Dust of Dreams (Book 9 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen) [Hardcover]

Dust of Dreams is the penultimate novel of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Steven Erikson's immense ten-volume saga chronicling the story of the Malazan Empire and its legions and the peoples and tribes it comes into contact with. More accurately, Dust of Dreams is also the first half of an immense 1,800-plus-page single novel, to be completed by The Crippled God when it follows (hopefully) next year. This, then, is the beginning of the end and the start of the final act of this immense series, certainly the most ambitious work of epic fantasy ever attempted.

Reviewing the ninth of a ten-book series feels slightly redundant. By now, people know if Erikson is for them or not. As a result, this review will likely be of most interest to those readers who perhaps felt that the series' second half has been more disappointing than its initial half, with the acceleration of the expansion of the cast of characters, concepts, races and forms of magic reaching an increasingly convoluted and over-complex pace. It is hard to argue with this, and the fact is that Dust of Dreams introduces yet many more new characters, ideas, forms of magic and concepts. Whilst it is certainly the case that we get some long-standing mysteries resolved in this book - like why exactly Tavore had to break with the Malazans and bring her army to the far side of the planet - other mysteries are left unaddressed or even further complicated by events. If Erikson takes the literally hundreds of questions left dangling by the series and answers them satisfyingly in the final book of the series I will be surprised, but I have a nagging feeling that an awful lot of stuff is going to be left for the already-promised nine additional Malazan books that Erikson (and four more from his co-writer Ian Esslemont) has been contracted for.

Dust of Dreams is certainly far more proactive in plot than the largely static and introspective Toll the Hounds, and returns to the format of many of the earlier books in the series: a lot of set-up and ponderous navel-gazing punctuated by some humour followed by a convergence of forces, usually in a massive battle sequence. The humour is great (although Tehol, one of Erikson's more reliable sources of comic relief, is actually severely annoying in this novel) and the characters in the Malazan army and occupied Letheras are mostly well-drawn, but the traditional problems of having tons of pretty identical 'salt of the earth' Malazan soliders with stupid names who can debate morality and political theory at the drop of the hat remains intact. Erikson's characterisation is also suspiciously transparent here: many of these soldiers, established not just here but in The Bonehunters, Reaper's Gale and House of Chains as well, seem to have scenes just so we feel sympathy for them later on when they are killed (or at least their fates are left hanging). For some of the characters this works, but for most it doesn't.

On the prose style, Erikson's writing ability remains impressive but is often mis-aimed: a lengthy five-page debate on morality between two characters often seems to end in the stunning realisation that it's wrong to use civilian shields in warfare, or unrestrained capitalism and the exploitation of poorer nations through trade is as bad in its own way as slavery and colonialism. Stunning insights into the human condition, these are most definitely not. As a result progress through the novel can feel like wading through treacle until the story actually gets moving again.

At the same time, Erikson still has an almost-unmatched ability to bring together subplots and characters in interesting combinations, moreso in Dust of Dreams as more of the puzzle of the entire series is unveiled and we begin to get a sense that most of those annoying minor elements that played virtually no constructive roles in previous books - such as Icarium and his machine, the Eres, the Shake, a certain journey through the Imperial Warren, Stormy and Gesler's long-ago transformation and the endless emo Tiste Andii moping around - are all vital pieces of the puzzle. The sheer breadth of Erikson's imagination, the scope of his world and the ambition of his story remains staggering and genuinely impressive, although arguably the weight of that narrative is so heavy that the author struggles in places to get his vision across.

Events culminate in a battle sequence that redefines the meaning of the word 'epic'. This series has had its share of massive engagements, from the Chain of Dogs through the Siege of Capustation and the Battle of Y'Ghatan through to the Bonehunters' rampage across the Letherii Empire, but what happens at the end of Dust of Dreams and the forces brought to bear eclipse everything that has come before combined. The novel ends on a colossal cliffhanger - for the first and last time in the series - with the immediate threat apparently receding but with the tally of the survivors incomplete. The fates of literally dozens of named characters are left hanging in the balance until the final book arrives, hopefully next year.

Dust of Dreams (****) is a typical latter-period Malazan novel, by turns infuriating and impressive, turgid and lyrical, slow and immensely action-packed. It's a stronger book than The Bonehunters and Toll the Hounds, possibly Reaper's Gale as well, and leaves the reader wanting more, which in the final analysis is a good thing, but there remains the nagging feeling that if Erikson could cut to the chase a bit more, the series would not only be shorter but also considerably stronger. Still, a bit late in the day to worry about that now. The book is available now in the UK and will be published in the USA on 19 January 2010.

The book begins with a note from Erikson, apologising for the fact that this is the first half of one mammoth final novel. No apology should be needed; the writer is clearly taking his time to finish the series in a satisfying way, and it shows.

True to form, Erikson continues to add new characters even at this late stage, including the tragic orphans of the Snake and several Kechain Che'Malle agents. While not as interesting, perhaps, as the existing cast, their inclusion seems unforced and, particularly in the latter case, necessary.

For me, though, it's all about the remnants of Tavore's army as they begin their last march. The soldiery is as well drawn as ever, and you get a sense of foreboding as you sense that many of them will not complete the journey.

In fact, the book ends on one hell of a cliffhanger, with many characters' fates unknown. The final chapter in this epic saga cannot come quickly enough.

'Dust of Dreams' is the ninth book in Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' saga.

After 'Toll the Hounds' (TtH) I'd serious doubts whether one of my favorite fantasy/adventure authors had lost his touch. That particular book I found filled with philosophical musings that I had trouble following, almost to the point that I had trouble maintaining my interest. Some concerns regarding TtH were rekindled after reading the Prologue for this latest book, but those fears were soon laid to rest once I began the actual novel. Somewhere between book 8 and this volume Erikson's seems to have re-found his story telling mastery. The story told here was easy to follow and made sense; I didn't have to almost 'study' and decipher the text I did with 'Toll the Hounds'.

Again, as with all other novel in the Malazan series, this book begins with glimpses of several different characters and their stories; small snippets of tales that begin to draw together as you get deeper into the story. We are also reacquainted with several Malazan regulars, such as Quick Ben, Fiddler, Adjunct Tavore, Tehol and Bugg to name a few. As well, there are many others characters, both old and new.

There is, for those who care, an adequate map of the Lether Empire, where most action in this novel takes place.

My only wish for this book, (and previous installment of this series as well) would have been a slight change in the way the extensive list of characters and their affiliation (Dramatis Personae) found in the front of this book, was presented. It would have made it so much easier if the names within different groups or sects had been listed in alphabetical form. As it was, I spent a lot of time looking through the Dramatis Personae, for characters whose name were randomly place among an extensive lists of all the people who populated this book. However this is a minor complaint in an otherwise wonderful addition to the Malazan books.

Conclusion:

YES!...Steven Erikson IS back. This latest Malazan book has returned to the style that all of us (the Malazan fantasy faithful) have gotten to know and expect from previous novels prior to 'Toll the Hounds'. This book and the last (book 10), 'The Crippled God' are, according to the author's note, apparently linked. I can hardly wait for the final installment.
5 Stars.

Ray Nicholson