[Havoktx]

I took this off of Wikipedia:

"Midnight Tides is the fifth volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Although it is part of the larger series, it has only limited references to the other books and can be read as a stand-alone volume."

I have read:
Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
The Bonehunters

And from what I have seen the Wikipedia statement seems to hold true. Besides I really wanted to see what happened after the House of Chains. I love my Malazans!

I just picked up the next book and I am about 79 Pages into Reaper's Gale. I feel like I am missing something.

For those of you who have read it, is it something I can put off for a while longer or should I pause Reaper's Gale and start reading Midnight Tides?

Thanks in advance!

[Aptorian]

I actually started laughing, sorry, but yes read Midnight Tides post haste.

You won't understand anything going on in RG if you didn't read MT first. It's also one of the best books in the series, so you've cheated yourself of some of the greatest characters and most awesome/funny moments in the series.

I just hope you haven't already spoiled the events of MT by starting on RG first.

Never trust Wikipedia.

[HoosierDaddy]

Aptorian;351451 said:

I actually started laughing, sorry, but yes read Midnight Tides post haste.

You won't understand anything going on in RG if you didn't read MT first. It's also one of the best books in the series, so you've cheated yourself of some of the greatest characters and most awesome/funny moments in the series.

I just hope you haven't already spoiled the events of MT by starting on RG first.

Never trust Wikipedia.

Concur. Pronto senior. Wiki is absolutely incorrect. Midnight Tides is necessary for understanding later events in tMBotF.

[Havoktx]

Much obliged. As I began reading, I started getting an itchy feeling. ;p I feel we get bits, pieces, and teases to things throughout all the books. I just love how everything just keeps building and building.

I originally check wikipedia for a list of books to see which book to read next. I don't think I messed up anything too big story wise at this point. I was looking for more Toblakai action, and hopefully see what was shaking with the 14th. But I appreciate the advice. It was this very question that led me to this forum.

Once again, thanks for the help!

[dktorode]

its an old entry that hasnt been updated...pre RG it was a standalone.

[caladanbrood]

I'm unconvinced by that, to be honest. Was DhG a stand-alone before HoC was released? Methinks not.

Back on topic, you have to read MT before RG. Hopefully you haven't read anything to spoilerific already in RG.

[Dolorous Menhir]

How many more of those posts will there be? Is it so hard to just read the books in the order they were written? Really?

[Aptorian]

Like he wrote, he wanted to see what happened to the army on 7C after HoC.

[Folken]

Dolorous Menhir;351815 said:

How many more of those posts will there be? Is it so hard to just read the books in the order they were written? Really?

I agree with DM here...baffles me to be honest. It's written in a specific order for a specific reason. It's not hard to go in a straight line...and the fact that he read Bonehunters already will have ruined a few things in Midnight Tides as well.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Aptorian;351828 said:

Like he wrote, he wanted to see what happened to the army on 7C after HoC.

I'm aware that he had a reason. That's not really relevant. People who visit the forum and say "I chose to read the books out of order and now I'm worried I've missed something. Do you think that was a mistake?" should expect a hostile response.

[Aptorian]

A hostile response? What are we, the defenders of the bastion malazan?

This is as much an advise forum as it is a discussion board. Lots of people come here with questions to the book they've just read. A lot of these questions are so obvious it's painfull, but that doesn't mean it's our job to bite their head of does it?

[HoosierDaddy]

Aptorian;352178 said:

A hostile response? What are we, the defenders of the bastion malazan?

This is as much an advise forum as it is a discussion forum. Lots of people come here with questions to the book they've just read. A lot of these questions are so obvious it's painfull, but that doesn't mean it's our job to bite their head of is it?

Concur. He came to us wondering whether or not he had received bad information. Ripping him for believing bad information isn't very productive.

[Cougar]

Ripping him for believing anything written on Wikipedia, then making a poor decision based on it is fine though I would say.

Once he's up to date though it's not going to matter, it's just that quite a lot of the good bits might have been spoiled in MT by reading further on.

[dktorode]

Hetan;352318 said:

How could book 5 of a ten book series ever be considered a "stand-alone"?
It is bound to have an impact at some stage in the series - even without hindsight being involved.

well i meant it doesnt have to be read in order obviously

Before reapers gale it wasnt nescessary for you to read MT in any specific order is what was meant. :cool:

[dktorode]

caladanbrood;351622 said:

I'm unconvinced by that, to be honest. Was DhG a stand-alone before HoC was released? Methinks not.

Back on topic, you have to read MT before RG. Hopefully you haven't read anything to spoilerific already in RG.

Slightly diffent...since MT is 99% brand new chars.
And also... at the time... it didnt have much (if any) bearing on previous books. So it didnt really matter in the greater scheme of things when you read it.

[Cougar]

It gave an explanation of why Trull Turned up in the Nascent, why there were roving vicious bands of Tiste Edur, frther back ground inof on the CG on Gothos, Mael, Ruin, K, Chain, Crimson Guard, and the coming of the Andii and the Edur to the world. All those were highly relevant to the previous books

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Read the books in order.

[caladanbrood]

dktorode;352393 said:

Slightly diffent...since MT is 99% brand new chars.
And also... at the time... it didnt have much (if any) bearing on previous books. So it didnt really matter in the greater scheme of things when you read it.

DhG has a lot of new characters too. I mean, you've got Kalam, Fiddler, Apsalar and Crokus, but apart from that... and it's a new continent, different storyline... my point being that to say either of them is a stand-alone is a bit ridiculous.

Some certainly work better as standalones than others, certainly, but none can really be read on their own without reference to the main series.



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