The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is by far my favorite fantasy series of all time. I'm 44 years old and have been reading fantasy and sci fi since I was 10. I could probably write a book on just how amazing this series is but I will try and keep it short. The author Steven Erikson whom I have met and spoken with has a background in archaeology and anthropology and it shows in his work a lot. He brings an amazing world building experience to the series with ancient civilizations becoming involved in present day book events alongside the newer civilizations. This is a 10 book series which I first read in paperback a few years back. When I saw this version drop in price I grabbed it so I could read it all again. They are long books but very worth it. The only one I don't enjoy a ton in the series is Midnight Tides which was a bit slower paced in some parts. The character development is absolutely fantastic. There are even a few characters who always seem to crack you up. Any time Kruppe or Tehol Beddict show up...be ready to laugh and enjoy them. Kruppe is probably the most intelligent character in the entire series and you just love the guy. As for some of my favorite characters (aside from Kruppe and Tehol) for various reasons I'd like to mention a few so you know who to watch for as you read. Quick Ben is one of them. He is a High Mage who is probably the second most intelligent character in the series. The others I will mention, Anomander Rake, Karsa Orlong, Trull Sengar, Onrack, Bottle, Beak and O'nos Toolan. Kalam Mekhar is another great character who is pretty much partnered up with Quick Ben. The cast of characters is so vast in this series it will blow your mind. But you will remember who everyone is and enjoy most of them. The series itself jumps you right in to a battle after the Prologue. The story is about the entire world but you spend much of it with the different parts of the Malazan army. The story is huge but you only get bits and pieces as to the entire plot at the start and as it unfolds you start to figure out what the big picture is and you will have what are called convergences. Where the author brings huge events together all at once from different sides. Read this series is all I can say. It is high fantasy at its absolute best. I can't wait to read it again a few years down the road after I finish this read through. You may also want to check out books from Ian Esslemont who writes books in the same world with many of the same and sometimes different characters. Erikson and Esslemont started creating something years ago and then decided to write books set in the world they created. Also take a look at Forge of Darkness from Erikson. It's the first book in a new trilogy with the 2nd book due out soon I think. It takes place several hundred millennia before the Malazan series with some of the characters you will already recognize.

So if you're reading this "book" -which in reality is books 1-10 in a series- you've probably read some form of the Malazan books before. If you're coming from an Esslemont book, which are great and I'd recommend highly to anyone, be prepared for a different style. Steven Erickson's saga is more of a slow burn, slowly converging on one of my favorite endings to a series ever. If you're like me and like books that go into great depth, both in world building and character development, you're in for a treat. The dialogue, particularly among the marines, has made me laugh out loud far more than I can ever recall in any other books I've read. You'll grow quite attached to the characters, grinning at their successes and feeling devastated by their losses. I really wish you could click more than one button on the mood indicator, because this series has all of them in spades. I picked thoughtful because for me these books had me exploring perspectives, ideas, and outlooks on life that I had never considered before. As I said, this series has one of my favorite endings ever, if not my outright favorite. I won't spoil it, but be warned- it's a human ending that in my mind captures the essence of the series perfectly. As much as I hated seeing the series end, it's one I'll never forget and reread quite a few times. Always an even exchange indeed.

I'm almost all the way through the series, and I'm so sad that I only have 1.5 books left. But this is hands-down my favorite series ever. Erikson's writing is clever, funny, thrilling, and intense in rapid succession and sometimes all at once. The world he creates is mysterious and complex. The series is ten very long books, yet there is no filler or Tolkien-style tangents. There are many, many characters, and I got attached to most of them at one point or another. Even when he introduces a whole set of new characters each book, they eventually become new favorites, which then add to an ever expanding cast (minus some extremely sad deaths). Tehol and his gang just might be my favorite, which is saying a lot, because that competition is fierce: the Bridgeburners, the Bonehunters, Kruppe, Anomander, etc. and most every character that gets more than one chapter just come alive. Content advisory: On a scale of one to Game of Thrones, I would judge that it starts out fairly mild, despite a war's worth of death and harm, very little graphic content for an adult novel of the type. However, as you get to the thickest parts of the war (I think books 6-7) it starts to peak at about maybe 75% of GoT. Some pretty messed up stuff happens to people that you may or may not normally associate with war, but it's truly not as explicit as GRRM's writing, though for one book it gets more disturbing, in that I consider necrophilia an extra notch or two worse than royal incest.

I absolutely love this series so far. Im 3 books in and Malazan may be my new favorite epic fantasy. Just the scope of this world is enough to keep you engaged. Can be a little confusing in the beginning but it all makes sense by the end of book 1. The character work is amazing. I didnt want all 10 books to take up all the space on my shelf, plus theyre really only available as a matching set in mass market paperbacks anyways... so having them all on my kindle for $80 was perfect for me.

Wow, I have felt happy, angry, depressed, hopeful reading this series. Once I reached the end and realized what I have been reading for 10 books, I was flabbergasted. I am so grateful for not stopping earlier given the difficulty of reading the series. You might not understand WTF is going many times, remembering the myriad of characters, weird names for location/characters/magic, but trust me. Read along. Get through it in your first read. When you reach the end, you would thank yourself. I can't wait to read the series again. These books meant to be read more than once since you will understand the story differently. What a writer Steven Erikson is. Just bravo sir!

Update: Part of the set - a small part - is searchable. 5 stars for the books, 3 for this Kindle compilation. Caveat, I'm only a quarter of the way through. But re the books, there is outstanding world-building, great characters and character development, a wide diversity of voices, plenty of mystery, action and drama. It is a tale of war between a pantheon of old and new gods, but told mainly through the lives of the grunts, the common (in this case uncommon) soldiers who are both the tools, and ultimately the ones whose individual choices truly decide the future. This series is not always easy reading: much happens that will leave you scratching your head. My spouse always reads the last pages of mysteries, and she'd hate every book of this series. But if you are willing to put your trust in a good storyteller, and trust that everything will be made clear at its proper time, it's a wonderful read. I only write reviews when something dramatically exceeds (or defies) expectations. These stories, so far, are a as good an epic as I have read, and I have read many. However, this Kindle edition falls far short of exoectations. It is not searchable, and that is inexcusable in a 10-book series with hundreds of characters. The author thoughtfully provided a list of characters at start of each book, but the inability to pop back to where I left a character several books ago is hugely disappointing, it defeats much of the value of ebooks. But I grew up reading paper, so I will deal with it...

Amazing. Evocative. Most unique fully fleshed out world I will ever encounter. Somehow manages to go against the norms of fiction while also somehow being very realistic throughout. Thought provoking. It’s a lot of work but 100% worth it.

I have read all of the highly rated fantasy series written since 1980. Thus is the one to rule them. Complex, immense in scope and utterly satisfying. Of note, the first volume is the least accomplished of the series, but a necessary introduction to the world building. The accompanying series and novellas are also fantastic.

I had finished all books years ago, consuming all that was published in the Malazan world. When I finished the Path to Ascendancy trilogy, it felt right, to read the Book of the Fallen again. I had forgotten so much... I thought I would be more prepared this time around. Well, should you read this? Yes, you should. I wish I had more people to talk about it... and this will never be filmed, it’s impossible. So read it, and read it again.

I was taken to a world unlike any other I have experienced from Tolkein to Asimov and found myself entranced. The characters are the best written I have ever come across. Their stories comes off the pages in a liquid tapestry of flavour and colour that transcends the typical world dice-roll building we so commonly see from the D&D crowd of authors. WELL done. Have read this artwork several times. Highly recommend!!!!

I hope one day this series will get the recognition it deserves

A rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. Great character and world building. Loved every second of this great series!!

Easily my favorite book series. Not a casual read and does take a commitment of time and attention to keep things straight. The payback: some of the most rewarding and well written scenes and images I have read. A world on its own. A fantastic journey.