Malazan Empire: Criticism of Malazan Book of the Fallen - Malazan Empire

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Criticism of Malazan Book of the Fallen

#141 User is offline   Gothos 

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Posted 27 December 2003 - 08:46 AM

about the advancement... I don't see why does it have to be the same in every world? notice that WE didn't have MAGIC, OTHER RACES or anything like that. it's a quite big diffrence.

anyways, what bothers me is... overuse of magic. and one I'm-too-cool-to-be-real-so-you-can't-touch-me character, Anomander Rake.

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Spring me out of this cell and I swear by the pain of Death that I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass Posted Image.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
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#142 Guest_egt_*

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Posted 04 January 2004 - 12:50 PM

@Dujek: Oki, u r the best judge whether it spoiled HoC or not for u
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#143 User is offline   Morgoth 

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Posted 22 May 2005 - 08:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Hetan:
Posted Image @ Morgoth... but don't let it go to your head... Posted Image


Let my genious go to my head? Will never happen. No matter how superior my mind becomes i'll always be a very down to earth and humble person. On of the many admireable aspects of my complex nature Posted Image
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#144 User is offline   Gothos 

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Posted 03 January 2004 - 03:36 PM

quote:
Originallu posted by Dujek One-Arm:
What is the point of reading the books if you know what is going to happen?


ever seen the series named "Colombo"? Posted Image

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Spring me out of this cell and I swear by the pain of Death that I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass Posted Image.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
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#145 Guest_Arakasi_*

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Posted 07 February 2004 - 06:52 PM

Maybe we should ask him on the Q&A thread and perhaps he'll be gracious enough to answer it when he next responds. Posted Image

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#146 User is offline   tickhill43 

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Posted 04 January 2004 - 12:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Greyfrog:

@Dujek: Ever watched or read old plays like Romeo and Juliette ? Knowing what will happen will not always spoil the read...


@Greyfrog
In some cases knowing what happens does not spoil the story at all I readily admit but in this case it was awful and spoiled the tone completly. I thought that there was a real chance at this point that the Adjunct's army could be destroyed and the empire thrown into turmoil. If that army had been destroyed there would only be two armies left, Greymane trying to conquer Koreli (is this the right continent, cannot remember), and one-arms host which is greatly reduced in coral. The young of the empire had just been called up to the adjuncts army and with Coltaine's army destroyed almost to the last man there would have been a large chance of the empire entering its death throes. Instead we know that the empire lasts another 30 years at least. I feel that this spoilt the last part of HoC for me.

@Captain Sparrow - Only seen Colombo once and hated it, the best of dectective series is easily Jonathan Creek.
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#147 User is offline   Kimpo 

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Posted 29 April 2005 - 10:42 PM

ohhh, that's cold, though, shouldn't there be a horde of teenage girls messing up these forums if that was true? and I never understood what people have against strong chars in a series. as long as it's done good anyway. it's like saying "hey, GWB, you can't be president, it's impossible for there to be that powerful people"

naturally, very strong people can be done wrong too, like Eddings hehe (though I liked his works when younger, guess that's the agegroup he aimed for)
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#148 Guest_stonerman_*

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Posted 19 June 2005 - 07:03 AM

quote:
Derudan was a witch of Tennes (warren of the land) if I remember correctly and would have most likely been able to keep herself alive a little longer than your run of the mill assassin. I also had the image that Tennes was linked to to Denul or that it at least had healing capabilites. Which also would have helped keep her alive. Remember how Hairlock remained alive for quite sometime after having his legs completely removed, now I'm no biology whiz but that would have you dead pretty quick. I am guessing that mage's can keep themselves alive in dire conditions for at least a little amount of time. Posted Image


that I never thought of, but Derudan dropped her warren involuntarily when she was tackled by Quick ben at the fete, if she was stabbbed wouldn't she react much the same.

quote:
Things in SFF book are not always scissors paper stone. The circumstances of the certain 'battles' you have instanced play a major part in the outcomes. Also while some things maybe excellent for one-one duels they may not be so effective at battling multiple opponents. Posted Image


well I with vorcan she had already used her magic, and with l'orics familiar we don't really know how strong it was. But Toblakai killing the Deragoth is still the one thing in the series that I think was done totally wrong
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#149 User is offline   caladanbrood 

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Posted 06 January 2004 - 05:47 AM

the worst bit of the books is the first book of HoC, imho. Erikson should stick to what he knows best, skipping around storylines, which he does like a maestro, not sticking to one character for so long. The grizzled veterans point is valid too.

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#150 Guest_Duiker_*

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Posted 07 February 2004 - 06:13 AM

Yep, Boudicca the Pict queen or whatever. Remember Joan of Arc? Well, those are individual instances in very specific circumstances. These are the exeptions that prove the rule.

Having a woman as a leader or a few women in your army is something entirely different from having say about a quarter of your armies made up of females. Which is what Erikson does and what annoyes me (refer to earlier post).

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#151 User is offline   McLovin 

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Posted 20 June 2005 - 08:29 AM

Uh...never mind...

And yes, very well argued.
OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.
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#152 User is offline   Malarion 

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Posted 27 December 2003 - 08:35 AM

I agree with the "Grizzled Veteran" comment.
It takes some of the tension away from the battles when they are filled with fearless soldiers. Where are the young recruits who are pissing themselves with fear?

Don't remember the descriptions ever being an issue, unlike some I have read ("dear god, Jordans going to describe every floor tile now" leaps to mind).

As for the lack of advancement...*Shudders*...read sci-fi if you want that. Posted Image

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#153 Guest_Reave the Just_*

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Posted 14 January 2004 - 01:45 AM

Dark Daze - ha ha like it Posted Image.

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#154 User is offline   Svaran 

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Posted 29 January 2004 - 03:53 PM

korik,

sorry my mistake.



It was Fool that siad the following;

quote:
That isnt just fantasy and she has a degree in medieval studies so she knows what she's talking about. A woman can easily be stronger than a man



actually in terms of combat that's a rarity, and thats based on experience garnered from having done military and martial arts training. Guys from my experience have always been easily stronger than woman some have been fitter but ultimately aggression and strength give them the edge in combat. It's in areas of skill that there is far more of a chance of parity.

Woman like Deotran, Lackwit, Elizabeth Moon's Pak's are like hen's teeth.

[This message was edited by Svaran on 02 February 2004 at 06:20 PM.]
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#155 Guest_Skrzypek_*

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Posted 16 June 2005 - 12:48 PM

@Imperial Historian

Well, you've convinced me about Dujek.
But Coltaine?
He managed to clear Hissar of rebels, he also beat the native army, leaving no significaant force that could threat him in a short run. He could leave Malazans and civilian in Hissar and let the Wickans destroy all small native forces around.
The united Malazan atmy could be build only after the orders from laseen have arrived. This means, that waiting in Hissar had another advantages.
Abnd supplies, supplies, supplies. It's easier to be supplied when you have a port around, than in the middle of the desert, where one can only hope for the good will of the author (in other words, the Trygalle Guild Posted Image
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#156 User is offline   Folken 

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Posted 29 April 2005 - 08:02 PM

That was actually one of the coolest parts of the entire series thus far. It was just amazing how Laseen justified herself. The dislike that I had built up towards Laseen in GotM completely disappeared. Theres always two sides to a story, and no one is better than SE at being able to tell both sides...*sigh* genius

Oh and Just scouting other novel forums, for what people have to say about Erikson and came across a post on the Bakker forum. Personally those posts on here would probably be viewed as heresy Posted Image but the poster made a point that intrigued me. He/She said that all of Erikson's character, for the most part, seem to be insanely strong, which is true, Karsa for one is unbelievable, even I was a bit amazed when he fought and won against the Deragoth. Just wondering if anyone else had that feeling?

And a side note, the poster had the nerve to compare Erikson's popularity to Britney Spears and I quote "Saying Erikson is popular becasue of his writing is like saying Britney Spears is popular for her singing"Posted Image!!!!!
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#157 Guest_halfhand_*

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Posted 15 June 2005 - 12:27 PM

Woohoo! Glad to hear it. Posted Image

I'm just finishing the last 150 pages of MT right now, so I haven't read the preview of Bonehunters yet to avoid spoilers..

-halfhand
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#158 Guest__*

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Posted 16 January 2004 - 11:30 AM

Got to agree with you on the female aspect, i didn't even realize some of the characters were female until a few chapters went by. They rock as much as the guys. Hey, hey why are we all . . . . . . . . . . .


BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

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. . . banned? I reckon the fact that we have so much to say about the series is why it is so successful. I've not found a forum like this on any other author and he's still quite new to it, no? Things can only get better. We would be on this site if he didn't rule. Posted Image
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#159 User is offline   Greymane 

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Posted 28 June 2005 - 03:29 AM

I agree. We don't have an actual eyewitness for the fighting inside Hissar. Duiker only sees the aftermath, and can only speculate on what happened.

Based on his observations, I'd say Coltaine's position in the city was quickly made untenable. The majority of the population was hostile, the defences were breached, the Malazan inhabitants and loyalists were in danger, etc. I can't remember the exact quotes off the top of my head, but doesn't Duiker observe that barracks and the keep walls had been breached, possibly by sorcery?
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#160 User is offline   Dawndeath 

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Posted 27 December 2003 - 07:25 AM

There's only one big thing I dislike, and it's not really unique for Steven Erikson, but it bothers me that human (and other) civilizations that have existed for 8000 years (Ehrlitan etc) have not undergone Industrial Revolution. It wouldn't help the story, I realize that, but I always feel that scientific development is too slow in fantasy. (Exception may be the K'Chain Che'Malle/Nah'ruk, with their skykeeps etc. but we do not know enough about them yet).

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