[Ivanr the Deliverer]

I've just finished Ian Esslemont's third instalment, Stonewielder (which was brilliant), and I've been wondering if I should begin reading Orb Sceptre Throne now, or put that on hold and start Erikson's series -- which I haven't yet touched. Can anyone tell me if Gardens of the Moon, being the first, might give me some background info, or hit the ground running in a way, kind of like Esslemont's debut? Also, if I continue with Esslemont's series, will the finale be somewhat of a spoiler for Erikson's (now concluded) series?

Thanks for any responses.

[worry]

None of ICE's books spoil SE's final two books (ie the big finale). That said, Orb Sceptre Throne -- unlike any of ICE's other books -- is a direct sequel to SE's eighth book, Toll the Hounds. So you should definitely start SE's series and finish through TTH before even starting OST. Sounds like that is more than you bargained for, given your mention of only Gardens of the Moon, but I assure you it is absolutely necessary.

This post has been edited by worrywort: 13 March 2012 - 03:52 AM

[sting01]

Personal opinion :

If we compare the whole malazan story to a drawing (let say Melancolia by Albrecht Durer!) , Erickson would draw the lady (? long time I did not see that 'eau forte'/engraving, so not sure it is a lady, maybe an angel!) that is on the forward right ; while ICE would be designing the backward position personages (dog, cherube, sun).

So, with regards with the story, the very best would be to put an hold, read Erickson untill you finish Toll the Hound, then read OST, then continue with Erickson. While Return of the Crimson guard can be read at any time; Stone wielder is best read AFTER RotCG; definitively OST is best read after TTH.

[JLV]

...can't tell if serious.

If you really did read ICE's books first, that's really interesting to me. I think most people start with Erikson's. From what I understand, there aren't major spoilers in OST, but you really should have read a lot of the Erikson books before RotCG...

So go read the Erikson books. All of them. The general consensus is that they're better, anyway. I haven't had a chance to pick up OST yet, but I can tell you that Books 1-3 of Erikson's are my top 3 fantasy books overall.

[JLV]

Well, I typed slowly apparently. That was strange. Right then, I'm fleeing this subforum.

[worry]

The upside to that is -- and this is especially true if you found SW "brilliant" -- SE is far and away the better writer in almost every regard, so you're in for a major treat. I am a fan of ICE too, not even remotely a hater on any of his books. But SE is really in that upper echelon of living writers (in any genre).

[JLV]

Oh! This is in the General forum. Okay, as long as we keep the spoilers spoilered for OST.

I'm with Worry, ICE is great. I enjoyed all of his books immensely. But Erikson is... on a different level, for the most part. It's hard to explain.

[Ulrik]

For me, ICE is good. Maybe really good, if not OST...

But, more importantly...from my, really humble, point of view, reading ICE before Erikson is taking solid read to ruin one of the best book series ever. Because thanks to ICE you´ll know who died, who survived... Hey, I would bet on ICE against many, many fantasy writers...but I wouldn bet on most of fantasy writers against Erikson´s left hemisphere and right hand... (or left/ right:))

[Aptorian]

You've already spoiled a lot of mysteries and revelations from the main series by reading RCG and SW. I'd definitely read the main series before I read OST. You'll be ruining endings and major plot points from GOTM, MOI, HOC, BH and TTH if you read OST first.

[HiddenOne]

THe best thing to do is arrange to have electroshock therapy to erase the ICE books from your mind, then go and read all the series in order.

[D'rek]

Christ guys,just because you didn't like ICE as much as SE you don't have to turn what was a very simple reading order question thread into an every-post-must-state-how-shitty-ICE-is-in-increasingly-exaggerated-and-impractical-ways bashing thread.

The first post asked whether he should read OST or GotM next. Answer the question and consider taking your author-comparing opinions to one of the many, many, many threads that is actually for that topic.

[rhulad]

The answer to the question is yes. That is all.

[Aptorian]

Your answer to whether or not, is... yes?

[blackzoid]

GOTM next. And while I will not discuss whether ICE is better or not than SE, I will state that it was extremly unwise to have read NoK and RoTCG before GOTM regardless of quality. Parts of GoTM and DG (as in the identities of a certain pair of characters) are now redundant. Plus the reading of a certain characters fate at the end of RoTCG has given away the game for much of the following SE books. Its not a total loss, but it does deprive you of some of the joys of the initial series. Reading OST before TTH will only compound the problem and will ruin the climax of TTH.
Unless you have no intention of ever reading SE. Than fire ahead with OST.

This post has been edited by blackzoid: 13 March 2012 - 02:36 PM

[D'rek]

blackzoid, on 13 March 2012 - 02:35 PM, said:

GOTM next. And while I will not discuss whether ICE is better or not than SE, I will state that it was extremly unwise to have read NoK and RoTCG before GOTM regardless of quality. Parts of GoTM and DG (as in the identities of a certain pair of characters) are now redundant. Plus the reading of a certain characters fate at the end of RoTCG has given away the game for much of the following SE books. Its not a total loss, but it does deprive you of some of the joys of the initial series. Reading OST before TTH will only compound the problem and will ruin the climax of TTH.
Unless you have no intention of ever reading SE. Than fire ahead.

I disagree. Yes, things are learned in one book that might've been learned in another, but these things are not inherent to one book or the other. DG spoils the revelation in NoK the same as NoK spoils the revelation in DG.

I'll agree on OST before TtH, because that is a case of major events that one book (TtH) builds to being mentioned off-hand in OST. The same goes for a major event in RotCG that is mentioned off-hand in DoD.

[blackzoid]

I'm thinking Its not the twosome's identity that is the major one, its the ending of RoTCG where a major character was removed. Because the poster knows about that, much of the plot of the 1st,2nd (especially another character's journey to do the same thing), and 6'th books is now spoiled. The poster also knows of the fate (sorta) of a certain Wickan. Its multiple things that the poster will not feel any emotion for becasue they know that the characters will survive as they have read about them in later books.

This post has been edited by blackzoid: 13 March 2012 - 02:51 PM

[Ivanr the Deliverer]

Thanks a lot, everyone, for the responses. I see that the general consensus is, "Read Erikson's, then pick up where you left off with Esslemont," so that's what I'll do.

[JLV]

Jesus D'rek, not a single person said ICE was a bad writer in here. We told him to read Erikson first, then finish ICE, and gave reasoning behind that.

[Ulrik]

JLV, on 13 March 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

Jesus D'rek, not a single person said ICE was a bad writer in here. We told him to read Erikson first, then finish ICE, and gave reasoning behind that.

Yup, I think that its a little bit overreaction to words like " I am a fan of ICE too - - - For me, ICE is good - - - ICE is great "...

[D'rek]

Oh I certainly saw all the "I love ICE buuuut..." bits, but I don't see how that makes it any better. One way or another a thread simply about reading order had to be polluted with author comparison comments such as:

JLV, on 13 March 2012 - 03:53 AM, said:

The general consensus is that [Erikson books] are better, anyway.

worrywort, on 13 March 2012 - 03:56 AM, said:

SE is far and away the better writer in almost every regard.

JLV, on 13 March 2012 - 03:59 AM, said:

But Erikson is... on a different level, for the most part. It's hard to explain.

HiddenOne, on 13 March 2012 - 12:43 PM, said:

THe best thing to do is arrange to have electroshock therapy to erase the ICE books from your mind

"OMG! He started with the ICE novels and likes ICE and hasn't read SE yet! We have to convert him, quick don't let him approach things with his own open-mind, he might develop opinions all on his own!"