[althanis]

A little background, I love reading, I've read Martin's a Song of Ice and Fire series, LoTR, started off A Wheel of Time and never finished it (like so many others), read quite a few Stephen King, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, China Mieville, Joe Abercrombie, the Long Price Quartet, etc.

I started this series in December, and have been promptly finishing each book after a calendar month, to the day. At first I enjoyed it, even though it was confusing, I knew it had that reputation, and I consider myself a pretty intelligent guy that doesn't need to be spoonfed.

The first book was good, I'd say not great, the 2nd and 3rd were also pretty good and entertaining. I slogged through the 4th book, found it to be a bit of a chore. The problem I've found is that I don't really care about anyone in this book. In fact, if they all died and we started over with new characters, I wouldn't really care. Sure, there are lots of questions I'd like answered, but there are so many characters, so many warrens, it's really hard to keep track.

I find that whenever the POV switches back to a character, I have to check the Malazan Wiki to remind myself who this person is. I posted a comment on Pat's fantasy hotlist over here:
http://www.blogger.c...038802605831272 in effect saying what I'm saying here, and a guy said:

Quote

"Somewhere along the way, I don't even realize when, whenever I'd come across a character who I didn't remember, I just didn't bother check it. I was just reading so I could finish the story."

I almost never do anything else. If I have forgotten the character, he'll come back automatically along the way in his actions, descriptions and other references. I never got this approach "I have to keep everything in mind, all at once", anyway. It's what turns people away from the Silmarillion as well. I don't see why anyone bothers.
But while I don't see the problem from a practical point of view, I do see it from wanting to get some resolution.

That's the strangest thing I've ever heard anyone say. If you don't care to immediately put someone into perspective, then how can you even make sense of their actions until you know who they are? It's like watching a movie where everyone's wearing the same mask - sure, eventually you'll figure out who's the good guys and who's the bad guys, but it doesn't make for good entertainment does it?

My question is this really, if I've rated the books say, 3.75 so far, should I continue reading? Does it get better, more fulfilling and rewarding? Are things explained, does it come to a good conclusion?

[Lady Bliss]

I hate to tell you this, but I just had lunch with the Malazan Series the other day, and it was talking about dropping YOU. The series simply feels that you are incompatible and then there are the intimacy issues...

Personally, I would stick it out, but I loved the books from book 1. Only you can make this decision... I was never able to finish reading the Dune series because I got annoyed by the countless Duncan Idahos and I thought Worm Boy was just a little over the top.

[BlackMoranthofDoom]

althanis, on 07 February 2012 - 01:41 PM, said:

A little background, I love reading, I've read Martin's a Song of Ice and Fire series, LoTR, started off A Wheel of Time and never finished it (like so many others), read quite a few Stephen King, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, China Mieville, Joe Abercrombie, the Long Price Quartet, etc.

I started this series in December, and have been promptly finishing each book after a calendar month, to the day. At first I enjoyed it, even though it was confusing, I knew it had that reputation, and I consider myself a pretty intelligent guy that doesn't need to be spoonfed.

The first book was good, I'd say not great, the 2nd and 3rd were also pretty good and entertaining. I slogged through the 4th book, found it to be a bit of a chore. The problem I've found is that I don't really care about anyone in this book. In fact, if they all died and we started over with new characters, I wouldn't really care. Sure, there are lots of questions I'd like answered, but there are so many characters, so many warrens, it's really hard to keep track.

I find that whenever the POV switches back to a character, I have to check the Malazan Wiki to remind myself who this person is. I posted a comment on Pat's fantasy hotlist over here:
http://www.blogger.c...038802605831272 in effect saying what I'm saying here, and a guy said:

Quote

"Somewhere along the way, I don't even realize when, whenever I'd come across a character who I didn't remember, I just didn't bother check it. I was just reading so I could finish the story."

I almost never do anything else. If I have forgotten the character, he'll come back automatically along the way in his actions, descriptions and other references. I never got this approach "I have to keep everything in mind, all at once", anyway. It's what turns people away from the Silmarillion as well. I don't see why anyone bothers.
But while I don't see the problem from a practical point of view, I do see it from wanting to get some resolution.

That's the strangest thing I've ever heard anyone say. If you don't care to immediately put someone into perspective, then how can you even make sense of their actions until you know who they are? It's like watching a movie where everyone's wearing the same mask - sure, eventually you'll figure out who's the good guys and who's the bad guys, but it doesn't make for good entertainment does it?

My question is this really, if I've rated the books say, 3.75 so far, should I continue reading? Does it get better, more fulfilling and rewarding? Are things explained, does it come to a good conclusion?

That depends on how much you enjoyed it till now. MT introduces a new story arc, which may be the reason you dislike it, as all of the characters, except for Trull, are brand new. From the following book Bonehunters, the stories will start to get tied together and things will become clearer.

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

Frankly, if you haven't really liked any of the characters until now, almost halfway through the series! and haven't cared much about any character or any storyline really, you won't get any more enjoyment out of it in later books I reckon. Although story arcs will come together and there is going to be more background on warrens, the history, races, Wu, in later books, overall, the style continues to be the same. And that is what you don't like if I understand what you mean. Personally, if I rated something 3.75, I would consider it a huge waste of time and drop it.
So in answer to your question- no, it's not worth it for now. Come back later, maybe.

This post has been edited by Miss Savage: 07 February 2012 - 03:15 PM

[Tapper]

Quote

My question is this really, if I've rated the books say, 3.75 so far, should I continue reading? Does it get better, more fulfilling and rewarding? Are things explained, does it come to a good conclusion?

If that is 3.75 out of 10 points, quit. It isn't going to get better if you hate it this much. Out of 5, you might want to soldier on, but your complaint is not going to go away.

The thing with Erikson is that the introduction of new stuff never stops, and therefore, your issue will continue. He will tie (most of) it together in the last two books but even there, you will see new things and people. However, few of his introductions are Deus ex machina solutions coming out of left field: instead, they serve a purpose (however minor, and often not the purpose you think... Red Mask, damn you). Could he have cut out some arcs to make it more streamlined and a slightly easier to follow read (not meaning easier on the intelligence of the reader, but easier to keep the general overview)? Perhaps, but he didn't and it is part of the reason why for me, this series never got stale even though I didn't really like parts of it and felt several of those could be cut without affecting the story overly much.

EDIT: as a word of personal insight: I didn't really care about Karsa in HoC, felt it a disruption, but it is a necessary build up when you read on, and the character will find his feet. So will others in that book. As a result, the value of HoC is probably best appreciated when further on in the story.

This post has been edited by Tapper: 07 February 2012 - 03:17 PM

[Ulrik]

Drop it. If you were not involved in DG and MoI, if you didnt find love for some characters and werent heartbroken in few scenes... drop it.

Dont take it wrong, its not criticism. It just clearly isnt your cup of tea. No reason to drink another galons of it.

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

Completely agree with the both of you above. DG and MOI are by many considered the best books including me - or up there, anyways, so once again, if these two books can possibly leave you cold then there's really not much point for you to go on reading. Unless you can bear another five months of MBotF, followed by the books by ICE. That gets you involved for at least another year, and counting as they are work in progress. Not to mention SE's spinoffs he is working on, e.g. Karsa Orlong's story.

This post has been edited by Miss Savage: 07 February 2012 - 11:46 PM

[sappers rule]

If the books arent for you they are not for you at least you did what most people didnt and kept reading.
try coming back aftear a year or so usually much better 2nd time round.





(we are losing him/her, people break out the milk and cookies we need to tempt him/her back to the dark our side)

[worry]

This series mostly just appeals to people who are already on their way to ascendancy anyway, so it's bound to be a sub-sub-subset of readers. It's that whole relatability thing.

[Illuyankas]

I know I usually climb a mountain of normal people to get in the right frame of mind to appreciate the books.

[amphibian]

Greymanekas, on 08 February 2012 - 02:13 AM, said:

I know I usually climb a mountain of normal people to get in the right frame of mind to appreciate the books.

Are you going to be too old to climb that mountain by the time the Karsa/Torvald reunion happens?

[worry]

See, that's the kind of stuff you need to keep reading for. Not the reunion part, but to find out how a Nom from Darujhistan got the name "Torvald". Biggest mystery of the series if you ask me.

[Illuyankas]

Definitely. I mean, the Tor = hill link was easy but I had no idea what the vald connection had in store for me.

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

Vald = Wald, that's the German word for forest and since Germans can't pronounce the English V anyways and it sounds like the W at all times, there's the second part of the origin of the good citizen Nom's name.

[Abyss]

althanis, on 07 February 2012 - 01:41 PM, said:

A little background, I love reading, ...
My question is this really, if I've rated the books say, 3.75 so far, should I continue reading? Does it get better, more fulfilling and rewarding? Are things explained, does it come to a good conclusion?

If DG and MoI were pure awesome in your eyes, keep reading. There's more of that to come.
If not, you are clearly cold and dead inside and i cannot help your poor neglected and empty soul maybe take a break and try picking up the series again in a few die heretic die you're not worthy go back to other lesser authors books from now. Scum. It really is an awesome series but it's not necessarily everyone's thing and we pity and despise those people and when the revolution comes they will be among the first to be fed to the rabid chipmunk/panda hybrids.

BlissFulnite, on 07 February 2012 - 02:04 PM, said:

I hate to tell you this, but I just had lunch with the Malazan Series the other day, and it was talking about dropping YOU. The series simply feels that you are incompatible and then there are the intimacy issues...

Personally, I would stick it out, but I loved the books from book 1. Only you can make this decision... I was never able to finish reading the Dune series because I got annoyed by the countless Duncan Idahos and I thought Worm Boy was just a little over the top.

I hate to tell you this but i was out for beers with Worm Boy last week and he doesn't even remember you. That is, when he wasn't too busy snogging Fish Speaker chicks long enough to have a conversation. Duncan says 'hey' tho'. And so does Duncan. And Duncan wants me to remind you that you owe him five bucks.

[Geer]

You are honest enough with yourself, and with us all, incidentally, to admit you don't like the MBotF so far. That's ok. No one likes everything. Some of the stuff you like, such as Abercrombie, I just can't stand. It's ok to move on to something that you can enjoy.

[Avatar]

how far are you in MT? You might want to finish this one, I would have loved it as a stand-alone.

[Macros]

I really struggled with MT first time through.
But once you read the next 2 books (imo) it becomes a much more worthwhile book and a reread of the series makes MT a high point for me now.
If you enjoyed dg and moi stick with it id say, and don't be overly concerned about deaths not making you cry, bar coltaine not too many in the series hit me hard, i dontknow if that's due to sheer numbers or just me, asoiaf i didn't give much of a shit about any deaths excepting the beheading.
I ramble
If your dislike is based on a continually shifting pov and constant introduction of new characters, worry not, MT is basically the last mass introduction and it starts slowly to pull together from here on in.
If you're having trouble engaging in the WU universe as a whole then you could be in trouble, but it does become even more immersive from here on in as more of its history and mechanics are expained.
If you don't like ANY of the characters so far, just quit, they're all on the table and that your playing deck from here on in

[althanis]

Hi everyone! Thank you for taking time to share your opinions and respond to me. You guys are pretty funny too btw haha. I guess for a couple days there I was losing faith, and since I don't want to be among the first to be fed to the rabid/chipmunk hybrids, well... yeah.

I decided to spend a little more time reading MT, and I have to say it's kinda growing on me! I am enjoying it actually. What I'll do is I'll continue as far as I can, although by now I'm pretty sure I'm going to finish it, and when I'm done I'll post again and share my thoughts.

Thanks again for the advice; obviously you're all big fans, but made good points. Will be in touch.

[Abyss]

Excellent. Another soul retained for the Master. Glad to hear you'll give it another shot. Before we shot you, you doubting heretic.
Believe me, there are awesome fantasy lit moments ahead in the book and the series.
And if not, the rabid chipmunk/panda hybrids are always hungry.