The Malazan Fallen discussion

Hi guys

I'm dying to get into the Malazan series because I love fantasy, but I just cannot get invested with GotM.

I know it is a difficult read and have been warned about its steep learning curve, but I have tried reading the first 100-200 or so pages almost 3 different times now and end up putting down everytime.

I keep hearing how great the series is and I'm dying to dive into it, but I need help! I do love these complex, non-linear stories, but in the realm of fantasy it just isn't clicking for me for some reason.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get into the series for a newbie? Maybe any tricks you did to help you keep track of things or a specific reading schedule that helped? Anything along those lines would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

Luke wrote: "Hi guys

I'm dying to get into the Malazan series because I love fantasy, but I just cannot get invested with GotM.

I know it is a difficult read and have been warned about its steep learning cur..."

Try to read one chapter at a time and after that go through the group discussion of that chapter which do not contain spoilers for later chapters.
Also I found that it pays to read Malazan slowly, for most of the stuff has double meaning with a lot of foreshadowing. So when reading try not only to get the gist but also pay attention to the expression or words used to describe something.

Luke wrote: "Hi guys

I'm dying to get into the Malazan series because I love fantasy, but I just cannot get invested with GotM.

I know it is a difficult read and have been warned about its steep learning cur..."

Hey Luke,

I write from the vantage point of one who went through the same difficulty as you. I began reading GoTM in Nov 2014, dropped it after reading around 60-80 pages and then took another shot at it in March 2015 when I finally managed to finish it. That's because Erikson throws you right into his world with no reservations whatsoever - it's almost like he writes the books for an inhabitant of the Malazan world and not one acquainted with our dear plant Earth!

After I got past the first 5 Chapters, I found myself reading the book straight to the finish with no further hiccups. Till that point, however, I read only 20-25 pages at a time taking breaks in between. Also, I tried reading the book three or four times a day at different intervals instead of going for a single shot at once. Maybe trying the same routine might help you.

Do not try to read through the book fast or simply browse through the pages. You will find yourself lost as you reach the later chapters.

Finally, a further warning: the second book, Deadhouse Gates, also gets off to a rather sedate start and takes a while to get going with the story. You might have to persist a little with that book too.

So, that's Erikson's style. He sets up the scene slowly but finishes with a flourish!

Alex wrote: "I mean, don't force it. Not every book is for everyone.

Much as it kills me to say it, perhaps Malazan isn't clicking for you, for whatever reasons. It happens to us all with series that are belov..."

Ditto this.

I'm one of the few people who likes Malazan, but doesn't love it. I didn't struggle with GotM too much though, but parts of the later books.

I do think Ashkay's suggestion is a good one to try if you're really determined. When I read the series it was with the group and we only did 3-4 chapters/week. So that plus the great group discussion really helped me through the tougher parts of the series.

But reading should be fun IMHO, so if it's just not working for you, don't feel bad. That's the case for a lot of people with this series.

Oh boy, the first time I was so so lost in Gotm.
Like the others said If you read slowly (1-2 chapters at a time) and read the discussions, you'll find (I hope) the right "path".

Thanks guys I think I'm going to give it one more go eventually with some of your suggestions. I think part of my problem may have been reading at my normal speed and not slowing down and really forcing myself to take it all in. I'll let you know how it turns out!

I have to say that I am a huge fan. Having read The Fallen twice, all of ICE books and the new Series as well. However, I did try to read this series previously and couldn't get into it. Then it all fell into place and I enjoyed it. But I will say that both times I have read the series is in a group read on here.
As already has been suggested, read a chapter and then read through the comments on that chapter thread on this group. We were very strict on spoilers here, so you won't find anything to ruin it for you. But we certainly discussed each chapter in detail. In the first few books there are lots of spoiler tags as those of us re-readers contemplated what we know of the future. But there is much still there for you to pick up from.

Good luck

Luke wrote: "Thanks guys I think I'm going to give it one more go eventually with some of your suggestions. I think part of my problem may have been reading at my normal speed and not slowing down and really fo..."

I had the same problem as you. I started it once and couldn't get into it so I quit then tried it again a year or so later. I would read one chapter then read the discussion chapter here. It cleared up a lot for me and I eventually finished. Wasn't my favorite book but at least I got through it and got to read Deadhouse Gates which is a much easier read. GotM is the hardest book of the series for a newbie. I wouldn't say you can skip GotM but maybe slog through it and read the threads, knowing Deadhouse Gates will be much better.

GotM isn't a particularly well written book tbh. It's one of his earliest works, his very first fantasy novel (and based on his & ICE's film script that didn't sell) - something to keep in mind. It's easy to forget because the entire series is already published and has received high praise and ratings.
The sequels are much more fleshed out and the writing is better, too.

Considering you have already read ~200 pages you might as well bite the bullet and finish the novel, take your time if need be.

You could try reading Deadhouse Gates, or House of Chains, or even Midnight Tides first. Deadhouse takes place after and has a slight overlap of characters, but it easily stands alone, and you could circle back. House of Chains starts before, but has a much shallower learning curve, at least for the first half. Midnight Tides takes place on a separate continent, and could also stand alone.

I would disagree with all of that. I would definitely start with GotM as it gives you all the characters. The first time I ever tried SE was with Deadhouse Gates and I struggled big time.

Maybe try listening to it on audio. I have done that with other books I've struggled with and it worked well.

It took a couple tries over a couple years for me to finish too.

Read a chapter. Read it slower than you read other books. If you zone out on a paragraph, go back to where you were before you zoned out. There are lots of things you won't understand, but if you're not actually following what's happening, then you just have to read it again, slower.

If you have a kindle-enabled device, the "X-Ray" feature is super helpful.

After finishing a chapter, read Tor Reread, and Goodreads re-read from that chapter.

My biggest beef with GOTM were the characterizations. Everybody talked and acted the same to me. I wouldn't be able to describe their personalities, except for a couple characters. The rest felt pretty interchangeable. I'm halfway through Deadhouse Gates and that aspect has improved.

I love the Malazan world but I, like you, had a really hard time getting started. I read a couple of chapters into GotM and quit. Then a year later I went back, started over and had the same trouble but stuck with it and like someone mentioned above, after about five chapters, things eased up and started clicking. I was really lost through those first five and had to force myself to keep going.

So. Glad. I. Did.

I absolutely loved Deadhouse Gates and Memories of Ice and after finishing MoI I went back and reread GotM. What a difference having some context made in my enjoyment of that book. From there I was full bore on the rest of the series until I finished it over a year after I started the first read of GotM.

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is my favorite series in any genre. I almost feel like it's a place that I actually lived in for a year. :-)

I had problems with the first book. I muscled through them and didn't do any re reads. It was rough. But it came together. Also, all the intros for each chapter did almost nothing to help things. I'd be so bold as to say pay them no mind.

It's a difficult read because the details mean less to you the first time round and for some people, just get in the way of understanding and enjoying the story. I enjoyed GoTM the first time i read it and the 2nd, 3rd etc but I read it again this year, for probably the 6th time (and the first since finishing the series) and it came alive to me in ways that I had never noticed before. This time I read it with a concentrated and critical eye- like I would one of the historical sources I use for my dissertation. I even made notes! But I understand the complaints of people who think that's not the way their free time should be spent...

If nothing, just read up the plots to GOTM and Deadhouse, then skip to reading Memories of Ice which is a lot easier to read ans more accesible. also fantastic book.