Malazan Book of the fallen series: Book
1.
“Gardens of the Moon” is the first
novel from the series “Malazan Book of the fallen” by Steven
Erikson. Steven Erikson is an Canadian novelist, whose real name is
Steve Rune Lundin.
“Malazan Book of the fallen” is one
of the best epic fantasy series of recent times. Currently the series
has ten volumes published. The story doesn’t revolve around a
central character, it has a mass of characters. The fictional Malazan
world was originally created by Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron
Esslemont for a role-playing game.
The fictional world is dominated by
Malazan empire with its huge armies, keeps on expanding its
territories by conquering all the known land masses. Malazan empire
was ruled by Emperor Kellanved, who was assassinated. Empress Laseen
rules with the help of “claws” a group of imperial assassins.
The story starts with Malazan 2nd Army
under High Fist Dujek is besieging the city of Pale, one of only two
Free Cities left in the Malazans'
path in continent Genabackis .
Pale is holding out due to alliance with the powerful Anomander Rake, Lord of Moon's Spawn (a floating fortress),
leader of the non-human Tiste Andii (Tiste Andii were invaders from another world).
Sergent Whiskeyjack, Sergeant of
Bridgeburners ( a highly acclaimed and well respected company) tasked
with tunneling under the walls of Pale, looses out his entire company
of soldiers when the tunnel collapsed except for 30 odd soldiers.
Lorn, adjunct to the Empress sends Captain Ganoes Paran to be the new
captain of Bridgeburners. The Empress aim is to destroy Sorry, an new
recruit in Bridgeburners, who is possessed by Cotillion (an Ascendant
of High House Shadow, the patron god of assassins). To do so, she
plans to destroy the whole company of Bridgeburners by giving them
impossible missions and back-stabbing them whenever possible. Even
the collapse of the tunnel they were working on was considered to be
the work of Empress.
 |
The Empress Laseen sends Imperial High
Mage Tayschrenn to destroy Anomander Rake and take over Pale.
Tayschrenn and other Mages with 2nd army attack Moon’s
Spawn drawing out Anomander Rake. Anomander Rake unleashing great
waves of magic thereby destroying most of the 2nd Army,
while Tayschrenn contributed by killing his fellow mages in the
mayhem. Moon’s Spawn having received great damages retreats from
Pale, thus allowing 2nd army to seize Pale.
Sergent Whiskeyjack and remaining
Bridgeburners are tasked to infiltrate Darujhistan (which is the only
remaining free-city) and sabotage to weaken its army before the
Malazan army reaches Darujhistan.
Meanwhile, Moon’s spawn is seen above
Darujhistan, Anomander Rake forges alliance with T'orrud Cabal (a
powerful group in Darujhistan headed by Baruk).
Lorn with Onos T'oolan ( a T’lan
Imass) travels to Darujhistan with another agenda, ie. To set free a
tyrant Jaghut ( T’lan Imass and Jaghut are primeval beings of
malazan world with great magical powers) who is imprisoned for
eternity within great barrows in Darujishtan . Their plan is to set
free this tyrant, and Anomander Rake will have no option to face this
jaghut. If Anomander Rake manages to destroy tyrant Jaghut, it will
weaken him considerably for Malazan forces to destroy Rake easily.
What happens next? Will Lorn free the
tyrant Jaghut? Will Darujhistan fall to Malazan? You gotta read
the book.
With too much characters, sometimes one
has to go back and check who is this character and how did he reach
here. With Gods, and semi-Gods, with magic “warrens” that wizards
draw their power from, it is a work of great skill and beauty.
 |
| Special Edition |
“Gardens of the Moon” is a nice
book to read.
