Gardens of the Moon

The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1

By: Steven Erikson

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 26 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Vast legions of gods, mages, humans, dragons and all manner of creatures play out the fate of the Malazan Empire in this first book in a major epic fantasy series

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand....

Conceived and written on a panoramic scale, Gardens of the Moon is epic fantasy of the highest order - an enthralling adventure by an outstanding new voice.

©1999 by Steven Erikson. (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Erikson is an extraordinary writer. My advice to anyone who might listen to me is, Treat yourself to Gardens of the Moon. And my entirely selfish advice to Steven Erikson is, write faster." --Stephen R. Donaldson

"I stand slack-jawed in awe of The Malazan Book of the Fallen. This masterwork of imagination may be the high water mark of epic fantasy. This marathon of ambition has a depth and breadth and sense of vast reaches of inimical time unlike anything else available today. The Black Company, Zelazny's Amber, Vance's Dying Earth, and other mighty drumbeats are but foreshadowings of this dark dragon's hoard." --Glen Cook

"A world that is both absorbing on a human level and full of magical sublimity...a wonderfully grand conception...splendidly written...fiendishly readable." --Adam Roberts

takes a while to understand but oh so worth 2 Wait

the way he sets up and unfolds the story is very unique and confusing at first. but this series is a true gem,I'm hooked. pay attention to prologue

Unexpected surprise!

I'd never seen this writer or his series. What a wonderful accident to stumble upon Gardens of the Moon. I would recommend this series to any who enjoy magic and monsters.

stick with it

What did you love best about Gardens of the Moon?

The sheer size of the story and nothing is explained right out. The series is not for a novice.I have read most fantasy epics and this is impressive.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

That nothing is simplistic, magic, ghosts, gods,rulers, heros, villians, it is never black amd white. Least interesting is...well his description of types of peoples is tough to remeber at times.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the Imass race is first introduced. Maybe when Anamando Rake is introduced as well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The characture named Kroper makes me smile.

Any additional comments?

There is a lot of plot to process at first but this is a masterful series. Remember dear friends that nothing is as simple as it appears.

Fantastically written, stupendously told

One of my all time favorites. Wish I had more time to write a detailed review. Highly suggest to anyone who enjoys realistic fantasy genre.

good story elements but just couldn't care

This was a mechanically good story. some good complexity and character development, and a number of elements I generally really like. I personally found it nearly impossible to actually like most of the characters, which I think was influenced by the performance.

Truly a Masterpiece

I wasn't initially captivated by this book, it can be confusing due to the way you are thrust into this complex world without explanation. In many ways this feeling was maintained throughout this entire book and beyond. As you learn more and more, bit by bit, an amazing, dark and real world begins to unfold. It is fantastical, gritty, depressing and even at times amusing. I haven't even finished the series yet(in book 6 now) and barring a precipitous drop in quality that I know isn't coming, I think this will finish as my favorite series of all time. I'm already looking forward to rereading and have even been tempted to go back now just to give myself a better more thorough understanding of things. I won't of course, I feel compelled to continue this true epic of a series to its completion before I go back and analyze every chapter piece by piece. Until then I will continue to be mesmerized with how someone can create such a fascinating universe with so many compelling characters and stories of all kinds.

I have never reviewed any book before on this platform and while I'm tempted to review each book individually as well, I feel compelled to go back to the first and try to convince anyone who will listen to begin this tale and to stick with it. Be prepared for it will get dark but it is a true masterpiece the likes of which I have rarely encountered in all my years of reading. And after being so sorely disappointed in other such promising series, the quality and pace at which Stephen Erikson has produced what I presume is his Magnum Opus has me grateful and amazed. That's enough of my fawning, do yourself a favor and begin the journey and I'm sure you will soon find yourself feeling the same way I do.

You'll never be more confused, yet awestruck

So, after the long years of trampling around through the common series of fantasy I came across GoTM from the word of a friend of mine. I went and bought the book (I try my best to support the art) and set off to give it a year. Well, that was about ten years ago, and I can say that I have finally finished it. Now, it didn't take me ten years to read, no no no, but it probably took me about ten times. I would read a hundred or so pages, be lost, put it on the shelf until the next time I moved for my career and then I would notice it again - telling myself I need to go back into the world and see what these Bridgeburners were all about. So, recently I moved again, and I did just that. As I was waiting for my internet to get installed I took the book out of the box and gave it the attention it was begging from my throughout all the years I had it. I got the audible version to help as I unpacked and did all those things y'all hate doing about moving. And where did the last page of this book leave me?

Well, it left me with a confounding amount of respect for a writer that seems to get a lot of trite comments about how vast and confusing his worlds are made to be. This book is so detailed, so deep in its aspects of drama, heartbreak, loss, love, revenge, etc., that it was hard to give it an actually rating above. Such imagination! It isn't like any other story you will read. It takes time; and most importantly - it takes patience. But the language is there to deliver these aspects to you if you will let it. I've moved on to Book 2 and I'm still hanging on to this heavy confused foundation with all the strength that I can, hahaha. I might not make it to the end, but I'm sure as hell going to try.

It's not a Sanderson or a Rothfuss, Martin, or Abercombie series, it's heavier than that. Hell, it's not even really entertainment. It's on a different level. The narrator does a great job here, but you will want a hard copy as you walk into this place. Don't bring just a knife to a gun fight. Also, dear Audible user, this may not be your time to gaunt off on such a journey. If you don't really try it will just stay on your shelf and loom over you for years to come. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I'm already out here on these plains, but I'll keep the fire stoked, just incase you happen to be following. Good luck.

Gardens of lush imagination

complex and thoroughly enjoyable. what an excellent surprise. looking forward to starting the next book.

Loved everything about it

i loced this audiobook. fun characters, memorable moments, all that jazz. the narrator gets three stars because a lot of his voices were recycled and some of them seemed odd choices, no matter how now connect them to the characters. it didnt take anything from the experience though.

As good as it gets!

This series can be very complicated at times. You will have to rewind, sometimes constantly, to figure out what happened or where you are. That being said, I just finished The Crippled God, the tenth and final book in this series. I realize now, in the course of about six months, I have spent hundreds of hours listening to Lister and Page paint a perfect picture of this most epic of all fantasy worlds. Looking back at all the time spent listening, the nights I couldn't go to bed without finishing a storyline, or a battle, or staring at my phone waiting for the next book to download, I think, "would I do it all over again?" To answer myself, ABSOLUTELY!! I can't wait to hear it again (and again). No one can even hold a candle to Erikson. The Malazan Book of the Fallen is as good as fantasy gets!