A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

Acclaim for Steven Erikson's
The Malazan Book of the Fallen:
    'Steven Erikson is an extraordinary writer . . . My advice to
anyone who might listen to me is: treat yourself'
Stephen R. Donaldson
    'Give me the evocation of a rich, complex and yet ultimately
unknowable other world, with a compelling suggestion of
intricate history and mythology and lore. Give me mystery
amid the grand narrative . . . Give me a world in which every
sea hides a crumbled Atlantis, every ruin has a tale to tell,
every broken blade is a silent legacy of struggles unknown.
Give me in other words, the fantasy work of Steven
Erikson . . . a master of lost and forgotten epochs, a weaver of
ancient epics' Salon.com
    'I stand slack-jawed in awe of The Malazan Book of the Fallen .
This masterwork of the imagination may be the high watermark
of epic fantasy' Glen Cook
    'Truly epic in scope, Erikson has no peer when it comes to
action and imagination, and joins the ranks of Tolkien and
Donaldson in his mythic vision and perhaps then goes one
better' SF Site
    'Rare is the writer who so fluidly combines a sense of mythic
power and depth of world with fully realized characters and
thrilling action, but Steven Erikson manages it spectacularly'
Michael A. Stackpole
    'Like the archaeologist that he is, Erikson continues to delve
into the history and ruins of the Malazan Empire, in the
process revealing unforeseen riches and annals that defy
expectation . . . This is true myth in the making, a drawing
upon fantasy to recreate histories and legends as rich as any
found within our culture' Interzone
    'Gripping, fast-moving, delightfully dark . . . Erikson brings a
punchy, mesmerizing writing style into the genre of epic
fantasy, making an indelible impression. Utterly engrossing'
Elizabeth Hayden
    'Everything we have come to expect from this most excellent
of fantasy writers; huge in scope, vast in implication and
immensely, utterly entertaining' alienonline
    'One of the most promising new writers of the past few years,
he has more than proved his right to A-list status' Bookseller
    'Erikson's strengths are his grown-up characters and his ability
to create a world every bit as intricate and messy as our own'
J. V. Jones
    'An author who never disappoints on delivering stunning and
hard-edged fantasy is Steven Erikson . . . a master of modern
fantasy' WBQ magazine
    'Wondrous voyages, demons and gods abound . . . dense and
complex . . . ultimately rewarding' Locus
    'Erikson . . . is able to create a world that is both absorbing on
a human level and full of magical sublimity . . . A wonderfully
grand conception . . . splendidly written . . . fiendishly
readable' Adam Roberts
    'A multi-layered tale of magic and war, loyalty and betrayal.
Complexly drawn characters occupy a richly detailed world in
this panoramic saga' Library Journal
    'Epic in every sense of the word . . . Erikson shows a masterful
control of an immense plot . . . the worlds of mortals and gods
meet in what is a truly awe-inspiring clash' Enigma
    'Erikson's novels have fast been redefining the definition of
'epic' . . . these novels are some of the most ambitious and
imaginative works of fantasy of recent years' Interzone
    'Nobody does it better than Erikson . . . a fantastic addition to
the best fantasy series around' SFFWorld

By Steven Erikson
    GARDENS OF THE MOON
DEADHOUSE GATES
MEMORIES OF ICE
HOUSE OF CHAINS
MIDNIGHT TIDES
THE BONEHUNTERS
REAPER'S GALE
    published by Bantam Books
    TOLL THE HOUNDS
    Soon to be published by Bantam Press
    Also by Steven Erikson
    BLOOD FOLLOWS
THE HEALTHY DEAD
THE DEVIL DELIVERED
FISHIN' WITH GRANDMA MATCHIE

Reaper's Gale
    A Tale of the
Malazan Book of the Fallen
    STEVEN ERIKSON

To Glen Cook

Acknowledgements
    Thank you to my advance readers: Rick, Chris,
Mark, Bill, Hazel and Bowen. Thanks also to the
folks at Black Stilt Cafe, Ambiente Cafe and Cafe
Teatro in Victoria for the table, the coffees and
AC access. And for all the other support that
keeps me afloat, thanks to Clare, Simon at
Transworld, Howard and Patrick, the scary mob at
Malazanempire.com, David and Anne, Peter and
Nicky Crowther.



DRAMATIS PERSONAE
    THE LETHERII
    Tehol Beddict , a destitute resident
    Bugg , Tehol's manservant
    Shurq Elalle , an itinerant pirate
    Skorgen Kaban , Shurq's First Mate
    Ublala Pung , an unemployed Tarthenal half-blood
    Ormly , a member of the Rat Catchers' Guild
    Rucket , Chief Investigator of the Rat Catchers' Guild
    Karos Invictad , Invigilator of the