Intro
I recently finished the fantastic epic fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. I found the series to be profoundly brilliant with many heavy philosophical themes to chew on. I found myself pondering the many topics of the series long after finishing. The series has everything an epic fantasy needs, epic battles both military and one-on-one. A crap ton of magic, dragons, and other magical creatures. Rich and interesting lore, along with some of the best characters ever to be put on the page, not just in fantasy, but in general.
The series is so dense it invites repeat reading. The more you explore and dig into the work the richer it becomes. It is not always easy, but it’s definitely rewarding. Every single scene is important, every single word is chosen with great care and Erikson’s great pros bring the world to life in ways you won’t find elsewhere in fantasy.
The books are so dense and have over time garnered quite a reputation for being difficult to read, but is this true?
This post is going to be about the conceptions and misconceptions regarding the Malazan Book of the Fallen so that you can make an estimation on whether or not you want to read it. I searched the internet and asked chatGBT about some of the things to be aware of before reading the series and I have gathered a few points which I will be answering NOW.
Analysis
Misconception #1: “The Introduction is Too Confusing”
The first book in the series Gardens of the Moon drops you right into an epic battle and siege on a city called Pale. You are not given any introduction about anything at all. There are multiple characters, and you don’t know why they are important or if they are even important. There are so many things going on it can be hard to get a grasp on what is happening.
It would be akin to being dropped into the middle of The Two Towers when the orcs attack helms deep. Just imagine that as your first exposure to Lord of the Rings. Who is Aragon? Why are the elf and dwarf comparing kills? What is an orc? Why are two hobbits talking to a tree? What even is a hobbit? Oh here comes Galdalf.. Who? It would be madness, but if you just keep reading things would begin to fall into place even without knowing the full backstory.
The series drops you right into the middle of the action. There is a crap tone of lore and history before the starting event, and you are only getting fed little information at a time over a long period of time.
While it’s easy to feel lost in the beginning, Erikson’s decision to start in the middle of the action is a deliberate choice. It mirrors the world’s complex and ever-changing nature. The key is patience—the more you read, the clearer everything becomes, and suddenly, you’re no longer wondering who that mysterious character is or what the stakes are. You start to see the grand picture unfold.
Misconception #2: “There Are Too Many Characters and I Don’t Get It”
One of the biggest challenges with Malazan is the overwhelming number of characters. With so much backstory, so many moving pieces, and a massive cast, it’s easy to feel lost. Characters you might think are important sometimes die immediately, or simply disappear from the narrative. Others, who seem like minor side characters, turn out to be key players down the line. Trying to keep track of all these characters—and their secretive motives—can make the dialogue tough to follow.
Imagine two characters talking about past events you don’t know about, discussing future plans you haven’t even been introduced to yet. And because so many characters are keeping secrets from each other (and the reader), it can feel impossible to figure out what’s really going on or predict where the plot is heading. The sheer complexity of the characters and their intertwining storylines can be incredibly difficult to follow, especially early on.
But here’s the thing: Malazan explores so many themes—military ethics, economics, death, history, and beyond. It tackles every topic you can imagine, often through complex dialogue between its vast cast. And while this makes for incredibly rich, multifaceted storytelling, it also means that sometimes you’ll find yourself reading about a topic that doesn’t immediately grab your attention. The series requires patience, and there will be moments where you have to push through, trusting that the pieces will eventually fit together.
The key is to keep reading. Don’t expect to get everything on your first pass through the books. Many of the characters in the series are incredibly well-crafted and worth investing in—even if you don’t always understand their full significance at first.
However, one aspect of the series that can be particularly frustrating is how the books span multiple continents, introducing new casts and plotlines. Just when you start to get attached to a set of characters, the next book might take you somewhere completely different with a fresh set of faces. For instance, Midnight Tides (Book 5) takes place before the events of the first book and introduces a whole new cast. Personally, I was frustrated when I reached Reaper’s Gale (Book 7), where yet another new group of characters emerged. It can be tough to stay invested when you’re constantly jumping to new characters and stories, especially when you’re itching to see what happens to your favorites.
Misconception #3: “I Need Everything Explained to Me Right Away”
One of the most striking features of Malazan is Erikson’s approach to exposition. Unlike some fantasy series, he doesn’t hold your hand or give you long explanations to help you catch up. Instead, he leads you along with subtle breadcrumbs, providing just enough information to keep you moving forward. This means the series doesn’t give you all the answers upfront. For example, if you want to know what a “Warrant” is or how someone becomes ascendant, you won’t find out right away. It’s a slow burn, but if you trust the process and keep reading, eventually everything will start to make sense.
If you’re a reader who needs immediate understanding and hates feeling lost, this might be frustrating. But if you can set that need aside and go with the flow, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most intricate and satisfying fantasy series out there. Erikson is incredibly skilled at catching the reader up if something important was established in earlier books. So while it can feel disorienting at first, it’s not as punishing as it might seem.
Another layer of complexity Erikson adds to the mix is the use of unreliable narrators. The series has numerous points of view, and some characters may intentionally mislead you, while others simply get the facts wrong. We’re used to assuming that when a character tells us something, it’s either right or wrong—but in Malazan, characters may interpret events in vastly different ways, leading to confusion about the larger narrative. This can be a source of frustration, especially when you piece together an event one way, only for new information to shift your understanding later.
While this doesn’t happen constantly, it’s something to keep in mind: don’t trust anybody completely. Your perception of the story will evolve as more pieces fall into place.
Misconception #4: “The Writing Is Hard to Understand”
Erikson’s writing is incredibly detailed and immersive, drawing heavily from his experience as an archaeologist. He paints a vivid picture of a vast, sweeping world filled with rich history, mysteries, and intricacies. Every scene feels purposeful, and he masterfully uses adjectives to enhance the atmosphere without overwhelming the reader. Nothing is superfluous—each detail serves the greater narrative.
It’s important to note that when people say Malazan is difficult to understand, this doesn’t mean the prose itself is hard to follow. Sure, there are a lot of fantasy names—characters, cities, places, continents—but the book is written in straightforward English. It’s not written in archaic or overly complex language, so you can definitely understand it. The challenge comes not from the difficulty of the words, but from the immense complexity of the world and the story Erikson is weaving.
Another area where Erikson shines is in his action scenes. He’s a master of combat and battle sequences, writing them with a visceral intensity that pulls you right into the chaos. Whether it’s a large-scale military clash or a one-on-one fight, Erikson’s action scenes are some of the best in fantasy, adding another layer of excitement to this already complex world.
Misconception #5: “The Books Are Too Long and a Drag”
While the perception that Malazan is a “slug” to get through is subjective (it depends on your reading style), it’s true that the books are long—most of them are around 1,200 pages, with the first book at around 600 pages. This length can make it a bit overwhelming at times.
If you try to binge-read the series, you’ll likely burn out. I know I did. After finishing Gardens of the Moon, I jumped straight into Deadhouse Gates, but I got halfway through before feeling completely drained. The book then sat on my shelf for a year before I picked it up again. From there, I made sure to take breaks between books, sometimes lasting several months. It took me about three years to finish the entire series, and that’s totally okay. The Malazan books are so dense and packed with detail that they require time to digest properly.
I recommend taking breaks between books. The length of your break is up to you, but the key is to give yourself space to absorb everything. It’s perfectly fine to pace yourself—don’t feel like you need to rush through it. The experience will be much more enjoyable if you let it unfold at your own pace.
Conclusion
Malazan is difficult to read—not for the reasons you might expect. It’s difficult because it asks a lot from you. The series demands your full attention and focus. Yes, the books are long and dense, but on the other side of that challenge is one of the greatest fantasy series ever written.
Much like life, the most difficult things often yield the greatest rewards. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, Malazan offers a deeply enriching experience that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.