- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Malazan series
Posted on 3/7/18 at 10:45 am
Posted on 3/7/18 at 10:45 am
I recently started Gardens of the Moon and I am about 200 pages in. I have heard that this series is fantastic but I am not seeing it. Am I still too early in the book and it will start getting good later or am I just not getting it?
5
Posted on 3/7/18 at 11:31 am to chryso
It's really tough to start. Erikson does almost zero traditional world building. He just throws you in at the deep end and expects you to swim.
The more you read the more it starts to make sense. It just takes longer than usual to really find the rhythm.
The more you read the more it starts to make sense. It just takes longer than usual to really find the rhythm.
Posted on 3/7/18 at 6:12 pm to chryso
I usually suggest people start with the second book of the series rather than the first, it's a much easier book to ease into the series with, and that book is a much better gauge of whether you will like Erikson or not. It can be hard to jump into Gardens of the Moon since he basically just throws you into the world with no background or infodumps.
Basically what GreenChiliTiger said.
Basically what GreenChiliTiger said.
This post was edited on 3/7/18 at 6:13 pm
Posted on 3/10/18 at 10:31 am to chryso
Its is really hard to understand what happens in book 1. But get through the second book before deciding - its much easier to follow and one of my favorites from anywhere.
Posted on 3/10/18 at 10:52 am to Sneaky__Sally
I read Gardens of The Moon a couple years. It was a tough read but I remember enjoying it.
The problem is that now I remember virtually nothing that happens so if I start book 2 without a reread I have a feeling I'll be completely lost.
And I dont really feel like rereading Gardens of The Moon
The problem is that now I remember virtually nothing that happens so if I start book 2 without a reread I have a feeling I'll be completely lost.
And I dont really feel like rereading Gardens of The Moon
Posted on 3/10/18 at 2:09 pm to CottonWasKing
Its actually far better on the reread IMO.
Posted on 3/11/18 at 10:39 am to chryso
I very much disliked Gardens of the Moon. It was straight up work getting through it. I have heard that the world slowly takes shape throughout all the novels and ultimately the series is amazing. But I haven't picked up the second book. Not sure I will.
Posted on 3/11/18 at 11:04 am to LoveThatMoney
quote:
But I haven't picked up the second book. Not sure I will.
Given the types of authors you like it's probably worth your while to at least read the second book. The second book is one of the top 4 books in the series, so if you didn't like that one you'd know Erikson is just not for you.
I enjoyed Garden of the Moon (and tremendously more on reread), but it was written several years before the rest of the series and Erikson improved a great deal as a writer between books 1 and 2.
Posted on 3/11/18 at 4:12 pm to CottonWasKing
quote:
The problem is that now I remember virtually nothing that happens so if I start book 2 without a reread I have a feeling I'll be completely lost.
Don't worry, non of the characters from book 1 are in book 2 so you will be lost at the beginning anyway. His timeline jumps around from the chronological book order, and most are pretty well self contained with a main purpose for that book, at least until the end.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:32 pm to chryso
I'll echo what others have said. If you're having trouble with Gardens of the Moon, put it on the backburner and read Deadhouse Gates. If I remember correctly the two books are happening fairly concurrently.
In Media Res is a tough technique to tackle, and Erickson unfortunately uses it as a bludgeon.
However, you really, really appreciate it on subsequent re-reads of the series.
MBoTF is by far my favorite fantasy series. By a rather large margin.
In Media Res is a tough technique to tackle, and Erickson unfortunately uses it as a bludgeon.
However, you really, really appreciate it on subsequent re-reads of the series.
MBoTF is by far my favorite fantasy series. By a rather large margin.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:41 pm to Centinel
quote:
MBoTF is by far my favorite fantasy series. By a rather large margin.
It seems to be a love it or can't even get through it series though.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 2:55 pm to Sneaky__Sally
quote:
It seems to be a love it or can't even get through it series though.
Pretty much, very few people seem to be neutral towards it. That's one of the reasons I suggest people starting with book 2. Only a couple characters from book 1 shows up in book 2 and it really doesn't spoil anything from book 1 besides the fact that they live through the book.
And if you don't like Deadhouse Gates you pretty much aren't going to like the Malazan series, so you can drop it quick knowing it's not for you.
And book 1 connects more to book 3 anyway, so you lose nothing by reading it second.
This post was edited on 3/12/18 at 2:57 pm
Posted on 3/12/18 at 5:00 pm to auyushu
quote:
Pretty much, very few people seem to be neutral towards it. That's one of the reasons I suggest people starting with book 2. Only a couple characters from book 1 shows up in book 2 and it really doesn't spoil anything from book 1 besides the fact that they live through the book.
And if you don't like Deadhouse Gates you pretty much aren't going to like the Malazan series, so you can drop it quick knowing it's not for you.
And book 1 connects more to book 3 anyway, so you lose nothing by reading it second.
Bingo.
Posted on 3/20/18 at 10:17 am to LoveThatMoney
quote:
I very much disliked Gardens of the Moon. It was straight up work getting through it. I have heard that the world slowly takes shape throughout all the novels and ultimately the series is amazing. But I haven't picked up the second book. Not sure I will.
Yep, this was my experience too. I can count the number of books I haven't finished on one hand. This is now one of them. I can't see how anyone would like this style of writing.
Once I've finished all the other books in my cue I may try the second one.... but the first one was shite.
Posted on 3/21/18 at 2:58 pm to TygerTyger
its a challenging rid but very very rewarding, one of the smartest pieces of fiction and most rewarding stories (as a whole series) i've ever read.
Posted on 3/21/18 at 7:01 pm to Sneaky__Sally
I am on vacation this week, so I bought Deadhouse Gates to start the series. I love it, but I'm really having to fight the temptation to go full on wikipedia nerd to wormhole the various magic systems, races, etc... There's a pleasure in finding the stuff out organically as the author intends in revealing it... but damn. It's such a dense world, that I just want to dive into the nuts and bolts of it without having to rely on the narrative to discover it.
I've killed my enjoyment of a lot of series (both book and TV) by jumping into the wikis for them, though. It's much more enjoyable and rewarding to slowly gain understanding as you read.
I've killed my enjoyment of a lot of series (both book and TV) by jumping into the wikis for them, though. It's much more enjoyable and rewarding to slowly gain understanding as you read.
This post was edited on 3/21/18 at 7:03 pm
Posted on 3/22/18 at 7:20 am to hogfly
A I little bit of that is ok but if you go too far you will end up reading something that is a major resolution at the end of one of the books. I don't really mind that because seeing this person doing this or killing this guy aren't really why I enjoy the types of books. Some of it is helpful in the beginning.
My best strategy was when I came to something when I didn't know what the frick it was, just keep moving and eventually you get some clues and figure it out.
My best strategy was when I came to something when I didn't know what the frick it was, just keep moving and eventually you get some clues and figure it out.
Posted on 3/22/18 at 8:44 am to hogfly
quote:
I am on vacation this week, so I bought Deadhouse Gates to start the series. I love it, but I'm really having to fight the temptation to go full on wikipedia nerd to wormhole the various magic systems, races, etc...
Don't worry, I was the same way. It will eventually make sense. There's a method to Erickson's madness
The best thing about this series is you'll still be picking little bits up you missed even on a third and fourth read of the entire series.
ETA: And when you get to Tehol and Bugg in the series, don't try to understand them. Just go with it. Trust me.
Same with Krupp now that I think about it.
This post was edited on 3/22/18 at 8:46 am
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News