[Defiance]

To expand on this:

The world was built by Erikson and Esslemont, but other people contributed as well. Another friend that Erikson gamed with one-on-one created one of the series most renowned characters, whom readers will meet in a later book. One of the most famous marine squads was also played by a group of friends.

As for it being too big and complicated? It's preference, really. I love Malazan - in my mind, it's the single best thing ever written - but I don't criticize others for not liking it. Unfortunately, I've seen quite a few fans dismiss others as stupid because they simply couldn't get into Malazan. I can readily accept that Erikson's writing style is not for everyone. There's nothing wrong with wanting massive amounts of exposition in your books. Personally, I find it quite boring. I like it when authors make me think, when they let me theorize, when they challenge me as a reader.