Would you buy a book from this man? - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

pyan · 21st January 2006, 11:49 AM

I've just started reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, and am finding it a bit hard to get into, due mainly to the assumption that I already know the "rules of the universe".

Can anyone reassure me that the series is worth persisting with? I'd go to the Authors section, but a lot of posts in there are full of unannounced spoilers, and I don't want to know anything ahead of time if I'm going to invest in the whole series .
Comments please - thanks in advance.

HieroGlyph · 21st January 2006, 02:14 PM

If you tell us what you like to read, from what you have read and a little about why you like what youve read, a few good folks here would be more certain of helping to answer

...

[Edit: following lines contain SOMETHING about the books, so skip this paragraph if you dont want to know absolutely ANYTHING about his books, ok]
Erikson is a little different. This new world is a huge place. 'Mages' of very different types. Warriors of alsorts. Armies, sergeants, generals, emperors, leaders aplently and on all sides (and Ive yet to figures out who's a 'loser' - I even 'like' the enemies...).

Remember, though, that the series wont be finished till maybe 2010 (trying to be realistic).

I am a big fan. Know my bias.

If you like to read, I say read on.
And always: enjoy!

HG

murphy · 21st January 2006, 06:15 PM

It will all come together by the end of the book. I loved this series, but then I also like GRRM, Robert Jordan, David Drake's Hammers Slammer.

Rahl Windsong · 21st January 2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyanfaruk

I've just started reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, and am finding it a bit hard to get into, due mainly to the assumption that I already know the "rules of the universe".

Can anyone reassure me that the series is worth persisting with? I'd go to the Authors section, but a lot of posts in there are full of unannounced spoilers, and I don't want to know anything ahead of time if I'm going to invest in the whole series .
Comments please - thanks in advance.

Ok I just finished reading the 5th book in this excellent series and I have to say that it was quite likely the best fantasy I have read to date. It just gets better and better with each book, and Erikson writes very fast for such a complex storyline so we don't have to wait 4+ years like in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire for each new book.

Gardens of the Moon is the setup book and consequently its a bit harder to read then the rest but no way would I say its not worth your time. If you enjoy the fantasy genre I can't imagine how you could not like this series it just gets better with age "like a fine wine" as Gollum once told me!

I envy you just starting this series, I truely do.

Rahl

PS: The Bonehunters book 6 due out March 1, 2006

GOLLUM · 22nd January 2006, 12:06 AM

Don't stress, this is a common observation by the majority of readers of this EPIC series. YES it's not easy to get into intially but by the end of the book most of the loose threads are tied up and as Rahl says the series gets better with every book. For me the fact that Erikson throws you into the deep end and asks you to sink or swim appeals to me but I appreciate it won't to everyone.
In short stick with it because you're not alone and it's certainly worth the investment. My favourite fanatsy series ever.

HieroGlyph · 22nd January 2006, 12:31 AM

Yeah, dont ask Gollum! If I am bias... Well... er, Gollum lead me here anyway sooooo, I'm one of those unwilling Malazan 'disciples'...

Like I say: bias.

Pyanfaruk... have they returned? Or been lead astray? ...... Its rather quiet

nixie · 22nd January 2006, 12:46 AM

How can you be a unwilling disciple of the Malazan

You have to embrace it with open arms.
I still can't understand the confusing people have with Gardens of the Moon... I enjoyed been throwing in at the deep end and piecing together the threads,they are all tied up nicely at the end

Rane Longfox · 22nd January 2006, 01:03 AM

Yeah, the first book is hard to get into, that seems to be the general consensus. But it's worth the effort, theres no doubt of that

Personally, like nixie, I enjoyed being thrown into the action straight away...

HieroGlyph · 22nd January 2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixie

How can you be a unwilling disciple of the Malazan

...

Heh, unwilling in that I'm pulled along so strongly its almost painful

[Note: pulled does not equate to pushed! Its voluntarily involuntary!!!]

pyan · 23rd January 2006, 06:10 PM

Well... the ayes have it, unopposed.
I'm almost at the end of GOOM now, and, yes, it's all coming together. That's goodbye to all the book tokens I got for Christmas, anyway.

Quote:

If you tell us what you like to read, from what you have read and a little about why you like what youve read, a few good folks here would be more certain of helping to answer

...

Yes, HieroGlyph, sorry, I can see that may have been useful

The list starts with C.S.Lewis, JRRT, Frank Herbert, John Wyndham, Asimov, A C Clarke, etc, and progresses via just about everyone else( Pratchett, May, EE"Doc" Smith, Feist, Gemmell, Tom Holt, Modesitt, Heinlein, and especially Cherryh and Bujold ) to GRRM (who I've only just found) and now Erikson. I'll try most authors at least once, (even Anne McCaffrey

) but in this case, knowing that there are at least 5 books in the series, I just wanted to know that I wasn't going to be as disappointed as I was in The Wheel of Time, where the plot lost out to the wordcount.

Thanx to all that answered. You may not hear from me again for some time - I have reading to do...

HieroGlyph · 23rd January 2006, 06:19 PM

Very appreciative list, PyanfarUK.

And I'm sure a good few of us will let you know we dont think its a WoT!

Me? Nothing like WoT at all...

Rahl Windsong · 23rd January 2006, 07:17 PM

Well to befair to WoT, Knife of Dreams did seem to redeem that series some what. In fact I would say I really did enjoy that book and I am now looking forward to book 12. I don't think I want to miss the end of this very good story or maybe its just that I have not stepped off yet so why not stay the ride to the conclusion? Jordan's books take up nearly an entire shelf of one of my bookcases and I like that fact. The Malazan story is more to my liking but I got a lot of enjoyment from WoT as well.

Rahl

HieroGlyph · 23rd January 2006, 08:48 PM

If the question was:

Would I buy a book of Jordan's or a book of Erikson's?

...Well, I've bought more books Jordan's than I have of Erikson's. To-date.

Allow me to roll back the Wheel of Time...

And I would probably do the same

But!

That is because Erikson has fewer books out. So the question changes, yet again... muhahaaaa!!!

Rane Longfox · 23rd January 2006, 09:19 PM

Well, I've got nine erikson books, and ten Jordan. So it aint such a difference

pyan · 25th January 2006, 04:26 PM

Doing a quick count, the single most-bought-author on my shelves is Terry Pratchett, with thirty-seven books. Mind you, the rate the man turns them out.......
If only GRRM could write at that speed, while keeping the quality!

21st January 2006, 11:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
pyan Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hampshire Posts: 4,509	Would you buy a book from this man? I've just started reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, and am finding it a bit hard to get into, due mainly to the assumption that I already know the "rules of the universe". Can anyone reassure me that the series is worth persisting with? I'd go to the Authors section, but a lot of posts in there are full of unannounced spoilers, and I don't want to know anything ahead of time if I'm going to invest in the whole series . Comments please - thanks in advance.

21st January 2006, 02:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
HieroGlyph 70% water... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 376	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? If you tell us what you like to read, from what you have read and a little about why you like what youve read, a few good folks here would be more certain of helping to answer ... [Edit: following lines contain SOMETHING about the books, so skip this paragraph if you dont want to know absolutely ANYTHING about his books, ok] Erikson is a little different. This new world is a huge place. 'Mages' of very different types. Warriors of alsorts. Armies, sergeants, generals, emperors, leaders aplently and on all sides (and Ive yet to figures out who's a 'loser' - I even 'like' the enemies...). Remember, though, that the series wont be finished till maybe 2010 (trying to be realistic). I am a big fan. Know my bias. If you like to read, I say read on. And always: enjoy! HG

21st January 2006, 06:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
murphy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,091	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? It will all come together by the end of the book. I loved this series, but then I also like GRRM, Robert Jordan, David Drake's Hammers Slammer.

22nd January 2006, 12:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
GOLLUM Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 5,283	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Don't stress, this is a common observation by the majority of readers of this EPIC series. YES it's not easy to get into intially but by the end of the book most of the loose threads are tied up and as Rahl says the series gets better with every book. For me the fact that Erikson throws you into the deep end and asks you to sink or swim appeals to me but I appreciate it won't to everyone. In short stick with it because you're not alone and it's certainly worth the investment. My favourite fanatsy series ever.

22nd January 2006, 12:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
HieroGlyph 70% water... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 376	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Yeah, dont ask Gollum! If I am bias... Well... er, Gollum lead me here anyway sooooo, I'm one of those unwilling Malazan 'disciples'... Like I say: bias. Pyanfaruk... have they returned? Or been lead astray? ...... Its rather quiet

22nd January 2006, 12:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
nixie pixie druid Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,612	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? How can you be a unwilling disciple of the Malazan You have to embrace it with open arms. I still can't understand the confusing people have with Gardens of the Moon... I enjoyed been throwing in at the deep end and piecing together the threads,they are all tied up nicely at the end

22nd January 2006, 01:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
Rane Longfox Pallid, Lumigoth Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 3,181	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Yeah, the first book is hard to get into, that seems to be the general consensus. But it's worth the effort, theres no doubt of that Personally, like nixie, I enjoyed being thrown into the action straight away...

23rd January 2006, 06:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
HieroGlyph 70% water... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 376	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Very appreciative list, PyanfarUK. And I'm sure a good few of us will let you know we dont think its a WoT! Me? Nothing like WoT at all...

23rd January 2006, 07:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rahl Windsong Last of the Windsong Clan Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 514	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Well to befair to WoT, Knife of Dreams did seem to redeem that series some what. In fact I would say I really did enjoy that book and I am now looking forward to book 12. I don't think I want to miss the end of this very good story or maybe its just that I have not stepped off yet so why not stay the ride to the conclusion? Jordan's books take up nearly an entire shelf of one of my bookcases and I like that fact. The Malazan story is more to my liking but I got a lot of enjoyment from WoT as well. Rahl

23rd January 2006, 08:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
HieroGlyph 70% water... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 376	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? If the question was: Would I buy a book of Jordan's or a book of Erikson's? ...Well, I've bought more books Jordan's than I have of Erikson's. To-date. Allow me to roll back the Wheel of Time... And I would probably do the same But! That is because Erikson has fewer books out. So the question changes, yet again... muhahaaaa!!!

23rd January 2006, 09:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
Rane Longfox Pallid, Lumigoth Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 3,181	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Well, I've got nine erikson books, and ten Jordan. So it aint such a difference

25th January 2006, 04:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
pyan Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hampshire Posts: 4,509	Re: Would you buy a book from this man? Doing a quick count, the single most-bought-author on my shelves is Terry Pratchett, with thirty-seven books. Mind you, the rate the man turns them out....... If only GRRM could write at that speed, while keeping the quality!

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