From the Bookshelf of Grimdark Fantasy…

Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1)

Steven Erikson

Start date: September 5, 2016

Finish date: October 31, 2016

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 47 topics — 1,325 comments total

Group Reads Discussions

* May/June '18 - Blackwing - **BEWARE OF SPOILERS**
By Tracey the Li… , First In, Last Out · 11 posts · 81 views

last updated Sep 27, 2018 05:21AM

* May/June '18 - Blackwing by Ed Mcdonald - **NO SPOILERS**
By Tracey the Li… , First In, Last Out · 11 posts · 59 views

last updated May 28, 2018 08:41PM

showing 6 of 6 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 11, 2009 Jokoloyo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Prior of this book, my majority pleasure reading materials were science fiction. This is my third book of epic fantasy (Lord of the Rings is the first, Game of Throne is the second). This book made me wants to try epic fantasy genre.

For introducing a complex Malazan universe, this book has vast characters with a lot of intrigue, not-easy-to-understand magic system, and background history that span hundred thousands of years.

This book has BRUTAL learning curve! There is no slow pace info dump at ...more

107 likes · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2009 Chris Haught rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-owned-ebook, read-owned-paperback, humble-bundle, malazan-books

This book is an incredible introduction to the series. It is a little confusing at first, but gripping at the same time.

19 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2021 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, fantasy, mages, mgr, goddess-gods, dark-fantasy, epic-fantasy, assassin, mage

Now that is some good fantasy reading, I loved every moment.

Thoughts to come.

14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2007 John rated it really liked it

This is the first novel in a now-completed 10-novel epic fantasy by Canadian writer Steven Erikson. It's an impressive enough first novel that I look forward to reading future installments. I wouldn't have to, though: unlike many epic fantasy series, this novel looks like it could stand alone, with all of its major plot threads pretty well wrapped up; there are certainly things for each character and for the world as a whole which could be explored in future volumes, but there's no real cliff-ha This is the first novel in a now-completed 10-novel epic fantasy by Canadian writer Steven Erikson. It's an impressive enough first novel that I look forward to reading future installments. I wouldn't have to, though: unlike many epic fantasy series, this novel looks like it could stand alone, with all of its major plot threads pretty well wrapped up; there are certainly things for each character and for the world as a whole which could be explored in future volumes, but there's no real cliff-hanger here. In a genre dominated by plot lines that don't get resolved for thousands and thousands of pages, this is refreshing.

Even as I type that, though, a part of me feels like the ending is just a bit too pat. Let me explain, by talking about the things that I think Erikson does well and the elements that seem weaker to me. First and foremost, he has created here a fully realized world that is quite original in its conception. Here are no elves or dwarves or hobbits, though we have alien races aplenty. Here is magic, but with its own unique system which we're only beginning to discover. Here, too, is a world as a whole to discover, with all its history and politics, its poetry and philosophy. Erikson gives us, from page one, a world vast and real; at first, it is hard to settle in, because strange things are referred to so matter-of-factly, but gradually it all comes into focus, and his achievement is revealed in its real genius. Erikson is also particularly talented at drawing rounded characters quickly and deftly. The grand scope of the plot and its action doesn't always allow for extremely deep characterization, but he makes the most of his materials--it's inevitable that some of the characters will appear somewhat flat, but he gives us enough sense of depth to let us believe in the reality of his characters.

These rounded folks are, I should add, not all on the same side, and another part of Erikson's excellence is the way that he confuses our sympathies (in a good way)--it's clear that certain characters are at odds with each other, even when they don't know it, and he's drawn the characters well enough that we want both sides to succeed. By the end, Erikson has worked things out such that most of the characters for whom we've been cheering end up in a good place. He kills off some characters we might have liked, but ultimately the ones who die tend to be bit parts or less sympathetic characters--which brings us back to my concern that ultimately the ending may be just a bit too facile. While there's too much still hanging in the balance to call the ending "happily ever after," there's still something about the ending that seemed too easy. Perhaps I'm just being too hard on Erikson here--the fact is that he wrote a story that was engaging enough that I can't wait to dig into later volumes in the series, and that's a pretty good mark of success in and of itself, isn't it? ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2020 Chompa rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy, grimdark, 2020

This was my third attempt to read this book. Both of my previous attempts resulted in me saying, "This is horrible, I'm done with it." Why on Earth did I try it again? Good question. It is frequently said that this is the best fantasy series of all time. It is also said, people love it or hate it. It is also said, "If you can get past the first book or two, it becomes fantastic." Based on that and urging from a guy in my D&D group, I thought I'll give it one more try.

It was a slog this time, bu ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2008 Jason rated it it was amazing

Loved the reread. Amazing how much Erikson starts things up with this, but you don't notice when you first read it ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2008 Weylin rated it really liked it

The bad think about this book, other than the cover, is that it throws you in a world with nothing to guide you or explain what is what other than a index of terms and people. Once you get things figured out, the charecters and plot are fun and addicting.

Like · see review