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Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire
 
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Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire (Paperback)

by Ian Cameron Esslemont (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Press; Export ed edition (4 Jun 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0593057821
  • ISBN-13: 978-0593057827
  • Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,530,525 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description

It gave the Empire its name, but the tiny island and city of Malaz is now a sleepy, seedy backwater port. However, this night things are a little different. This night its residents are bustling about, barring doors and shuttering windows. Because this night a once-in-a-generation Shadow Moon is due and threatens the good citizens of Malaz with demon hounds and other, darker, beings... And it was also prophesied that on this night the Emperor Kellanved, missing for all these years, would return. As factions within the greater Empire battle over the imperial throne, the Shadow Moon summons a far more alien and ancient presence for an all-out assault upon the island. Indeed, the cataclysmic events that happen this night will determine the fate of the Malaz and of the entire world beyond.

From the Publisher

The debut fantasy novel from the co-creator of the Steven Erikson's extraordinary Malazan Empire --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire
61% buy the item featured on this page:
Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire 3.6 out of 5 stars (25)
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Toll The Hounds (Book 8 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen) 3.2 out of 5 stars (36)
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Customer Reviews

25 Reviews
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2 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (25 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but, 12 Dec 2006
This review is from: Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire (Hardcover)
The good news is that this is definitely a book of the Malaz. Esslemont and Erikson are doing a good job of sharing their world. And we do get new pieces in the puzzle :)

The bad news is that Esslemont, while close to Erikson in style and narrative, does not have the same touch with his characters. Wry humour, witty exchanges or character motivation are lacking. I get the feeling that Esslemont should try and develop a bit of his own style, which does shine through in the passages at sea. Perhaps a collection of Malaz short stories?

It's not bad, trouble is that it is too close to Erikson while not being Erikson.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A good addon for the Malazan series, 13 May 2008
By L. W. Gulbrandsen "Wild Norseman" (Oslo, Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire (Malazan Empire 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
I've read all Erikson's Malazans book's so far, and find them to be among the best fantasy books out there at the moment.
The only drawback is keeping up with the complexity and scope of it all. Keeping places,time and people(especially people) apart is a chore if it's a long time between reading the book's, and that's a problem in this book aswell.
Although short in comparison to other Malazan books, and also somewhat confined in terms of places and people, Esslemont's Night of knives does expect you to be familiar with the Malazan universe. I would at least have read the first book of the series to get some understanding of things.

Other than that, this is an interesting sidestory to Eriksons main plot, also including characters we have met before. Fast paced and well written,
it kept me guessing at the outcome,(couldn't remember how things turned out from Erikson's books). An entertaining read, if not epic like the Malazan novels.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A good book that could have been really great, 10 Jun 2007
By Mr. Kevin Powell (South Wales GB) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Night of Knives: A Novel of the Malazan Empire (Hardcover)
Was this book just a copied idea sanctioned by the originator? Not at all! It turns out that the entire pantheon of the Malaz universe is a joint creation between two writers, Erikson and Esselmont.

So it's a book of which I expected much, but which unfortunately delivers something less. I wonder whether I would feel as disappointed if I have not read Eriksons books first. They are all superb! This inevitably colours any comparison between the two writers. But I agree with the other reviews. The pace is fast and furious and it's a lively read. I enjoyed it enough to know I'll read it again at a later date. But I'll reserve judgement on Esselmont as a writer until after another book in the series.

So why the disappointment? For a start, its far too short. It might only portray the events of a single night, but that is no excuse for lack of depth. Eriksons writing contains lots of interwoven threads; there are only really two in this creation, where there could have been several more. I cannot be more specific because that might spoil the read.

There are plot errors. The best example is in the way a character arrives and departs the novel: by sea, and with some Imperial clout. This is a device to introduce the reader, and some of the books characters, to the fact that something is happening at an Imperial level in the relative backwater of Malaz Island. This then drives the principle players forward. However, some of the other personae clearly arrive by magic, and when the seafarers identity is resolved, it's obvious that this individual has more than sufficient authority to have done the same. Then there is the matter of why Kellanved did not use the T'lan Imass for protection!

Finally. Should either author ever read this review (unlikely as it is!) I have a request. There's a better book waiting to be written to start the world of the Malazans explaining how Kellanved discovered the existence of the empty Throne of Shadow, and the means of possessing it. plus: how Surly took advantage, how the Claw destroyed the (better) Talon, the domination of the T'lan Imass by Kellanved, I could go on and on, and it would be such a fascinating read.....
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good effort
I'll be honest i did enjoy reading this book. However sometimes the writing feels rushed and not thought out. Read more
Published 8 months ago by L. Goff

2.0 out of 5 stars Not up to scratch
If it wasn't for Steven Erikson this might pass, but he has set the bar high for quality and depth and this book while almost getting there once or twice, fails overal. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A Johnson

4.0 out of 5 stars Night of knives
Bit more fast paced, less descriptive than his brother author Steven Erikson. As such comes across a bit less polished and more rudimentary than the Malazan book of the Fallen... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gary A. Allen

4.0 out of 5 stars Exceeded expectations
I confess that I came to this book expected to be disappointed. I've become a huge fan of Erikson and the world of his Malazan series, and comparisons were inevitable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by John Upstone

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy addition to the series!
This is a great addition to the Malazan books. While Eriksons main books tumbles on towards a climax, we are given a glimpse into a lot of prior events. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Peter Thomsen

4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly good
The first time I picked up Night of Knives, I put it back down again within a few pages. But, being a fan of the Malazan books, I decided to give it another try, and I'm glad I... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Patrick Samphire

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a great start
I admire Esslemont for his part in the creation of the Malazan empire and I was pleased to see his first book set in this world arriving. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Iain Ormrod

4.0 out of 5 stars A great prequel to the Malazan series.
This is the very first of Esslemont's prequel Malazan novels, and here is a bi of the story.

This story tells how Kellanved and Dancer came about becoming the rulers... Read more
Published 17 months ago by B.K.Price

2.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy Erikson, think twice before buying,
Upfront I'll confess to being an unashamed fan of Erikson's writing and believe he is one of a small group of writers that have single handed resuscitated the Fantasy literature... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Andrew Antony Ewing

3.0 out of 5 stars Nah...
I bought this book because I'm a big fan of Erikson's writing. In spite of the somewhat lukewarm reviews it had had, I was hoping Night of Knives would be a fairly decent book,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Flemming Nielsen

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