Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson Continues To Build An Expansive & Immersive World Second To None

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I love how the “Malazan veteran” was sporting glasses and a Bridgeburners mug! It’s awesome to hear all your thoughts, Mike. I’m especially glad to hear your insights into Erikson’s approach to introducing characters and how they feel like people you meet in real life. “Gruntle is the Best” channel - ha ha! Fantastic video, as always!

[@shawngillogly6873]

He didn't bring back the Tweed coat though. And I know YOU would never say everything makes sense in Memories of Ice. :P

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@shawngillogly6873 True! What would be the point of everything making sense?

[@shawngillogly6873]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Umm. Reread number 5 of the whole series. Maybe? :P (He says when he hasn't done a re-read of book 10 yet.) I mean, this was #6 of MOI for me. And I would say I followed everything, even though I still saw some new things in it. But I wouldn't call that the same as being confused. I think it's the nature of SE's writing that you always see a new layer. Whether that's the Iowa school, his Archaeology/Anthropologist training, or both, I can't say. I suspect both, because I do believe the Literary Fiction sensibilities contribute, especially in how he does characters. And with so many characters, done short story style, there is always going to be something/someone that falls through the crack on 1st read, or even 2nd.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@shawngillogly6873 I would say both too. This is also why this series rewards rereads so richly.

[@johanjoseph4802]

Alryt. Mike has started Skits.... Amazing 😂😂👌

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha few and far between.

[@alynam82]

@@mikesbookreviews that was a good one tho, definitely enjoyed it 👍

[@shawngillogly6873]

Mike, this Malazan veteran never would say the series *ever* makes perfect sense on a 1st read. This was my 6th read of MOI, and it still reveals new things. The Bonehunters is one of the...more...straightforward books of the series, though. :P And as far as what happens to certain characters cheapening the stakes. Just remember, one of those characters is known as Mr Erikson's punching bag for a reason....

[@theskyisteal8346]

And he ain't done punching...

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

This makes me want to jump back in. When I finished Deadhouse Gates, I had a month to get ready for Memories of Ice. When the time came to start it, I just couldn’t do it. I felt like I’d had enough with this world. I gave it a couple of days and tried again. I put it away, thinking I was done. I have no aspirations of catching up with the read-along, but I think I want to give the series another shot . . . but at a slower pace. You’ve convinced me; thanks Mike!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to hear it!

[@AdamThayer]

Just finished last night (FINALLY). That ending... I was damned near crying, what an amazing ending. So far, each book was a slog through the first half, then once it clicked it was smooth sailing to the end. Mr. Erikson can really write a beautiful story, and his prose is top-notch (although I do sometimes wonder if he understands how chapters are supposed to work, hahahaha). I continue to be glad for the read-along pushing me to keep going.

[@hamsandwich123]

glad you finished it man. I think you'll find the first half of most of the books a slog to get through on your first read - although I never think it comes anywhere near the doldrums of WoT - but by the end of each book you'll appreciate the setup in retrospect, and be blown away by the endings.

[@epicgamer2727]

Shoutout to the zombie murder-dino's with sword arms.

[@Johanna_reads]

Your introduction skit! 🤣 I loved your approach to this review! I remember feeling just as frustrated when hearing people say the series would be smooth sailing after Gardens of the Moon. I can relate to what you loved and what you found challenging. Though this book did have a great emotional impact on me, you touch on some true experiences for many of us Malazan noobs!

[@officernasty6634]

I much preferred Deadhouse Gates to book 3. Idk why, but that book just connected with me far more

[@MichaelSmith-zx5lw]

Same

[@branden3453]

Agreed, something about the pacing of this book just threw me off a little bit.

[@kevinford4229]

I feel so validated right now

[@redskies1231]

I just finished MOI today. Wow! What a ride. This series just keeps getting better.

[@Tremain]

When people say "you just got to get through the first three books" they mean with regards to falling in love with the series. Anyone telling you that you are going to understand everything is lying, you won't understand everything in your tenth re-read.

[@RiashadHassan]

The intro was perfect Mike. loved the video mate

[@ahojahojish]

I liked Memories of ice.....but I absolutely LOVED and was blown away by Deadhouse gates.

[@Bodester24]

I watched the reading excerpt twice, that was awesome!

[@tristancambonie2335]

Mike at 18:00 : " Can we focus on a single group for five minutes"... RAFO 😄

[@Severian1]

That skit is just fantastic. The Malazan fan had glasses on, ha! Yeah sometimes we fans can get a bit too much. I still love this series so much and the need to share that with someone else is overpowering but I understand why someone may bounce off of it.

[@ulflilienthal8120]

I have learned not to be impatient with Erikson's character development. I love that he does not rush to tell us everything we need to know about a character the first time we meet them. We are even still getting details about characters we met 3 books ago. Like you say Mike, very similar to real life and our development of relationships, whether at work, or friends or even family.

[@anyaconda3155]

I literally finished the last chapter of MOI on the 31st 😂 I'm so glad the reading schedule makes me push through when it's getting a bit tough. I'm loving it a lot and thanks again for starting this readalong. I don't comment a lot being a lurker and all 😅

[@alisham7340]

Loved that intro 😂

[@derekleon24]

The only part I’m having trouble with reading Malazan is finding the stupid paperback editions that match. It is the Bain of my existence.

[@andreamiller3578]

The skit is hilarious. I didn't think Deadhouse Gates started slow at all. It began fast and never really stopped for me. However, I did have an adjustment period with Memories of Ice. I had trouble getting into the Itkovian story line UNTIL the halfway point, and then the compassion stuff started hitting me and everything clicked with him. Gruntle was interesting in battle, but to be honest I didn't care all that much about that particular part. I particularly enjoyed the sections involving the Mybhe, Silverfox, Whiskeyjack, Anamander Rake, Ganoes Paran, Kruppe (YES, I'm a fan), and that whole crew. Also the Lady Envy sections. The Pannion Domin and the Keychain Tamales are terrifying and I loved every twisted minute of it. Looking forward to the next one.

[@Ulmo90]

Great intro ans pre-video fun talk. Excited for HoC

[@Lady_S]

I'm reading through these books for the first time as well and finished MOI about 1,5 weeks ago. I definitely agree that DG is my top book in this series so far. My biggest take away is how good Erikson is with characters. Recently read another fantasy book and kept thinking this doesn't feel like something this character should think/react to. I wouldn't have noticed that sort of things before. I like how he seamless make you go from "who is this person and why should I care" to crying, cheering and laughing with them later in a book.

[@dicamba95]

I have fallen significantly behind but Im still reading and watching all the videos you do for the Malazan books. Really enjoying the delayed read along.

[@odiums_taint]

great intro. loving the series so far. definitely agree; deadhouse gates had a needed down-time after... but not this. im so looking forward to House of Chains read-along!

[@kostisth1436]

That intro LOL "smooth sailing"

[@ulflilienthal8120]

Great editing in the intro to this video, from the little back and forth and also the slide show of art work. Loved it.

[@CounsellorofMoonsSpawn]

That opening skit is so freakin' accurate 😂 Somebody probably told you already but in HoC you are following only one character for the first part. Totally get why you are struggling with the PoV switches though! I did, too, but it doesn't really bother me on reread anymore.

[@MacScarfield]

That Intro! You can mentally hear “Sailing” or some other smooth “Yacht Rock” in the background! As to “what hurt Erikson”, he has been quite open in essays about witnessing truely horrific and inhuman terror done to people by criminals, guerrilla fighters & paramilitary death squads during his time as an archeologist in Central America, and the books as a healthy way to deal with that and other of his traumas.

[@ulflilienthal8120]

Anyone who says they can just speed read through these books, or listen to them on 2X on Audible, and understand everything, then they are lying to you!

[@mizuescueladenatacion5368]

I started it yesterday and i feel just like you in the introduction... i love the way he writes big scenes but so far i don't care for any character at all Anyway, going next to you on this journey Mike!

[@mjdaniel8710]

One of my top 4 in the series, it may not get easier but it is worth the ride to me

[@cmmosher8035]

You know, when each review of a book series is " don't worry , the next book gets easiet" I start wonder if the Malazan fandom is just trolling the normies.

[@CanalPanendithas]

I'll refuse to read/watch anything like that Oh, season 7 is where it really gets good 🤡

[@cmmosher8035]

@@CanalPanendithas I had a friend try to get me into World of war craft. After I complained about early level fetch quests they told me that game gets good when you reach max lvl and to high lvl raids. I said that you thank to my friend, cancelled my account and Uninstalled.

[@readingreignbro5680]

I tend to avoid assertions of disingenuity where the multifariousnous of human experience might apply.

[@demidrek-heyward]

about 1/4 of the way through this and seeing how I am not yet eligble for Mike's Book Reviews spoiler talk # 1 this is the best I've got. I'm very much enjoying this one so far, as much if not more than the first two. If and when Ericson desides to Kill Kruppe, marvelous emiisary of Darujistan I will throw all of the novels into the incinerator.

[@judewakefield7213]

So excited to start House of Chains on the first!

[@EricMcLuen]

So you are saying the Tenescowri left a bad taste in your mouth? For me MoI has a special place. It was the turning point from a really good fantasy series after DG to something much more. Both in the grand scheme of things and where Erickson goes to 11 on the wtf scale. And Itkovian just has some of the best quotes. That is probably the best non spoilery one. Regarding battle scenes, the flipping around something offers a glimpse of the chaos of war. The characters are confused so on some level the reader should be too. And for character introductions, they are often done through the eyes of other characters. So a lot of their observations they might take as a given. Then later you get a different perspective.

[@Will_14582]

"This is the darkest thing I have ever read in a fantasy world" Just wait until you read R. Scott Bakker. Makes the Tenescowri seem like cute little kittens in comparison.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yikes.

[@praetorxyn]

I keep hearing this, but I'm reticent to read him because that's probably too dark for my tastes, and because there's a guy on one of the Discord servers I go to that absolutely will not shut up about Bakker and won't stop shilling for him, so it's just put me off.

[@Will_14582]

@@praetorxyn I'm not going to shill for him. The Aspect Empower series is probably one of the bleakest things I've ever read. More so than the first trilogy, which is also probably darker than Malazan. Don't get me wrong, I love Bakker's writing, but that second series is bleaker than even The Road, by McCarthy. It's probably on par with Blood Meridian, which it is obviously heavily inspired by, along with some concepts from the later Dune books.

[@Rogue_VI]

@@Will_14582 Good to know. This confirms my decision to not read Bakker.

[@MrArgman]

Wish Bakker was more popular. Not a huge fantasy reader but I love him

[@liberTvalance]

I wish people would tell people to just google maps, races, and characters before starting the series... and keep them on hand. I read 1.5 books and didn't know what the hell was going on but I could tell that 2nd book was really good. I just risked spoilers and looked up tons of stuff and started over and I loved it.

[@markb3534]

Haha ... awesome

[@freakydallas13]

Great intro! I just want to point out that your criticisms are valid, it can definitely be confusing. That doesn't bother me, but I can see how it bothers others.

[@justthesidekick5519]

That intro was amazing 🤩

[@maximasforrester8689]

Started a month ago I’m catching up with the read along can’t wait to be caught up

[@ToddsBookTube91]

I agree with you many many pages I read and had no idea what was going on

[@mikesbookreviews]

Wish I could say that improves, but I'm through 7 of the books now and as confused as ever ha ha

[@kane9889]

Honestly, for malazan standards I would call MoI smooth sailing. I am a first time reader too and liked the first and last 20% the most of this book. Might be an unpopular opinion, tho, since most love the capustan stuff which found to be "just good"

[@ScullyPop]

This is one of the best book channels.

[@bryson2662]

I was cracking up at the intro

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

This series treats death a lot different then most, Hood's realm plays a big role.

[@ThisIsJaysWorld]

The skit 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mikesanders9267]

It’s like the episode of The Simpsons where Bart goes to France. He doesn’t understand anything until the end where he realizes he can now speak French. I think everyone has their point where they feel acclimated to the Malazan world, for me it was Midnight Tides.

[@Rogue_VI]

I won't say the books get any easier from here on out but, for me, the next several books are cranked up to 11. I ranked MOI at #7 (maybe that'll change when I re-read). There's so much great stuff to come.

[@omnitheus5442]

Make or break is book 5. That's what I recommend to ppl getting into it.

[@MrTheswayzeexpress]

Boom!

[@farhad_s]

Hahahaha one of the best intros you've made

[@meostafford]

Oh hell no,,, theres no way i could put these down now... just gotta know what comes next.

[@raswartz]

lol omg that intro . . . perfect

[@culturestudios3500]

That voice is... GREAT! Can we get Stephen King Audiobooks read by Malazan Veteran? 😂

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

Man finally someone that liked the 2nd book more than the 3rd one. I would say throughout most of the books like liked Memories of Ice more but the ending of Deadhouse Gates I found better given we were dragged along the chain of dogs struggle for a good chunk of the book. At the end of Memories of Ice the ending ruined all the build up for me. Don't get me wrong bother are great books but that's just the way I see it. I'm near the end of House of Chains and I can sense something coming but I'm not sure what yet :) (my kinda book!)

[@praetorxyn]

I'm looking forward to your thoughts on House of Chains, as it introduced probably my favorite character.

[@sebastien160]

I'm nearly done with book 3 and i'm so fucking lost

[@demidrek-heyward]

lmao the skit

[@MrTheswayzeexpress]

I'm going to sue you for identity theft with the guy at the start. You can add all the glasses you want but I know when I see myself 🤣

[@holyheretic3185]

Anyone know a cheap place to get the trade Paperback books? I like the big Paperback books but 35 bucks a book is alot.

[@SonOfSeth]

Malazan: The Push Trough Saga

[@JamesI88]

Smooth sailing? Not confusing? Lies. Awesome series though

[@shawngillogly6873]

I tried to push back against the assertion MOI was where it "clicks" when it appeared in the pre-read days. As I said above, I would *never* say this series is perfectly clear on a 1st read. It's too large, too many characters, too many intersecting plots, and too many things happen off-page, to make "perfect sense." It's a series that rewards re-reads. (By design.) But it's fair to say MOI is where a reader can make a fair determination if Malazan is a series they will like or not. By now, you've seen what the series is, what it's about, and the conventions SE is using when he writes. You may not get it, or get why he does it. But you know if it's your cup of tea or not.

[@alynam82]

Release on a Saturday??

[@mikesbookreviews]

Gotten behind the past couple weeks.

[@teroril]

I'll be so interested to see if one of your 'hot takes' will change by the ending of book 4 :D

[@violetbliss4399]

Great review! I definitely think Malazan has that thing where you like certain books depending on what that book entails. I'm not really into military concepts, and yet it's one of my favourite series of all time. I think the reason is, while the wars and conflicts are there in the background, the focus for me is angled towards discovery, psychology, relationships, the emotional side and decisions people make. The gorey things are there as a setup for character reactions or to paint the picture of the setting... or at least, that's how my brain interprets things. For instance, I don't like a couple of Joe Abercrombie books where it is mostly just bleak warfare (albeit with interesting characters), while I love others like Best served cold. So I guess what I mean to say is some fantasy works kind of defies classification in a way. Or their elements are constructed such that depending on what you want out of it, your reading bias ends up bringing some threads to the fore of importance, for good or ill. :) Anyway I won't ramble more, and enjoy the next one!

[@carole5648]

Yeah that intro is pretty spot on...I certainly found the first three books don't get interesting until about the 60-70% point. I think the rest of the books are better about this, well except the first 15% of house of chains haha. But once you're back with the people you know it gets interesting faster. I haven't finished my first read through yet but I still feel called out when you talk about veterans. 🤐 MOI was my favorite when I first read it. Even though I didn't understand lots of it, it did feel like the information was at least on the page.

[@edosaomoruyi1]

This is when I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Steven Erickson is in the Goat tier of fantasy with G.R.R.M 🤷🏿‍♂️😤

[@Rogue_VI]

He's better than GRRM. He knows how to finish a series.

[@Rogue_VI]

@@MrsPhilosopher You are correct. Malazan is far superior.

[@chickenmonger123]

I’m sorry that some Malazan fans said it gets easier or that you’ll understand it. It’s... It’s not... It’s an experience. That’s what it is. It’s without a doubt one of the most ambitious series to deliver on its vision. It’s extraordinary.

[@corywinterberg8764]

Mike your intros are legen, I hope your not lactose intorant because the next word is dary.

[@fredrikgranstrom6743]

berserk vs malazan

[@epiphoney]

Steven Erikson readers sound like Thomas Pynchon readers.

[@MrArgman]

I love both haha.

[@infamouscola]

lmao

[@KalleVilenius]

If you keep reading Berserk, this will soon be only the 2nd darkest thing you've ever read.

[@joshlane9878]

“Yeah trust me, you gotta get past the first five seasons before it gets good.”

[@Jaeno311]

The first book is great. So is the second.

[@joshlane9878]

@@Jaeno311 that’s what I’ve heard. I just hate when people sell books/tv series like this.

[@Jaeno311]

@@joshlane9878 Some moron said it once and anywhere Malazan comes up, dumb fucks have to spout that stupid shit. All the books are good. You don't have to get past anything before they "get good." Fuck off with that shit. It's so old and played out.

[@Lasombra08]

Every book in this series is better than 95% of the fantasy books out there.

[@jtmplmbr4465]

😂😂