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the-evil-duckling · 5 months

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A short series of malazan quotes, part 1:

"The flower defies."

Tiste Andii poem, in its entirety.

#malazan #fantasy #quotes #the malazan book of the fallen #steven erikson #'all things strive' said tak #and this malazan quote is a little more grim version of the same defiant theme #kharkanas #i cant remember if the quote is from 'forge of darkness' or 'fall of light'#tiste andii #literature #philosophy

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iwillberunningfromdemons · 5 months

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Picker could not pull her eyes from the man. He sat hunched over, on a chair that had yet to find a table, still clutching in his hands the small rag of tattered cloth on which something had been written. The alchemist had done all he could to return life to what had been a mostly destroyed, desiccated body, and Baruk's talents had been stretched to their limits - there was no doubt of that.

She knew of him, of course. They all did. They all knew, as well, where he had come from.

He spoke not a word. Had not since the resurrection. No physical flaw kept him from finding his voice, Baruk had insisted.

The Imperial Historian had fallen silent. No-one knew why.

(...)

"Sure," Spindle snapped, "a story to break our hearts all over again! What's the value in that?"

A rough, broken voice replied, "There is value."

Everyone fell silent, turned to Duiker.

The Imperial Historian had looked up, was studying them with dark eyes. "Value. Yes. I think, much value. But not yours, soldiers. Not yet. Too soon for you. Too soon."

"Perhaps," Baruk murmured, "perhaps you are right in that. We ask too much-"

"Of them. Yes." The old man looked down once more at the cloth in his hands.

The silence stretched.

Duiker made no move.

Picker began to turn back to her companions - when the man began speaking. "Very well, permit me, if you will, on this night. To break your hearts once more. This is the story of the Chain of Dogs. Of Coltaine of the Crow Clan, newly come Fist to the 7th Army..."

Memories of Ice, by Steven Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen #3)

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hedgehogs-can-fly · 26 days

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Branderson has claimed that in his prime Talenel’Elin was unmatched by any non-shard we’ve met within the Cosmere, which got me wondering: Would he be able to best Erikson’s Dassem Ultor? It’s very much a question I want to ask of Brandon, if ever I get the chance.

#cfsbf #cosmere #stormlight #taln #dassem ultor #first sword of the empire #steven erikson #brandon sanderson #the malazan book of the fallen #malazan

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seamusquigley · 1 year

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‘The gods have been kicking us around for a long time. When do we say enough?’

‘And in their absence, High Fist, will we manage things any better?’

‘No,’ Paran said, walking past him, ‘but at least then we won’t have the option of blaming someone else.’

The Crippled God by Steven Erikson, book 10 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen

#god #gods #excuses #The Crippled God #Steven Erikson #Malazan #The Malazan Book of the Fallen #book #books #quote #quotes #fantasy

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rafyki · 2 years

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Finally finished reading the God is not willing and, wow, let me tell you that Steven Erikson really never disappoints me.

I never forgot why I fell in love with the Malazan series, but reading this book reminded me of just how freaking much I love it - I love the writing, I love the stories, I love the characters, and I love the world. The world - I love it so much, and it felt so good going back to it. (I think this is part of the reason I couldn't fully get into the Karkanas books yet - mostly it's the different writing style, but I think it's also bc the whole world is obviously so different).

I think one of the things I love most about these books is that they don't tell the stories of the characters - no, they tell you the story of the world, and it does so through the stories of single characters; but the single character is always so small compared to everything else; so often they're victims of the world and we are told their tragedies. Even when they're gods. But even though they're small in grand scheme of things, they're still the protagonist of their own life (like all the Malazan marines - they're just doing their job, and their so small in such a big world, but they're still so important).

I love it, it's so beautiful, it's a beautiful way to tell a story, and to be honest I don't think I'll ever get over how much I love this whole series.

#malazan #my posts #i loved how this book was a new story in the sense that all the characters are new #except for Spindle #(spindle my beloved)#but it still fit perfectly in the main series #you can see that the world has changed but it still somehow the same at the same time #and we readers know more than the characters #bc we know all the history while they dont #they talk about everything that happened in thw main series like its a myth a legend #they cant believe that spindle was a bridgeburner #but we readers KNOW that its all true we know everything that happened #also on another note #i love how despite how the time changes the malazan marines are always the same lmao always idiotic dirty crackhead with a big heart #who want tk help people #i love them so much #the malazan book of the fallen

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joncronshawauthor · 6 months

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What's the Difference Between Grimdark and Dark Fantasy?

Ah, the world of fantasy literature. A realm brimming with noble heroes, wondrous magic, and epic battles fought for the very fate of existence... But let’s face it, sunshine and rainbows can get a tad boring after a while. Enter dark fantasy and grimdark, the genres where shadows are more than welcome, and heroes sometimes turn out to be not-so-heroic after all. So, let’s take a macabre…

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pansen1802 · 2 months

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dream in snow

#malazan book of the fallen #silchas ruin

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boooklover · 7 months

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“The lesson of history is that no one learns.”

Steven Erikson, Deadhouse Gates

#books #booklr #bookaddict #quote #reading #booknerd #booklover #bookworm #book quotes #book #steven erikson #deadhouse gates #malazan book of the fallen #fantasy books #high fantasy

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literatureaesthetic · 10 months

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current read 📓 finally continuing my malazan journey!!

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humanoid--human · 8 months

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i've heard it said that malazan is a three million word essay on the nature of compassion

and this is true

but if malazan is an essay then this here is the thesis statement:

“We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned, T’lan Imass. Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance.”

and that sentiment is so utterly beautiful that by itself it balances all three million words and ten books of cynicism and despair and suffering

let alone the fact that throughout the series this thesis is lived out again and again

these books man

#malazan #malazan book of the fallen #compassion

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autumntavern · 6 months

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Commission series "The Wickans"

Made for Graceless Passion's Youtube Video here.

Crow Clan, Foolish Dog Clan, Weasel Clan and Camp Followers (feat. very tired Duiker!)

Lots of fun working on this, including discussing what Erikson meant by "threaded skin" with Grace.

#malazan #malazan book of the fallen #my art #commission #steven erikson

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fallowhearth · 10 months

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Rereading Malazan Book of the Fallen for probably the fifth time...

"This city was dead long before the sea dried up," Fiddler said, resuming his climb.

Crokus called up after him, "How do you know?"

"Because everything's water-worn, lad. Waves crumbled this sea wall. Century after century of waves. I grew up in a port city, remember. I've seen what water can do. The Emperor had Malaz Bay dredged before the Imperial piers were built-revealed old sea walls and the like." Reaching the top, he paused to catch his breath. "Showed everyone that Malaz City's older than anybody'd realized."

"And that the sea levels have risen since," Mappo observed.

Fascinating to see how a major plot-point of Witness (the new series) was being casually built up as early as book 2 of MBotF - the melting of the Jaghut ice. And perfect of course, that it is Mappo who brings it up: of the group, he's the only one who would have been in a position to know this.

One thing I truly love about this series is the extent to which the world feels lived in. People have lived in the lands for hundreds of thousands of years, and not as static occupiers, but have endured climate change, environmental collapse, invasions, migrations, cultural movements, and political upheavals. Nobody does longue durée quite like Steven Erickson.

He's also an author who cares about subsistence strategies and the way geography shapes human patterns. The major cities emerge in places where water transport and farmland intersect. Plains nomads have pastoral animals apart from horses, plus working dogs, women play key roles in subsistence, and they have distinct material culture in dress and decoration. (As opposed to certain other authors, cf. Bret Devereaux's Dothraki write up). Environmental changes and human movement force new strategies; pretty much every group in the Malazan world is in some kind of flux or process of change outside of the actual plot, and have diverse responses to these pressures in terms of culture and values.

For all that these books can be very dense, I also appreciate Erikson's loving indulgence toward the reader. Yes, it would be funny if a small spoilt lapdog joined a pack of war dogs: so we will have a series of vignettes describing this in the background of real events. Yes, it is very funny to picture a bunch of capering monkeys mocking the High Priest of Shadow and his broom nonsense, so we will get a series of slapstick set pieces again in the background. Characters like Kruppe and Iskaral Pust get to chew the scenery, etc.

#malazan book of the fallen #malazan #Mbotf #Deadhouse Gates #steven erikson

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iwillberunningfromdemons · 5 months

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With another faint, wistful smile, Anomander Rake strode past him.

Whiskeyjack sheathed his bloodied sword, and followed.

He stared at the Tiste Andii's broad back, at the weapon that hung from it. Anomander Rake, how can you bear this burden? This burden that has so thoroughly broken my heart?

But no, that is not what so tears at me.

Lord of Moon's Spawn, you asked me to step aside, and you called it a mercy. I misunderstood you. A mercy, not to the Women of the Dead Seed. But to me. Thus your sorrowed smile when I denied you.

Ah, my friend, I saw only your brutality - and that hurt you.

Better, for us both, had you crossed blades with me.

For us both.

And I - I am not worth such friends. Old man, foolish gestures plague you. Be done with it. Make this your last war.

Make it your last.

Memories of Ice, by Steven Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen #3)

#malazan #steven erikson #malazan book of the fallen #the malazan book of the fallen #memories of ice #books #fantasy books #epic fantasy #dark fantasy #fantasy literature #dark fantasy books #high fantasy #anomander rake #son of darkness #whiskeyjack #bridgeburners #books and reading #books and quotes #book quotes

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jellisdraws · 5 months

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"Children are dying."

Lull nodded. "That's a succinct summary of humankind, I'd say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The injustices of the world hide in those three words[…]”

-Steven Erickson, Deadhouse Gates

#malazan #malazan book of the fallen #deadhouse gates #fantasy #this quote has been in my head a lot given what’s happening in Israel/Palestine #I’m not advocating to ignore history #but there’s so much noise around the issue #who’s to blame #who is at fault #children are dying #if you aren’t trying to stop that #what are you doing?#Israel #Palestine #politics

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seamusquigley · 1 year

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My title means nothing. It is an illusion. No, worse, a delusion. Nobility is not something you can wear, like a damned cloak of jewels. You can’t buy it. You can’t even be born into it. The nobility we talk about is nothing but a mockery.

The Crippled God by Steven Erikson, book 10 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen

#nobility #royalty #royals #The Crippled God #Steven Erikson #Malazan #The Malazan Book of the Fallen #books #book #quote #quotes #fantasy

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botchbehemoth · 8 months

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god it's the little moments of compassion in malazan that really get me. it's mappo using his healing vials to save the wickan dogs, it's crone comforting the mhybe, it's that captain comforting the soldier who had to shoot coltaine. it's toc the younger hearing that the t'lan imass might be dispelled and looking at onos t'oolan, this terrifying undead freak who has shown emotion exactly one time, and going: i hope that doesn't happen, because he's my friend.

#malazan #malazan spoilers #malazan book of the fallen #(halfway through memories of ice so don't spoil me beyond that)

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