Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion

Hi All, Terry and I are buddy reading, by Steven Erikson at the end of May.

If you've read the first 6 books in the series, and keen to read this one you're welcome to join.

(Please note that I wouldn't inflict a mid-series entry point for Malazan on my worst enemy...)

Haha, no kidding about trying to start this mid series! Looking forward to this one. I’d made it up through The Bonehunters when I started reading Malazan in 2014, so now I’ll be in uncharted waters.

Terry wrote: "Haha, no kidding about trying to start this mid series! Looking forward to this one. I’d made it up through The Bonehunters when I started reading Malazan in 2014, so now I’ll be in uncharted waters."

It'd be like waking up in the middle of a vast maze where the walls move randomly whenever you sleep.

I started in 2018, so its the same for both of us - a multi-year read, not a binge.

Haha, that’s a good way to describe it. I feel that way even knowing the past books half the time.

We’re savoring this series, like a fine wine. Who wants to hurry anyway!

Indeed, Terry. Well said.

How is your schedule looking Graeme? I'm thinking I may wait to start until June 4 or 5 now. I'll be on the road for vacation from May 24 until June 3, and I never get as much reading done on those trips as I expect. Besides, I'm reading the Trade size paperback and it's a load to drag around. How about you?

Hi Terry, no problem. I can wait until after your road trip. Drop a note here when you are ready to start and I'll start then too.

Sounds good. Thanks, Graeme.

Hi Terry, when we start, I might be a bit slow. Got heaps on between now and the 11th of June. After that, I'll have more time.

No worries, Graeme. I have a buddy read starting at the same time as this for Death's End, and then one starting around June 15 for 13 Bullets, so I'll have plenty going on to slow me down as well.

Cool. A slower start then.

Hey Graeme, I'm back from vacation now and checking in to see when you were wanting to start? I'm good to start or wait a little bit if that fits the schedule better. I started a bunch of books over vacation, but I'm not concerned about finishing any of them except for Kronos Rising (good creature feature by the way). I'm listening to Dracul, so that doesn't really conflict. I will start Death's End in the next week or so but was going to do it alongside. Lots to keep busy with!

I'm good from about the 13th of June forward. I'll start in a weeks time.

The 13th sounds good. I'll plan on starting then.

Sorted. 😀

Picking this up again.

Me too. I've read the prologue, and just like with so many of the other books, I want to know more about that time!

Indeed, Terry. Looks good.

I'm about 75 pgs in so far. I'm a little slower getting into this one with all of the new characters again. I'm having a hard time keeping the Letherii separate from the Edur. (view spoiler)[ It seems an odd arrangement with the Edur having taken over rule, but the Letherii still seeming to run most of their country as if nothing has happened. (hide spoiler)]

Letherii names are the strangest I've encountered in all my fantasy reading.

Looks like the Edur just decapitated the head of the empire and took it over - it still has to run, so they leave most people in place - all good as long as the tributes continue to flow...

I'm at page 50, should get some more reading done tonight.

4% in and, (view spoiler)[Kettle is alive! But I don't know how? (hide spoiler)]

Graeme wrote: "4% in and, [spoilers removed]"

I wondered if we'd get an explanation.

Graeme wrote: "Letherii names are the strangest I've encountered in all my fantasy reading.

Looks like the Edur just decapitated the head of the empire and took it over - it still has to run, so they leave most ..."

Yeah, I can see that. I was thinking about the part (view spoiler)[ where the Letherii army is still fighting (without any Edur included) against the small tribes for its own expansion, well the enrichment of the Letherii emperor at least. Just seemed a bit unusual for a victorious takeover by the Edur. It seems like a statement about the Letherii greed, I'm assuming. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 3 (mid) Lots of moving parts. New heroes and villains. Rhulad is still a mess who can't die - will someone fix that? It remains to be seen. I see K'Chain Che'Malle in everyone's future...

Terry wrote: "Yeah, I can see that. I was thinking about the part.."

It looks like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. I.e. a local personage is pursuing personal gain without keeping the Emperor in the loop.

I'm not sure the Emperor will necessarily care what happens 'out in the sticks.' Rhulad has a lot on his plate, heavy sits the crown and even heavier is the cursed blade in his constant possession.

Ch 3. Shurq heads back to Letheras. Pieces are clicking into place to build the mosaic of a convergence.

Ch 4.

I like Redmask.

Graeme wrote: "Ch 4.

I like Redmask."

I agree. Fits the mold of other SE characters I really enjoy.

I like his ambition and resolve, and the fact that he cares about his people.

Graeme wrote: "I like his ambition and resolve, and the fact that he cares about his people."

I agree. I'm curious to compare him to Karsa Orlong as we go.

I didn't think of that. There's a lot of big/good fighters converging in this book.

Graeme wrote: "I didn't think of that. There's a lot of big/good fighters converging in this book."

There are. Silchas Ruin and Redmask are the next two to add to the list.

That's right. How far into the book are you?

I'm at the beginning of Chapter 4, 11% on Kindle.

I'm just at the start of ch5, about 14%, so close to the same spot.

I'll read some more tonight.

I’m so hit and miss with my reading! Still sitting at about 25%.

All good. I'm in the middle of Perron Manor.

With Perron Manor finished, I'm back on this book as my main read.

Me too. I think I'm at about 30% now, somewhere around pg250.

Ahead of me, but things are starting to move towards a convergence.

It definitely feels that way. We're in the calm before the storm it seems.

I’ve made it up to about 50%. I’m enjoying this one, but still struggling keeping the giant cast of characters in this one straight.

Like a 1950s epic movie.

Hey, Graeme. I'm rolling up on 80% now. I apologize for not posting much on here. I've been overly swamped with work the last month or so. I find time to squeeze in some reading, but not really much to be social about it. Hope you're enjoying it as well.

Hi Terry, no problem. I've been distracted with shorter novels and short stories which I'm kinda more in the mood for.

Love this book though, and I'm sure I'll close it out - probably in September.

I've got a week off next week and I expect I'll read a bit more (and write a lot more...).

I ended up finishing this yesterday. So good! I'm off to watch all of the Malazan video blogs to see what they have to say about it. Of course, when I do finish one, I'm always excited to jump into the next one as soon as possible.

Terry wrote: "I ended up finishing this yesterday. So good! I'm off to watch all of the Malazan video blogs to see what they have to say about it. Of course, when I do finish one, I'm always excited to jump into..."

I'm excited to finish this, but I have a bunch of other reads and life stuff on at the moment. My apologies for not keeping up with you on this.

No worries at all, Graeme. I completely understand. I'll be watching to see when you can get to it.