Malazan Empire: Chronology question - Malazan Empire

Jump to content

Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

Chronology question No spoilers please

#1 User is offline   Therrester 

  • Recruit
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 3
  • Joined: 18-July 12

Posted 18 July 2012 - 05:07 AM

Alright so, I've currently reading through Erikson's marvelous series of books (currently on HoC) and I know that once I'm done, I'll be picking up all of Esslemont's novels as well. My question is, since I'm still going through the original story, and it's most likely that some pieces of info will cross over from Erikson's books into Esslemont's, are there certain works from the latter that would be better to read in between two of Erikson's books? Or, should I continue to enjoy Erikson's tale up to TCG and then start reading Esslemont's work.

Based on the little research I've done, I know that NoK happens before GOTM, so I assume I can read that whenever, and was planing to either after HoC or MT. Still, regarding RotCG, Stonewielder and Orb, Scepter and Throne, any suggestions as to when those should be read?

Lastly, I'd appreciate no spoilers as to why certain books should be read between this and that, if it happens to be the case. I've already been spoiled what I hope is minor details browsing these forums and I'd personally enjoy keeping that list of spoilers short. Thanks for understanding.

This post has been edited by Therrester: 18 July 2012 - 05:09 AM

0

#2 User is offline   lastname 

  • Lieutenant
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 117
  • Joined: 14-June 12

Posted 18 July 2012 - 05:41 AM

Disclaimer: I've only read GotM and DG so far so take this with a generous dose of salt.

That said, here are a couple of threads pertaining to this topic:

http://forum.malazan...showtopic=23290
http://forum.malazan...showtopic=20984

I've seen lots recommendations to read the books in the order in which they are listed in the forums. Opinions seem to vary on whether NoK should go before or after BH/TB.

This post has been edited by lastname: 18 July 2012 - 05:44 AM

1

#3 User is offline   worry 

  • Master of the Deck
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 14,563
  • Joined: 24-February 10
  • Location:the buried west

Posted 18 July 2012 - 08:28 AM

Don't go to sleep until you've read them all.
They came with white hands and left with red hands.
0

#4 User is offline   Ivan Kersovic 

  • Nobody
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 30
  • Joined: 25-June 12
  • Location:Durham, United Kingdom
  • Interests:Everything

Posted 18 July 2012 - 08:41 AM

Erikson usually says to read them in order of publication. Broadly speaking that's what I did the first time (had a few issues with Esslemont's second book) and it worked out nicely for me.
Barkeep
0

#5 User is offline   D'rek 

  • Consort of High House Mafia
  • Group: Super Moderators
  • Posts: 14,599
  • Joined: 08-August 07
  • Location::

Posted 18 July 2012 - 01:39 PM

View PostIvan Kersovic, on 18 July 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

Erikson usually says to read them in order of publication. Broadly speaking that's what I did the first time (had a few issues with Esslemont's second book) and it worked out nicely for me.


I don't know if I'd say that he "usually" says that. He did say that a few times many years ago, but I can't recall him suggesting it in the last couple years.

For reference, publication order would be:

Gardens of the Moon (1999)
Deadhouse Gates (2000)
Memories of Ice (2001)
House of Chains (2002)
Midnight Tides (2004)

Night of Knives (2004)
The Bonehunters (2006)
Reaper's Gale (2007)

Return of the Crimson Guard (2008)
Toll the Hounds (2008)
Dust of Dreams (2009)

Stonewielder (2010)
The Crippled God (2011)
Orb, Sceptre, Throne (2012)
Blood and Bone (2012)



Which is a pretty good order - you won't get anything spoiled or out-of-sequence in this order. My personal preferred order, for both new readers and total re-reads, is the above, but with SW and OST each moved up one slot, for reasons listed in the other threads linked above.

View Postworrywort, on 14 September 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

I kinda love it when D'rek unleashes her nerd wrath, as I knew she would here. Sorry innocent bystanders, but someone's gotta be the kindling.
0

#6 User is offline   Abyss 

  • abyssus abyssum invocat
  • Group: Administrators
  • Posts: 21,780
  • Joined: 22-May 03
  • Location:The call is coming from inside the house!!!!
  • Interests:Interesting.

Posted 18 July 2012 - 02:27 PM

View PostD, on 18 July 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

...
For reference, publication order would be:

Gardens of the Moon (1999)
Deadhouse Gates (2000)
Memories of Ice (2001)
House of Chains (2002)
Midnight Tides (2004)

Night of Knives (2004)
The Bonehunters (2006)
Reaper's Gale (2007)

Return of the Crimson Guard (2008)
Toll the Hounds (2008)
Dust of Dreams (2009)

Stonewielder (2010)
The Crippled God (2011)
Orb, Sceptre, Throne (2012)
Blood and Bone (2012)



Which is a pretty good order - ....


I'll go one further and say that is the ideal order.

I'll add that the B&KB novellas could be read at any point, but i recommend reading the first three after MoI and before RG.
THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT THERE IS A
'VIEW NEW CONTENT' BUTTON THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW NEW CONTENT
0

#7 User is offline   Ivan Kersovic 

  • Nobody
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 30
  • Joined: 25-June 12
  • Location:Durham, United Kingdom
  • Interests:Everything

Posted 18 July 2012 - 02:32 PM

I don't know what the pedantic obsessiveness is about D'rek. In every interview I've ever seen where the question has been raised, that has been his response.
Barkeep
0

#8 User is offline   Salt-Man Z 

  • My pen halts, though I do not
  • View gallery
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 4,159
  • Joined: 07-February 08
  • Location:Apple Valley, MN

Posted 06 August 2012 - 08:12 PM

View PostIvan Kersovic, on 18 July 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

In every interview I've ever seen where the question has been raised, that has been his response.

Well, for the Tor.com reread, SE and ICE specifically recommended reading NoK before DG and RotCG before RG. Take that as you will. Most of us rereaders didn't love NoK's earlier placement, and due to popular demand (and the release of a billion Malazan novels since the reread started) we're now reading RG ahead of RotCG.
"Here is light. You will say that it is not a living entity, but you miss the point that it is more, not less. Without occupying space, it fills the universe. It nourishes everything, yet itself feeds upon destruction. We claim to control it, but does it not perhaps cultivate us as a source of food? May it not be that all wood grows so that it can be set ablaze, and that men and women are born to kindle fires?"
―Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch
0

#9 User is offline   Kanese S's 

  • TMI Frigate Bird of Low House PEN
  • Group: Mott Irregulars
  • Posts: 1,947
  • Joined: 26-April 11

Posted 06 August 2012 - 09:45 PM

The best way is to read the books that people are arguing over the placement of at the same time. Clearly.
Laseen did nothing wrong.

I demand Telorast & Curdle plushies.
0

#10 User is offline   Toc Beddict 

  • Recruit
  • Group: Malaz Regular
  • Posts: 16
  • Joined: 20-April 11

Posted 03 September 2012 - 08:58 AM

Most of it is personal preference. You won't ruin anything by reading NoK at any point you'd like, honestly. However, you MUST read Return of the Crimson Guard before Dust of Dreams at the very least, ideally before Reapers Gale. DoD onward you'll spoiler yourself which was a slight annoyance to me. There aren't a terrible amount of spoilers but there are a few major ones.




Spoiler

0

Share this topic:


Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users