A Malazan Pitch to New Readers

A brief interlude between Malazan review videos, here I chat about the aura around the series and try to break it down for potential new readers.
And I hope to convince you to not be too intimidated by these big chonkers.

Other Malazan videos:

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We have a new discord with some fellow Booktubers of the Class of '23:

[BrianBell]

this is the best video I've seen all week. I say the same thing... "bullshit. it is not too difficult or scary." I'm only just starting book 3, but you nail it here. I have no idea why people get so freaked out about the thought of reading it. Same with Book of The New Sun. They are just fiction books, not theoretical physics graduate degree textbooks... I hope people listen to you on this.

[miguelsan]

Five books in? You are in for a treat. I picked up Dust of Dreams for a re-read yesterday, and I am all "what did just happen?" every time I finish a chapter.
It's crazy how stuff keeps ramping up.

[EricMcLuen]

Red Fury recently did a video on picking up Memories of Ice after tapping out and it became a favorite read.
People can get bogged down taking notes, filling out spreadsheets, etc. and making it homework.
There are a lot of characters and sometimes they are in just a few scenes.
Are they important to the overall story? Maybe but they have a place. You even get the pov of cow.
But it does make you very happy when you pick up on a call back from three books ago.

[Scotty-BK]

Carlos, you nailed it. My experience with Malazan (in the early pages of book 4 now) is that it epic, funny, poignant and unlike anything I have read before. Your comment on context seems like the exact thing that needs to be shared with potential readers. Yes, there are times where you may be confused, but just hold on for the ride. Erickson will take you on some zigs and zags, but will get you there. Definitely will share this with any potential readers of the series.

[thatsci-firogue]

A great video on a topic I've grown tired of talking about. Yes it has its challenges but from my experience the difficulty was overblown. If the reader trusts themselves they'll understand more than they think they will.

[MILOPETIT]

I had no idea the Molasses lore was that deep

[ROLO]

Liked your video Carlos, I have toyed with the idea of starting Malazan but you have convinced me to give it a go.

[Rogue_VI]

Good stuff, Carlos. Is Malazan complex? Yes. Is it unapproachable? Nope.

[bcfortenberry]

If you enjoy figuring things out through context, it’ll be your favorite thing ever.

Great stuff- but it’s less user friendly than most modern fantasy. Worth the effort.

[alarelius]

Like we always say-Erikson respects you as a reader. He doesn't hold your hand, he just pops you right into the action and lets you put the pieces together. I understand why some people find that frustrating, but for some of us it's PEAK

[chokog]

I agree 💯! This is by far my favorite more serious series, Ever!

[akhiltrc]

Erikson doesn't take a definitive stance with any particular ideology, political system, belief, religion, scientific methods, etc. There is no hard and fast rule or finger wagging message about his personal beliefs he pushes through these books.

The ONLY thing he is adamant about is that we need to show each other more Compassion.

[Majesticon]

I'm surprised people find this difficult. I read the first 30 pages or so and it was fine? It wasn't like reading something dense like Pynchon or Delany or even something like Annihilation..just a regular book!

[noneofyourbusiness]

"What is Malazan about?"
The best I could come up with, without spoiling anything, is: "The experiences of powerful and mundane people in a sprawling fantasy world, which are connected via broader themes."
... which really does not tell you anything at all. xD

[nazimelmardi]

It starts hard on definitive answers... or isn’t? Maybe. Probably. Any variations between yes and no. Chat GPT is frozen. 😂

[davidlyons]

At last someone who understands. Sick of people whining it’s too hard/compicated. 🙄

[Henry-jpmc]

2 books in and I tapped out. Malazan is a good story badly written.

[mitch]

As a potential new Malazan reader this pitch really speaks to me

[jadapandy]

New member to your channel. I've tried Gardens of the Moon two or three times since it first came out in late 90's. Could never get halfway through before I gave up, despite decades of reading epic AND pulp and mainstream fantasy.
Literally just bought first 3 books and 10th book at a local bookstore.
I'm ex-military, and love high fantasy with mercs and military -driven fantasy.
I'm going in with hopefully a new mindset, thanks to YouTube channels like yours.
Appreciate what you do.

[AndreDeSimone-dycz]

Starting the series in December, I'll keep this video saved, but nice to see your initial thoughts that the "difficulty" is overblown