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I re-read the 10 doorstopper long "Malazan Book of the Fallen" high fantasy series by Steven Erikson and enjoyed it just as much as I did originally, slightly o

I re-read the 10 doorstopper long "Malazan Book of the Fallen" high fantasy series by Steven Erikson and enjoyed it just as much as I did originally, slightly over a decade ago. Still my favorite series of all time. This took up a pretty big chunk of the year, so most other books were rather light urban fantasy novels. But one other mini-series stood out (potentially going to be a trilogy, but both #1 & #2 can stand alone). Teixcalaan #1 & #2, "A Memory Called Empire" and "A Desolation Called Peace" by Arkady Martine for being very different feeling sci-fi books that are not your typical western-centric fare. Highlights are the language, and that the story feels both very small and contained, and also all-encompassing, at the same time.

vanilla_nut 3y ago
A good reminder that I need to finish my Malazan readthrough! The universe is incredibly deep, the characters are incredibly rich, but I do wish Erikson would let us get a little bit comfier in the shoes of each character for longer stretches of time. I sailed through House of Chains so quickly because I didn't have perspective whiplash, but I find it difficult to keep all of the characters in my head during some sections -- battles in particular are a real challenge for me in the Malazan series. Highly recommend the series, but a warning: if you find yourself bouncing off book one, don't bother with the rest of the series. I find that the later books are slightly better written and slightly better structured, but the core writing style issues are still there (notably, perspective whiplash and a magic system that is so complex that it sometimes feels like deux ex machina).
bodantogat 3y ago
I read Malazan for the first time this year after putting it off for decades. Loved it and will likely read it again
- whoknew1122 3y ago
  I reread it every 2 years or so. There's so much in there that you see new things every time.
dallas 3y ago
I've got the whole Malazan series sitting in a box ready to read... alas, I'm pretty bushed by the time I have a moment to read and I'm sharing those precious moments before sleep with D&D prep too. I think I'll be saving it for some future date.
- Semaphor 3y ago
  Yeah, it’s certainly a time investment. Back when I originally read it, I was still in university, I remember lying in bed, reading, and my alarm went off telling me to get up …
dwaltrip 3y ago
+1 for the Teixcalaan series
disgruntledphd2 3y ago
> Teixcalaan #1 & #2, "A Memory Called Empire" and "A Desolation Called Peace" by Arkady Martine for being very different feeling sci-fi books that are not your typical western-centric fare. Highlights are the language, and that the story feels both very small and contained, and also all-encompassing, at the same time. These were marvellous, well worth reading for any fans of Malazan/other fantasy or sci-fi.
lappet 3y ago
I loved Teixcalaan #1, and I really need to read the second one. Thanks for the reminder!
Thersites 3y ago
Whiskeyjack RIP

vanilla_nut 3y ago

A good reminder that I need to finish my Malazan readthrough! The universe is incredibly deep, the characters are incredibly rich, but I do wish Erikson would let us get a little bit comfier in the shoes of each character for longer stretches of time. I sailed through House of Chains so quickly because I didn't have perspective whiplash, but I find it difficult to keep all of the characters in my head during some sections -- battles in particular are a real challenge for me in the Malazan series. Highly recommend the series, but a warning: if you find yourself bouncing off book one, don't bother with the rest of the series. I find that the later books are slightly better written and slightly better structured, but the core writing style issues are still there (notably, perspective whiplash and a magic system that is so complex that it sometimes feels like deux ex machina).

bodantogat 3y ago

I read Malazan for the first time this year after putting it off for decades. Loved it and will likely read it again

whoknew1122 3y ago
I reread it every 2 years or so. There's so much in there that you see new things every time.

dallas 3y ago

I've got the whole Malazan series sitting in a box ready to read... alas, I'm pretty bushed by the time I have a moment to read and I'm sharing those precious moments before sleep with D&D prep too. I think I'll be saving it for some future date.

Semaphor 3y ago
Yeah, it’s certainly a time investment. Back when I originally read it, I was still in university, I remember lying in bed, reading, and my alarm went off telling me to get up …

dwaltrip 3y ago

+1 for the Teixcalaan series

disgruntledphd2 3y ago

> Teixcalaan #1 & #2, "A Memory Called Empire" and "A Desolation Called Peace" by Arkady Martine for being very different feeling sci-fi books that are not your typical western-centric fare. Highlights are the language, and that the story feels both very small and contained, and also all-encompassing, at the same time. These were marvellous, well worth reading for any fans of Malazan/other fantasy or sci-fi.

lappet 3y ago

I loved Teixcalaan #1, and I really need to read the second one. Thanks for the reminder!

Thersites 3y ago

Whiskeyjack RIP