Blood Follows [Special Limited Edition] (Paperback)

The story includes a pair of characters from his latest book "Memories of Ice", Korbal Broach and Buchelian. Anyone who is familiar with the characters will certainly start imagining what they could be up to but with a twist in the tail the ending, in classic Erikson tradition, may surprise. In the wayward city of Lamentable Moll, a murderer stalks the streets and it is the job of sergeant Guld to see justice done. A tale which runs at breakneck pace it is surprisingly complex despite its length but dissapointingly becomes a little confusing at the finale.

The story is brief but still manages to flesh out an impressive array of characters adding greater depth to those we have met before. Including the origins of Emancipor Resse, the hapless man servant it may even cause you to crack a smile. A reasonable read and ideal as an introduction to Eriksons world of magic and mystery but still cannot compare to his epic, "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series. Well worth a read and a exciting diversion whilst waiting for "House of Chains" to be finished it is a limited edition print so may not be around forever.

Those familiar with the Malazan series will remember these dubious - but, in true Erikson fashion, rather likeable - characters from Memories of Ice (the third book in the Malazan series), where they played an important part in the plot.

In this rather slight story, Erikson recounts the first meeting of Buchelain & Broach with their new manservant, Emancipor Reese. This takes place in the city of Lamentable Moll, plagued by a recent outbreak of vicious murders. Indeed, Reese's own employer of the day is found dead one day, prompting him (in a rather drunken mood) to stumble into the service of his new masters.

So far, so good. But in fact,this novella is not very arresting. Erikson's style here is rather loose; there is little cohesion in what is, ultimately, a rather limp tale. Worse, at the end - as if realising the weakness of the real story - Erikson suddenly mixes in a series of vague innuendos, adding an abrupt hoste of characters that makes little or no sense to the plot.

All in all, Blood Follows is worthwhile if you happen to be a real Erikson fan and don't mind forking out rather a lot of money for a, erhm, quicky. Everyone else, though, would do well to stick with the series proper.

Two of the most "dubious", though much loved, characters in any fantasy series.

Decidedly dangerous, if not down right deadly, of few (if any) morals and not adverse to the odd bit of necromancy, bodysnatching and murder on a scale to make Jack-the-Ripper look positively amateurish.

It's a love and hate relationship on a par with that of themselves and their long suffering servant Emancipator Reece.

In this great novella we discover just how poor old "mancy" ends up with the Terrible Two and witness, once again, the trials and tribulations of being two of the most "unwanted" men in Eriksons world.

Great read, great author.... Erikson fans should buy this as a "must have".