[Lofty]

gah, nice link. thanks

[Reborn]

I do not comprehend why some people consider the part with Karsa in the beginning to be awful. It is different from what we have grown accustomed to -- it is different compared to what Erikson has written earlier -- but, in my opinion, that is only to the better, as it makes the serie more varied, and a varied story is one of the most important things in a book.

The lack of a varied plot in Martin's work is one of two reasons for me not being certain of which of the two serie, A Song of Ice and Fire and The Malazan Book of the Fallen, I pefer, the other one being the, compared to the other books in the serie, dreadful A Feast for Crows.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

There does seem to be a general tendenct to dislike the things that SE does that are different from what he's already written. It's a matter of taste, but I like it when he switches things up. 10 books of nothing but grizzled soldiers would get a little tedious. I like when he mixes it up.

[dessembrae]

I sometimes find the soldier parts to be very tedious and slow. The pace of the book for me comes crashing to a halt and i find it harder to read the book in big chunks ( which i usually do ).

The change in story really helps the flow of the book imo. However the interaction between the soldiers can be some of the funniest. Dammit i cant win.......

[flea]

I have read the entire series so far, and I am in the middle of a 2nd reading of HoC.

I found it difficult to orient myself regarding Karsa. Seeing him over time, however, we see that Erikson has created a Bildungsroman. This obviously signals Karsa's absolute importance to the overall series, and it is a wonderful change-up in terms of narrative. I agree that the soldiers get a bit dull over time--cynical and fatalistic characters become mere verbal tics over time. Just look at Robert Jordan--awful stuff with characters who never really change. SE's deserves a lot of credit for not being predictable.

Karsa begins as quite naive and innocent, and his experience and brief observations add wonderfully to the texture of the novel. And he continues to develop--although somewhat predictable in terms of his actions, his verbal skills continue to advance, along with a great sense of humor. It is also great how other characters think they know him, or think they control him, only to be surprised.

Now it he kills off Karsa sometime...

[Varunwe]

Quote

Karsa begins as quite naive and innocent

I wouldn't say Karsa begins innocent. He's already killed plenty of Teblor when we first meet him.

I'm one of those who considers the beginning with Karsa as awful. This is because Karsa is an awful person, and I like reading about persons I like.

[flea]

Not morally innocent, but innocent in the sense of lacking sophistication and guile.

I have come to trust Erikson, but it was not too much fun reading the first section with Karsa. It became much more entertaining when he hooks up with Nom.

[Varunwe]

Yes, their conversations were pretty funny.