House of Chains

The Malazan Book of the Fallen 4

By: Steven Erikson

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 35 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of House of Chains: The Malazan Book of the Fallen 4 by Steven Erikson, read by Michael Page.

In Northern Genabackis, before the events recounted in Gardens of the Moon, a raiding party of savage tribal warriors descend from the mountains into the flat lands. For one among them, Karsa Orlong, it marks the beginning of what will prove an extraordinary destiny.

Some years later, it is the aftermath of the Chain of Dogs. Coltaine is dead. And now the untried new Adjunct, Tavore, must urgently raise an army able to withstand the forces of the Sha'ik's Whirlwind that are massing in Raraku, the few remaining veterans from Coltaine's march her only hope....

So begins the epic new novel of war, intrigue, magic and betrayal from a writer now acknowledged as one of the most original, imaginative and exciting storytellers in modern fantasy.

©2002 Steven Erikson (P)2019 Random House Audiobooks

Too many words!

I liked this saying the most in this book: - Crocus "To ascend is also to surrender. Immortality is turning away. Mortals fate is to embrace life itself as it is with all its fraud. (Also the death I guess should be embraced). Life is mortals first lover! Worship of imperfection and accepting mistakes - crippled god have actually quite seductive narative. The series are keeping to be nicely brutal (like Toblakai's last encounter with Bidithal) in the way as old legends and mythos are even with the same narative which I like a lot. This book is still a bit "madhouse", but not that much as the previous one, where the characters have strange (emotional) states/thoughts regarding how much other things they withstand or in the light of their thousands of years old life in the case of some of them - they are sort of more believable . Some bits remains like Knuckles have life issues because of too much speaking, Keeper is odd too, god have a problem asking questions, god of death is accused of possesing one girl (being the patron of assasins and kills thousands is fine?), but those mostly psychological issues are cool in some way. It seems to me like sort of an epic tale with parts of B type literature and on the level of psychological world of the characters. Maybe I'll find better name for this in the future. Overall most of the characters being god's, humans or aliens have more or less human issues, they have their family (whatever group they consider for it) and family matters which is important for them, they like animals and diversity, they are introverts beyond imagine (Yaguths).. but those are all still human issues from human psyche. And I have to say I really like authors view of the world and people which could be nicely seen from this. Anyway, Malazan series becoming another series in my life that after going through them all I would like to erases them from my memory so I can read them again...

the new reader is awful

I cannot but say that Michael page has big shoes to fill after Lister. He seems unable to distinguish his personae and makes them all sound so similar. Lister's character all had unique voices and he barely ever mixed them up. this cannot be said for Page who seemed to have difficulties giving a voice to Karsa. I can only hope he gets better at if from here on in as I know he has narrated the rest as well. why anyone would want to exchange Ralph Lister for Michael page is beyond me at this point. as for the story itself... what can I say? Erickson is a genius. The way he weaves the plots of all his personae together. It is, to say the least, brilliant. I was on one page rooting for our bridge burners, as I grew a soft spot for lloric on the other. In the beginning I wanted to tear Karsa orlong apart and sock him in the arrogant month. But the Crude arrogant bastard grows on you as you follow him on his journey towards values. The mean Rope that now has a human face.... the majestic world of the Malazan empire has me in its claws and I gladly continue the rest of the journey.

Rough transition but great book

The biggest obstacle in letting me enjoy this audio book is the translation from Ralph Lister to Michael Page. But once you accept there's nothing you can do about it the story is just great.