[Qlberts]

Why were those guys in the book? Seriously, every character appears to have some role in the story, but these necromancers just go around being arrogant and conducting horrible experiments... were they written in just so that SE could write those Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas (which I haven't read yet, by the way)? Will they play an important role in later books? Or am I missing something here?

[Skywalker]

As you know Bauchelain and Korbal Broach have a series of novellas dedicated to themselves. They have little significance in the overall scheme of the main sequence books 1 to 10 (EDIT: That we know of), but I consider their appearance in MOI as a sort of cameo to plug a spin-off.

Sort of like Doctor Who plugging Torchwood or Sarah Jane Chronicles

The three novellas (Blood Follows, The Lees of Laughter's End, The Healthy Dead) are fantasy shorts and therefore a rarity. Also a delight to read - morbid and funny.

[Aptorian]

Those necromancers along with Gruntle and co are still my favorite parts of MoI.

[Nequam]

Same here, I wish they had played a bigger role or something...

I really want to read those but America is stupid. Plus I spent all my money on prostitutes!
Haha. Just kidding....maybe.

[Cougar]

sky_walker;243507 said:

Sort of like Doctor Who plugging Torchwood or Sarah Jane Chronicles.

This comparison is not acceptable, I won't have Malaz compared to the Sarah Jane Chronicles, regadless of the context young skywalker!

I think that they provide good comic relief, I mean it's not like there are no incidental characters in life is it. Imagine if you were doing something in real life and the only people you met had a direct bearing on the outcome of your task, it would be descidedly odd.

I think characters like these add texture, I doubt they will be of any great significance in the main sequence though.

[ch'arlz]

sky_walker;243507 said:

As you know Bauchelain and Korbal Broach have a series of novellas dedicated to themselves. They have little significance in the overall scheme of the main sequence books 1 to 10 (EDIT: That we know of), but I consider their appearance in MOI as a sort of cameo to plug a spin-off.

They played fairly major and integral roles in MOI, imho. At the very least they were used as comic foils to demonstrate QB's power. They're a character type that SE tends to use and discard. I also think the spin-off was subsequent to MOI. As I recall from one interview, SE was paid a flat fee for the entire series. With a wife and family he probably started thinking about how to capitalize on his fan base.

[caladanbrood]

As characters they're just there as MoI's comic relief really, and to show how powerful QB is

I like it when characters like this pop up and then completely dissapear again. It reminds you that there's a whole world out there, and not just what you see directly in the books.


edit: heh, posted at the same time as ch'arlz. Great minds and all that:cool:

[Neffarias Muffins]

See, it's these kinds of characters and situations that make me really love Erikson's books. Some would consider them distractions from the main storyline, but I see them as more like comic interludes -- spots throughout the book where you can pause a bit, take a breath, stretch, and then get back to the meat and potatoes a little more refreshed.

You can just tell Erikson was an avid RP gamer before writing this series. I'm willing to bet that he and Cam had a helluva lot of fun with these characters in various sessions.

[Macros]

Just finished memories of ice (which unfortunately i read out of sequence, i read house of chains first, really spoiled the ending for me)
I think Bauchelain and Korbal Broach were there for more than just comic relief and showing QB's power, although they do that very effectively, you have to look at everyone's interaction with them, i think they're there as a demonstration of the entire malazan outlook (well the bridgeburners anyway) fear no-one and demand respect. when blend and picker? knock them out for their lack of manners.

[edit] I like to think that the mott irregulars do them in after the end of MOI, the bole brothers ask to meet them after all[/edit]

[Aptorian]

The bole brothers might be good at killing warlocks, but KB and B are pretty good at staying alive aswell (read the novels)

Imagine if they came to Darujistan

[Macros]

there is 23 of the bole brother though, (i haven't read their novella's yet)

[Bauchelain the Evil]

I think it put them in the book just for fun and to explain a bit about negrpmancy and demons. Excellent idea!

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