I went out and got this series due to the recommendation on this post. I did take note that this is not your typical epic fantasy and that it didn't read in chronilogical order...yada yada. This was among the worst of fantasy novels that I've read. It is almost as bad as the Similarian (sp?) by Tolkien. Just dreadful to read, way to much information to process, and the fact that the author actuallly thinks that his writing style compares to that of Frank Herbert's Dune is just laughable. While I agree with the other recommendations in this list (but maybe not the order), pass on this series unless you are looking for a mind numbing torture device.

I'm in the exact same boat as the author of a few comments down with regard to book 10. I already know basically what is going to happen (the Crippled God being the name of the book). But I find myself almost indifferent as to what the whole fate of the world/each character is. I absolutely LOVED the third and fourth books, but the series peaked there. (With occasional enjoyment with Tehol and Bugg)

I get the feeling Erickson doesn't know how to begin a story or end one. His middles are some of the best I've EVER read, but the story starts in utter confusion and ends with me not caring about the characters.

Also, as for the "philosophical discussions" of the characters, I don't mind it in most books - I even enjoy it occasionally (I liked Atlas Shrugged, and I am a philosophy major) but it is SO unrealistic in the Malazan books. A starving peasant in the wilderness won't go on and on about how civilization is doomed (and that's where a lot of this happens - while discontent in the wilderness). I think I even recall some of the children in the story philosophizing. Most of the philosophical themes are repetitive and obviously stem from one author - yes Erickson's characters don't agree on their philosophical stances, but the tone and themes of all the philosophy in the book is the same. By the time I'd finished the 9th book I'd had enough - I REALLY need to finish the 10th just so I can say that I finished the series, but I found myself rereading the whole Dresden series, all of Abercrombie's books, and I'm about to start on the Girl with the Dragon tatoo trilogy - all because I don't want to be bored out of my mind with characters who have jumped the shark more than once and some philosophical droning about how the world is shitty and unrestrained capitalism is untenable and will infect any conquering nation (not that I mind the philosophical conclusions, Erickson has just beaten a dead horse a few too many times).

This series should have been 3 trilogies - I would have read the Darujistan one and left off at the end with Whiskyjack. (I disliked the Tiste Edur one and the Chain of Dogs was (and still is) depressing).

Best series ever. Never haver I had my heart broken so many times as reading this series. SE is not afraid to kill of the good guys and leave you with not so happy endings. However, that is not why I loved it, that is just why it was refreshing. Not just regurgitated farm boy finds a sword/ring and defeats dark lord against all odds. This is an epic story full of races, gods, magic, humor, philosophy, death, wars, world domination, and most importantly full of multiple protagonist development and sacrifice. SE will start you on one continent of his world and take you all over from book to book. I grew to love the Malazan Marines, especially the sappers. I actually teared up when a certain Malazan gives his life to save his fellow troopers in Reapers Gale. I think it may have been the saddest I have ever felt while reading a fiction book. SE can capture human emotion and spirit, and makes you take ownership in his characters, for good and bad. I understand that he does not do a lot of explaining in the first book of how his world works, kind of just throws you in head first. If you can make it through the first 200 to 300 pages of the 14,000 or so page epic, and you are the kind of person who likes epics that don't follow standard protocol, you will read till the end. I would bet on it.

How in all 100+ comments, no one mentions the names. How can anyone be named prolific when they have names like Whiskeyjack. Just the names alone made me not want to read the book. They are stupid as hell. How could someone so creative make up such idiotic names.

THIS should be N°1

So I am finally finished the final book (for some reason I did not check up on this series all last year), and I will be damned if I did not realize it before but Erikson is a freaking poet. By far this has been the fantasy series that I have enjoyed the most in my readings.

What I love the most about these books is that they broaden your mind while you read them, they are more philosophical than any other fantasy I have read. I can tell that Erikson is truly a philosopher, a scholar, and a poet, and all of this combines to make an incredible read.

I'd give it 3 out 5 stars. The world Erikson creates is great. I did enjoy how he slowly gives you hints here and there about what's going on and doesn't try to explain it all at once.

The biggest flaw is in the character develpment and the magic system. As I read, I was continually reminded of a cheesy Final Fantasy video game or Japanese anime cartoon.

Overall entertaining, but by no means great fantasy.

So in your best twenty five fantasy total you have Lord of the Rings at fourth and the Malazan books second and then you have Lord of the Rings second and Malazan third in your best epic fantasy. How does that work?

I was a big fan of the series, having started at book 3, so for those complaining about the steep curve in book 1, spare a thought huh? My feeling towards the series, due to my expectation from book 3, gradually changed. I loved book 3, then resumed book 1 and concluded it is not as good. Book 2 was compelling and book 4 very refreshing, but I'm starting to see some recycled ideas and imperfections. By book 5-7 wandered and 8-9 really disappointed. I'm not even sure if I care enough to read book 10 to be honest due to the bad taste from 9.

Erikson fall into a trap of his own making - epicness has to be bested every book, new characters introduced, but as the mystery diminished, and some plot development verged on indifference, so did my interest. Eventually some characters started to take on too many aspects they are no longer distinct. On the other hand the bridge burners in general becomes a plot object rather than actual characters, one and same, one-dimensional secret weapon. Whilst I take comfort in some of the sub plots such as the fate of the andii, as a novel it fails when the reader can no longer emphasise with the key characters and rather become fascinated with inconsequential minor characters.

I am a lifelong LOTR fan, who read it some 12 times in a row and used to be able to quote vast swathes of the books, punctuation and all, from memory. Years later I came upon Game of Thrones, and was genuinely interested in this fantasy writing for the first time in years (having read dozens of other authors in the meantime). A friend advised that I give this a go.. 20 pages in to Gardens of the Moon.. not feeling it, but liking an author unafraid to stretch the lexicon.. 100 pages in, hooked. This is cleverer, more inventive and bolder than Game of Thrones (imaging GOT without your favourite 3 characters, it would drop from a 10/10 to a long-winded 7, I think Malazan would stand it), and I love that I have found an author with the talent to entertain me (I find 99% of writings boring, tedious and hugely dumbed down).

I don't want to offend anyone, but my reading of the demographic who love this book is that most of my friends that do are PhDs in Roman history or similar, which is to say you need a brain that is happy to be challenged to appreciate this awesome series.

I have always preferered my fantasy as complex and detailed as possible and having just finished this series and I have to say overall I am very disappointed.

The first 4 were beyond good, possible some of the finest most enjoyable fantasy i have ever read, with lots of unique and likeable characters. Memories of Ice for me was just incredible.

Sadly this was not the way the series continued. Too many poorly written, fairly monotonous story arcs and characters were introduced, the writing was far too unnecessarily embelished and the ending for me was tragically weak and ill thought out.

Huge swathes of introduced plot threads were just ignored and the reader to ponder the outcome. I would not have had an issue with this had the ending been up to scratch as the author has more stories to tell and books to sell but I didnt finish this story thinking "I hope xxx's story is published next, i really want to find out what happened", i finished it thinking "phhht, what a cop out, not sure I would buy any more of this authors books"

This series could have been almost perfect if it simply hadn't tried too hard. In my view books 1-4 were great but 5-10 should have been told in at least 2 less books probably 3. Some of the poorer arcs should have been cut and others narrated in a less meandering and sometimes tedious manner. The ending needed to be magnitudes better as it felt like SE got close, didn't really know how to finish and just scribbled something on an napkin and submitteed that.

I think I will limit my future reading to the first 4, after that it becomes such a chore. Such a pity

Books one to seven seemed to drag on and ceaselessly dribble meaningless junk. Nonetheless, parts were well written, witty, interesting. These parts kept me going.
At the moment I am into book 8 and more and more cheesed off by Ericson's endless location and character switches, by interminable pseudo-philocophical musings and deeply depressing povs.
The books would need some thorough editing and trimming to become really readable, enjoyable fantasy.
As it stands, I could not say these books are inspiring or in any way even average reading.
Even so I will finish reading the whole series, be it just to torture myself a bit more.

I am not yet knowledgeable enough to really give a sound proclamation but i will indulge and say that i am absolutely in awe of Malazan book of the fallen (compared to the fantasy literature i read before this).

I have not read a lot of fantasy themed books yet (i read all the fire and ice books, all Tolkins work numerous times,the legend of Drizzt books more children orientated stuff like, blasphemy the Eragon saga and more classical stuff like his dark materials trilogy and the chronicles of naria plus all of Conan adventures) though i fortunately have stacked up on a lot of them (Abercromie,Cook ,Hobbs etc).

Anyways i am an absolute song of fire and ice fanboy but the richness,complexity and mystery found in the Malazan series in on another level. I read through the first three books in two weeks. I am certain that Erickson really comes closes to laying claim to Tolkins legacy in terms of shaping a complex and wholly original world. Is a song of fire and ice perhaps slightly more fun to read,yes. Does its pace itself better,yes. But even though some passages are more drawn out nothing i read before comes close to approaching the complexity and originality of the world Erickson has shaped apart from Tolkien. I personally feel like reading Malazan book of the fallen in more akin to research at times then reading fiction but if you stick with it the world that open up to you is intensely rewarding and wholly epic in scale. It is also more bleak and melancholic then song of fire and ice (could not imagine it possible) which might be a turn of for some but sweet bliss for myself.

The jury is still out but i might have to declare these books as my favorite among fantasy literature yet (i also think there is,so far,more consistency in the quality of the books compared to the song of fire and ice sage....which really contained at least one episode that was kind of lacking (feast for crows).

I couldn't make it through Gardens of the Moon. Just tell the dang story without the flowery fluff!! I was looking forward to the rest of the series based on all the excellent reviews, but my eyes started bleeding about half way into Garden.

I finished Sanderson's last book before tackeling Gardens. I read Rothfuss before that. I found both authors to be excellent. I guess I need a hook to grab my attention and keep me involved in the story. Erikson focuses too much on pointless facts, unbelievable banter between characters & way too much description. Get on with the story already!!