DeadHouse Gates

Being the second novel in Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, "The Malazan Book of the fallen", this novel follows on where the first novel "Gardens of the Moon" left.

There are several threads of tale happening in parallel being narrated in this book. The Seven cities is in the brink of rebellion, . The Malazan Empress Laseen had ordered a cull in nobility, with many nobles being sent to Otataral mines. 

Spoiler Alert...

Felisin Paran of the House of Paran, Baudin and Heboric are being sent to Otataral mines. Baudin, a talon assassin is sent by Adjunct Tavore (Felisin’s sister)  to protect Felisin. Felisin doesn’t know and blames her sister for the murder of their parents.

The seven cities rebellion, known as the whirlwind led by the prophetess Sha'ik from the Holy Desert of Raraku.

Fist Coltaine, the takes command of Malazan 7^th army against the seven cities rebellion and orders to escort the Malazan refugees to Aren.  He starts the long journey with refugees and rebel armies tailing him.

Fiddler, Kalam, Crokus, and Apsalar (formerly Sorry), following the events of Gardens of the Moon, land in one of the seven cities, to return Apsalar to her village. Kalam makes a contact with one of the rebels and agrees to delivers Dryjhna’s Holy Book, which will unleash the rebellion’s Apocalypse, to Sha’ik in Raraku. Kalam is tailed by a Red Blade captain, Lostara Yil, who kills the Sha’ik  after Kalam leaves.

Meanwhile Felisin, Baudin and Heboric escape from Otataral mines. Baudin sacrifices his life while saving Felisin. Hood takes Baudin in flesh? Felisin and Heboric reaches the oasis where Shai’k is murdered. Felisin opens Dryjhna’s holy book taking the goddess into her body. Felisin becomes the Shai’k reborn.

Lostara Yil tailing Kalam meets Pearl, mage in Claw. Kalam plots to kill the empress, but changes his mind, after having an audience with Empress Laseen. Kalam escapes from a claw onslaught, Shadow throne takes Kalam and Minala (one whom Kalam rescues) to his new warren - The warren of the Shawdow

What happens next ... is in "Memories of Ice".

The One Minute Manger

The “One minute Manager” has sold over 13 million copies and translated into 37 different languages (source: wikipedia). This book has been written in 80's, its concepts definitely holds good even today.

The book begins with a story of an young man trying to find an effective manager, all he finds are either “tough” managers who focus onto results, or “nice” managers who focus onto people. Both categories did not qualify for effective manager. Then the young man met the “One minute Manager” who was tough and nice at the same time. The learning’s given in the book are the conversations happened between them.

According to the book the three secrets of One Minute Manager are:

1) One Minute Goal Setting.

· The employee submits his set of goals (one goal per sheet) to his manager.

· The goals require one minute to read out, its checked and evaluated everyday by the employee.

2) One Minute Praising.

· When an employee does something right, he is praised immediately.

· The employee is encouraged to do more of the same.

3) One Minute Reprimand.

· When an employee makes some mistake, they are reprimanded for a minute.

· Make the employee realize that, when the reprimand is over, it’s over.

· The employee is reminded, how valuable they are for the organization.

One of best quote from the book “People Who Feel Good About Themselves Produce Good Results”.

I would recommend this book to all the budding managers out there.