ago with my only previous fantasy experience being video games, TV, and reading LotR and the Hobbit. I encourage anyone who likes fantasy and darker stories to at least try this series. I know for a 100% fact that it will forever remain the best thing I’ve ever read
Anyone that wants to start Malazan and struggles with Gardens of the Moon just read Paths to Ascendency by esstlemont. Introduces the world, magic, characters on a lot more conventional fantasy story level. Makes starting the main 10 a lot easier.
Novels of the Malazan empire completes the storyline for multiple arcs in the main 10 and adds further world building and lore. Recommend straight after finishing the main series.
Kharkanas will make you question everything you know about the series so maybe first chronologically but absolutely leave till last.
About 150 pages into Gotm and im completely hooked. Im a huge fan of Dark Souls and Bloodborne and its definitely scratching that itch. I LOVE puzzling out story and motivations and alien worlds. So far i feel like i know what's going on... but with the feeling that some understandings and presumptions are going to be subverted which im excited for!
Great Video! Thanks for your extensive explanation. I’ve been deliberating whether to try this one for a couple of years…you might have convinced me to try at least the first three. Sounds like you want to have time to read all the way through the series at once so you can remember the characters and plot lines. Very helpful!
Thanks for doing this mate. Great effort. I reckon I will get stuck into it.
I started reading gardens of the moon and I am absolutely addicted. The writing is so well done
Did u ever get totally lost in the first book?
@@CaseyPomeroy-u3v yes but I guess going into the book I knew from what everyone told me that it would be a little confusing and to just keep going, that really helped I just finished the first book and I have the next two ready to go.
What an awesome video. I will definitely rewatch this when I am about to start Malazan for the first time
Thanks so much for this! I'm late to Malazan but I'm slowly making my way through Gardens of the Moon and loving it. Your explanations are clear and cogent, and I loved your enthusiasm. I look forward to watching more videos!
Todd here. Over a year ago I tried reading the Malazan series. I read the first three books, and had no idea what was going on. I was confused on which character was speaking, and where they were on the map. I gave the series up. I want to try it again. This video was very helpful. Have a happy Autumn!
I’m almost done with Reaper’s Gale and I already know this is my favorite book series ever. I just randomly happened to see Gardens of the Moon in a used bookstore and the owner told me I had to read it. He’s my hero!
I'm close to finishing the first book. I think I'm gonna love this series.
Yes, you are! Rallick Nom rules!
After reading everything malazan kruppe is actually my favorite character ! Imagine matching wits w/the gods and maintaining such a fun and lowkey demeanor :) lol my second favorite is quick ben ! What the hell i love all the characters ! I have read thousands of books “and own an entire library room in my house and malazan is the TOP epic out of them all .
Huge help! Thanks
Alright. I am finally fully ready to start this series, thank you for this video!
I just finished Gardens of the Moon and I honestly didn't think it was overly difficult to keep up with, but I did do it in smaller bites. This video makes me feel so much more prepared for what's to come though so thank you!
Excellent video, thanks! I'm glad I ran across it. It took me quite some time years ago to get through the main 10 book series, but a couple years ago re-read the entire series including the Esslemont books and the prequels and the novellas, but not the incomplete sequels. The second time through was so much more fun and enjoyable having an understanding of what was going on, and I did it without reading any other books in between, yes it took a long time. Definitely my favorite book series.
I have read the full Book of the Fallen series three times. For huge fans of the series who only read it once - I highly recommend doing it a second time.
Finally seeing someone else with The Demon Cycles on their book shelf makes me happy.
I also went from WOT to Malazan and just wow... It blew my mind. Best fantasy series ever written.
Man, I DNFed "Deadhouse Gates" three times. Now I'm in the mood to start again 🙃
This video helped a lot. So far I haven't read the series. And hey, I don't have a problem with long books or long series, but I've been constantly pushing those further down my TBR. Waiting for your next video with a lot of curiosity. Congratulations on the channel.
Great video! I've read books 1 & 2 and I quite liked Gardens a lot but got a bit burned out with Deadhouse Gates. But everytime I watch a video about Malazan I want to try it again. Haha.
New sub - why? Required Monty Python reference deployed! Yep, only that....oh, and I guess your presentation style is engaging - somewhat. lol :) *races off to Amazon for a first copy of the Malazan series*
I don't know why but among the nearly infinite memorable scenes in the series, the one that always comes to mind is when the Heavies held the unexpected retreat against the Che'Malle
Great video! So helpful and I’ve just started book 1. I’m committing to at least the first three and so far so good.
When I see what’s looks like metal head enthusiastically talking about books, I’m in. I like your vibe dude😊
Thanks for this! I read Gardens of the Moon a few years back and felt lost but I want to give it another shot. This helps a ton!
"Memories of Ice" is brilliant literature. Also - the Karsa Orlong line is completely badass and unexpectedly emotional.
Right?? I started off hating him as a war hungry bully lacking the thoughtfulness and restraint of Bairoth Gild. Then he started talking about the wounds his father inflicted on him through his disapproval and rejection and breaking prisoners free... And I was like, am I rooting for this raping raider to escape?
I'been drown to this series, intrigued by It so much time... But at the same time taken aback for it's lenght and complexity that I'd never though of reading it at some point. Despiste of this, your video has made me change the perspectiv and might finnaly give It a chance 😂
I woukd know how you get time to read all this amazing books. I'm struggleling to get time
Excellent video. I just started Reaper’s Gale. Love the books but it’s definitely dense and can be hard to connect the dots all the time. I look some things up but I also had to accept that I’m just not going to understand everything first read through. Still great!
I started reading this series around 2005-2006. I got up to book 6 and stopped there. I have the remaining 4 books on my self but its probably been over a decade since I read book 6 that I think I need to start from the beginning. With the rate I read books and the sheer size of each novel I think it will take me approx 3 years + to get through all ten! 😮
Lol even in the author intro for gardens of the moon, Erickson straight up said he got rejected from multiple publishers because he didn’t want to lower the scope of the story. And I’m glad he held out lol
I've read the whole series and still found this helpful。
Just started reading the first book, this video was really helpful, cheers!
Great video, great vibes and great edits😂 subscribed, cheers
Great video. One thing tho. That empire from book three came from the southern part of Genabackis. A certain large character we meet in book 4 is from the mountains in the north of genabackis
OMG! I didn't pick up on either those things. Thank you!
I always thought that certain large character came from the far west of the Seven Cities continent, for some reason. But, that explains why he ends up where he does too. Nice!
@@cronkthebookguy yeah just a small correction. Everything else in your vid is spot on
I feel better. I thought I was the crazy one because I watch summaries of the book (chapter summaries) before I read, then read the book then read the chapter summaries in the wiki lol
Man the series only gets better
I am currently reading house of chains
It's unbelievable
The sheer scale and number of races
This book even being 4th is still setting it up
And it's very much fun
I am having a great time reading malazan series
Really appreciated the video and all the work done you nailed it !
You made a very good analysis on the the series, and I hope through your video many of you will jump into this superbe fantasy world ! Even if it’s intimidating at first it’s so rewarding going through the books and piece by piece making the puzzle to understand the complexity of the story !
Currently at book 5 all the new characters are exciting to discover !
Keep up the quality work man 👏
Thanks buddy! Yeah Malazan is intimidating, but it can be so rewarding too. Hope you get to the end!
Omg just started and love the pictures of the books instead of the actual books! That could be an amazing way to add to your book shelf lol
I just finished House of Chains. To say I feel finally comfortable in this world, in Erikson's style of writing and in the overarching, Crippled God, set up plot was underselling it. I felt confident. Came back here to refresh the book to map location and oh boy. Oh no...
I found your channel yesterday and thoroughly enjoying the content you make. Keep up the good work. 😊
Just came to left my Like. I had to stop the video cuz I'm on Book 2 and don't want spoilers, I'm not English native and it's already complicated to read; I enjoyed Game of Thrones but seems like this is the peak of the iceberg!!
This is my favorite fantasy series ever... EVER ....EVER
Lovely Explanation about understanding the plot. I hope u do another one on the Kharkanas Trilogy, at least two of books
I'm so glad I discovered your work.
I started reading the first book in rehab when I was completely cut off, finished it in infantry osut, still my favorite book series
I'm currently halfway through deadhouse gates and I've heard the ending holds such a lasting impact that you don't want to read anything else for a while... And I don't think I'm ready for it😢
The Chain of Dogs storyline is peak fantasy IMO and yeah it'll probably stick with you for life. Though I might rank Memories of Ice, Reaper's Gale and The Crippled God slightly higher as books than Deadhouse Gates I do think the Chain of Dogs remains the single most impactful plotline in the entire series. Keep going!
I took a two month break from reading in general after the ending of that book 😭
Great Intro, Great Video :) Wish u all the best
What a great video! I need to get back into it. Just let the Malaz empire wash over me.
Dude your plot summary is so good. 👏
I’m reading (well, listening) to Book 1 rn, and what u said about how many readers will take notes reminded me of when I was reading Game of Thrones books. I actually printed out family genealogy charts for all the main families, a map of Westeros (actually a map of the theorized world that included Essos all the way to Asshai)-I actually folded it in half and laminated it and made it my bookmark! How big brained is THAT!? and at the end of every chapter I’d read an online summary and jot down notes…so I guess I’ll have to do the same with this!
THIS is how you read Malazan! Well done!
Enough people who don’t have English as a first read it, so the words are fine it’s just sprawling and philosophically exploratory.. I like that, a lot of people really don’t and that’s ok
As someone who has finished book 3 and is currently reading book 4, I must be an outlier when I say this but Malazan doesn't feel very confusing to me at all, I am picking up a lot of the plotlines and recognising hints that will be totally revealed later on. I see a lot of people say it's very all over the place as the main criticism but for me I just recognised that it's a very different type of story. Before Malazan, I mainly read Sanderson and my advice to new readers is to remove your preconceptions and expectations for what a fantasy novel is supposed to be. Let the Malazan present itself to you don't try to subconsciously box it in to what you wish it was. If you do this, Malazan becomes way more enjoyable. Sometimes it just takes a little shift in perspective.
I’m looking for a good long series to read in the hospital after my surgery and then while I’m in rehab and then home.
SO I have watched both of your recent Malazan videos and it was precisely at the 24:38 mark that I realised the "shelf" with all the books in the series IS FAKE. Not too proud of how long it took me to realise, but I thought it was funny to share. Great videos by the way, I am looking to jump into the series soon :)
This made me laugh a LOT! Thank you! 😆