Order the books should be read

#1 Supaman71

Recruit

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 1
Joined: 29-March 11

Posted 29 March 2011 - 03:31 PM

I just got Gardens of the Moon since that was Erikson's first book. I don't know if i should start with this book or not, but i wanted to know from the experts in what order all the books should be read including Esslemont's books. Thanks for any help

#2 Illuyankas

Retro Classic

Group: The Hateocracy of Truth
Posts: 7,254
Joined: 28-September 04
Will cluck you up

Posted 29 March 2011 - 03:39 PM

I would say read the main Malazan series in publication order, with Night of Knives before The Bonehunters, Return of the Crimson Guard between Reaper's Gale and Toll the Hounds, and Stonewielder probably before Dust of Dreams so you can go straight through the last two books without a break.

This post has been edited by Illuyankas: 29 March 2011 - 03:40 PM

Hello, soldiers, look at your mage, now back to me, now back at your mage, now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped being an unascended mortal and switched to Sole Spice, he could smell like he’s me. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re in a warren with the High Mage your cadre mage could smell like. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have it, it’s an acorn with two gates to that realm you love. Look again, the acorn is now otataral. Anything is possible when your mage smells like Sole Spice and not a Bole brother. I’m on a quorl.

#3 Abyss

abyssus abyssum invocat

Group: Administrators
Posts: 22,329
Joined: 22-May 03
Location:The call is coming from inside the house!!!!
Interests:Interesting.

Posted 29 March 2011 - 04:51 PM

Illuyankas, on 29 March 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

Seconded.

THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT THERE IS A
'VIEW NEW CONTENT' BUTTON THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW NEW CONTENT

#4 Cap'n Cartheron Crust

Recruit

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 2
Joined: 18-November 10
Location:Lost in my own mind
Interests:Accruing geometrically!
Whatever comment I want? But I can't post alveolar clicks! Well, I can, but they cannot be distinguished into their sub-categories.

Posted 12 May 2011 - 10:16 PM

I personally recommend reading them all as published, including the Bauchelain & Korbal broach stories. If I read just Steven Erikson's main "half" of the story, I'd have killed myself from depression by the end. The novellas help to break the tension, and Ian Cameron Esslemont's works add an extra dimension to the doings of the Empire. Some exceptions I'd add to this rule of thumb are as Illyunakas stated, except I'd read Stonewielder after Dust of Dreams and Crack'd Pot Trail (if you have it) and before The Crippled God. I know DoD and TCG are two halves, but I consider CPT and SW as great and uplifting (not in a joyous manner, but in a broader sense) parenthetical chapters (apposite chapters? Anyone know what I'm trying to say? HEELP!) to bridge the harrowing gap without leading one to be emotionally drained.

I hope that made sense.

Anyway, like this:

Gardens of the moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
Blood Follows
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
Lees of Laughter's End*
Night of Knives
The Bonehunters
Reaper's Gale
The Healthy Dead*
The Return of the Crimson Guard
Toll the Hounds
Dust of Dreams
Crack'd Pot Trail
Stonewielder
The Crippled God

*They were published in reverse order, but it works better this way, I find. This is all just my preference of course.