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@israelgole1701

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Daniel. I was wondering what fantasy series you would recommend me. I love mistborn, stormlight, kingkiller, and lotr.

@loriannwhite8384

3 жыл бұрын

I still wish you would do a book by book, reviews. Thanks 💜

@jamesfrederick.

3 жыл бұрын

Dude I’ve tried to read gardens of the moon so meany times

@supsup335

3 жыл бұрын

If I can give you a recomendation of a book to read: Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet, Dauntless. And if you like it i wouldn't mind seeing you reviewing it😉

@gurentgc3546

3 жыл бұрын

Daniel or anyone! How do you deal with booklice? I have a little infestation.

"Malazan is a masterpiece" HE SAID IT!!! HE FINALLY SAID IT!! glad you enjoyed it!

@jamiereid7428

3 жыл бұрын

Right?!? The first time he ranked it and put it in, was it B tier? I was like fuck that, finish the series lol.

@asnark7115

2 жыл бұрын

@@jamiereid7428 It registered as top tier pulp fantasy by the end of the first chapters for me. After that, it moved into class A general lit by the time the second book got rolling. I don't understand how anyone could have moved through book 2 and not thought to themselves that it was the all-time peak of fantasy, and well-written and imaginative enough to outgrow and outlast everything else but Tolkein.

@barriemclellan1423

Жыл бұрын

It takes time to get there. I hit a block in book 8. Maybe left it 6 months, then back on, and finished the big 10. The 6 Esselmont present times, and his 3 prequels, were easier afterwards. If you can't read quick, and retain what you read, it may not be for you, and given a book club I was in in the past that's probably most out there.

@Zanzabar5

11 ай бұрын

I think it's weak. I quit after getting bored of Memories of Ice. The fact people thought a soap opera in military tents for 600 pages was the best book of the series I put it down and never looked back.

I love this series so much. I started reading it when I was 16 years old, and the story of how I discovered is hilarious. I was in a bookstore looking for a new fantasy series to read, I had previously read Game of Thrones, and The Belgaraid, that was my only ever introduction to fantasy. I went to the bookstore and I picked up a book that seemed interesting, I look at the blarb and was confused by what it said, and so I put it down. Then I saw someone come in, he was wearing a fancy suit and tie and he walked straight to the fantasy section and immediately picked up Malazan. I asked him what it was, and that I was looking for a good fantasy series to read. He told me that Malazan was the greatest fantasy series he had ever read and that I wasn't going to regret reading it, and he said he had to stop reading it because it was detracting from his job, but now that he had time he was going to finish it. And so he handed me the first book and just left, haven't seen him since. So I decided to buy the first book. It took me a year to get through it, and when I read it I was confused, and didn't know what to think about it, because it just didn't make sense to me. I decided that I wouldn't just give up without at least reading the second book, because if I don't read the second then I have not really tried. The second book took me another year to read, but when I was done I was hooked. I burned through the books and am now on the 9th book in the series and so excited for the end. I love this series. It has inspired change in me, and it is has inspired me to write my own fantasy series. Steven Erikson and his writing has been a shinning example for me and I love his writing so much. They have taught me so much about the world, about society, about human beings and about the most important thing in the world, compassion and care for others. Thank you Daniel for this great video.

@simonebergamo97

3 жыл бұрын

This is the kind stories that are so beautiful to read. Thanks for sharing yours

@mathisgolik3636

3 жыл бұрын

Love this kind of story, do you have a link to your fantasy series? I would love to read it

@ladyhoratia1709

3 жыл бұрын

@@mathisgolik3636 I don't have a link. sorry. I wouldn't even know where to be able to share my work or how. for the moment it is all private.

@mathisgolik3636

3 жыл бұрын

@@ladyhoratia1709 personnally i just put all on Wattpad

@ladyhoratia1709

3 жыл бұрын

@@mathisgolik3636 do i have copyright on wattpad?

"Figure everything out" is a nice way of saying "Cry in desperation for hours because after three thousand pages you are still not even at 50%"

@justamanofculture12

3 жыл бұрын

Now that's what we are talking about.

@hulkamania5071

2 жыл бұрын

why would you cry because you got more good book to read?

@Swiergotka78

Жыл бұрын

@@hulkamania5071 I think he meant at 50% comprehension, not pages. It takes a few books to start grasping Malazan. It's like enrolling in a course at university only to find out it takes 10 years to finish.

@saishjethe338

Жыл бұрын

As a wheel of time reader, not at all intimadated😅

@doomdrake123

21 күн бұрын

@@saishjethe338 Wheel of Time is structured and linear Malazan is just confused. Not confusing, confused.

"As the kids say, Malazan hits different." Sir, you are six years older than me.

@detectiveoftheeast8378

2 жыл бұрын

12 to 18 is pretty different, so 6 years can matter

I have always replied anyone who asked, that the Malazan Book of the Fallen was a 3.3 million word essay on the nature of compassion.

@widdershins5383

3 жыл бұрын

Pretty damn close

@justamanofculture12

3 жыл бұрын

Lmao 😂

@justamanofculture12

3 жыл бұрын

This is such an original comment lol

@frankvuletin8700

3 жыл бұрын

An eloquent summation

@andrewbeleckis8643

3 жыл бұрын

Best conclusion

Okay I’m sold, just started it on audible

@cfosburg

3 жыл бұрын

Yikes! Beware, audible will be really rough at first. I recommend you pick up at least an e-reader to follow along when you need to. Also, don’t casually listen to this, you need to be focused...or you might miss loads of text and have to rewind. Note, it may take you some time to adjust to the narrators breaks. Good luck!👍

@astraestus8828

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck. I tried it on audio but couldn't make it that far. I find it much easier to follow along on Kindle even though I don't know what tf is happening half the time(which is intentional on the authors part)

@joyrowancasey788

3 жыл бұрын

Ali I did NOT expect to find you here xD hope you enjoy Malazan!

@dhruveshpatel1109

3 жыл бұрын

You won't be able to follow it on audiobooks

@tilted_skirm

3 жыл бұрын

Without being able to atleast jump back and forth to the Dramatis Personae lists I would never have had any chance at understanding so audio version will be very difficult to enjoy I expect

Mom: Wait... Is that guy talking to a knife? Me: Yeah, and that's not even his final form. Roll with it.

@justamanofculture12

3 жыл бұрын

*stabs*

@temperultor7602

3 жыл бұрын

A sharp piece of flint?

@nrjovanovic

3 ай бұрын

how else can you mount a mic?

Being honest, all the talk about Malazan: Book of the Fallen being insanely hard to get through and jarring and all that, makes me want to read it more.

@ArthurHLI

3 жыл бұрын

We both, I'm inching myself in staring it!

@jeremydanchuk1897

3 жыл бұрын

Mike's book review just started a read along if you are looking for a group to help keep you motivated. He started Jan this year on Gardens of the Moon and will be doing a book every 2 months so you have lots of time to catch up.

@Jeffpcb2008

3 жыл бұрын

Well, being that basically the first 6 books are all stand alone novels and they don't really start tying together until book 7, I can see how that is.

@yauhenipyrkh2691

3 жыл бұрын

it is kinda hard at first, but once you get used to the style it pulls you in

@halofan117halofan6

3 жыл бұрын

I read it half way but then was gone for 2 weeks in a biology expidition so I had to restart and I thought I was doing well to begin with... DAMN did I actually miss a lot of details that I have picked up recently sometimes I just reread pages just to make sure I get whats going on

Regarding someone just starting Malazan as a newbie to fantasy: I was in B&N the other day and overheard: “Honey, pick me a fantasy book, I like dragons.” “I pick this one, because the main character is named Whiskeyjack.” I wanted to jump over the shelves with a dramatic slow motion “NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

@akrybion

3 жыл бұрын

Well, it does have dragons. He will be happy.

@Jeffpcb2008

3 жыл бұрын

But it's full of dragons, in fact dragons are why everyone lives or dies

@Isuream6331

Жыл бұрын

Also, saying that there is a main character is laughable because (SPOILERS) There isn’t even a main antagonist. You can kind of say The Crippled God is for the first 7 books, but then he becomes a damsel in distress for the last 3/2

@NikkaPleeease

10 ай бұрын

@@akrybion Would it not be, “she”???

@turtleanton6539

5 ай бұрын

​@@Isuream6331my god that soubds terrible

The main question is why can't I get those beautiful covers.

@august4471

3 жыл бұрын

Most of those covers were used in the new editions for spanish, and Im really grateful for that This is how the spines look: twitter.com/Psyklon_Z/status/1303779511666966535?s=19

@AlessioZanella88

3 жыл бұрын

Some of them are from the limited/lettered edition of subterranean press.

@jeremystewart6880

3 жыл бұрын

Those are sub press book covers. For a full numbered set you are looking at 15 to 20 thousand dollars.

@shawngillogly6873

3 жыл бұрын

@@jeremystewart6880 I saw one person on Reddit who found them for $2300 for the main 10. Still steep.

@Pulviriza

3 жыл бұрын

A few of them are the same as the copies that I have in Australia, like the 2 at 6:40 and MT at 12:05

**Christopher Lee voice** I've been looking forward to this

No series has made me cry as much as Malazan. Erikson's themes and character work is beautiful.

@widdershins5383

3 жыл бұрын

He is/was an archeologist so his world building is ludicrously realistic

@jeremydanchuk1897

3 жыл бұрын

Beak was the guy that got me the most.

@simohayha6031

3 жыл бұрын

@@widdershins5383 ludicrous is strange choice for this context. Ridiculously fits better.

@graemestowe3004

3 жыл бұрын

I am a thirty year old man. I cried during books 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10. 5 is my favorite tho.

@Jeffpcb2008

3 жыл бұрын

@@graemestowe3004 I'm 38, I started with book 3. I have never read a series, and I've read hundreds, that made me feel such raw emotion the way that his books did.

All this love for Rake, who is cool, but I feel like everyone is sleepin' on my boy Quick Ben.

@shawngillogly6873

3 жыл бұрын

Quick Ben is my choice for favorite character as well. A wizard who does wizard things AND outplays the Ascendants at their own game? What more could someone ask for in a character?

@Earls_sweaty_shirt

3 жыл бұрын

No words about Karsa Orlong, the rawest character I've ever read about, either. Also no Fiddler (who I think makes the best case to be the MC of Malazan) mention😔😔

@shawngillogly6873

3 жыл бұрын

@@Earls_sweaty_shirt I'm not a Karsa fan, as such. Fiddler, OTOH, absolutely. And of course, Ganoes Paran. "Stop playing with the mortals, or I'll make YOU pay for it, Ascendants!"

@simohayha6031

3 жыл бұрын

@@shawngillogly6873Coltaine was a fucking legend tho

@graemestowe3004

3 жыл бұрын

The Trull Sengar arc is my favorite

One of the most memorable scenes for me: A millenia old super genga genga uber powered King of Kings global player character shares a dung fire in the steppe with the remnants of a nomadic tribe who briefly tell about how their numbers have dwindled. Other authors, if you ever manage to make such a scene memorable and profound in a series where mountains fly and gods clash, you have made it.

I finished The Crippled God nearly 10 years ago and the Malazan series has stuck with me to this day. Got the opportunity to meet Erikson at a pub Q&A during Worldcon in Dublin in 2019. Even had a couple beers with him. He is an awesome guy with incredible stories to tell.

The Erickson facebook rant is the reason I finally decided to pick up Gardens of the moon.... I'm happy I did

@roshnichoudhary6314

3 жыл бұрын

Can you please give the link to that page

@brettmurray2473

3 жыл бұрын

@@roshnichoudhary6314 I found it through one of Daniel's videos

“Getting thrown head-first into an alien world with no context? “ **Prepares scuba tank** “Sounds like fun!”

@bretter247

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like someone been playing Subnautica. Anomander Rake is a Leviathan I swear

@Ralphinsc

3 жыл бұрын

Bring more than one tank. Or better yet, just grow gills, because you are not going to want to surface once it really gets into your lungs.

@matthewalexander8618

3 жыл бұрын

I've prepared my tank today to get through the following series' 1. Gentleman Bastards 2. The Stormlight Archive 3. Malazan!!

Kruppe is most glad you reviewed this friend Daniel, greatest of Kruppes friends.

@ivanjelenic5627

3 жыл бұрын

*pulls out a pastry from a pocket* *om nom nom nom*

Daniel we need Malazan Spoiler talks. When you reviewed the individual books you hold out on the scenes that blew your mind, or the ones that didn't work for you. Your Goblin Horde needs to know the unfiltered truth! :D

@robertszymanski2408

3 жыл бұрын

This. It has been years since I finished the series. Finding people with a passion for this type of book is near impossible in some social circles and I would love to hear you recount your favorite parts of the story (give us spoilers ffs).

@matthewthompson555

3 жыл бұрын

Not Daniel here. But how about when Kruppe faces down Caladan Brood as he smashes his hammer down before him? My honest to God most Laugh Out Loud moment in the whole series.

@parcaleste

3 жыл бұрын

@@matthewthompson555 mine's when Smiles SMILED before the final encounter. Honest to god, I thought my mandible will detach from my skull. I was howling and crying at the same time. :'D

@matthewjudge3763

3 жыл бұрын

It's been years since I read it, but I still smile when the image randomly pops into my head of Pust and Cruppe (I think that's the right names, its been a while) meet on their... Glorious steeds

@jameshannagan7830

3 жыл бұрын

@@matthewjudge3763 That was so epic.

I love Malazan, but when I recommend it to people I always add the caveat: Each book is like watching a film, but you start 30 minutes in. You are constantly trying to catch up and work out what's going on right up until the climax of the book. Be prepared to give your brain a good workout :)

@wildfire160

3 жыл бұрын

Funny you should say that as the first book was actually made from a film script and not conceived as a book ...

@PerfidiousPuffin

3 жыл бұрын

And the film lasts 50 hours, and if you blink and miss a key moment you'll never understand it. Oh and then after 4 more 50h films of the same that never revisit this films characters suddenly they reappear and you need to recall everything in detail to get what is happening now. You've been warned... 😂

Memories of Ice is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read... there are still scenes (like Daniel says) which have been permanently etched on my brain and recalled at “will”

@widdershins5383

3 жыл бұрын

Children of Dead seed...gawddamn

@shawngillogly6873

3 жыл бұрын

IMHO, The Siege of Capastan is where Malazan went from, "This is good," to, "This is in the top rank of fantasies ever." And then the ending of the book...5 rereads, 50 yrs old. Still weep like a child.

@GaryCrant

2 жыл бұрын

It’s one of the best novels (not just fantasy) ever written.

This man's prolific uploads still boggle my mind. Whatever time management trick you are doing, keep doing it.

@PreppinShootinLivin

3 жыл бұрын

.....it's his job.

@jodiz5901

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, full time.

@bluerectangle5794

3 жыл бұрын

@@PreppinShootinLivin There are many other KZreadrs who make less than half the amount of quality content that this man puts out who earn just as much or even more than him.

@Washeek

3 жыл бұрын

@@bluerectangle5794 He seems to be very genuine and extremely self responsible.

The Dark Souls of book series? Okay Im in.

@AnthonyBrende66

3 жыл бұрын

I had the exact same thought, “oh this is gonna hurt and frustrate me to no end? One ticket please!”

@iergosum

3 жыл бұрын

@@maestercraig3990 hopefully we’ll be done by Elden Ring because that’s gonna stop all my reading for a bit haha

@IntrusiveThot420

3 жыл бұрын

Another good "dark souls of books" is House of Leaves! It's pretty pretentious fancy literature but it's really fun too.

@iergosum

3 жыл бұрын

@@IntrusiveThot420 never heard of it, definitely putting it on the list. Thanks!

@IntrusiveThot420

3 жыл бұрын

@@iergosum it's horror through and through but if you can make it through it's really cool. Enjoy!

I always recommend a second reading of the series if one has the time. Reading it with knowledge of events to come reveals seeds as they are planted, patterns previously missed, subtle references to characters not yet introduced. And being able to interpret the Deck of Dragons using your prescient knowledge is pure joy.

@tommyokeefe6343

2 жыл бұрын

Big plus one to this. I’m on my second read through now, just wrapped up book 8. I didn’t think it was possible to love the series more but I do. It’s also a far more emotional experience knowing where things are going. Rather than dulling the impact, I feel like my second read through I’m far more emotionally present because so much of the larger stuff I had questions about the first time through is no longer a distraction.

The Malazan books are incredible. They legitimately changed me as a person. They made me rethink how I view the world.

Beak approves of this review, because friends are important. the most important thing in the world.

@jakebishop7822

3 жыл бұрын

I just met Beak like 150 pages ago, and if anything happens to him I will be upset

@willybumbum5527

3 жыл бұрын

@@jakebishop7822 i will pray for you

@widdershins5383

3 жыл бұрын

Bless friend beak, the natural high mage too dumb to be a high mage

@silasclayton7777

3 жыл бұрын

😭😭😭😭

@jakebishop7822

3 жыл бұрын

@@widdershins5383 Beak is Quick Ben, if you shift his IQ a decimal point

Malazan Book of the Fallen has taken me more time and energy to read than any series I've ever gotten through. Even still, I can remember specific conversations between characters from the earlier books that I read 5-6 years ago because they were so impactful for me. I picked these up when I was 18 & at a tumultuous time in my life where I was trying to figure out who I was. The way that Erikson asks you to consider ideas and themes through his writing really helped shape the way I view the world around me with more intentional compassion. They exposed me to ideas and philosophies that I otherwise hadn't considered before & I am forever grateful for that. I understand these books aren't for everyone, but they're genuinely beautiful, and are my favorite fantasy series. They're truly unlike anything else I've ever read.

I can still remember how I started „Gardens of the Moon“. I've heard a lot of good things about the books and at first I was full of expectations, quickly confused, and at some point completely frustrated. I almost wanted to quit, but I don't usually do that. In the last third of the book, however, it clicked and I practically read through the rest of the series in one go, at least those books that had already been translated into German. Because English is not my native language and the books are already a real challenge in German, I wanted to wait for the translation of the last four books (in German 8) and that has taken years. The last one will be out this summer, so I'll read the series again. I'm really looking forward to that.

As someone who wants to read this series, I've been waiting so much for your review.

@Jeffpcb2008

3 жыл бұрын

Read it. The first 6 books are basically stand alone novels, but when he starts tying them together in book 7 it's a speed ball into hell and salvation that will leave you with tears in your eyes

I guess you could say malazan is the.. dark souls of fantasy.

I got about 100 pages into book 7 before I finally threw in the towel. I just got tired of not quite getting what was happening, not being able to remember or keep track of all the characters and plot threads. But I didn't want to give up on the elements I loved about Malazan. So instead, I started over. I went back to book 1 and started over. That was a pretty big time investment, even with skimming the less crucial parts, but I 'm glad I did. Now I feel like I'm on much firmer footing. I'm almost through my re-read of book 6 and will be able to start up again on book 7 with a much stronger understanding of what's going on. I've never read anything like it before. I doubt if there is anything else like it out there. I cn se myself picking these up again in 5 years and starting over.

Been waiting so long for this! Malazan reviews are how I found this channel so been looking forward to it as it truly does Hit Different

Malazan is the only series I've read as an adult that I get as emotional about as I did at Harry Potter when I was 10

Malazan Book of the Fallen was the first "real" fantasy series I ever tried. What appealed to me the most about the books was the characters, and how they tended to be relatable in some way. I also liked that it didn't bash you over the head with overly simplistic good vs bad themes every second page. Sometimes the good guys do bad things, and sometimes the people you think are bad are really doing the best they can with the hand they are dealt.

As someone whose favorite things include 1)philosophy and 2)Malazan; THANK you for bringing up that beyond being truly epic fantasy, it is a deep dive into the human condition and what it means to be human. Malazan is life-affirming humanist literature and I love it all the more for it.

I just read "Gardens of the Moon" and I loved it. I'm really looking forward to the next one!! I was enthralled with the elder races, the wonderfully cool magic system, and the Gods.

This was the first fantasy series I read since the Redwall books when I was a teenager. I'm 33 now and read these over the course of 4 years. I'm a slow reader and not a fantasy expert, and I can say that it was the greatest reading experience I've ever had. Don't let people tell you that you need to be seasoned in the fantasy genre to enjoy these books. If a novice like me can read them then you can too!

This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE series. I started reading it on book 3 "Memories of Ice" and I actually read that book 3 times before I started the series from the beginning. I have never read an author that could make you laugh in one chapter then feel like bawling 2 pages later. I'm currently on my second total read-through now. I love this series and recommend it to all my friends.

ok i’m ready to hear what you have to say and put all of these books on my tbr and whishlist

There is nothing like Malazan out there... nothing.. I know I have searched for years ...

@charlesgabriel5569

3 жыл бұрын

@@baracuda5116 I actually have the first book of that Trilogy in my TBR ,have to try it .Thanks for the recommendation ! And yeah stopped comparing reads to Malazan long time back , its just not fair. Even the ICE books (atleast the first four) were not upto expectations, though I do hear his 'Path to Ascendancy' is decent

@kaizer-777

3 жыл бұрын

I've heard The Black Company is very similar, but I haven't read it yet.

@Alex-if1nf

3 жыл бұрын

@@baracuda5116 Didn’t the author stop writing because of low sales?

@IntrusiveThot420

3 жыл бұрын

Hey! If you are ok with giving an anime a try, Legend of the Galactic Heroes has that same feeling of being a real historical place. It's 110 episodes of space politics, where the battles are less interesting than the conversations, and the climax of the series is a discussion between to people about the nature of democracy. I cannot recommend it enough and HIGHLY encourage you to check out some reviews of the series. Again, it's some of the ONLY media that has that "this feels like a real world" thing going on. It's even largely framed as being narrated by a historian, as though the viewer is watching a documentary on the history of a very interesting time period in the past.

@charlesgabriel5569

3 жыл бұрын

@@baracuda5116 Oh okay that's sad .I had assumed it was a completed trilogy from Turner.

Omg I was just thinking about starting this series and Daniel comes with its review!

Oh man this sounds like something I need to read. I love it when authors push boundaries in service of communicating ideas/themes beyond what most stories can achieve, even if the result is inconsistent or even incomprehensible at times.. I just love that feeling of depth and scope, and how rewarding it is to figure something out on your own. One of my favourite films (Primer) takes this to the extreme, with no exposition or guidance at all and a plot that is at once simple (only a handful of characters and locations) yet also the most intricate, complicated, multiple-timeline duplicated-characters plot I've ever encountered in a film. It led to me repeatedly re-watching, making notes, drawing diagrams, scouring forums etc but the payoff was so worth it and I really love that level of engagement and trust from the author. Primer is phenomenal by the way, the plot is just the start, there are so many clues and foreshadowing to pick up but there are just as many subtle character moments or thematically significant lines that initially passed me by. I see something new every time I rewatch it. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Walkaway by Cory Doctorow, Vurt By Jeff Noon, even Neuromancer on a much smaller level all make you work hard and explore themes/ideas/characters beyond the average, but they're all sci fi so I'm excited to read a fantasy series that does something similar! Phenomenal review thank you :)

@joshuasmith8695

3 жыл бұрын

Based on this comment - and your rapport with Primer - I can almost guarantee you will enjoy Erikson's work, it's almost a perfect analogy of the way it's experienced: Story happens, is great -> story ends, everything gets recontextualised, and it's suddenly even better!

I am REALLY intrigued now by this series. Never come across it beyond your mentions in your videos but I think I'm going to give it a shot now. Thanks for the video Daniel.

Got a bookstore gift card from work for Christmas. Haven’t read much of anything for a few years, but I felt maybe a good fantasy series could sparke the joy of reading again, so I just googled “top ten fantasy series” and clicked on whatever review blog came up top. I had already read series 2-7 on that list, but I had never heard of the one up top. Already late going home, I simply ordered the first three books in that series. A few weeks later I’m halfway through Gardens of the Moon and I’m absolutely hooked. Amazing series, and as a bonus, I discovered this KZread channel.

I can't craft into words how much this resonated for me and my own experience of Malazan. After it's all over the emotional ripples just rocked me. I've never been so affected by a work of fantasy and if you can strap in and go on the ride, it is absolutely worth it.

Been waiting for this review for a while now. I Started Malazan on your recommendation.....been loving it so far

thank you for the longer review. This really helped me to make a judgement of if this should be on my TBR. It's been moved to March or April :)

Great job with the review! This series is definitely in my tbr, I just want to be a little more experienced in epic fantasy to go ahead and read it. I want to go through Wheel of Time and Stormlight first, at least those

If I recall I was about 14 or so when I read this series, I still remember the scenes with the child and the dead baby. Mental scarring aside, I still haven’t read a series to date that captures the dualistic nature of people so well, or how easy it is for men to become monsters.

You did a really good job of giving me a strong sense of what this series is like without spoiling it at all. Thanks man

Very intriguing review that convinced me to start the series. You are so much more in depth then just the blurbs you can find online.

I already dedicated an entire year to a massive fantasy series on your recommendation (wot) don't make me do it again 😟

@jakebishop7822

3 жыл бұрын

Do it again

@widdershins5383

3 жыл бұрын

Do it...you know you want to....and it’s worth it

@heygus20

3 жыл бұрын

*Palpatine voice* Do it

@Fade2GrayOG

3 жыл бұрын

One of us. One of us.

@Ralphinsc

3 жыл бұрын

Doooo eeeet!

Loving this series review. I'm halfway through Gardens and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'm excited to dive deeper into this world.

@joshuasmith8695

3 жыл бұрын

Have fun! Many people would sell a few of their organs to be able to read it for the first time again...

@bookishlybookish

3 жыл бұрын

@@joshuasmith8695 dang thats intense lol I'll be sure to appreciate it and take my time absorbing it.

@user-nb5sh4bl7h

3 жыл бұрын

MudfossilUniversity Wiseup channel

@Wordsalad69420

3 жыл бұрын

The weird thing is you'll still be diving deeper on book 10.

@SurferKroky

Жыл бұрын

@@joshuasmith8695 I’m under 200 pages into gotm. Also loving it !

Love your use of light music and pictures in this video

Great Video! I spend 2020 reading Malazan and although I was confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed at times the overall themes stuck with me and kept me thinking over it for months to come. It was different than anything else that I have read in that character actions are mostly left open for the reader's thought and interpretation. I really enjoyed how Steven Erikson was able to create a world where every character had a motive for their actions and could reflect on them to some degree. No one felt two-dimensional but in doing so the story became immensely complex, not unlike our own world. I'm glad Erikson was able to create a world where each character had an ability to intelligently reflect on their surroundings that wasn't limited to their education, social status, etc. I really enjoyed gaining the perspective of numerous characters and learning their background, not just for the sake of learning it but instead, to understand their perspective of the world and events unfolding around them. The idea that everyone, regardless of their background, has something to contribute is thought-provoking. Include that with the overall theme of compassion and you have a story that can speak on different levels for years to come. I'm looking forward to my re-read of the series and further exploration of the Malazan world sometime in the future.

those covers are GORGEOUS, my GOD.

@LamentaFortuna

3 жыл бұрын

That one for Deadhouse Gates that depicted a certain scene had be tearing up just from a picture. Man this series is something special.

No book series I have ever read has changed me more as a person than Malazan has. I think it is safe to say that I am now a genuinely different person than before reading it.

@aaronsmith7012

3 жыл бұрын

I completely fucking agree. More wisdom than any ten religious tomes stacked on each other.

@Washeek

3 жыл бұрын

Same here. Maybe not completely, but I would totally recommend it to any young adult (20s) that is struggling to find their place in a society especially if it seems to them like the worst character traits are what makes you successful and the virtuous traits only make you struggle. This series helped me open my eyes to what I've been missing.

@nHautamaki

2 жыл бұрын

It's fantasy Doestoevsky. Of course literature purists will cringe, but for myself having read both, I stand by it.

This music and the slow wording is so melacholic

This was a beautiful video. I love this style - and now I'm finally going to start Malazan...

Honestly, as a fan this is your best Malazan review yet. It does the series justice while also warning prospective readers of it's flaws and peculiarities.

I loved this series and its been awhile since I read it. Toll the Hounds is the epitome of this series. I remember it to be long and drawn out with nothing happening. And then wham the final 200ish pages are pure gold.

I'm glad to see that you put the microphone on the other end of this dagger, I've spent a lot of videos anxious that you might lose an eyeball!

This is my favourite review by you, you really describe the essence of what this series is about. Malazan left a really big impact on me, and I feel the need to do a reread soon by watching this review. I loved the music in the background also. Great work! Edit: I highly recommend both the tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and the books set in the Malazan world by Ian C. Esslemont. In publication order. You know what. Just read it all!

You should read Esslemont's "Novels of the Malazan empire" next. It follows through with a lot of the plot points Erikson dropped. Alternatively if you want something lighter theres Eriskon's tales of Bauchelian and Korbal Borch.

I'm just finishing up The First Law Trilogy and The Poppy War Trilogy, and then... Onto Malazan. Write me down as terrified and excited.

@SonicBroham

3 жыл бұрын

this is also my quarantine reading endeavor:) on Before they are Hanged right now, want to finish the stand-alones, and then Malazan is just too alluring not to jump into.

@bretter247

3 жыл бұрын

First Law is actually a really good transition into Malazan I think. You come in expecting darkness and grimdark and you find it. But Eriksen sneaks in compassion when you don't expect it, in a way you don't expect coming from Abercrombie

@radecstark3191

3 жыл бұрын

There's more books continuing after the 1st law trilogy

@jameshannagan7830

3 жыл бұрын

All the First Law books were great I thought Wheel of Time had some really good ideas but it was way too long and had more tedious dialog than all of my favorite fantasy series combined I thought First Law was much better have you tried any of the Robin Hobb books yet they are also well-written sorry for the WOT bashing but I never skim-read a long series that much in my life the infantile battle of the sexes nonsense drove me crazy.

Wow! This is the first series review whose viewpoints I wholeheartedly agree with. Both praise as well as critiques. I realize it's subjective, but from where I sit, this is the best Malazan series review I've seen or read. Well done Mr. Greene, well done. Thank you for the time, energy, focus, and passion you bring, not only to this specific review, but to all the content you provide. Have a great day!

Don't think I've ever been looking so much forward to a series as I do to Malazan. Manb. Great review.

HELLO DANIEL. I am seventeen years old and I started Malazan when I was sixteen as one of my first fantasy books. I'm still only on the fourth book so far but it has been amazing. I don't find it too difficult to keep up with all the plotlines because I usually have something I'm looking forward to in each one so I remember them. It truly is an amazing series. Since then I've read Dune and I'm planning on finishing the series, but I loved how similar they felt with the style of writing and the passages at the beginning of each chapter etc. Kinda worried though because now I feel like nothing I read after this will be able to live up to Malazan. I have a long list of series I want to pick up after this though so I don't think I'll get bored.

This makes me even more excited about The Chronicles of Amber Series Review.

@jameshannagan7830

3 жыл бұрын

Another author who does not explain every little thing and will not hold your hand I love Zelazny but a lot of people do not like him for that reason lord of Light is fantastic.

Great overview. I was recommended to read it recently. Wanted to have a general idea, your video helped.

GOT GOOSEBUMPS when you said finishing malazan felt like watching a perfect symphony, DANIEL you are such a poet

My favorite in the series is Memories of Ice. Reading it is like a roller coaster of emotions.

@sneezydeezymcdeluxe7015

3 жыл бұрын

MOI closely followed by TTH and TCG.

Man Daniel is the Skill Up of book reviews, these are so good

I just started out with Gardens, and I really like it. It's like a puzzle. There is no narrator who will tell you what is happening, and instead you have to piece the lore together from sub-clauses and seemingly throw-away dialogue. For me, this is fantastic and exactly what I want to read. (Can't wait to find out where it's going!) But I also understand how it might be difficult to get into for other folks, as you have to actually concentrate while reading this. Edit: Nice, lol. You said the your puzzle comment in the video right after I wrote this. Good to know I'm not alone with this outlook. :))

I've been eyeing the Malazan series for a while now but after this video I just bought the whole series. It sounds amazing even though I'll be confused for a while because in the end it will be worth it and so much more from the sound of it! Your video gave me a good idea of what it will be instead of hate/love reviews I read everywhere which made me non the wiser. Thanks for explaining everything without any spoilers!

I ain't gonna lie, I've never in my life read something as slowly as I read Gardens of the Moon. And it was definitely overwhelming, but in the end, the story was so good that I don't even remember how I went through the second, third and so on books... It is different and heavy and gloomy, and MY GOD did I even took breaks from it with ENTIRE OTHER SERIES, but was it worth it? Hell yes!

Just finished this epic... and i feel like one of the book characters: just need some rest and go fishing. What an odyssey, it took me 2 years to read all 10 novels.

@desslockdezela5552

3 жыл бұрын

The journey has just begun. This next part is the “it’s really hard to get through but it’s worth it” for noobs. You will really really like it the third time through. The small parts are the best and you rushed through them to get to the end. Now you can sit back and crack a beer and enjoy the characters and not the story.

I still need to read the last three books even though I wanted to have finished the main series in 2020. That didn't work out for various reasons and I stiil won't be able to make time for the next installment for a while. Reading these books is a lot of work but you have reminded me that it is all worth it and how much I love this series. Even though I can't continue them right of the bat I feel exited again about coming back to this gigantic adventure in the near future. Thank you Daniel!

Literally my favourite series ever. I've always enjoyed fantasy but I'm very much an all or nothing reader and quite quickly drop a book that doesn't interest me enough. Malazan was a total mind melt to dive into the writing style but my god, the characters were certainly interesting! You can't choose who to root for (or even understand what you are rooting for them to do!) because you see every side so vividly and get to observe the motivations of all them. I really owe my bf so much thanks for randomly gifting this book to me at Christmas one year. Coming out of Erikson's books onto something new makes it hard for me not to be disappointed in the new book for a short time till my brain settles back to a non Erikson style of writing! The only book I needed a break from midway through was midnight tides (if I'm remembering correctly, it's been a little while since I finished the series) as I struggled to get into the character of Rhulad Sengar, but the Bugg and Tehol parts quickly got me engaged again! Definitely agree it deserves high praise but would totally understand anyone who struggled to get into it.

WITNESS! - Bugg/Tehol

I love all of your boxing analogy’s

@genghisgalahad8465

3 жыл бұрын

Reid Blanchard ...use of Mike Tyson.

Wonderful video, it was well worth the wait! As for continuing your journey through the Malazan world, I recommend moving on to Esslemont's _Tales/Novels of the Malazan Empire_ series. - _Night of Knives_ - _Return of the Crimson Guard_ - _Stonewielder_ - _Orb Sceptre Throne_ - _Blood and Bone_ - _Assail_ These books run concurrently to (and past) the _...Book of the Fallen,_ developing additional factions and characters. They also pick up on a couple of the "dropped" plotlines from the _...Book of the Fallen._ From there I would move to the (soon* to be completed) _Kharkanas Trilogy_ by Erikson, and then the _Path to Ascendancy_ books by Esslemont. Finally you can sprinkle in _The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach_ wherever you want, these are novellas that follow the misadventures of the two necromancers we met in Memories of Ice (and saw in Toll the Hounds). After all of this, Erikson's sequel series _The Witness Trilogy_ will be freshly under way.

Just bought the first book today, perfect timing for this excellent review

"Let me explain why. aFTeR a QuICk wOrD fROm oUR sPoNSoR!!!" good transition

@Carpet_Carp

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I personally didn't like how this was done here. A little too intrusive and made the video less enjoyable.

Daniel finally admits Rake is awesome. 💪😂 I've been waiting for this day since I watched your Geralt vs Rake video you made early in the channel. You ranked him lower but I smiled to myself saying, this Daniel boy hasn't experienced Anomader Rake yet. Good to see you have

What a perfect review. Have me in chills the entire time. As a huge Malazan fan im so so so glad you liked it. As for which you should read next. Path to Ascendency series is my favorite personally but if you want to know the history of all the OG malazan empire characters thats the one to go with. Kharkanas Trilogy is great for finding out about Anomander Rake and all those ancient gods tho its written in a style that is slightly diferent that some people can find off putting

Here I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, waiting to read Pillars of the Earth, wanting to start Hyperion--and now you serve up ANOTHER series of absolute BRICKS that I now, after this glowing review, have no choice but to add to my TBR. I don't have space for all these books, maybe it's finally time to get a kindle, PHEW.

The anime equivalent of Malazan is probably "Legend of the Galactic Heroes"

@IntrusiveThot420

3 жыл бұрын

Aaaagh we HAVE TO get daniel to watch it sometime

@fenrirlives2226

3 жыл бұрын

Ight I'm sold now.

@IntrusiveThot420

3 жыл бұрын

@@fenrirlives2226 cannot recommend it enough. None of the usual anime bullshit, through-and-through a solid historical presentation. There's a narrator who's framed as basically a history professor teaching class about the events in the show. It hits that "this is a real world" vibe super well. There are problems: the religious cult that appears later and some comical ineptitude among the first batch of nobles, but like with malazan, the point is the ideas and themes. The core question of the series is "is it preferable to live under a corrupt and rotting democracy, or a blooming autocracy with a benevolent bureaucracy?" Also, there are dozens of named characters that are fleshed out through "show, don't tell", and all have personality and behave like actual people. It's just, it's so good. It's my favorite scifi media of all time.

@arjunmanoj2155

3 жыл бұрын

@@IntrusiveThot420 Knowing him, he's more likely to read the books lol

@fenrirlives2226

3 жыл бұрын

@@IntrusiveThot420 lol yeah I was unclear there with my reply. I love LOGH for it's dry historical take on interstellar politics and drama (among a ton of other things), so hearing that used as a comparison erased all my fears about getting the Malazan books!

Glad you finally came around... pretty scared there for a while. That MT video made me think you we’re gonna a dnf!

@francb1634

3 жыл бұрын

I was hoping this video would revisit the harsh brush-off that Daniel gave MT in his review. That book deserves a much better treatment.

Been super looking forward to this. It's been so amazing to see your progress with the series and the journey you've been on. Edit: Recommendations for Follow-up: If you want the big epic stuff, and you like The Tiste Andii plotlines, go with the Kharkanas Trilogy, Walk in Shadow is unreleased, and it's a slowwww burn, but it establishes the world in really important ways. The more obvious route - and one which addresses some fo your criticism - is the Esselmont companion series Novels of the Malazan Empire, which occur concurrently with the main series and address several unaddressed plotlines in detail relating to the operation of the empire itself, including at least one major plot point that has ramifications for the whole series. If you like Esselmont's style - I'm so/so on it relative to erikson - you may enjoy the Path to Ascendancy, which is a comparatively lighthearted adventure series featuring Kellanved and Dancer And if you want pure silliness and meta-jokes, read the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try the suggested Malazan reading order on the wiki with all 29 Extant books and go through the marathon again, but more. I did that in light of your reviews and I am exhausted, but it was worth it.

I just started the second book today and I loved the first!! Even with all the confusion. Love your channel!!!

I read Gardens of the Moon this past week as a part of Mike's read along, and I must say the difficulty is grossly overblown. I finished it in about 8 days and I feel I understood everything. Really to understand the first book completely you just need to read carefully and with greater attention to details, when there is a "info dump" of new information read the paragraph few more times to really absorb it. It is a very simple story and a linear narrative, although it does sometime play with the flashbacks like in chapter 2. But really I don't understand where people are confused, the only parts I was confused with were the Dragon deck readings but once I figured out what those houses represented it was easy too. The other "confusing"" parts were the prophecies and Kruppe's dreams, but really I only didn't understand the first dream with those starved people and the sack on the tree and that's it. The prophesy from the very first chapter is fulfilled in the same book and the prophesy from that elder god too, you just have to pay attention. And it's really surprising how many people didn't figure out who Shadowthrone and his servant are, I mean it is almost spelled out when they talk about House of High Shadow and how it only appeared 9 years ago, just when someone died.... So my advice to new readers is to read slowly and pay attention to names and new information, pay attention to prophecies because they pay off in this same book, not 5 books from now and you'll love it. I also like the writing style and if this is the worst book in the series and the writing and the story improves later on, as everyone says, then I am going to adore this series.

Incredible series, Dust of Dreams was painful to slog through. I almost gave up while reading it..I felt like someone trying to take just one more step in a ochre hued landscape while dying of thirst, having lost all hope.

@nevyn_karres

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah as a reader you really walked the whole way with them.

Great review, very fair. Lovely to see you reach this point from where you were at the start. I read a couple of the Esselmont books but it just wasn't the same.

I will have to give this series another try now. I had tried reading it years ago and couldn't grok it after reading the second book. This video is very helpful. Thank you.

I'm so fuckin' hyped to read this series now. 2022!!

“Malazan is the most difficult fantasy series to read” *Laughs in Book of the New Sun*

@ivanjelenic5627

3 жыл бұрын

Haha, yeah they're both difficult in their own way. And they're both brilliant.

@jameshannagan7830

3 жыл бұрын

That is the one critically acclaimed series that I did not make it through although it was a long time ago I should try it again now that I am older and more patient author was Wolf I think.

@Njerve1

3 жыл бұрын

Book of the New Sun.. Its not a difficult read, per se. But I have to remind myself that its actually a book series, and not some collection of strange dreams I've had.

I put down book one a while ago...this inspired me to try again and not quit. Thank you Daniel. 😊

This review gives me chills as someone who just has been into the fantasy books world