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The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach #5
The Wurms of Blearmouth
A new novella from New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson, set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Wurms of Blearmouth.
Tyranny comes in many guises, and tyrants thrive in palaces and one-room hovels, in back alleys and playgrounds. Tyrants abound on the verges of civilization, where disorder frays the rule of civil conduct and propriety surrenders to brutal imposition. Millions are made to kneel and yet more millions die horrible deaths in a welter of suffering and misery.
But leave all that behind and plunge into escapist fantasy of the most irrelevant kind, and in the ragged wake of the tale told in Lees of Laughter's End, those most civil adventurers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, along with their suitably phlegmatic manservant, Emancipor Reese, make gentle landing upon a peaceful beach, beneath a quaint village at the foot of a majestic castle. There they make acquaintance with the soft-hearted and generous folk of Spendrugle, which lies at the mouth of the Blear River and falls under the benign rule of the Lord of Wurms in his lovely keep.
Make welcome, then, to Spendrugle's memorable residents, including the man who should have stayed dead, the woman whose prayers should never have been answered, the tax collector everyone ignores, the ex-husband town militiaman who never married, the beachcomber who lives in his own beard, the now singular lizard cat who used to be plural, and the girl who likes to pee in your lap. And of course, hovering over all, the denizen of the castle keep, Lord--Ah, but there lies this tale.
Tyranny comes in many guises, and tyrants thrive in palaces and one-room hovels, in back alleys and playgrounds. Tyrants abound on the verges of civilization, where disorder frays the rule of civil conduct and propriety surrenders to brutal imposition. Millions are made to kneel and yet more millions die horrible deaths in a welter of suffering and misery.
But leave all that behind and plunge into escapist fantasy of the most irrelevant kind, and in the ragged wake of the tale told in Lees of Laughter's End, those most civil adventurers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, along with their suitably phlegmatic manservant, Emancipor Reese, make gentle landing upon a peaceful beach, beneath a quaint village at the foot of a majestic castle. There they make acquaintance with the soft-hearted and generous folk of Spendrugle, which lies at the mouth of the Blear River and falls under the benign rule of the Lord of Wurms in his lovely keep.
Make welcome, then, to Spendrugle's memorable residents, including the man who should have stayed dead, the woman whose prayers should never have been answered, the tax collector everyone ignores, the ex-husband town militiaman who never married, the beachcomber who lives in his own beard, the now singular lizard cat who used to be plural, and the girl who likes to pee in your lap. And of course, hovering over all, the denizen of the castle keep, Lord--Ah, but there lies this tale.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
47 people are currently reading
3602 people want to read
About the author
Steven Erikson
125 books14.7k followersSteven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist. His best-known work is the series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
June 1, 2022
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books as soon as I finish the book.
Hands down the funniest book I have ever read.
While this is the 5th book in this series, I am reading this series in chronological order so it is the 3rd book I have read. I thought the first one was rather weak, the second one was downright hysterical, and now this one is simultaneously the best novella, and funniest book I have ever read.
This book is set in the Malazan universe, and while it would be good to read those books first to get to understand the main characters here a bit more, it is absolutely not necessary and you can easily read these books without any knowledge of the other Malazan books.
This book is Terry Pratchett style humor, but is also a brutally dark horror story with wonderful prose - three concepts that I would never imagine would mesh well together but absolutely do. This is a short book and won't take you more than a day to read so I hesitate to say much about the plot as I would likely be giving away some major plot details, but instead I will just explain a few of the characters so you get a sense of why this book is so incredibly unique.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are the main characters, two insanely powerful sorcerers who nobody thinks are powerful until they meet their demise. They are so powerful that they take no offense towards people who try to kill them, as they don't fear anyone. They are teamed up with Emancipor Reese who is their manservant who is constantly terrified of everyone and everything, and has to be constantly calmed down by the sorcerers.
Feloovil operates a brothel but does not allow her innocent daughter Felittle to be a whore, which frustrate Felittle to no end as that is her greatest dream.
Fangatooth Claw the Render is the local lord who is hilariously villainous, and he has Coingood his scribe constantly follow him around to keep a record of everything he ever says so he can keep it for posterity. But he constantly wants Coingood to rewrite the record for his over-the-top speeches because they never come out witty enough.
You have an undead grave digger who nobody thinks is actually dead, a tax collector who appointed himself who honestly believes that the money he collects is benefitting everyone, and a host of other ridiculous characters that I can't say enough positives about.
The ending is glorious and bloody and will have you somehow both wincing and laughing out loud. This book should appeal to any Malazan fan, or any Pratchett fan who has a stomach for a darker story.
Hands down the funniest book I have ever read.
While this is the 5th book in this series, I am reading this series in chronological order so it is the 3rd book I have read. I thought the first one was rather weak, the second one was downright hysterical, and now this one is simultaneously the best novella, and funniest book I have ever read.
This book is set in the Malazan universe, and while it would be good to read those books first to get to understand the main characters here a bit more, it is absolutely not necessary and you can easily read these books without any knowledge of the other Malazan books.
This book is Terry Pratchett style humor, but is also a brutally dark horror story with wonderful prose - three concepts that I would never imagine would mesh well together but absolutely do. This is a short book and won't take you more than a day to read so I hesitate to say much about the plot as I would likely be giving away some major plot details, but instead I will just explain a few of the characters so you get a sense of why this book is so incredibly unique.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are the main characters, two insanely powerful sorcerers who nobody thinks are powerful until they meet their demise. They are so powerful that they take no offense towards people who try to kill them, as they don't fear anyone. They are teamed up with Emancipor Reese who is their manservant who is constantly terrified of everyone and everything, and has to be constantly calmed down by the sorcerers.
Feloovil operates a brothel but does not allow her innocent daughter Felittle to be a whore, which frustrate Felittle to no end as that is her greatest dream.
Fangatooth Claw the Render is the local lord who is hilariously villainous, and he has Coingood his scribe constantly follow him around to keep a record of everything he ever says so he can keep it for posterity. But he constantly wants Coingood to rewrite the record for his over-the-top speeches because they never come out witty enough.
You have an undead grave digger who nobody thinks is actually dead, a tax collector who appointed himself who honestly believes that the money he collects is benefitting everyone, and a host of other ridiculous characters that I can't say enough positives about.
The ending is glorious and bloody and will have you somehow both wincing and laughing out loud. This book should appeal to any Malazan fan, or any Pratchett fan who has a stomach for a darker story.
March 30, 2017
Another Malazan dark comedy special filled with scenes which reminded me of The Addams Family :)
June 6, 2017
"The Wurms of Blearmouth" is the fifth published novella in the Bauchelain & Korbal Broach series by Steven Erikson. Chronologically it is set directly after "The Lees of Laughter's End"
Korbal Broach and Bauchelain are once again on land, following the events of "The Lees of Laughter’s End". The two have shipwrecked on the jagged shores of Spendrugle of Blearmouth, a tiny backwater village whose motley populace salvages the remains of ships that founder off the coast.
Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render has proclaimed that no visitor to the village will leave alive. Feloovil Generous, the owner of The King’s Heel tavern and brothel, has some truly unique body modifications and a daughter who wants to run off to see a wider world.
One character is a girl who likes to pee in men’s laps.
It's all in good fun, however that dark humor for which we have come to love this series is kind of missing in this installment.
Korbal Broach and Bauchelain are once again on land, following the events of "The Lees of Laughter’s End". The two have shipwrecked on the jagged shores of Spendrugle of Blearmouth, a tiny backwater village whose motley populace salvages the remains of ships that founder off the coast.
Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render has proclaimed that no visitor to the village will leave alive. Feloovil Generous, the owner of The King’s Heel tavern and brothel, has some truly unique body modifications and a daughter who wants to run off to see a wider world.
One character is a girl who likes to pee in men’s laps.
It's all in good fun, however that dark humor for which we have come to love this series is kind of missing in this installment.
April 30, 2018
On being between life and death, or life and another form of life. And between two goods with a penchant for weird names and bad sculpting. Featuring tyranny as the icing on the cookie.
November 8, 2021
I now have a Booktube channel! Find me at: The Obsessive Bookseller
Wurms of Blearmouth was the weirdest of the three Bachelain and Korbal Broach novellas I’ve read towards my Malazan Ultimate Reading Project, which is saying something because Lees at Laughter’s End was a doozy.
Weird as it may have been, the dense writing, bird’s-eye format, and multiple POVs resembled the main Malazan series the most, so in a way the familiarity made it feel more integrated into the series than novellas 1&3 even though the story was most certainly a tangent. There were a couple of story elements that jumped the shark a bit (going outside what had been established as possible thus far in the series), which made me roll my eyes a few times. I have a hard time with ridiculous elements in books, especially in a series as hard-core as Malazan. This one came close to making me want to put it down, but ultimately pulled me back in with other gritty, interesting elements. There are some things that happen here that have already added substance to the background of Memories of Ice (the next book in the Malazan URO), so overall I’m glad I stuck with it.
But would I recommend it with a kindle price at $11.99 USD for just a short story? Perhaps not strongly unless you’re a completionist like me.
Recommendations: this short story goes a few steps further to solidify the backstory of these side characters within the Malazan world. Because it’s pricey and a bit wild, it’s not as recommendable as Blood Follows (a must-read), so if you’re only planning to read a couple of companion works, stick with that one.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
Wurms of Blearmouth was the weirdest of the three Bachelain and Korbal Broach novellas I’ve read towards my Malazan Ultimate Reading Project, which is saying something because Lees at Laughter’s End was a doozy.
Weird as it may have been, the dense writing, bird’s-eye format, and multiple POVs resembled the main Malazan series the most, so in a way the familiarity made it feel more integrated into the series than novellas 1&3 even though the story was most certainly a tangent. There were a couple of story elements that jumped the shark a bit (going outside what had been established as possible thus far in the series), which made me roll my eyes a few times. I have a hard time with ridiculous elements in books, especially in a series as hard-core as Malazan. This one came close to making me want to put it down, but ultimately pulled me back in with other gritty, interesting elements. There are some things that happen here that have already added substance to the background of Memories of Ice (the next book in the Malazan URO), so overall I’m glad I stuck with it.
But would I recommend it with a kindle price at $11.99 USD for just a short story? Perhaps not strongly unless you’re a completionist like me.
Recommendations: this short story goes a few steps further to solidify the backstory of these side characters within the Malazan world. Because it’s pricey and a bit wild, it’s not as recommendable as Blood Follows (a must-read), so if you’re only planning to read a couple of companion works, stick with that one.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
March 17, 2015
This is the fifth Bauchelain & Korbal Broach (B & KB) series, and it is much better than the fourth. The fifth story is direct continuation from the third story "The Lees of Laughter's End", many characters reappears from "The Lees...".
For fans of B & KB: this novella gives the usual pleasure, and I love the climax. So far, I think the best ending for B & KB are this novella and "The Healthy Dead". The dark humour is a mandatory, so don't worry, there are many hilarious punch lines (well, more like stab/slash/behead/bite lines) in this story.
The most impressive thing about this novella: Korbal Broach on this story is the best so far although he appeared on fewer pages than on "The Lees of Laughter's End" where he was also amazing. On this story he is pictured as a childish person. I got one little surprise from one of is action at near the end of the story.
For otheres who hasn't read this series: I suggest to read the previous stories. At least the first one "Blood Follows" to understand more of some dialog between Bauchelain and Reese (and the grasp the unspoken warm hearted master-servant relationship. Mr. Erikson shows his great writing style by bring out the drama implicitly); and "The Lees of Laughter's End", there are some reappearance characters from "The Lees...".
For fans of B & KB: this novella gives the usual pleasure, and I love the climax. So far, I think the best ending for B & KB are this novella and "The Healthy Dead". The dark humour is a mandatory, so don't worry, there are many hilarious punch lines (well, more like stab/slash/behead/bite lines) in this story.
The most impressive thing about this novella: Korbal Broach on this story is the best so far although he appeared on fewer pages than on "The Lees of Laughter's End" where he was also amazing. On this story he is pictured as a childish person. I got one little surprise from one of is action at near the end of the story.
For otheres who hasn't read this series: I suggest to read the previous stories. At least the first one "Blood Follows" to understand more of some dialog between Bauchelain and Reese (and the grasp the unspoken warm hearted master-servant relationship. Mr. Erikson shows his great writing style by bring out the drama implicitly); and "The Lees of Laughter's End", there are some reappearance characters from "The Lees...".
December 4, 2017
"When tyrants collide... they have dinner."
This is just getting better and better. I'm actually tempted to finish all short stories, regardless the chronological reading order...
October 25, 2023
very fun, the only one of these tales, that needs knowledge from the prior series, in order to be enjoyed.
December 16, 2023
I can't appreciate this enough.
Like, see for yourselves; for cast we have:
1- The duo Korbal Broach and Bauchelain plus their manservant Mancy the luckless,
2- A cruel tyrant named lord Fangatooth Claw who deposed his brother and is torturing him rn, plus his poor and pitiful scribe Coingood.
3- An ever-hated tax collector, the girl he promised to take to the city with him, who wants to be a prostitute ( note, her mom is a pimp and she doesn't let her work like other girls,), the girl's pet cat which is a Lizzard cat of all things - wtf is that man ?! -, adding more intrigue to the story, the cat is witch shapeshifter who used to be the previous ruler and tyrant of the place.
4- a wrecker of mysterious origin, and various squads of looters and shipwrecks.
5- a dead man who had come back to life ( not really, he moves and stinks ), plus the sheriff/constable of the town who is never married but constantly whines about his ex-wife.
so wouldn't you like this?
Like, see for yourselves; for cast we have:
1- The duo Korbal Broach and Bauchelain plus their manservant Mancy the luckless,
2- A cruel tyrant named lord Fangatooth Claw who deposed his brother and is torturing him rn, plus his poor and pitiful scribe Coingood.
3- An ever-hated tax collector, the girl he promised to take to the city with him, who wants to be a prostitute ( note, her mom is a pimp and she doesn't let her work like other girls,), the girl's pet cat which is a Lizzard cat of all things - wtf is that man ?! -, adding more intrigue to the story, the cat is witch shapeshifter who used to be the previous ruler and tyrant of the place.
4- a wrecker of mysterious origin, and various squads of looters and shipwrecks.
5- a dead man who had come back to life ( not really, he moves and stinks ), plus the sheriff/constable of the town who is never married but constantly whines about his ex-wife.
so wouldn't you like this?
November 2, 2018
A clever and well-written, but forgettable, novella.
The Bauchelain and Korbal stories showcase a different part of the Malazan universe than the main series. It's true that both are dark and rich with magic, but whereas the main books tell dense stories with lots of subtext --- and, sure, some humor thrown in --- these novellas abandon density altogether in favor of some clever quips.
But it's not as if the novellas are also light-hearted. They often feature lots of violence and gore. Often, it isn't that the narrators' or characters' jokes are funny; it's that the jokes are paired with, or playing off, the darkness of what's happening around them.
And while Erikson does a good job making what might otherwise be a tension between funny moments and really dark contexts into a situation where both are enhancing each other, the stories very frequently feel empty or cheap.
It's hard to feel like the reader witnessed anything of meaning or consequence here. Both the plot and characters serve some jokes and maybe one or two "Deep Thoughts" about, say, the nature of tyranny.
So, there's not really much here to comment on. The book really *is* an enjoyable read, especially if you liked the characters from the earlier novellas or their short appearance in the main series, but it's hardly a satisfying or meaningful one. It's hard not to be disappointed by this: the Malazan books are appreciated contributions to the fantasy genre precisely because they try to be insightful.
The Bauchelain and Korbal stories showcase a different part of the Malazan universe than the main series. It's true that both are dark and rich with magic, but whereas the main books tell dense stories with lots of subtext --- and, sure, some humor thrown in --- these novellas abandon density altogether in favor of some clever quips.
But it's not as if the novellas are also light-hearted. They often feature lots of violence and gore. Often, it isn't that the narrators' or characters' jokes are funny; it's that the jokes are paired with, or playing off, the darkness of what's happening around them.
And while Erikson does a good job making what might otherwise be a tension between funny moments and really dark contexts into a situation where both are enhancing each other, the stories very frequently feel empty or cheap.
It's hard to feel like the reader witnessed anything of meaning or consequence here. Both the plot and characters serve some jokes and maybe one or two "Deep Thoughts" about, say, the nature of tyranny.
So, there's not really much here to comment on. The book really *is* an enjoyable read, especially if you liked the characters from the earlier novellas or their short appearance in the main series, but it's hardly a satisfying or meaningful one. It's hard not to be disappointed by this: the Malazan books are appreciated contributions to the fantasy genre precisely because they try to be insightful.
May 6, 2019
While these are horror stories, I find them amusing mostly for the interaction between Mancy the Luckless, Bauchelain and Korbal. Not to mention the pearls of wisdom dropped throughout the story.
April 22, 2020
What this book is about:(assuming you've read Blood Follows and The Lees of Laughter's End
Our favourite necromancers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach along with their manservant, Emancipor Reese make it to the beach beneath a small village called Spendrugle, after the ship Suncurl becomes a wreck. But, of course, this is no ordinary village. Some of the residents include a tax collector nobody cares about, a man who died but really he is alive, an ex-husband soldier who was never married, one lizard cat that used to be many and a girl who likes to pee in men's laps. Oh, and of course the great tyrant of this god forgotten place, Lord Fangatooth. This small society is stirred up by the presence of our three friends who bring chaos wherever they go.
The Wurms of Blearmouth is the fifth and final novella in the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series which is part of the main series of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The story takes place right after the end of the third book, The Lees of Laughter's End and many characters from the third book reappear in The Wurms of Blearmouth.
This story doesn't lack the necessary Eriksonian dark humour that we've seen in all of his books in the series so far (Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates). For fans of Erikson's humour, you won't be disappointed in this novella. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are one of Erikson's famous pairs, like Mappo and Icarium, from the main series. They are partners who take care of each other and we are left wondering who is the most dangerous one. Bauchelain who is the smart one (at least that's what we are left thinking) or Korbal Broach, an evil manchild with an adoration for corpses?
In this novella, I really enjoyed one character in particular and that was Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render ,an arrogant, pompous High Mage with narcissistic personality disorder and delusions of grandiosity. He is always followed by his scribe, Coingood who is allocated the task of not only writing down everything Fangatooth says, but making sure to reinvent and rewrite sentences to make it sound better.
This is a horrific tale full of funny moments, blood and gore, corpses, weird sex fetishes and body parts and some cookie baking (with extra icing of course for Korbal Broach who loves icing)! The story leads to a peak moment at the end when chaos breaks loose and from then on we are left to go back to our main series with Memories of Ice being the next book suggested by the Malazan wikia. I'm excited and a little intimidated by the volume of this thing. As for The Wurms of Blearmouth, you should definitely go for it. Many readers agree that it's the best novella of the three (Blood Follows and The Lees of Laughter's End).
For more book discussion you can check out my book blog: My Bookshelf Dialogues
Our favourite necromancers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach along with their manservant, Emancipor Reese make it to the beach beneath a small village called Spendrugle, after the ship Suncurl becomes a wreck. But, of course, this is no ordinary village. Some of the residents include a tax collector nobody cares about, a man who died but really he is alive, an ex-husband soldier who was never married, one lizard cat that used to be many and a girl who likes to pee in men's laps. Oh, and of course the great tyrant of this god forgotten place, Lord Fangatooth. This small society is stirred up by the presence of our three friends who bring chaos wherever they go.
The Wurms of Blearmouth is the fifth and final novella in the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series which is part of the main series of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The story takes place right after the end of the third book, The Lees of Laughter's End and many characters from the third book reappear in The Wurms of Blearmouth.
Could be a bit of trouble washed up here today, eh? Well, I doubt Fangatooth and his golems will have anything to worry about.
This story doesn't lack the necessary Eriksonian dark humour that we've seen in all of his books in the series so far (Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates). For fans of Erikson's humour, you won't be disappointed in this novella. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are one of Erikson's famous pairs, like Mappo and Icarium, from the main series. They are partners who take care of each other and we are left wondering who is the most dangerous one. Bauchelain who is the smart one (at least that's what we are left thinking) or Korbal Broach, an evil manchild with an adoration for corpses?
Fuck, do I want to kill them all? Hmm, difficult question. Let's mull on it some...It's not like I've got anything else to do.
In this novella, I really enjoyed one character in particular and that was Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render ,an arrogant, pompous High Mage with narcissistic personality disorder and delusions of grandiosity. He is always followed by his scribe, Coingood who is allocated the task of not only writing down everything Fangatooth says, but making sure to reinvent and rewrite sentences to make it sound better.
I am Lord Fangatooth Claw, Master of the Forgotten Holding, High Sorcerer of the Lost Gods of Ilfur, Seneschal of Grey Arts, High Mage of the League of Eternal Allies.
This is a horrific tale full of funny moments, blood and gore, corpses, weird sex fetishes and body parts and some cookie baking (with extra icing of course for Korbal Broach who loves icing)! The story leads to a peak moment at the end when chaos breaks loose and from then on we are left to go back to our main series with Memories of Ice being the next book suggested by the Malazan wikia. I'm excited and a little intimidated by the volume of this thing. As for The Wurms of Blearmouth, you should definitely go for it. Many readers agree that it's the best novella of the three (Blood Follows and The Lees of Laughter's End).
For more book discussion you can check out my book blog: My Bookshelf Dialogues
June 28, 2016
Best of the B&KB books to date. The are all a macabre farce.
June 22, 2024
Reread 2024
On a re-read the review below stands. I did look up wurms even though I was pretty sure what it meant. Old high German word for a worm or a parasitic mite. I figure parasitic mite is the best usage for Blearmouth. Pretty much every single character except for our putative heros are parasitic mites in one way or another. Huh... funny enough I read this in June in 2020 the first time. Kind of odd coincidence to be in June again.
***First review*****
The survivors of the Suncurl, including Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and their manservant Emancipor Reese wash up on the bleary landscape of Blearmouth. A coast known for the salvagers who live there making their living by looting the wrecks that often wash up and not above making sure there are no survivors.
The small village is a hotbed though of intrigue and twisted emotions. Nearly every villager is hiding something and looking for an advantage over their seeming enemies. The colorful characters include a hermit , a mad innkeeper hiding secrets under her blouse, a hanged man who just refused to die, and a very odd and dangerous pet.
Erikson does a good job head hopping and keeping each characters arc interesting as Bauchelain and Korbal Broach manipulate the local lord to further their own designs the village explodes into violence making it way up to the lords keep before its over. As the story ends the main characters are set up for their appearance in the main line of novels in the Malazan Empire stories.
All in all this was the most pleasant and easiest read of all three Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories.
On a re-read the review below stands. I did look up wurms even though I was pretty sure what it meant. Old high German word for a worm or a parasitic mite. I figure parasitic mite is the best usage for Blearmouth. Pretty much every single character except for our putative heros are parasitic mites in one way or another. Huh... funny enough I read this in June in 2020 the first time. Kind of odd coincidence to be in June again.
***First review*****
The survivors of the Suncurl, including Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and their manservant Emancipor Reese wash up on the bleary landscape of Blearmouth. A coast known for the salvagers who live there making their living by looting the wrecks that often wash up and not above making sure there are no survivors.
The small village is a hotbed though of intrigue and twisted emotions. Nearly every villager is hiding something and looking for an advantage over their seeming enemies. The colorful characters include a hermit , a mad innkeeper hiding secrets under her blouse, a hanged man who just refused to die, and a very odd and dangerous pet.
Erikson does a good job head hopping and keeping each characters arc interesting as Bauchelain and Korbal Broach manipulate the local lord to further their own designs the village explodes into violence making it way up to the lords keep before its over. As the story ends the main characters are set up for their appearance in the main line of novels in the Malazan Empire stories.
All in all this was the most pleasant and easiest read of all three Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories.
February 14, 2016
Το The Wurms of Blearmouth αποτελεί χρονικά το τέλος της μίνι τριλογίας της σειράς The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. Η ιστορία ξεκίνησε με το Blood Follows, συνεχίστηκε στο The Lees of Laughter's End και τελείωσε με το The Wurms of Blearmouth.
Το The Wurms of Blearmouth είναι με διαφορά το καλύτερο και πιο ευχάριστο από τα τρία βιβλία. Καλό χιούμορ, πολλοί ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες, παράνοια, θάνατοι, αίμα, σεξ, φετίχ και ματαιοδοξία, όλα συγκεντρωμένα σε 120 σελίδες. Πέρα από την εξαιρετική πλοκή, το βιβλίο κλείνει επιτέλους την ιστορία που ξεκίνησε στο Blood Follows και ο αναγνώστης έχει μία ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα για αυτό το ασύλληπτο τρίο που αποτελείται από δύο necromancers και έναν manservant.
Με αυτή τη γνώση μπορούμε πλέον να επιστρέψουμε στην κυρίως σειρά, και συγκεκριμένα στο τρίτο της βιβλίο ( Νο.6 σύμφωνα με την Ultimate λίστα) που ονομάζεται Memories of Ice. Και, ω ναι, πόσο ανυπομονούμε...
Το The Wurms of Blearmouth είναι με διαφορά το καλύτερο και πιο ευχάριστο από τα τρία βιβλία. Καλό χιούμορ, πολλοί ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες, παράνοια, θάνατοι, αίμα, σεξ, φετίχ και ματαιοδοξία, όλα συγκεντρωμένα σε 120 σελίδες. Πέρα από την εξαιρετική πλοκή, το βιβλίο κλείνει επιτέλους την ιστορία που ξεκίνησε στο Blood Follows και ο αναγνώστης έχει μία ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα για αυτό το ασύλληπτο τρίο που αποτελείται από δύο necromancers και έναν manservant.
Με αυτή τη γνώση μπορούμε πλέον να επιστρέψουμε στην κυρίως σειρά, και συγκεκριμένα στο τρίτο της βιβλίο ( Νο.6 σύμφωνα με την Ultimate λίστα) που ονομάζεται Memories of Ice. Και, ω ναι, πόσο ανυπομονούμε...
June 26, 2016
...Like all of the previous novels these novellas are interesting and a welcome change of pace for Erikson readers. They offer a more concise view into the world of Malaz, with more emphasis on Erikson's talent for satire. Personally I liked what Erikson did with Crack'd Pot Trail a shade more but The Wurms of Blearmouth is most certainly on of the better entries in this series. One that will probably prove more popular than its predecessor. Sometime in the near future the sixth novella titled The Fiends of Nightmaria will appear. I can't wait to get my hands on that one. I might even be ready to face Fall of Light, Erikson's latest novel and a massive tome, after that.
Full Random Comments review
Full Random Comments review
May 22, 2015
This is a direct continuation of the story in The Lees of Laughter's End (The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach #3). I was impressed by the colorful cast of characters in a 200 page novella, as well as absolutely hilarious dialogue between Emancipor Reese and Bauchelain. Steven Erikson has a wicked sense of humor :)
July 22, 2014
This one did not have the charm of the first three novellas. The parts featuring Bauchelain, Korbal and Mancy were quite entertaining but otherwise it was mostly 'meh'.
And yes the Spilgit parts were good too. So overall not too bad but I was expecting better.
And yes the Spilgit parts were good too. So overall not too bad but I was expecting better.
March 16, 2017
Grisly, yet humorous read. Favourite so far of the novellas.
November 27, 2018
This was a quick and enjoyable read, with all the usual suspects doing all the usual things. I do so love how Mr. Erikson writes, providing you with some mental immersion into his worlds and filling you with many dark visions. Oh, and laughter on occasion : )
I fear one thing though... familiarity breeds contempt. I think I might be coming down with some of this as I was left at the end of his tale here thinking "This is it?" Somehow I was expecting more story and better ending. Sort of a wonderful after dinner cigar that was perfect following the dessert, only to be left with the taste in your mouth the next morning of stale cigar flavor.
I will honestly admit that this series is not my favorite, and pales in comparison to his Malazan works. That said, the stories are entertaining to some degree, and are very well told. I wish we could get some more Malazan books however, and long for the heavier reading they would promise.
I would probably say this is a 3.5 Star based on my feelings, but will round up because the author is worthy of such a favor. 4 Stars it is.
I fear one thing though... familiarity breeds contempt. I think I might be coming down with some of this as I was left at the end of his tale here thinking "This is it?" Somehow I was expecting more story and better ending. Sort of a wonderful after dinner cigar that was perfect following the dessert, only to be left with the taste in your mouth the next morning of stale cigar flavor.
I will honestly admit that this series is not my favorite, and pales in comparison to his Malazan works. That said, the stories are entertaining to some degree, and are very well told. I wish we could get some more Malazan books however, and long for the heavier reading they would promise.
I would probably say this is a 3.5 Star based on my feelings, but will round up because the author is worthy of such a favor. 4 Stars it is.
July 8, 2014
I was recently scrolling through the Tor website looking for something new to read when I stumbled upon the word, ‘grimlark’. I was so taken by the word that I actually didn’t notice what book it was describing because it was the perfect descriptive word for the book I was reading at the time, The Wurms of Blearmouth, the latest novella by author Steven Erikson about his unlikely trio, necromancers Beauchelain and Broach and their manservant, Emancipor Reese also known as Mancy the Unlucky for the fact that every ship he has sailed on has sunk and all his previous masters have met untimely deaths.
After their ship sinks (not too surprising with Mancy on board) and the three are stranded on Spendrugle, a small village populated by reavers, wreckers, gods, and dead folk. Lord Fangatooth Claw, tyrant and usurper, when he’s not torturing his brother, has declared that all visitors be brought to the Keep to be killed, a directive the townsfolk are more than happy to comply with. Unfortunately for him, he’s never had visitors like Beauchelain and Broach before. Turns out tyrants just don’t have the staying power they used to.
Anyone who is a fan of Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen won’t be surprised to learn that there is a huge cast here, many already familiar as well as a host of new ones all with wonderfully descriptive names like Coingood, scribe for the aforementioned Fangatooth Claw. Nor will they be surprised to discover that this huge cast consists of some of the oddest, darkest and most unlikable characters they will encounter in gritty realism, a form of fantasy known for odd, dark, and unlikable. Or that, despite this, Erikson makes us like his characters against our better judgment because of the humour, both subtle and not so subtle, he infuses into the mix. The Wurms of Blearmouth is a complex, intelligent, and darkly funny tale and proves again why Erikson is considered one of the best of the modern fantasy writers.
After their ship sinks (not too surprising with Mancy on board) and the three are stranded on Spendrugle, a small village populated by reavers, wreckers, gods, and dead folk. Lord Fangatooth Claw, tyrant and usurper, when he’s not torturing his brother, has declared that all visitors be brought to the Keep to be killed, a directive the townsfolk are more than happy to comply with. Unfortunately for him, he’s never had visitors like Beauchelain and Broach before. Turns out tyrants just don’t have the staying power they used to.
Anyone who is a fan of Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen won’t be surprised to learn that there is a huge cast here, many already familiar as well as a host of new ones all with wonderfully descriptive names like Coingood, scribe for the aforementioned Fangatooth Claw. Nor will they be surprised to discover that this huge cast consists of some of the oddest, darkest and most unlikable characters they will encounter in gritty realism, a form of fantasy known for odd, dark, and unlikable. Or that, despite this, Erikson makes us like his characters against our better judgment because of the humour, both subtle and not so subtle, he infuses into the mix. The Wurms of Blearmouth is a complex, intelligent, and darkly funny tale and proves again why Erikson is considered one of the best of the modern fantasy writers.
August 10, 2014
I do confess that I have never read an Erikson book, but I always wanted to try one. Now, well I did not exactly start at the beginning. And I have no idea what Bachelain and Korbal have been up to before, but that does not matter. I never felt lost. I just walked into an adventure that began and ended in this novella.
How to even explain this? It's like Pratchett meets Gormenghast meets something very dark (I have not read those Grim authors yet so I can't compare). There is dark dry humour, people have silly names and no one is nice. No one.
There is a big cast of characters for such a short story. Bauchelain, Korbal and their servant arrive after they have been shipwrecked. And then a lot of others follow them for different reasons (money and more.) And then there is the village and keep of course. I liked the village, as much as you can like people like that. We have the tax collector, the cat who hates the tax collector, the old guy who lives at the beach and sends travelers to their doom. The woman who owns the brothel, her daughter who wants to become a whore, the constable who sends strangers to the keep to die, the man who is dead but not dead, and of course the Lord of the Keep who is quite the tyrant.
They are all insane, murderous, lecherous killers. But I laughed. There was this one scene with the woman who owns the brothels and trust me, you have not seen that before.
This was a fun and rather strange novella. It's a village that you do not want to venture too, and characters you do not want to meet. So luckily I can read about them and experience them that way instead. And as I have not read Erikson before I have no idea if the rest of his novels are like this. But from what I have seen he might keep this dark humor to B and Korbal's tales. They are perfect for it.
How to even explain this? It's like Pratchett meets Gormenghast meets something very dark (I have not read those Grim authors yet so I can't compare). There is dark dry humour, people have silly names and no one is nice. No one.
There is a big cast of characters for such a short story. Bauchelain, Korbal and their servant arrive after they have been shipwrecked. And then a lot of others follow them for different reasons (money and more.) And then there is the village and keep of course. I liked the village, as much as you can like people like that. We have the tax collector, the cat who hates the tax collector, the old guy who lives at the beach and sends travelers to their doom. The woman who owns the brothel, her daughter who wants to become a whore, the constable who sends strangers to the keep to die, the man who is dead but not dead, and of course the Lord of the Keep who is quite the tyrant.
They are all insane, murderous, lecherous killers. But I laughed. There was this one scene with the woman who owns the brothels and trust me, you have not seen that before.
This was a fun and rather strange novella. It's a village that you do not want to venture too, and characters you do not want to meet. So luckily I can read about them and experience them that way instead. And as I have not read Erikson before I have no idea if the rest of his novels are like this. But from what I have seen he might keep this dark humor to B and Korbal's tales. They are perfect for it.
March 17, 2017
welcome to spendrugle, where the motto should be 
so even though i liked this book, it's definitely my least favourite so far of all the Korbal & Bauchelain novellas i've read so far. In this instance i don't think the supporting cast worked as well as it did in the other books. Probably, the other books in the novella will shed more light on this story but alone while okay, it just didn't cut it like i hoped it would.
August 19, 2016
ok, I'm on a Bauchelain & Korbal Broach roll. what I did not know and wish I had is that I should have read this before Crack'd Pot Trail. while nothing was spoiled or otherwise revealed, following along with exploits in order (misorder? disorder?) would have been more fun and put me more deeply in character to better experience the Chaucery tale. that said,
this novella returns much of the obvious humor of the first 3 B&KB titles...though much more that of the slapstick and crass than that of the erudite I greatly enjoyed and admired and applauded and agreed with and miss. some of it was present (practically ever word uttered by Bauchelain qualifies (and he is my favorite character)), especially (again as is usual) in the conversations between Bauchelain and Mancy. speaking of conversations, Korbal Broach practically talks our ears off in this tale!
I enjoyed the story quite a bit. some great characters, great moments and great moments of action, from known and new characters. however there seemed to be a few too many characters and moments that were unnecessary, or mostly unnecessary, which is mostly the same thing. mostly, though, I rue the loss of class and the eruption of crass. I don't see its point or think it near as funny; it feels less, less intelligent, less invigorating, less insightful. so while I rate this novella a 4, it's a low one, more like a rounded 3.6.
it's great to have the three amigos back, but here's to hoping they're back in full in Nightmaria.
this novella returns much of the obvious humor of the first 3 B&KB titles...though much more that of the slapstick and crass than that of the erudite I greatly enjoyed and admired and applauded and agreed with and miss. some of it was present (practically ever word uttered by Bauchelain qualifies (and he is my favorite character)), especially (again as is usual) in the conversations between Bauchelain and Mancy. speaking of conversations, Korbal Broach practically talks our ears off in this tale!
I enjoyed the story quite a bit. some great characters, great moments and great moments of action, from known and new characters. however there seemed to be a few too many characters and moments that were unnecessary, or mostly unnecessary, which is mostly the same thing. mostly, though, I rue the loss of class and the eruption of crass. I don't see its point or think it near as funny; it feels less, less intelligent, less invigorating, less insightful. so while I rate this novella a 4, it's a low one, more like a rounded 3.6.
it's great to have the three amigos back, but here's to hoping they're back in full in Nightmaria.
May 8, 2018
How did he come up with all those names?!
March 8, 2024
Manca il delirio finale delle altre novelle, ma mi sono goduto immensamente l’azione, che nella sua frenesia e delirio mi ha ricordato più un capitolo di One Piece che gli altri libri di Erikson. Il vero dramma e delirio di incomprensibilità comunque non è tanto Bauchelain, ma Korbal Breach.
February 14, 2018
Rating: ★★★★
I had a good laugh reading this ! Never thought Steven Erikson have a good sense of humor !
I had a good laugh reading this ! Never thought Steven Erikson have a good sense of humor !
May 8, 2021
bacuhelain and reese's master servant relationship is just so good
December 26, 2022
Funny, silly and imaginative. Great romp.
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