[Aptorian]

2020 MALAZAN RE-READ: DUST OF DREAMS

Book description for Dust of Dreams

Quote

The penultimate book in the acclaimed Malazan Book of the Fallen fantasy series.

On the Letherii continent the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore begins its march into the eastern Wastelands, to fight for an unknown cause against an enemy it has never seen. The fate awaiting the Bonehunters is one no soldier can prepare for, and one no mortal soul can withstand - the foe is uncertainty and the only weapon worth wielding is stubborn courage. In war everyone loses, and this brutal truth can be found in the eyes of every soldier in every world.

Destinies are never simple. Truths are neither clear nor sharp. The Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen are drawing to a close in a distant place, beneath indifferent skies, as the last great army of the Malazan Empire seeks a final battle in the name of redemption. Final questions remain to be answered: can one's deeds be heroic when no one is there to see it? Can that which is unwitnessed forever change the world? The answers await the Bonehunters, beyond the Wastelands...

January 1st 2020 we began the re-read of the main series of the Malazan books. The plan being to read one book a month. We've now added additional Erikson and Esslemont publications to the schedule, to be read roughly according to the publication order.

Quote

2020
January: Gardens of the Moon
February: Deadhouse Gates
March: Memories of Ice
April: House of Chains
May: Midnight Tides
June Night of Knives & The Bonehunters
July: Return of the Crimson Guard
August: Reaper's Gale
September: Stonewielder
October: Toll the Hounds
November: Orb Sceptre Throne
December: Dust of Dreams

2021
January: The Crippled God
February: Blood and Bone
March: Assail
April: Forge of Darkness
May: Fall of Light

You can read our thoughts from earlier months in these threads:

2020 Malazan Re-read: Gardens of the Moon

2020 Malazan Re-read: Deadhouse Gates

2020 Malazan Re-read: Memories of Ice

2020 Malazan Re-read: House of Chains

2020 Malazan Re-read: Midnight Tides

2020 Malazan Re-read: Night of Knives

2020 Malazan Re-read: Bonehunters

2020 Malazan Re-read: Return of the Crimson Guard

2020 Malazan Re-read: Reaper's Gale

2020 Malazan Re-read: Stonewielder

2020 Malazan Re-read: Toll the Hounds

2020 Malazan Re-read: Orb, Sceptre, Throne

December 1st we begin the re-read of Dust of Dreams, the 9th book in the main Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

There will be spoilers for all published books. So beware. Spoiler blocks are not mandatory but if people want to use boxes for the latest Kharkanas books or the Path to Ascendance books for example, I'd personally appreciate it.

Are you ready? What do you remember about Dust of Dreams?

My recollection is so hazy I can barely recall anything. I seem to remember not much happening. Like the whole book was the first-half to The Crippled God's series conclusion.

I can't remember if it's this book or the tenth where Erikson does something indescribable to Hetan. That pissed me off. Hetan doesn't go out like that.

There was the stuff around the K'chain Che'malle that was interesting. Namely the gigantic dinosaur assassin.

Oh and Icarium was roaming around with ghosts in his head as far as I recall.

[Aptorian]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE FOR DUST OF DREAMS

https://malazan.fand...ae#The_Malazans

Quote

The Malazans

Adjunct Tavore
High Mage Quick Ben
Fist Keneb
Fist Blistig
Captain Lostara Yil
Banaschar
Captain Kindly
Captain Skanarow
Captain Faradan Sort
Captain Ruthan Gudd
Captain Fast
Captain Untilly Rum
Lieutenant Pores
Lieutenant Raband
Sinn
Grub

The Squads
Sergeant Fiddler
Corporal Tarr
Koryk
Smiles
Bottle
Corabb Bhilan Thenu'alas
Cuttle
Sergeant Gesler
Corporal Stormy
Shortnose
Flashwit
Mayfly
Sergeant Cord
Corporal Shard
Limp
Ebron
Crump (Jamber Bole)
Sergeant Hellian
Corporal Touchy
Corporal Brethless
Balgrid
Maybe
Sergeant Balm
Corporal Deadsmell
Throatslitter
Galt
Lobe
Widdershins
Sergeant Thom Tissy
Tulip
Gullstream
Sergeant Urb
Corporal Reem
Masan Gilani
Saltlick
Scant
Sergeant Sinter
Corporal Pravalak Rim
Honey
Strap Mull
Shoaly
Lookback
Sergeant Badan Gruk
Corporal Ruffle
Skim
Nep Furrow
Reliko
Vastly Blank
Sergeant Primly
Corporal Kisswhere
Hunt
Mulvan Dreader
Neller
Skulldeath
Drawfirst

Dead Hedge
Alchemist Bavedict
Sergeant Sunrise
Sergeant Nose Stream
Corporal Sweetlard
Corporal Rumjugs

The Khundryl
Warleader Gall
Hanavat (Gall's wife)
Jarabb
Shelemasa
Vedith

The Perish Grey Helms
Mortal Sword Krughava
Shield Anvil Tanakalian
Destriant Run'Thurvian

The Letherii
King Tehol
Queen Janath
Chancellor Bugg
Ceda Bugg
Treasurer Bugg
Yan Tovis (Twilight)
Yedan Derryg (The Watch)
Brys Beddict
Atri-Ceda Aranict
Shurq Elalle
Skorgen Kaban
Ublala Pung
Witch Pully
Witch Skwish
Brevity
Pithy
Rucket
Ursto Hoobutt
Pinosel

The Barghast
Warleader Onos Toolan
Hetan
Stavi
Storii
Warchief Stolmen
Warlock Cafal
Strahl
Bakal
Warchief Maral Eb
Skincut Ralata
Awl Torrent
Setoc of the Wolves

The Snake
Rutt
Held
Badalle
Saddic
Brayderal

Imass
Onrack
Kilava
Ulshun Pral

T'lan Imass
Lera Epar
Kalt Urmanal
Rystalle Ev
Brolos Haran
Ilm Absinos
Ulag Togtil
Nom Kala
Inistral Ovan

K'Chain Che'Malle
Matron Gunth'an Acyl
J'an Sentinel Bre'nigan
K'ell Hunter Sag'Churok
One Daughter Gunth Mach
K'ell Hunter Kor Thuran
K'ell Hunter Rythok
Shi'Gal Assassin Gu'Rull
Sulkit
Destriant Kalyth (Elan)

Others
Silchas Ruin
Rud Elalle
Telorast
Curdle
The Errant (Errastas)
Knuckles (Sechul Lath)
Kilmandaros
Mael
Olar Ethil
Udinaas

Sheb
Taxilian
Veed
Asane
Breath
Last
Nappet
Rautos

Sandalath Drukorlat
Withal
Mape
Rind
Pule
Bent
Roach

[Cyphon]

Holy moly that is a long dramatis personnae with very little to be able to hold those names in your head.

Starting tonight as I've managed to catch up.

[Cyphon]

Finished the prologue. The snake is going to be just as grim to read about as last time. I'd forgotten icariums split personalities, some familiar names there for them... is that intentional?

Started chapter one, good to be back with the bone Hunters. Grub for all his superpowers hasn't twigged that Sinn is an fire elemental yet has he.

[Aptorian]

You'll realize later why you recognize the names inside Icarium's head.

[Cyphon]

So long since I read this, glad to know it'll make sense.

[Macros]

Or you will want to burn the book

[Cyphon]

I might put a Macros hook into every post i do in this thread. E.g. my books a ebook so burning is harder.

Good to see Tehol and Bugg back. I'd forgotten Bamaschar and the Errant were engaged in conversation so early on.

[Cyphon]

Bugg really needs to be less coy, it inevitably fails.

The Bolkando, how do they sustain their population in what is supposed to be a small kingdom with that volume of intrigue related death and mutilation!?

I'd forgotten the shield anvil taking a more picky approach to redemption, as opposed to the redeemer. Not sure how justified the musing is going to be on that. I guess it depends on the outcome as whether the character is doing the right thing. Cant remember whether the destraint was lead astray with shades of truth or what he was saying was objectively legit.

[Cyphon]

Didnt think that the dealing of cards was all that. I think its likely because we know what all the cards portend as its a reread.

The Errant getting tonked by sinter... and then getting hand waved away later as power relating to presense rather than anything else. I do believe there's power in a narrative (see Liverpool FC in Europe in recent years) but it was a tad unbelievable.

Hey Macros, look it's Hetan! Forgot it was Kruppe who was her kid's father.

[Keysi]

Back in the game for this one. I'll have some proper comments later. One thing that's sticking out so far is the ages of Sinn and Grub. They are roughly the same age in this book? Doesn't seem very consistent with when Grub was found. Just a time line isn't important situation? ?

[Macros]

Cyphon, on 06 December 2020 - 07:05 PM, said:

Didnt think that the dealing of cards was all that. I think its likely because we know what all the cards portend as its a reread.

The Errant getting tonked by sinter... and then getting hand waved away later as power relating to presense rather than anything else. I do believe there's power in a narrative (see Liverpool FC in Europe in recent years) but it was a tad unbelievable.

Hey Macros, look it's Hetan! Forgot it was Kruppe who was her kid's father.

no

[Stalker]

Hard to say if I’ll stick with it this month or just combo DoD and the TCG in January. I’m trying to hit my annual goal of 100 books read and am sitting at 90 (though one could argue that reading 8 Erikson books and 4 Esslemont should count for a few more). Tough call.

[D'rek]

Keysi, on 07 December 2020 - 08:05 PM, said:

Back in the game for this one. I'll have some proper comments later. One thing that's sticking out so far is the ages of Sinn and Grub. They are roughly the same age in this book? Doesn't seem very consistent with when Grub was found. Just a time line isn't important situation? ?

Yeah, Grub grows up faster than he should have (and swaps genders). There's some vague "he's an embodiment of the story of the bridgeburners voodoo magic" off-hand mention/hint to try and justify it at some point but it's kinda bullshitty.

[Macros]

Wait, grub swaps genders?
The age thing was always ridiculous, never caught the gen swap

[Cyphon]

I missed that too. When does the gender swap happen?

Kurghava's stomping of the bolkandos impression of the grey helms was entertaining.

I had forgotten about the dragon metropolis not Icarium enters. Its an immense image.

This post has been edited by Cyphon: 09 December 2020 - 11:00 PM

[Aptorian]

There's a dragon metropolis?

[Cyphon]

Come come Apt, do the reread and see whether this narrator is telling the truth or not...

[Aptorian]

I'm not tricked that easily!

[Abyss]

Macros, on 09 December 2020 - 09:59 AM, said:

Wait, grub swaps genders?
The age thing was always ridiculous, never caught the gen swap

Cyphon, on 09 December 2020 - 10:59 PM, said:

I missed that too. When does the gender swap happen?
...

It's not another Orfantal... Duiker sees Grub in DG and i don't have the quote but iirc he just guesses the child is a girl.