# Do i need to read Return of the Crimson Guard before Dust of Dreams? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559 "2009-08-24T22:29:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559/1 "2009-08-24T22:29:05Z")
Straightforward one this. I just got the new Erikson from Amazon today.🙂 By coincedence i borrowed Return of the Crimson Guard from a friend over the weekend by his, what would you call him? Co-creator, co-author, shared world writer. Anyway i know there seperate stories, but people and events are referenced in the other to one degree or the other and i’d rather not be spoilered by the one about the other. So does anyone know does it matter which you read first? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559/2 "2009-08-24T23:16:30Z")
What the hell? Dust of Dreams is out already? RotCG deals with the aftermath of The Bonehunters for the Malazan Empire. As the Malazan Empire isn’t supposed to have a real role in the rest of Erikson’s books, I think that you should be ok to skip it. Edit: I should learn to read more than the title. To read things in order, RotCG should really be read before Toll the Hounds, let alone Dust of Dreams. I’m not really spoiling anything to say that Traveller shows up in RotCG and the events of TtH clearly haven’t happened yet. ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559/3 "2009-08-25T00:11:52Z")
I am in England. I’m sure i’ve read in previous threads that the American, as i assume you are, release schedule is delayed from the UK release. Believe me it doesn’t happen that way very often, i may go and watch the exclusive uk viewable new Dr Who trailer just because i can. 😃 In any case it sounds like i can, as my instinct is, dive straight into Dust of Dreams. I will of course still read the other, for what it’s worth, the friend who lent it to me said it was actually quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559/4 "2009-08-25T00:48:11Z")
Dust of Dreams is out?!? ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559/5 "2009-08-25T01:07:49Z")
> [@DeptfordX](#): > > I am in England. I’m sure i’ve read in previous threads that the American, as i assume you are, release schedule is delayed from the UK release. . See above. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-read-return-of-the-crimson-guard-before-dust-of-dreams/507559/6 "2009-08-25T02:33:43Z")
Dran. ☹