And while you’re at it, I’d like peace in the Middle East and intelligent, literate comments on YouTube.
No, seriously. A few Brits are selling their copies of Dust of Dreams on Amazon, and I managed to snag one. (There are two or three left, if you hurry). I’m looking foward to curling up with the latest Erikson over the weekend.
Problem is, I can’t really remember who most of the characters are, or what the plot was. Heck, I don’t think I knew what was going on at the time I was reading it.
I know it’s a lot to ask (summarize MBotF, empty the ocean with a teaspoon, take your pick), but could someone help me remember/figure out what’s going on in the last eight books? Or direct me to some site that lists everything?
I was thinking the same thing myself – just today, in fact. I didn’t know Dust of Dreams was out. Used to be I’d buy the UK editions so I could get the book more quickly, but the last two have been sitting on the shelf for at least a year. When the series is finished, I’ll probably start over from the beginning and read them straight through.
Or not.
Seriously, I don’t think I’d even want a summary. Some of the characters aren’t staying dead, and when that happens, all bets are off. It does no good to know what happened because Erikson’s gonna do what he wants, without regard to what’s gone before.
But if you really want a summary, there’s probably one at Wikipedia or the Malazan Empire site.
Curse you! I went ahead and ordered a copy from Amazon UK. It’s 12 pounds, which I think is cheaper than the $34.95 that they were asking for it at Amazon US, even with shipping.
About the best that I can do is remind you of the last known location of most of the major characters:
Ganoes Paran, Master of the Deck of Dragons, is High Fist of what was previously Onearm’s Host. He made a deal with Hood to save the world in The Bonehunters, and he’s presumably out upholding his (unknown) part of the bargain. We saw him briefly in Toll the Hounds, and his army was in some kind of battle that was going against them
Tavore Paran and her army were last seen conquering the city of Lether in Reaper’s Gale. Quick Ben and Hedge rejoined the army there
Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, was killed for good by Karsa Orlong, and the Warlock King also died. The Crippled God likely doesn’t have much, if any influence over the Tiste Edur now
Tehol Beddict was proclaimed emperor of the Lether. Tavore has let him have the throne as her goal was to eliminate the Crippled God’s influence over the Tiste Edur and the Lether
The Perish and the Kundryl Burned Tears are not with Tavore’s army. She sent them on an unknown mission on a different part of the Letherii continent.
Trull Sengar was killed during the Malazan invasion, shortly after marrying Seren Pedac. She’s pregnant with his child
Onrack, formerly a T’lan Imass but now a living Imass, and his wife Kilava(sister of Onos T’oolan) are going to Lether meet Seren, as Onrack and Trull were close friends
Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake, is free of the House of the Azath and is at large. He was last seen retreating from the battle of Lether(he ran into a group of pissed off sappers)
Anomander Rake are both dead, and Mother Dark has forgiven the Tiste Andii. Nimander Golit(son of Rake) now leads the Andii
Hood has also died. Without a Lord of Death, the souls of the dead have nowhere to go(except for the souls of those sworn to a God)
Karsa Orlong is in the city of Darujhistan, where he discovered that he was two young daughters. He also received a message from Hood, saying [del]keep up the good work[/del] that Karsa would be needed to kill a God
Ten Hounds of Light attacked Darujhistan shortly after Rake’s death, trying to get possession of Dragnipur(Rake’s sword). It’s uncertain who was behind the attack but expect High House Light to be more involved in future books
Cutter(formerly Crokus) left Darujhistan with Sister Spite, one of Draconus’ two daughters
Caladan Brood destroyed Dragnipur after Rake’s death. Draconus is definitely free of the sword, and others who were imprisoned in it are likely also free
Leoman( the leader of the last army of the Apocalypse, who Tavore chased across the desert in the Bonehunters) escaped the Malazans by making a deal with the Queen of Dreams. He was joined by a woman named Dunsparrow, who’s sworn to Hood, although she didn’t seem to know that until the Queen of Dreams told her. She put the two of them in an enchanted sleep until she needed them. Given the title of this book, I expect this plot thread to come back
