The Malazan Fallen discussion

Please mark any other spoilers using the spoiler tags. (when in doubt, use them).

So it begins. Hundred thousand years before the Malazan timeline. Kurald Galain is a place on a world and the Tiste people sound like many other civilisations. On the brink of civil war, political issues and power hungry families.

We are made aware of the Azathani who are described as the stonemasons without equal and our friend Draconus has some kind of link with them. We know about Azath houses so it will be interesting to find out more about the Azathani.

I thought this was interesting as well. This from Arathan;

Besides, there was little of Tiste blood in him – the fair skin or tall frame, and his eyes, while dark, lacked the mercurial ambivalence of the pure-born.

We are used to three color Tiste, white, grey and black. The fact that he calls Tiste normally tall and fair skin means that they are all Liosan or there is only one Tiste at this stage.

So far this one seems far more skewed towards politics than the original series, but of course this is only chapter 1.

Nice pickup on the skin color. I had forgotten all about the differences between the Lionsan, Andii, and Edur.

And to further show my brain has fallen out of Malazan shape (if it ever was there) I didn't make the connection between the Azathani and the Azath houses, despite mention of the "First House" right in the chapter.

What do you make of the Prelude? I'm not familiar with Gallan, though I'm terrible with names, so maybe I simply forget.

Fisher kel Tath however is a name I recall. Is this simply a warning of sorts from one historian to another?

Meanwhile we meet one of Dracononus's daughters: Malice, and hear mention of the other two: Envy & Spite.

Spoilery questions for those who haven't read the original series: (view spoiler)[Envy and Spite go at it at one point, or am I confusing Spite with Malice? I don't recall Malice at all in the original series.

Envy was the one who used to be with Amandor Rake and who was traveling around with Toc the Younger at one point, right? (hide spoiler)]

Fischer was a player in Malazan. He was hanging out in K'ruls bar with Duiker the historian. He was also (view spoiler)[ having 'relations' with Lady Envy if I remember (hide spoiler)]

Kadaspala was also in Malazan. If you remember on the wagon of death in Dragnipur, there is a blind tattooist who create the masterpiece of bodies and ink that is used at the end.

Gallan I can't remember much about. The only thing I do remember is 'blind Gallan' and the road named after, which is the road The Shore people followed to get to Kharkanos for the big battle against the Liosen. I am sure we'll learn more about Gallan in this book.

In regards to Envy and Spite (view spoiler)[ Yes, Envy was the one we got to see a lot of, she was with the Seguleh and Toc. She was also with Anamander at one stage. Spite we didn't see much of until the end if I remember, when they nearly fought over Anamanders sword?? I think. Malice was unknown to us in Malazan (hide spoiler)]

Yeah... Fischer is the one I remember. I don't remember this Gallan guy. Though I did forget your detail in the spoiler tag about him.

Why are you bringing up Kadaspala? Were they mentioned in the prelude? I always miss so much stuff..

Glad to see I have my memory of the three sisters straight at least. Thanks Lee.

When Draconus comes home to speak with arathan, it mentions something that caught my eye regarding Draconus.

A portrait done by the brilliant artist Kadaspal of House Enes.

a hand of genius that had managed to capture the unknowable in Draconus's visage, the hint of something beyond the perfection of his Tiste features.

Oh that. Yeah totally glossed over the name.. Another good pickup.

Thank god for these group reads and you rereaders. I'd miss 90% of this stuff on my own.

Having read Malazan twice I think I will be able to remember so much more :)

I have a bad memory to begin with, especially for names, but fine details seem to leave me soon after completing a book and moving on to another.

Now I wonder if other people will join our discussion, or if just the two of us will be talking for 6 weeks. ^_^

I know there are a few others who are reading the book (or said they plan to anyways).

I am feeling compassion for Arathan with those sisters...I am sure something will happen that I will get over it though!

I recognized Blind Gallan's name but I wasn't sure what from...but I didn't pick up on Kadaspel

(view spoiler)[Gallan was the guy who removed his eyes to get back to perfect dark or something, right? He was also the one who the led the shore people (forget their name) from K-town and saved them? Seemed "a little crazy". (hide spoiler)]

Missed that about the artist. Thanks.

Have we met Aranthan or Sagander before?

I actually really liked Chapter 1. Usually I don't like the first bunch of chapters much (except the awesome Karsa one).

Though I do feel it's a little artificial that a father literally doesn't see his son at all... even with the explanation later. Maybe Tiste are just jerks.

I certainly don't remember Aranthan or Sagander, but I'm not the best person to ask on those things.

And I agree, I haven't liked many of the openings of Erikson's books (apart from House of Chains) and I down right hated the opening for Midnight Tides, but this one is good so far.

I certainly don't know what's going on yet, but I also don't feel completely overwhelmed with 50 new characters. Then again..it's early. Maybe they are coming in chapter 2..

I knew the name Kadaspala but I kept thinking he was the artist guy with the toad from Memories of Ice.

the prelude is so poetic, I teared my eyes off. and am done with part 1

I thought we will only discuss at the end of the week. Ill talk alot now ;p

We will discuss a few chapters each week. New discussion threads will be posted on Mondays (Australian time).

who is Lord hate ? and why was he of high status ?

Lord Hate?

Yeah, Arathan is supposed to pick him a gift of great Value. He was mentioned when Arathan was talking to sagander part1

Ah yes. Just read back through it. They are visiting the Azanthani and one them is the Lord of Hate. No idea who that is.

thank you a lot sir Lee. And it is to my leisure knowing that we can discuss as we read. Looking forward to reading this book with you guys.

I found two ideas interesting. The first was a comment made by the boarderguard Galak.

" 'And if that killer writhes in the arms of Chaos for all eternity,' Galak hissed, 'it'll only be what's deserved.' "

Wonder if he could be the one that inspires Draconus to forge Dragnipur. The sword that has its inhabitants live forever and be chased by Chaos.

The second was a thought of Saganders when he calls Omtose Phellack the Empty City also Kurald Galain being mentioned as a city. If they are just cities at this point how does magic work at this point? Or are they just named after the holds?

Malice also doesn't appear in any ICE novels. There was a Mist in Assail with sons named Anger and Wrath so wonder if that could be her under a different name.

At this point there is no Hold or warren magic. They haven't been formed. Remember that K'rul gifts the world warrens, much to the disgust of the other gods. If I remember K'rul is Draconus' brother, remember K'rul, Draconus & (view spoiler)[Nightchill, can't remember he official title, sister of something (hide spoiler)] drop in on Kallor and dish out the eternity punishment.

We know that Kurald Galain becomes the warren used by the Tiste to enter other worlds. We also know that Omtose Phellack is the hold that was used (created by?) the Jaghut. Holds came before warrens, so it will be interesting to see if there is mention of the Jaghut or a species that develops into them.

Erikson has also mentioned the Dog Runners and the Deniers so far, it will be interesting to watch how that develops, there will be clues in there if they turn into a race of people that we know.

back to magic, as far as we can tell, the only magic is earth magic being performed by the Azathanai, much to the disgust of the Tiste.

This above post is probably merging some stuff from chapter 2 sorry.

Lee wrote: "At this point there is no Hold or warren magic. They haven't been formed. Remember that K'rul gifts the world warrens, much to the disgust of the other gods. If I remember K'rul is Draconus' brothe..."

Thanks for this...

Then what magic is Mother Dark using? I guess we'll find out.

At this stage we do not know if she is using magic, only retreating into dark. Whatever that may mean.

I'm trying to figure out this small part

(view spoiler)[Arathan shrugged. Even this close to his father-thirty paces down a broad corridor and then a door-still he could feel nothing. The air was unchanged, as if power was nothing but an illusion. The notion startled him, but he would not draw close to it. not yet. This was not the time to see where it led.

Obviously this is very early on but I'm assuming Arathan had some sort of sixth sense or power to determine others abilities? (hide spoiler)]

@ ctgt

That my friend is a very good pick up.

It doesn't need spoilers as we are only making assumptions on this.

Obviously this is very early on but I'm assuming Arathan had some sort of sixth sense or power to determine others abilities?

Yes, that appears to be the case doesn't it. But there is more to this part;

Even this close to his father-thirty paces down a broad corridor and then a door-still he could feel nothing. The air was unchanged, as if power was nothing but an illusion.

So Arathan can detect power which leads up to assume that Dracnus is leaking some kind of power that Arathan is picking up. Interestingly he doesn't mention picking up anything from his sisters who we know have plenty of magical power (in the future, but evidently not now).

He can detect power levels?

*insert over 9000 joke here*