[detritus]

interesting.

[XIcy Hot Patchx]

If that happened to me I'd quit writing all together. Anyway, I'm 209 pages into DG and you still see many of the characters from GotM. The setting is cooler too IMO.

[detritus]

Done.

I really dug Gardens and will be starting DG soon. I'm wishing I could pick up all these characters stories in the next book, but I understand it is an issue of the bigger picture.
Initially I preferred Kruppe and co. to the empire characters, but about halfway through the book, I found myself liking the Bridgeburners more than the people of Darujistan. However my favorite character was Rallick Nom. If I had to list a couple complaints they would be about the description of some of the races, I found visualizing them difficult at times, and the end of the book seemed to have too many moments that went something like this...a sword (or blast of magic) would be seconds from ending a particular character, when another character would appear from behind a tree in a garden, jump through a window, fall from the sky, appear from nowhere in time to save whomevers ass. Baruk is saved by the Tiste Andii, Crokus is saved by Anomander Rake, and by one of Caladan Broods people, Quick Ben dives onto the broad saving her from Raest, etc, etc, etc. I understand that Crokus has the luck of Oponn on his side, and that the gods are interfering here and there. But, when you have 10 other characters get saved at the last possible second, then it gets to be a bit much. Those two complaints aside, as I say I really dug this book, and will be starting DG tonight.

[Nequam]

I felt very much the same as you when I first finished GotM. However, I'm very happy to say that the books don't just get better as you go on, they jump up to a whole new level of writing. Gardens was cool and all, but compared to what is coming, you haven't seen anything yet

[detritus]

Nequam, on Jan 12 2009, 05:12 PM, said:

I felt very much the same as you when I first finished GotM. However, I'm very happy to say that the books don't just get better as you go on, they jump up to a whole new level of writing. Gardens was cool and all, but compared to what is coming, you haven't seen anything yet

Thats what I like to hear. I'll be jumping into Deadhouse Gates in a couple days. MoI is the one I'm looking forward to from all I've heard.

[gorkeyah]

mandog, on Jan 9 2009, 10:26 AM, said:

Done.

I really dug Gardens and will be starting DG soon. I'm wishing I could pick up all these characters stories in the next book, but I understand it is an issue of the bigger picture.
Initially I preferred Kruppe and co. to the empire characters, but about halfway through the book, I found myself liking the Bridgeburners more than the people of Darujistan. However my favorite character was Rallick Nom. If I had to list a couple complaints they would be about the description of some of the races, I found visualizing them difficult at times, and the end of the book seemed to have too many moments that went something like this...a sword (or blast of magic) would be seconds from ending a particular character, when another character would appear from behind a tree in a garden, jump through a window, fall from the sky, appear from nowhere in time to save whomevers ass. Baruk is saved by the Tiste Andii, Crokus is saved by Anomander Rake, and by one of Caladan Broods people, Quick Ben dives onto the broad saving her from Raest, etc, etc, etc. I understand that Crokus has the luck of Oponn on his side, and that the gods are interfering here and there. But, when you have 10 other characters get saved at the last possible second, then it gets to be a bit much. Those two complaints aside, as I say I really dug this book, and will be starting DG tonight.

I noticed that more in Deadhouse Gates (last minute rescues...). So far MoI is better on that score. Overall love the books (on MoI), but there were these occasional stumbles over believability.

Btw, rallick nom still is MIA 2/3's of the way through MoI (well... conscious anyway). It might be awhile before we see him again.

[Nequam]

Careful with anything about MoI....this is the Gardens forum.

[Kopernikus]

He there,

I'm also new to the series and just reading "Gardens of the Moon" at page 300 (in German). First of all I'm very happy that there is a dramatis personae at the end because without I would get crazy. Second I'm sometimes confused about the intensions why people act how they act and what they are planning to do because there is no big plot I can see at the moment. But I think I should not because it's just the start. It's just some kind of unfamiliar to follow so much people like Baruk or Rallik and all the others in Darujhistan. Hope that will be more clear while reading the rest of the book and the upcoming ones.

[Paxter]

Kopernikus, on Jan 26 2009, 06:53 AM, said:

He there,

I'm also new to the series and just reading "Gardens of the Moon" at page 300 (in German). First of all I'm very happy that there is a dramatis personae at the end because without I would get crazy. Second I'm sometimes confused about the intensions why people act how they act and what they are planning to do because there is no big plot I can see at the moment. But I think I should not because it's just the start. It's just some kind of unfamiliar to follow so much people like Baruk or Rallik and all the others in Darujhistan. Hope that will be more clear while reading the rest of the book and the upcoming ones.

The intentitions and motivations of the Darujhistan characters (Baruk, Rallick, Coll, Murillio), with the exception of Kruppe, become clear as GotM moves towards its conclusion. However, the motivations of numerous Malazans and Ascendants remain obscure for much of the series...

As for a "big plot", well, you'll just have to wait and see

[Geoffray]

Hi everyone! I've just begin my reading of GOTM (chapter 3 at the moment). For the moment it's very good ( the battle at Pale leave me breathless ).
I'm supposed, will have some info about the warren and the magic system in this book ( or in the next ).

[End of Disc One]

You understanding of the magic system will develop slowly throughout the series. My advice is to not try to understand it yet. But I'm glad you're enjoying the book already, and I love your avatar!

[Geoffray]

Thanks ya .
Like you said, i will not trying to "understand" the magic system. I'll wait for new informations.
On the other hand, GOTM, is not an "easy" book. The readers must read very thoroughly (completely; not sure of the word), and with full attention. 'Cause if not, he may be lose some crucial info. And frankly i love it!
Like Obi-wan said : "You'll enter in a new universe".

[joy boy]

Bringing it back to life, I personally am somewhere on the third quarter of the book and it's a first read for me. I'm really enjoying it and not feeling too much of confusion at all. I already bought all the remaining books and while listing through them I noticed they are very...various, actually like reading something from a whole different series. But as I heard it gets only better and better so I really am pleased so far and can't wait to read it all.

[Suleiman]

Just started reading the series too, up to page 380ish. I felt overwhelmed after the first 100 pages but loved every word nonetheless, now I'm finding it a breeze (maybe not a breeze but i'm taking everything in stride) although i have to keep backtracking. The only character I don't enjoy is probably Kruppe.

[Eispeis]

Suleiman, on Jun 8 2009, 08:35 AM, said:

The only character I don't enjoy is probably Kruppe.

Hehe, I know how you feel. Initially I thought he was a pompous ass who brought nothing to the table, but after a while he grows on you and you realize he's a pompous ass who brings stolen cakes to the table Also he's more important than it seems.

[joy boy]

Yesterday I finished the Gardens and must say that I loved the book. Already reading the second one which is different but still very interesting. I'm surprised at the amount of new characters so it should be fun

[Beliar]

it only starts increasing in pace and will leave you leaving as though you've had your heart ripped out. There is no way you can finish DG and MoI without feeling hurt in someway (good hurt i mean, and yes you will understand how you can be hurt in a good way). Fantastic books!!

[Blicko]

I'm about 250 pages in, and I'm really enjoying it as well. I've been hearing about this series on various blogs and review sites that I frequent, but finally just got to reading it just recently. Quite different from most of the stuff I read, but in a good way. I kind of like the style of writing where I'm not being spoon-fed everything from the start, it's pretty refreshing. Hoping to get it done within the next week or so, I love the fact that I can get my hands on the next books in the series without waiting for the author to get done, I get enough of that from George R. R. Martin!

==Blicko==

[Deren]

Hello,

I'm new here and Gardens of the Moon is the only book of the series I've read so far. I'll probably continue at some point with the rest, since I found this book solidly written and entertaining. I've just taken another look at the beginning of the first volume to refresh my impression of the style of the book, because it's actually been a while since I finished it (there are so many interesting and different books to read, so I knew before I bought it that it was unlikely I would read the whole series in a row).

In chapter one, that starts off with the young fishergirl and old witch standing at the side of the road that is occupied by a column of soldiers on horseback, I noticed some thinly veiled sexual allusions under the surface. It's not that I'm obsessed by this stuff and I don't want to provoke anyone, but I think you don't have to be a blind follower of Freud to see a trait:

-"Fishergirl" to start with. A fish was already in medieval times a sexual symbol

-The witch was talking of the way of the empress and the gods, which is: „prod and pull"

-There is a contrast developed between the unpleasant old witch and the pretty girl: when the old witch treats the girl roughly to speak of her prophecy, one soldier hits her with his gauntleted hand, with the sexist comment "Leave the pretty one alone, hag"

-The fishergirl stares dreamy-eyed at the soldiers on horseback (and horses: symbol of manliness)

-When Ammanas and Cotillion appear, the reader can witness some of that „prod and pull", by way of the playful, almost flirtatious cat-and-mouse behaviour between the two and the life of the girl

-Out of fear the girl loses her composure and one passage goes:

"She felt herself go wet between her legs and quickly sat down on the ground. 'I've done nothing!' Shame rose through her and she put her hands in her lap."

I know what is meant, but it reads nevertheless very similar to something else.

-The whole scene ends with this quasi-orgasmic loss of consciousness:

"Her last fleeting sensation was of the soft wax of the candle in her right hand, and how it seemed to well up between the fingers of her clenched fist."

I think it's a legitimate discussion about the writer's style. The whole scene lacks a certain feeling of threat. That's why the sexual allusions are so recognizable. And there are many authors who wouldn't leave so many coherent allusions unintended. Maybe I exaggerated some of them (concerning the word "fishergirl" perhaps).

But my question is: do you think Steven Erikson was aware of this, that he was applying a certain literary mode, as part of writing mythology? Are these deliberate allusions by way of a coming of age story?

Maybe it's just the result of writing too fast and leaving many mixed impressions which develop their own meanings when linked to each other. I don't know. I would like to read your opinions.

This post has been edited by Deren: 12 July 2009 - 04:43 AM

[D'rek]

Deren, on Jul 12 2009, 12:41 AM, said:

Hello,

I'm new here and Gardens of the Moon is the only book of the series I've read so far. I'll probably continue at some point with the rest, since I found this book solidly written and entertaining. I've just taken another look at the beginning of the first volume to refresh my impression of the style of the book, because it's actually been a while since I finished it (there are so many interesting and different books to read, so I knew before I bought it that it was unlikely I would read the whole series in a row).

In chapter one, that starts off with the young fishergirl and old witch standing at the side of the road that is occupied by a column of soldiers on horseback, I noticed some thinly veiled sexual allusions under the surface. It's not that I'm obsessed by this stuff and I don't want to provoke anyone, but I think you don't have to be a blind follower of Freud to see a trait:

-"Fishergirl" to start with. A fish was already in medieval times a sexual symbol

-The witch was talking of the way of the empress and the gods, which is: „prod and pull"

-There is a contrast developed between the unpleasant old witch and the pretty girl: when the old witch treats the girl roughly to speak of her prophecy, one soldier hits her with his gauntleted hand, with the sexist comment "Leave the pretty one alone, hag"

-The fishergirl stares dreamy-eyed at the soldiers on horseback (and horses: symbol of manliness)

-When Ammanas and Cotillion appear, the reader can witness some of that „prod and pull", by way of the playful, almost flirtatious cat-and-mouse behaviour between the two and the life of the girl

-Out of fear the girl loses her composure and one passage goes:

"She felt herself go wet between her legs and quickly sat down on the ground. 'I've done nothing!' Shame rose through her and she put her hands in her lap."

I know what is meant, but it reads nevertheless very similar to something else.

-The whole scene ends with this quasi-orgasmic loss of consciousness:

"Her last fleeting sensation was of the soft wax of the candle in her right hand, and how it seemed to well up between the fingers of her clenched fist."

I think it's a legitimate discussion about the writer's style. The whole scene lacks a certain feeling of threat. That's why the sexual allusions are so recognizable. And there are many authors who wouldn't leave so many coherent allusions unintended. Maybe I exaggerated some of them (concerning the word "fishergirl" perhaps).

But my question is: do you think Steven Erikson was aware of this, that he was applying a certain literary mode, as part of writing mythology? Are these deliberate allusions by way of a coming of age story?

Maybe it's just the result of writing too fast and leaving many mixed impressions which develop their own meanings when linked to each other. I don't know. I would like to read your opinions.

That is awesome! Quite the insight there, I don't think I'll ever read that scene the same way ever again. This reminds me of that bit where they take scenes from Harry Potter and replace the word wand with wang...

Anyway, I don't think bits like the fish or horse symbology are intended. What else would the soldiers be riding on? What else would a poor father and daughter living in a coastal town be good at? Of course the old woman talks about her husband's death-pay being cold in bed, so there's some inkling of all this very literally present. I don't know, I always did find the scene a bit menacing once ST and Cot showed up, and I felt that it wasn't supposed to be beforehand, even with the old lady dying, because that way it contrasted the peacefulness of the Imperial rule to the chaos unleashed by the Hounds in the next bit.