First read - Memories of Ice: Book 3 of The Malazan

[SoulBiter]

So just got started really... a bit if a different start but I think only because I am getting familiar with the world and its inhabitants. A wolf, or God as you will, is wandering and finds a mortal with a mirrored spirit. It merges with someone and we move to Toc the Younger...who I only vaguely remember. He is alive but barely and stumbles into another body. One that is incredibly decomposed. It seems to be a T'lan Imass and is still alive, if you even think of the undead as alive. Of course its Tool.

The T'lan agrees to take him where he can find food and a way to restring his bow and make some arrows. The come to a place and the lady there is called Lady Envy. Tool and the lady recognize each other. Toc does not know or understand what he is getting into. Toc agrees to help her at some future date if she will give them food and water for the journey. Surprisingly she agrees to go with them.

Im intrigued...

[Fist and Faith]

My very favorite traveling companions of all literature!! Amazing book!!

[Avatar]

Toc the Younger...who I only vaguely remember.

And he was only 2 books ago or so. Wait 'til you start bumping into guys from 5 or 6 books ago, or from different storylines or timelines.

(Also, technically the T'lan Imass never died, so they're not undead. )

--A

[Holsety]

IMO the intro to this book is the most epic part of the series...especially with Kallor, that part reminded me of
ASOIAF Spoilers

Spoiler

Ned Stark meeting Jaime Lannister sitting on the Iron Throne

but amped up in terms of destruction.

There's a decision Toc the Younger makes in this book that seems so bad IMO even before you see the results.

[Fist and Faith]

Yes, the prologues are fantastic.

[SoulBiter]

Getting there. Had some family in town which limited my reading time. Paran was the one the wolf god went into... Tattersail is back again. She has more than one person living in her head.. getting ready to meet with Paran. Glad to have more Bridgeburners involved again.

[Fist and Faith]

Bridgeburners!!

[Avatar]

Paran was the one the wolf god went into...

That was Toc the Younger.

--A

[SoulBiter]

Paran was the one the wolf god went into...

That was Toc the Younger.

--A

Interesting. Since they didn't say it out loud (not yet anyway) I thought maybe they were trying to throw me off and it was actually Paran who already had some wolf like stuff going on. It still early yet.

[Avatar]

Ah, I know where the confusion came from...it's not the Wolf god(s) who are associated with Paran, but (for now) the Hounds. (Not a spoiler because obviously you already past the bit where he fights off one of the Hounds of Shadow.)

--A

[Holsety]

Ah, I know where the confusion came from...it's not the Wolf god(s) who are associated with Paran, but (for now) the Hounds. (Not a spoiler because obviously you already past the bit where he fights off one of the Hounds of Shadow.)

--A

It's actually not when Paran fights off a Hound that ties him to the Hounds, but later, when Rake inadvertently protects him from the Hounds and he touches a Hound's blood. IIRC. Maybe I'm wrong, and he actually got some Hound blood the first time.

[Avatar]

Ha, could be...I thought he got the blood when he stabbed it with Chance defending Tattersail...might have been a bit of both. *shrug*

--A

[Holsety]

Ha, could be...I thought he got the blood when he stabbed it with Chance defending Tattersail...might have been a bit of both. *shrug*

--A

I think Erikson highlights that Paran touches the hound blood after Rake kills them, because that's how he's drawn into Dragnipur without being chained to the sword. But it is possible that something happened w/ Tattersail first. I believe the azath house in Darujhistan is where Paran becomes Hound'ish. It is worth saying that the fete included the wolf goddess in the festivities (though as a departure rather than a celebrant?).

[Avatar]

Yes, I think that whatever happened with Tattersail is what made touching the blood draw him in. (And I've just read these damnit. It's just so much information though. )

--A

[Fist and Faith]

It's just so much information though.

That would be a key point! Another is that these are not real world events that absolutely must all make sense, and fit within the laws that govern reality. It could be, dare I say, that the author was not absolutely consistent throughout this gigantic work. Beyond forgivable, and we've seen more blatant inconsistencies from SRD. But we love it, regardless. If what happens at both ends of an inconsistency is awesome, then it really doesn't matter.

[SoulBiter]

Making progress. Got selected for Jury duty so less time to post here. Rake just showed up and shows just how powerful he is... floats the card table, Paran is teleported, Krupe is floating in the air, etc etc etc.... no telling what would have happened if quick Ben hadn't shown up and somehow was able to get him to stop what he is doing with just a simple statement.

Edit... just realized Rake didn't teleport him..or I dont think so...he is in the deck...his spirit is...no idea where his body is...maybe Silverfox/Tattersail did it

[Avatar]

If what happens at both ends of an inconsistency is awesome, then it really doesn't matter.

I mean, you're not wrong, and they're hard to spot in something so huge anyway, but, y'know, the pedant in me...

--A

[SoulBiter]

Well, Toc the Younger just showed back up... undead vs demons....

[SoulBiter]

I have to say that the activity level in this book is off the chain...this stuck with me...

This from Captain Paran in his thoughts:

"Soldiers now and soldiers to the end of their days - none would dare leave to find peace. Solitude and calm would unlock that safe prison of cold control - the only thing keeping them sane."
"Whiskeyjack had said to Paran that, once this war was done, the Bridgeburners would be retired. Forcibly if necessary"

Anomander Rake acknowledging respect for Quick Ben, then later Quick Ben meeting Talamandas in a Warren. I havent gotten there yet but he has told Quick Ben some of his story.... but as the chapter ends, Quick Ben says "I'll hear your tale now, Old one"

[Fist and Faith]

Out of so many awesome things in the book, my favorite stuff is the conversations between Toc & Tool and Toc & Envy. Although Quick has some great conversations, too.