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A review by wouterk
The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson
5.0
Another master piece of Erikson. One in which he ties the 5th novel Midnight Tides that takes place on a new third continent together with the stories on the other two continents from the first 4 novels. In this book the scale of convergence is thoroughly increasing. Not only are all sides recruiting, we also see a lot of powerful and heavy weight characters start moving across or changing continents, as Erikson works up to three large convergences in the current book while also laying the ground work for a convergence in Reaper's Gale (book 7), and undoubtedly getting some into place for the series finale. The fights that take place have increasingly high stakes, but also more powerful players, and more and more gods are increasingly intervening, meddling and playing chess with mortals as their pieces (or sometimes themselves).
As a side note, I read Esslemonts a Night of Knives before this book and it did increase my enjoyment especially in the later parts of the book.
I will not go into spoilers but it is safe to say that this book has a bunch of gods, ascendants and loads of Malazan army. Shining moments for our old bridgeburners, Kalam, Quick Ben and Fiddler. There is battles with armies, with elder magic, with d'ivers and the ohter Deragoth make an appearance (yes the dark doggies). As we know Erikson, there is amazing action, as well as a lot of great character work focusing on how the world changes and how the upcoming conflict is moving closer and how that influences and forces many different characters and has them develop and grow...or die...Needless to say, I was hyped, I laughed, I cried and was inspired to reflect on different aspects of life and society.
What works so well about this book is that as the series progresses, Erikson increasingly makes the reader feel pain, disgust and grief with the massacre and casualties (both in terms of loved ones as in the loss of innoncence and peace) of war, while simultaneous has you steadily love all these flawed characters on both sides. They, in turn, are plunged (sometimes logically, sometimes by suprise) in war and conflict and it really makes you fear for them, and indeed feel compassion with them, usually on all sides of a conflict. A great example in this book is the impact that the battle at Y'Ghatan has, evoking so many emotions from the pages.
All the moving pieces as well as us following the fourteenth Malazan army (with a bunch of soldiers to follow) make this a book with an incredible amount of perspectives, but easier to follow than for example Gardens of the Moon. Still having had this book as a slow burn, I had to look up some characters sometimes.
What I keep loving about Erikson's way of following the army is the amount of attention he spends on the soldiers life and how it is mostly, waiting and coping with boredom, tension and struggling with morale. These soldiers give shape to this in a consistent mix of humour, fear, aggression and seriousness. It is written very captivating.
Another great thing that Erikson shows us in following the 14th is the great diversity in the army. He even has a wonderful chapter in which he shows us the experienced faiths as dreamed by a group of soldiers who run into trouble.
And so Erikson seems to contrast to us reality with religion, the latter being somewhat equal to dreaming. As does he contrast harsh witnessing of Karsa Orlongs physical prowess versus dreaming about gods and magical things and omens. And so is Leoman's practical approach contrasted to his soldiers zealotry regarding Sha'ik's Apocalypse.
With many conversations about religion as well as society Erikson does not pull his punches in his reflection. Here I provide some quotes, which in their isolatedness would not present spoilers in my opinion.
"The existence of many gods conveys the true complexity of mortal life. Conversly, the assertion of but one god leads to a denial of complexity, and encourages the need to make the world simple. Not the fault of the god, but a crime committed by its believers."
"show me a god that does not demand mortal suffering. Show me a god that celebrates diversity, that embraces even non-believers and is not threatened by them. Show me a god that knows the meaning of peace. In life, not death."
In other conversations Erikson emphasizes that civilization goes hand in hand with technological advancement, but not necessarily with moral advancement. Similarly one of the story lines emphasizes the destructive attraction and power of gluttony and hedonism which is of course one of the problems that more developed societies struggle with. And as icing on the cake one of the characters in the book tells us a story about how leaders of countries usually choose the wrong enemy (other nations rather than threats to the environment and welfare of their nation).
All in all, love this book and looking forward to start Reaper's Gale!
As a side note, I read Esslemonts a Night of Knives before this book and it did increase my enjoyment especially in the later parts of the book.
I will not go into spoilers but it is safe to say that this book has a bunch of gods, ascendants and loads of Malazan army. Shining moments for our old bridgeburners, Kalam, Quick Ben and Fiddler. There is battles with armies, with elder magic, with d'ivers and the ohter Deragoth make an appearance (yes the dark doggies). As we know Erikson, there is amazing action, as well as a lot of great character work focusing on how the world changes and how the upcoming conflict is moving closer and how that influences and forces many different characters and has them develop and grow...or die...Needless to say, I was hyped, I laughed, I cried and was inspired to reflect on different aspects of life and society.
What works so well about this book is that as the series progresses, Erikson increasingly makes the reader feel pain, disgust and grief with the massacre and casualties (both in terms of loved ones as in the loss of innoncence and peace) of war, while simultaneous has you steadily love all these flawed characters on both sides. They, in turn, are plunged (sometimes logically, sometimes by suprise) in war and conflict and it really makes you fear for them, and indeed feel compassion with them, usually on all sides of a conflict. A great example in this book is the impact that the battle at Y'Ghatan has, evoking so many emotions from the pages.
All the moving pieces as well as us following the fourteenth Malazan army (with a bunch of soldiers to follow) make this a book with an incredible amount of perspectives, but easier to follow than for example Gardens of the Moon. Still having had this book as a slow burn, I had to look up some characters sometimes.
What I keep loving about Erikson's way of following the army is the amount of attention he spends on the soldiers life and how it is mostly, waiting and coping with boredom, tension and struggling with morale. These soldiers give shape to this in a consistent mix of humour, fear, aggression and seriousness. It is written very captivating.
Another great thing that Erikson shows us in following the 14th is the great diversity in the army. He even has a wonderful chapter in which he shows us the experienced faiths as dreamed by a group of soldiers who run into trouble.
And so Erikson seems to contrast to us reality with religion, the latter being somewhat equal to dreaming. As does he contrast harsh witnessing of Karsa Orlongs physical prowess versus dreaming about gods and magical things and omens. And so is Leoman's practical approach contrasted to his soldiers zealotry regarding Sha'ik's Apocalypse.
With many conversations about religion as well as society Erikson does not pull his punches in his reflection. Here I provide some quotes, which in their isolatedness would not present spoilers in my opinion.
"The existence of many gods conveys the true complexity of mortal life. Conversly, the assertion of but one god leads to a denial of complexity, and encourages the need to make the world simple. Not the fault of the god, but a crime committed by its believers."
"show me a god that does not demand mortal suffering. Show me a god that celebrates diversity, that embraces even non-believers and is not threatened by them. Show me a god that knows the meaning of peace. In life, not death."
In other conversations Erikson emphasizes that civilization goes hand in hand with technological advancement, but not necessarily with moral advancement. Similarly one of the story lines emphasizes the destructive attraction and power of gluttony and hedonism which is of course one of the problems that more developed societies struggle with. And as icing on the cake one of the characters in the book tells us a story about how leaders of countries usually choose the wrong enemy (other nations rather than threats to the environment and welfare of their nation).
All in all, love this book and looking forward to start Reaper's Gale!