Memories of Ice

A little background: This Malazan series consists of ten books. This tale takes place in and around southeastern Genabackis, particularly in the city of Capustan. Many of the characters introduced in the first book (Gardens of the Moon) are present here. Briefly, erstwhile enemies Dujek Onearm and Caladan Brood join forces to combat a greater threat: the Pannion Domin led by the Seer. The Seer is evil like Sauron was evil, that is, pulling all the strings but rarely if ever seen. Which is just one of the many flaws in this story.

I have some major issues (complaints) with this book. The characterization is either weak or non-existent. The motivations of the characters are a mystery. The pacing is glacially slow. There's no real suspense. Things just seem to happen to the characters, they don't drive the story, they just exist (to just valiantly battle against evil and be all noble ‘n' shit.) To say that the events within are confusing is to grossly understate the fact. How exactly does interaction with the gods work? What is ascendancy? How can you be dead and not dead? With nary a farm mentioned, where do these vast armies get their food? If your only choice is to be killed or join the Tenescowri (who are unpaid, and not fed, and expected to just feed on others), then why don't you just strike out for some other city and take your chances?

The thing I like about this series is that is complex and there can be various cool things within it and exciting scenes. This world is unlike any other I've read and vast. There are several races of intelligent beings and many mysteries. Azath Houses? Cool. Warrens as a source of sorcery? Cool. It keeps things interesting.

But after sticking it out to finish this book over a period of two months, I'm left wondering if I want to continue. Many cite this book as a favorite in the series but I know I'll be in a small minority when I say the first book is my favorite. That book had some fun, suspenseful scenes in it. With this tale, I'm left wondering many, many things. Where did Talamandas come from? And why is he helping Quick Ben? Why is Mok so intent on duelling with Tool? How did Itkovian get to be so deluded and miserable? What the hell does taking on the burden of grief from others even mean? Is Kruppe a master of his own fate or just a god's pawn? What is he trying to do? (Other than just ingratiate himself into plot threads). And for a company of soldiers, the Bridgeburners sure are a far-flung lot who seem to be completely acting on their own. Ganoes Paran, hardly issues any orders whatsoever. Ugh. This book was the anti-page-turner. It was a slog.

And really, we're expected to believe that two armies, once at odds are now just going to work together peacefully without consequence? Absurd.

This book (and I strongly suspect, the consequent ones as well) could use some serious editing. There's a battle mid-way through (hundreds of pages in) and then, typically, everything comes to a head in the last hundred pages or so. Erikson? You've got some ‘splaining to do.