Just finished GOTM

[Green]

Garghghghghgh,

This book is made out to be some kind of lead weight around the neck. It's not.

If you don't like it, fair enough. If you think it's okay, fair enough.

Basically, unless you're Brood (i.e. you're normal), then the subsequent books are better. The author is about 10 years more experienced by DhG, and it shows. If you even partially like GotM (which is where I was), then have some faith and read on for at least 1-2 books. You owe that small effort to yourself.

To those on the new trail: happy hunting. It's a ******* ride and a half.

EDIT - god. I dislike profanity filters. It's a ******* ride and a half

[Rane Longfox]

It's true. I'm definitely not normal

[Green]

Ah, the curse of the profanity filter.

[JDP]

I read GoTM, and found it very hard going. Way-ha-hay too much magic for my personal tastes. As soon as anything resembling a 'Battlemage' or something like that shows up, my eyes start to cloud over.

Secondarily, I didn't find the characterisation in GoTM to be particularly strong (cue shouts of angry protest), and on the strength of this one book, I wouldn't put the worldbuilding at the top of the pile either (cue more shouts of protest and villagers wielding torches and pitchforks).

Though I have little inclination to continue with the series, I think I'll probably do it when the series is complete (this many Erikson afficionados can't be wrong, eh?!? And everyone seems to agree that GoTM is below par for the rest of the series).

If the lynch mob asks, I'll be waiting under the tall tree.

[Tansy]

I've just started GoTM and am finding it quite easy to follow the storyline so far even though it jumps forward a few years at a time. It's certainly entertaining at the moment and I'm curious to find out what is going on. I do have my suspicions that certain character allegiances may not be quite as they seem atm but this early in the book I'm just going to carry on reading and find out

I'm not going to make comparisons with ASoFaI as tend to get immersed in the stories I am reading and not compare to another author's works.

So far am enjoying it and have Deadhouse gates already on order so I already plan on continuing the story.

[Tansy]

Ok I've just finished it and I loved it. I didn't find it hard to follow at all and have just started Deadhouse Gates - I think I may have to order the next few to keep me going. I love the vast world it is set in and have a feeling Erikson likes to move around a lot, which suits me

[Rane Longfox]

He certainly moves around a lot

Welcome aboard!

[Lady of Winterfell]

Well, I finished Gardens of the Moon. I am one of those people who found it quite confusing. I enjoyed maybe the last 100 pages or so, but the rest I just kept scratching my head, going "What???" I am guessing that I may continue on in the series at a later date, but am a little put off that they don't follow this set of characters, I just got to know/like them!!

I started to read this series because I am a huge fan of Martin's ASOIAF and many people have suggested this series. I will not say one author is better than the other, but I still prefer Martin...just my personal opinion. But as a disclaimer I have only read one Erikson book.

[Lenny]

The second one, Deadhouse Gates, follows a number of the characters from GotM, and a few others (which you'll grow to love). The third follows the characters that were in GotM but not DHG, as well as others. The fourth is back to those in DHG, plus even more. See the pattern yet? Because when you get to the fifth, you're thrown into the deep end with an entirely new everything again.

What I'm trying to say is that you get used to it. The more Erikson you read, the more you get into it and the easier it becomes to remember the hundreds of characters.

Keep going! Don't stop now that you've started!!

[HoopyFrood]

I was somewhat confused the first time I read Gardens of the Moon, but then I reread it and it was much easier -- I remembered who most of the characters were and what they were up to, so I could pick up on the smaller things. I started Deadhouse Gates after the first reading of Gardens of the Moon and stopped after about one hundred pages, I just wasn't getting into it. But then after the reread of Moon, I went onto Deadhouse Gates immediately and found myself getting into it straightaway, and also spotting things that I missed previously (like, because I have a better grasp of Moon, I recognised the name of Icarium as soon as I saw it in Gates).

It can be confusing at times, the cast list is huge, and everyone seems to be all over the place, but it is a good series and I'll definitely be continuing with it.

[Wiggum]

I'm pretty much with what Lenny said.

And I'm a devout GRRM fan, far moreso than with Erikson.

That being said, Erikson finds his stride in storytelling with Deadhouse Gates. The book isn't perfect, but it's very, very good.

It also leads you to Memories of Ice, which is IMO is hands down one of the best fantasy books I've ever read.

[Lady of Winterfell]

Well, I think I will continue on in the series, just not right away. My brain feels like it needs a break from the constant POV changes, and lack of explaining things and me understanding them.

But everyone seems to think the series gets better, so I certainly won't write it off.

[Lenny]

Ah, the lack of explanations.

When you get past the third book (Memories of Ice), Erikson hits you with everything. All the little details he just throws in as a passing comment seem to explain massive chunks of previous books, and some of the story arcs do the same. It's fantastic!

[Lady of Winterfell]

Well in that case, I will skip right to that book!

No I won't, I'm kind of a stickler about reading books in order.

Just...why did he have to wait to explain 'massive chunks' until then....I want to know NOW!

[Lenny]

Apparently because that's the way he had to do it. It's a formidable first book to a series, would you really want it to include massive info-dumps? I've never read any GRRM but, at the risk of starting a gang-war, I'd imagine he's not entirely innocent either. No start to a series of epic proportions is going to be easy, particularly if you're hitting 1,000 pages without many info-dumps.