[Frost92]

I decided to give Malazen a try, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm about 100 pages into Gardens and so far I am really impressed by the vast scope and deep history of Erikson's world. My only question is this....Is it easier to just read through Gardens without looking at the appendixes every time a place, race, or character is mentioned? I'm worried that I might miss something or get confused if I don't know exactly who a character is or a significance of a certain place or an important aspect of a certain race or creature. So far I have been looking everything up as I read. It makes reading much slower, but it has not really bothered me too much. If the book explains the details without having to look them up, then I might just read strait through. So, what is the best way to read through Gardens (or does it not matter)?

[HoosierDaddy]

Frost92;354809 said:

I decided to give Malazen a try, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm about 100 pages into Gardens and so far I am really impressed by the vast scope and deep history of Erikson's world. My only question is this....Is it easier to just read through Gardens without looking at the appendixes every time a place, race, or character is mentioned? I'm worried that I might miss something or get confused if I don't know exactly who a character is or a significance of a certain place or an important aspect of a certain race or creature. So far I have been looking everything up as I read. It makes reading much slower, but it has not really bothered me too much. If the book explains the details without having to look them up, then I might just read strait through. So, what is the best way to read through Gardens (or does it not matter)?

Difficult. The characters shift in and out. "I" would recommend reading it through and moving on. The Malazan world gets built book by book while leaving a lot of information unknown. No matter how many times you check the indexes in GotM you will be quite confused. Erikson wrote it that way. But, as you read on in the series, and especially as you read on and then go back and read, things become much more clear. While there will always be questions, most of the answers (besides those S.E. wants to keep secretive) become much more attainable. At this point I'd say read it to enjoy it, move on to the next, and then as you start to learn more, go back and investigate as you see fit. Otherwise it'll take you forever!

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Just plow through, then when you've finished the series plow through again. If ever there was a series needing and deserving multiple reading, it's this one. Some things will become more clear in later books. Some things will become clear on rereads. Some things are still not clear, and that's fine. Enjoy your first reading, don't stress about missing things, just promise yourself you will reread them.

[caladanbrood]

Yup, the only way to really build up a proper idea is to read the books several times. But don't spend too much time flipping backwards and forwards to the index, it'll ruin the flow of the book if you're stopping every page or so.

[Lisheo]

I pretty much reread and reread until I had everything memorised.

Lisheo, needs a social life.

[Biggles]

I agree with everyone else. Just read through and enjoy. It wasn't until I started rereading that things became a little more clear. Also on the rereads, I discovered stuff that I missed that were pretty important to my understanding of the books.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

The thing is, they way SE throws things at you, often a new character will be introduced, but sicne there is no explanation as to who they are, you think it's someone you should remember and already know. It's not though, often you don't get a sense of who new people are until they've been around a bit.

[Frost92]

I think I will take everyones advice and just read strait through. At this point I am confused about some stuff (like what's the deal with Sorry and the Warren of Shadow and what is the significance of the card reading etc...) Anyway I'm sure things will start to make more sense later on.

[Biggles]

Keep reading...I promise, it will all come together by the end of the book. If it doesn't, that's what these forums are for. Plenty of answers to be found here.

[Lisheo]

We answer all questions! With crazy theories!

[Cougar]

Stabro;355322 said:

I promise, it will all come together by the end of the book.

That, sir is a wild and inaccurate promise. It will not all come together by the end of the book, but you will be left with an uncontrolable urge to sit in the house for 2 weeks and anhilitate the next 7 books!

[Biggles]

Cougar;356765 said:

That, sir is a wild and inaccurate promise. It will not all come together by the end of the book, but you will be left with an uncontrolable urge to sit in the house for 2 weeks and anhilitate the next 7 books!

O.k. I stretched it a bit. I stand corrected...you will want those 2 weeks for the rest of the books.

[KHruler]

I say don't keep going back and forth. It will be confusing, but I'm starting to think that's the point. I've read up to half of book 3 and I'm having to reread GotM and skip number 2 and read 3. Repeating what others have said, this is a series you need to reread multiple times and even skip books.

[Optimus Prime]

Frost92;355304 said:

I think I will take everyones advice and just read strait through. At this point I am confused about some stuff (like what's the deal with Sorry and the Warren of Shadow and what is the significance of the card reading etc...) Anyway I'm sure things will start to make more sense later on.

Erm...yes...some will...other things will mystify you for books...but you'll grow to love that part of SE as much as we do!