[Andorion]

So I am 4 chapters into Fall of Light

Holy Shit.

I saw some comments before about the book being dense. I jumped into this book straight from FoD which itself is pretty dense so I was a bit worried.

I burned through the 4 chapters really fast. This book is great so.far.

1. The two sidekicks of Anomander who get sent to join the Hust....their banter on the bridge was quite funny. Also did that sequence remind anyone of Shakespeare, like sometimes when two side characters will have a slightly meta discussion before the main guy enters?

2. The mindfuck that went on at the Shake temple....did that witch summon an old D'ivers?

3. That random interjection about Tehol in Fisher and Gallans conversation. I laughed so hard at that!

4. Brood and Rake travelling together - Brood explaining the meaning of Anomanders name Anom - standing, Rake - strength - so very appropriate. Also K'rul does change genders!

5. And Narad. Narad's entire sequence gave me goosbumps. He dreams of the Battle of Lightfall - he sees the future - and Emurlahn - shoreline

So far this book has been outstanding. The main problem is putting it down!

[Puck]

Not going to say much, simply because I'm not done myself yet (roughly halfway through), so no worries, no spoilers, just random stuff..

 Andorion, on 02 May 2016 - 01:21 AM, said:

Holy Shit.

Yes, that pretty much sums up my sentiment as well.

 Andorion, on 02 May 2016 - 01:21 AM, said:

1. The two sidekicks of Anomander who get sent to join the Hust....their banter on the bridge was quite funny. Also did that sequence remind anyone of Shakespeare, like sometimes when two side characters will have a slightly meta discussion before the main guy enters?

Yes, and I think that's quite deliberate (then again, what isn't with SE?), mostly because iirc, Shakespeare is/was a big inspiration for the structure and tone of the Kharkanas books.

 Andorion, on 02 May 2016 - 01:21 AM, said:

4. Brood and Rake travelling together - Brood explaining the meaning of Anomanders name Anom - standing, Rake - strength - so very appropriate. Also K'rul does change genders!

That, and also, I thought the underlying possible wild theory was either completely bonkers or genius. I can't decide, not even if I should give in to the temptation and believe it.

This post has been edited by Puck: 02 May 2016 - 10:59 AM

[RSM616]

i know what you mean, i love the bits of humor SE adds with character such as the two captains.

Also point 4 is one of my favourites. I love the fact that SE adds these little bits of colour making things more than black and white (i make no apologies for the pun). Giving depth to the characters and the world in ways bigger than just their actions. The fact that variations on Rakes name are explained is just one of many reasons i love the Malazan world

[Siergiej]

I'm around chapter six or seven so far and very similar thoughts. The read is amazing, though I'm trying to restrain myself. It's tempting to devour it in two sittings, but I've waited four years, so I also want to savour it. I also agree that's oozing Shakespeare and my first thought when reading the banter from two Houseblades of Purake was 'are these guys Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?'.

The best moment so far was the fateful meeting at Sidleways (not sure which chapter was that, so don't want to reveal anything specific). New light shed on the nature of godhood, Azathanai, magic: amazeballs! Apart from that, the Thel Akai banter is pure gold and a fantastic counterbalance for the generally heavy tone. One thing I do not appreciate is that there's still so much philosophizing. I know it's deliberate but sometimes enough is enough. At times I just don't see any purpose in it. It's introspection for the sake of introspection, not revealing anything new about a character.

Also, I have some new theories that might be disproven later in the book, but let's give it a shot:

• Narad = Edgewalker
• K'rul is Anomander's mother (this one's way further on the crazy scale)

Also, seemingly random dialogue mentioning Tehol, Mael, Raest... I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Also, there is a quote from Toll the Hounds that I recently found in my notes that looks like a golden piece of foreshadowing for Fall of Light:

Quote

Kharkanas, before she embraced Light, before the ones born of ashes lifted themselves up and took swords in hand. Scabandari. Ilgast Rend, Halyd Bahann. Esthala who dreamed of peace. Kagamandra Tulas Shorn, who did not.

Okay, back to the book.

[Andorion]

Read chapters 5-7.

Chapter 5 is probably the most WTF chapter I have read. So many things get revealed, so many new questions are asked

The dragons - Tennes, Mockras
The Thel Akai

K'rul and the other Azathanai - Errastas influencing magic - Master of Holds.

The other A clearly went to the Kchain Chemalle

Factions within the Azath - the enigmatic builders

The raw magic in all its forms

I am rationing this book now. Two chapters tomorrow. Not more than that

[Coltaine -]

Currently chapter six

I had to change my favourite quote from the book. Now I have two new ones

Spoiler

Korya opened her hand and looked down at what she held
"An acorn? An fucking acorn?"

And

"You never did well with pets, Haut. Espacially with other peoples pets."

"I warned Raest. Besides, in the end, he could not find dishonour in the tomb I raised for that stupid cat"

[theocean]

 Coltaine93, on 02 May 2016 - 07:10 PM, said:

Currently chapter six

I had to change my favourite quote from the book. Now I have two new ones

Spoiler

Korya opened her hand and looked down at what she held
"An acorn? An fucking acorn?"

And

"You never did well with pets, Haut. Espacially with other peoples pets."

"I warned Raest. Besides, in the end, he could not find dishonour in the tomb I raised for that stupid cat"

You have grown, from thigh to knee in fact... is a funny one.

[Andorion]

 Coltaine93, on 02 May 2016 - 07:10 PM, said:

Currently chapter six

I had to change my favourite quote from the book. Now I have two new ones

Spoiler

Korya opened her hand and looked down at what she held
"An acorn? An fucking acorn?"

And

"You never did well with pets, Haut. Espacially with other peoples pets."

"I warned Raest. Besides, in the end, he could not find dishonour in the tomb I raised for that stupid cat"

The acorn - echoes of Quick Ben?

That Raest and Cat line..... oh my god.....SE can be so mischievous

[Dragnipurake]

Finished it just now. Wish I hadn't

"What? No, I do not know King Tehol the Only"

So many questions/mysteries answered

Spoiler

Kilmandaro's children - Thel Akai, Forkrul Assail's god - Grizzin Farl

The scene with Gothos and Hood must rank among the best from all the 12 books so far.

This post has been edited by Dragnipurake: 03 May 2016 - 06:25 AM

[helgi]

 Dragnipurake, on 03 May 2016 - 05:33 AM, said:

Finished it just now. Wish I hadn't

"What? No, I do not know King Tehol the Only"

So many questions/mysteries answered

Spoiler

Kilmandaro's children - Thel Akai, Forkrul Assail's god - Grizzin Farl

The scene with Gothos and Hood must rank among the best from all the 12 books so far.

Spoiler

Grizzin Farl being the Forkrul Assail's god made me think that he is the Shards from DoD... but fuck, that'd be cruel.

[Puck]

That'd be fitting.

That said, people please consider that this is Andorion's FoL reading thread and to make sure to not comment too much on stuff he's not read yet. Just in case.

[petete]

 Dragnipurake, on 03 May 2016 - 05:33 AM, said:

Spoiler

Kilmandaro's children - Thel Akai, Forkrul Assail's god - Grizzin Farl

Where does it say that about Grizzin Farl ?

[Andorion]

Finished chapter 14.

The Jaghut and Thel Akai are without doubt the best parts of this book. Hilarious yet profound.

That Azath and the 5 Seregahl - MT everybody!

Raest!!!! Raest is here! And he is being sarcastic!

Hood is clearly doing something nobody really anticipated.

Rake and Brood arrive at Dracons hold, Korya and Arathan are going there - I sense a convergence

Ilnap = Napan? High King - judgement - Erekol, mother of Ereko, shadow of High King, this is Kallor. No doubts anymore

Telorast!

Orfantal can conjure shadow wolves?

WTF is Draconus and MD doing?

So the deniers are the Tiste Edur, wonder how Scara came to lead them. Sharenas Ankhadu is going to be Twilight. I am sure

The Kagamandra Tulas storyline is about to get a major boost. Gear!

Skillen Droe built the first skykeep

[Andorion]

Chapters 15-16

Man that Dracons Hold chapter was easily the most WTF thing I have read in Malazan ever.

We knew from TCG that Sandalath had some kind of trauma, but this? I stopped reading when I crossed that part

[Andorion]

So, finally finished this book.

Its a great book. I will not say it is Erikson's best, but it is definitely a great book. Actually I am having some trouble comparing these books to the original ten. Since the Kharkanas books are written in a different narrative register, it often feels odd to see a familiar SE trope and then see it turn out differently.

Overall I would say there is a more meta feel to this book as SE infodumps a lot.. which again is unusual, but also the way he slides in references to MBotF feels like he is having a lot of fun doing it.

So this book...

I would say it has many extremely strong portions - Jaghut, Thel Akai, Dragon, Denier etc

The Liosan portions were a bit boring to be honest.

But then in the last part of the book I found a comment about Tiste navel gazing which made me realize the philosophical bloat was intentional and just SE having fun