u/Aeroplen

Finished Midnight Tides this week. Wow. I keep wondering how Erikson could top what he’s already done, then he does it again. I’ve learned to trust the character shifts and new narratives and this is my favorite turn yet! I’m almost disappointed to go back to the Malazans in Bonehunters, never imagined I’d say that. I hope I get more Edur, Letherii, and Crimson Guard.

Even before going into it I’d heard Letheras was a good commentary on modern culture, and I agree, but I think the juxtaposition of Letheras and the Edur is what makes it so powerful. At first glance the Edur are tribal traditionalist at odds with the Letherii manifest destiny, but as the book progressed they proved themselves so similar. Both cultures are built on noble lies about themselves. And as they become more similar I notice the commentary feels more to be against the gears of war and the force of societal expectations against the mercy and honor of individuals. About the way we lose something when we become so preoccupied in building the story of what makes “us” better than “them.” And the way the massive scale of imperial war alienates us from even the few surviving virtues of honorable combat. None of these philosophical narratives would land without the intimacy of each character. Trull is far and away my favorite character yet, his anxieties about his changing society posed against his love for his family and desire to do his duty is so poignant. I can’t stop thinking of him crying after one of the battles with Lilac’s hand on his shoulder.

Seren Pedac made me cry, multiple times, I don’t have high hopes for happy endings around here but I do hope she and Trull meet again. Easily my favorite female character Erikson has written. There’s been a lot of violence against women in this series, which is an understandable part of war, but I don’t love seeing it. In my opinion this was his best confrontation yet with the inner world of a woman suffering that violence, I really respect the way he wrote her.

And Tehol and Bugg, I can’t put words to it, so precious, comedic, and simultaneously such a valuable part of the portrait the whole story is painting.

When I started Malazan I was worried the grimdark would be too dark for me, I rarely enjoy darkness for its own sake. I’ve seen enough tough shit in life I don’t like to dwell on it in fiction. What’s surprised me about this series is how healing I’ve found it. There are so many moments of compassion, mercy, and beauty, and seeing them shine in spite of all the moments of grief is inspiring. It’s such a raw and honest confrontation with how the scope of history makes us feel powerless… yet Erikson continuously reminds us of the value of our individual agency in the midst of it.

I have all these friends reading shallow works like A Court of Thorns and Roses and I’m trying to explain to them why I’m crying over an Elder god choosing to be a manservant. Thank you for being my bookclub Malazan Reddit. I’m glad there’s other humans in the world with patience for stories like these. I can’t wait to start Bonehunters and be astounded yet again.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this scene all day.

“When I began this journey, I was young. I believed in one thing. I believed in glory. I know now, ‘Siballe, that glory is nothing. Nothing. This is what I now understand.”

“What else do you now understand, Karsa Orlong?”

“Not much. Just one other thing. The same cannot be said for mercy.”

I expect there’s more to come, but the arc that Karsa went through in this book is incredible, and makes his reflection here so powerful. Meanwhile, the way you can compare and contrast with all the other threads of story: the rage of the Whirlwind, the tragic duty of Tavore, the humanization of Cotillion…

I was also surprised by how smoothly mercy fit beside the poetic justice of the Malazan and Wickan ghosts/ascendants against the betrayals of Korbolo Dom and the Dogslayers. There is a subtly to where and how mercy should be applied. I certainly didn’t want it for Bidithal.

But the intensely personal journey Karsa went on in his relationship with his “gods” made that moment so powerful. He had every reason not to show mercy, and yet if anyone had the authority for the act, it felt like he did. I’m very excited to see how his character progresses.

All I can say is… that was a banger.

I finished listening to the full cast audiobooks, then watched HBP and DH 1 & 2 and I gotta say, the movies are not kind to Dumbledore.

I’m not trying to say that Rowling doesn’t complicate Dumbledore a bit in Deathly Hallows, but to me it reads more as growing up and realizing your heroes aren’t perfect. The man made mistakes, and yet I see a lot of good in him still.

Film Dumbledore seems cold, I don’t know how to say it. He’s so distant and demanding of Harry in Half Blood Prince, he doesn’t explain everything in the books but he’s a hell of a lot more understanding and empathetic than in the movies. And then in the Deathly Hallows movies, it doesn’t feel like they go to any effort to redeem Dumbledore. If anything, they seem to lean deeply into him being conniving and failing Harry. Ron starts making accusations against Harry and Dumbledore before he even starts wearing the locket (classic film Ron bashing).

It’s disappointing, I think Rowling did a good job of portraying a complex Dumbledore who was doing his best. While the movies dropped the ball yet again…