[.ca] Gardens of the Moon (ISBN 0765348780)

Amazon.ca:
Sometimes books are big because the author doesn't know how to stop, and writes right over that line where more becomes less. Other books, though, are big because they have to be, because the story, the drama, and the characters are just too large to fit into a compact volume. Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon is that kind of big book. Gardens of the Moon, first volume in the Malazan Book of the Fallen, is an epic fantasy story of war, sorcery, politics, and revenge. There is an Empire that must be thwarted, as well as gods desperate to prove they still count for something in the world of human beings. The main story concerns intrigue surrounding the Malazan Empire's coming assault on the city of Darujhistan. Characters include Whiskeyjack, leader of a military band pushed to the edge; Baruk, an alchemist and leader of the mages of Darujhistan; and Sorry, a young woman possessed by a vicious killer. Erikson brings a gritty realism to his fantasy that sets it apart from most others. Magic is difficult and dangerous, often harming its practitioners. Erikson's world has a long history of violence and struggle: people get dirty and tired, and there are not many lives without suffering. The realism makes the characters that much more sympathetic and their successes and failures more meaningful. Gardens of the Moon amply fulfills the main requirement of a big fantasy novel: the world it creates is so compelling that it pulls you right in and leaves you wanting more. --Greg L. Johnson

worth the effort of reading:
I'll start out by saying this book (and series) is not for everyone. If the style of fantasy you enjoy is of the David Eddings or Dungeons & Dragons novelization style, you might not like this book; it doesn't really resemble that end of the epic fantasy spectrum very much. However, if you're interested in a challenging read, this book is definitely worth reading. It starts in the middle of the action, and the author does not talk down to the readers or explain everything, so it actually takes quite a while to figure out just what is going on. The story is complex, the world is original, and the characters don't fall into the traditional 'good vs. evil' roles. Erikson also doesn't hesitate to kill off major characters, and goes against some of the traditional fantasy conventions. Overall, I consider this series the best modern epic fantasy. If you like Glen Cook, Charles Bakker, or George R.R. Martin, or if you are looking for something a bit more challenging than traditional epic fantasy, I definitely recommend this book.

not worth your time:
I wanted to like this book, i really did...But if it is so hard to get through the first 300 pages, and the reading becomes an exercise in persistence and hard work...well, to me, it's just not worth it

???:
I was told, on this site, that if I liked George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan's work, I would love this book.....not so. It was like watching the Godfather without having any previous knowledge of organized crime, Italians, or the English language. Was it any good? I have no freaking clue. This book gets a shrug of the shoulders and a confused look on the face. Maybe after a couple of reads it would make sense but life's too short as it is. Don't waste your time.

Great book for the start of an incredible series:
Seeing some of the other reviews, it very apparent that it takes a certain type of person to appreciate the Malazan Book of the Fallen. This is not at all an easy series, and to truly understand and enjoy it, you will have to do some work. This can be simply referring to the glossary or looking back at other chapters. Erikson's style, especially in the first book (Gardens of the Moon), is to release bits of information about a topic, like the magic, and keep us wondering and on our toes. I find this half the fun - because it makes me curious. Some may find this frustrating because they don't understand right now, but I just keep reading until I come to a moment when it all makes sense. This is when it is really useful to do some re-reading, because it will reveal so many little secrets. So it really comes down to if you are willing to put some time into reading this book and this series - if you do, it will be one of the best you've ever read.

For the military minded:
I really liked this book. Mind you, I read the first 70-80 pages at least four times to understand what the heck was going on and who was who. Hey, what can I say, it was a book club selection that I made so I had to persist. Once I "did the time" and figured it out, I really really liked this book. What was so good? The characters, the military characterizations and some of the ideas. After you read enough fantasy, it's really only the characters and the ideas that make a book stand out and this one did it for me. Whiskeyjack (GREAT name), Ganoes, Lorne, Toc, Mallet, Crokus, Rallick, and so many more were goooood characters. Erikson does the military attitude really well. Being ex-military myself, when Ganoes meets the Bridgeburners for the first time, their "who the *beep* are you...yeah, whatever..." attitude and not really giving a darn because they've "SEEN IT man, and you ain't even close to being worth my energy" was spot on. So much happened and I was sad when it was over. You never seem to savour the good ones as much as you should. Granted, it's not a perfect story...not sure that any are, but I enjoyed the ride and promptly went out a bought the rest of the series that's out up to Reaper's. Theft. Assassination. Murder. War. Excellent. 4.5 stars