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Midnight Tides (A Tale of the Malazan Book Of The Fallen book 5) by Steven Erikson
01/05/2004 . Source: Sana Master 
pub: Bantam. 698 page hardback. ISBN: 0-593-04627-7. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.booksattransworld.co.uk
A word of warning before I begin. If this review comes across as being extremely confused and confusing, I disclaim all responsibility. The blame falls squarely on the author, whose storytelling is so convoluted it makes a maze easy to navigate. His stories are however, marvellously gripping.
This novel is the fifth part and it follows on from the fourth. what an obvious thing to say!? I hear you cry. My reason for stating the obvious is because with Erikson it isn't a given that part five will follow on from four. The first of his novels, Gardens Of The Moon? is set mainly in a city called Darujhistan. A city in danger of being swallowed by the Malazan Empire. Where the Assassins' Guild rules covertly and the Councillors are mere squabbling children.
You meet a host of characters who are anti-heroes, assassins, saboteurs and thieves. The mythology behind the divinity is based on positions within a deck of cards and split into houses. Ascendants (Gods) can be killed and humans can ascend to take their place. The world is cut-throat and the huge body of Empire is riddled with wormholes of dissent.
The second novel, Leadhouse Gates? completely jumps across the world to another continent and another war that the Empire is waging. It deals with the story of the conquered under their leader Sha'ik, who is preparing for a revolution known as Raraku the Whirlwind. The main plotline however, runs with one of the finest heroes in epic fantasy.
He is Coltaine, who leads a desperate line of refugees and survivors of a devastating war across the continent, with only a minuscule contingent of fighters, to betrayal from allies. The pain, fear and sheer endurance the characters go through bleeds through the text- wringing from the reader as much emotion as if the reader, too, is part of the Chain of Dogs.
The third, Memories Of Ice? returns to the characters we met in the first novel and to some extent provides continuation. It is actually taking place at the same time as the second part and so news of the doings of others filters through here.
The fourth part, House Of Chains sees the end of the revolution known as Raraku or the Whirlwind and the pathos in this novel belongs to the sister who unknowingly kills her sister as an enemy of the Empire. However, this novel begins with a character called Trull Sengar, who has just been branded traitor by his people. His story is a small thread in the tapestry of this work, but the novel ends with him beginning to tell his story and how he got to where he was at the start. The latest novel, Midnight Tides? jumps straight into his story and throughout has next to no reference to any of the stories gone before!
Midnight Tides can be read alone because of the way Erikson jumps from story to story. But an integral part of Erikson's character development depends on the slow build up of personality through the little picture windows Erikson opens within each novel. The author's style precludes instant comprehension, however, so it is best to read them in order. The first is a relatively gentle entry into the Malazan world and the rest build on this foundation.
I am about to make a bold claim here, the complexity of Erikson's world is unrivalled in fantasy fiction. The depth of its creation is incomprehensible and his novels should only be read by those who enjoy the challenge of attempting to decode the universe with the scattered information given. That is the first time I've ever said that about any fantasy novel, but Erikson well deserves it. Right, I know I've gone on for ages about the experience of reading Erikson, I'll tell you about this latest novel now.
Midnight Tides goes back in time and to a different place, where the Malazan Empire has never been heard of and presents no threat. The people of this tale are the Tiste Edur, the Children of Shadow. They are related to the Tiste Andii, Children of Dark, from earlier books. The prologue tells of the betrayal of the Andii, by the Edur.
Centuries later, the story has been altered and the Edur believe they were the betrayed. This tale sees the rise of an insane emperor among the Edur, who is patronised by a deformed God. This emperor is repeatedly killed and sent back to life by the Crippled God, each time a little more malformed, either in mind or body. He overturns the tide of the current conquerors, who like all conquerors are driven by greed and materialism.
The novel is a riveting read, punctuated as ever with pockets of humour and fantastically individual characters. Erikson focuses on threes in this novel and sets in play the three brothers Sengar, who dominate among the Edur, and the three brothers Beddict from the Letherii Empire. This continent seems to have become a forgotten realm and has demanded very little attention from Ascendents. Here are charted the events when the baleful, capricious eyes of divinity are turned their way, culminating in a convergence.
The betrayed leader of the Tiste Andii is freed, a Forkrul Assail is released (a creature that feels very strongly about noise and sets about killing everything that disturbs its peace), the Pack, the Toblakai (whose worshippers pray for them to stay away) and Mael of the depths (who is rusticating as a manservant named Bugg). The underlying theme throughout all of his novels is of betrayal in its multitude of forms, both perceived and real.
He handles the theme well and does not shy away from presenting the harsher realities of deceit. Insanity is a core ingredient that has been added to this author's inkwell and this is apparent in every brushstroke, his control however is exquisite.
Boy, am I glad I issued that disclaimer at the beginning of this review! Seems my pen was dipped in the Warren of Chaos whilst writing this review. My advice to you is that Erikson's novels be read. His primary skill lies in his creation of character and his ability to keep all of the balls of his complex plot up in the air at the same time. His is a name that is gracing best-seller lists and his stories are well worth hearing.
Sana Master
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