Deadhouse Gates

Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 2

By: Steven Erikson

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 34 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha’ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising known as the Whirlwind. Unprecedented in size and savagery, this maelstrom of fanaticism and bloodlust will embroil the Malazan Empire in one of the bloodiest conflicts it has ever known, shaping destinies and giving birth to legends.....

Set in a brilliantly realized world ravaged by dark, uncontrollable magic, this thrilling novel of war, intrigue, and betrayal confirms Steven Erikson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination, and originality - a new master of epic fantasy.

©2006 Steven Erikson (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Give me the evocation of a rich, complex, and yet ultimately unknowable other world, with a compelling suggestion of intricate history and mythology and lore. Give me mystery amid the grand narrative. Give me a world in which every sea hides a crumbled Atlantis, every ruin has a tale to tell, every mattock blade is a silent legacy of struggles unknown. Give me, in other words, the fantasy work of Steven Erikson." (Andrew Leonard, Salon)

Beautifully narrated - I love this reader's voice

What did you love best about Deadhouse Gates?

There are plenty of other reviews about the content of the book itself. I just wanted to add that the reading voice of Ralph Lister is amazing. There are many parts of this complex book that are confusing and convoluted - yet I continue to listen because of Lister's wonderful narration. I will seek out more of the book's he has performed the audio narration for as I go along. Thank you.

excellence continues

Not sure what to say that the headline didn't, this is an excellent series and an excellent installment! I plan on doing all of this series, novellas included.

Incredibly Deep and Immensely Thought-provoking

This book transports me to a new realm as I read. Such detail as to make a man believe an ascendant had a hand in the writing.

Excellent story and performance with one minor issue:

The story is well written and gripping and the reader does a great job. That being said, this is a book that’s somewhat challenging to follow without being able to reread sections and whatnot. The only thing I could say was a slight annoyance was that sometimes when perceptions change in the story mid-chapter the narrator doesn’t really make much of a pause or give any sign he’s started telling the story from someone else’s perspective which can make following along a little tricky.

Intense from the moment you start!

The intensity you feel every step of the way on the adventure is so realistic and authentic. You can feel the emotional turmoil and decisions made arround every turn. I found myself celebrating peoples triumphs and mourning with their turmoil and loss.

WARNING: This books has some very dark and disturbing scenes. With that being said it's what makes the book have such a profound realism and pull on your humanity. I wouldn't change an ounce of the rhetoric or style.


This book is a wonderful continuation of the series and really makes you feel the depths of the world and the Malazan Empire. The reader does such a fantastic job grasping the emotions and sounds of each and every character with slight voice changes. He will make you feel as though the character is talking out loud. Well done all arround!

Love it

These books are getting better and better. After thinking I've listened to all the good fantasy series, I'm so happy to find another great one. This series is truly original, and is possibly my favorite. The complexity of knowing all the names and places is a test for me - one that I will continue to work and improve on, and enjoy doing so. Google helps if you ever forget a name. I love everything about these books! 5/5!

Excellent

Excellent second book in a series. Nothing else really needs to be said about it.

Plosive Ps

I love this book. Mr Lister's reading was for the most part fine, but the unedited mistakes, mispronouncing of words, and plosive Ps really stood out to me when they happened and were distracting.

My opinion only

Avid listener of this genre and had the most difficult time following the storyline. Narrator is fantastic just could seem to follow the story line well.

Epic Storytelling embroided by Deep Philosophy

Steven Erikson is a master of his genre. After finishing the second volume, I am ever more excited to let him amaze me with his richly developed world filled with uniquely profound and incredibly multifaceted characters as the story goes on. I have not enjoyed a book series like this in a long time.

I had read Malazan Book of the Fallen once before, (although I had not finished the series back then, only up to the eighth book) but I realise now I had been too young to fully appreciate and understand everything the author wanted to convey. Also it was a translation, and despite the fact that it was very well done, it just pales in comparison to the original. Author's language is much more poignant and much more poetic in the original form, some of these aspects were sadly lost or diminished during the translation process. I am grateful beyond words I finally had the pleasure to experience this epic and philosophical work in its purest form. Ralph Lister's narration was spot on 99% of the time, with only a few minor hiccups in over 40 hours of read. I wonder whether I am going to be able to enjoy the books from the series that are not narrated by him as much, but I certainly hope so.

The story mainly focuses on several characters that were introduced in the first volume, namely two Bridgeburners, Kalam Mekhar and Fiddler, a young lad of Darujhistan, Crokus, and the former vessel of Cotillion, Apsalar, but it also introduces a score of new characters, such as Coltaine and Duiker, whose amazing but grueling journey I followed with my breath held, and also the younger sister of Ganoes Paran, Felisin. These are just some on the long list of captivating characters the reader/listener gets to meet on this incredible journey.

If you like dark fantasy and are not afraid to have your views of the world and thoughts about humanity itself challenged, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to you. It is worth every penny and I fully expect Erikson to be deemed as influential and irreplaceable to the fantasy genre as Tolkien himself by the generations to come.