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Toll the Hounds (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

Author: Steven Erikson
Publisher: Bantam Press
Category: Book

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

19 reviews
Sales Rank: 221

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 896
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.8
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.5 x 2.3

ISBN: 0593046374
EAN: 9780593046371
ASIN: 0593046374

Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New, UK Based & In Excellent Condition!!

Also Available In:

•	Paperback - Malazan Book of Fallen 8: Toll the Hounds

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Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

some good ... some bad August 21, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I have nothing but respect and admiration for Steven Erikson and his Malazan series but with this latest offering some flaws are becoming noticeable.

First the positives:

Erikson has ramped up the stylism of his prose for Toll the Hounds and it's very impressive. Although some reviewers have criticised this change I found that it allowed me to read through from first page to last and stay interested all the way through. This is in contrast with some of his earlier novels where I have to admit there were sections where the prose got very heavy/chunky and I tended to skim read a little.

The storytelling is once again on that convoluted and grand/epic scale we've come to expect where, for the most part, the victories and losses of the "dramatis personae" all feel earned rather than expected. Erikson keeps you guessing the various twists and turns until the very end and demonstrates yet again his mastery of ... I don't know how to describe it ... poignancy?

Now the negatives:

The pace of this novel is a little slow - on the very edge of being annoying.

I was disappointed at how diffuse the plot seemed to be. One of the most impressive things so far about the Malazan series is how Erikson has been able to write cohesive, effectively stand-alone epics for each installment whilst incorporating quite a few subplots that have tied together over multiple novels. I didn't think that this novel had the same level of cohesion. Essentially we have the Anomandaris storyline as the major plot (with Erikson's (brilliant) trademark gripping prologue, whose significance doesn't become clear until the very end, and then the bulk of the book is taken up by the convergence of various "major players" to Darujistan for the climax + a few sideplots in the city itself. The problem is that while the main plot and it's resolution is very well done, the plot climaxes for most of the rest of the cast seem .. well, a little anticlimactic, and their incorporation into the main story a little forced. Perhaps this is inevitable for so ambitious a series though. Hopefully Erikson can avoid the quagmires that other 10+ book series like the Wheel of Time and War of Light and Shadow series have fallen into.

The characterisation and dialogue of some of the familiar faces in Toll of Hounds left something to be desired. In particular Gothos, who sounded like a Bridgeburner marine to me; Clip (pre-Bastion), I don't remember him being so one dimensional and unlikeable in the last book; and most of all Lady Envy :( Lady Envy has been a character that I've been waiting, well years, to see again and when she does make an appearance I barely recognise her.

Erikson employs a new storytelling device in this book where Kruppe is introducing or commenting on some of the events, often philosophically. Unfortunately it comes off a little preachy, I hate to say it but sort of Terry Goodkind preachy.

Finally, and this is a criticism of the series as a whole, I think that Erikson might have bitten off more than he can chew by introducing so many Ascendants and Gods and superbeings. I don't know about everyone else but I have trouble putting them all in perspective or comparing them. The convergence of a few of them in the finale of this novel illustrated some of the problems. Having spent so long building the prowess of each one up it it seemed like Erikson ran into problems finding challenges appropriate for each. They were mostly unsatisfying.

All in all though this novel is far from being a deal breaker for the series ... enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars

Unbeatable August 10, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful

Firstly I will admit that this is not as good as earlier books in the series, Deadhouse Gates being by far the best in my own opinion. But the series has not faltered at all as some previous reviewers point out, its on equally as brilliant a level as always but some will always have their personal preferences about what is best (and also most people only seem to find or atleast admit that things are brilliant until they are older, why?)

I could go on and point out all the different things in this book which I do find brilliant but I am not going to do that, I simply wish to share the one thing that I find in Eriksons writing style which makes him by the far the most superior writer in this genre and indeed I would go as far as to say in any genere (I am not just making this statement I read anything from Akunin to Erikson, W. Smith to Tolkien or Tolstoy to Feist)

The way Erikson portrays his characters are unbelievable even "fringe" characters of which there are quite a few in this book you cant help but make an attachment too. Characters who spend anything from a page or a chapter in one of his books Erikson always portrays them so well as to leave you wanting to know more about them and hoping they do well and in most cases wanting them to live.

Thus Erikson always manages to stun me with the cruelty and harsh reality of life which is portrayed within his books. There is no great hero transcending all, with perfect virtues always knowing what is good and wishing to do it. Everyone is flawed, everyone is in someway not what you quite expect or want from them, in a fantasy book he has managed to hold a mirror up to life which i think is a fantastic acheivment.

This mirror is what makes his books most effective, very rarely can an author write so well that I am forced to put down a book in shock as I have to consider what has just been said. Erikson manages this with aplomb, who can forget the moment Coltaines army fell within view of Aren? With a full army watching as a coward holds them back.? Well in this book I find the same thing happening as *SPOILER HERE* Anomander Rake dies fighting traveller. Anomander is a hero in this book, flawed as all others but with a certain dark destiny and noble soul that you cant help but feel an attachment too, you can feel a sense of purpose about him. So when he died I was truly shocked and even saddened. This is what amkes Erikson a great author not just the sweeping story, the great characters but the fact that he is an author who can still effect you with his words.

His most recent books are not as good as the earlier ones, but they are still BRILLIANT and far better than anything else on offer out there. The day this series finishes will be a sad day indeed.

5 out of 5 stars

Toll the Hounds August 9, 2008
Throughout the series, questions have been raised that have never been answered. This book acts as a explaination to the previous novels and also introduces a range of new characters. It was a little slow to start but by the middle, it was a true Malazan epic.

2 out of 5 stars

Oh dear oh dear!!! August 8, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

This will be painful for some so let me start by saying that I am a big fan of the series despite one or two weak books in the series.I place the order and waited so anxiously for this book to arrive after I ordered it but I was very disapointed. There are some good bits in this book but it is nothing like Erikson at his best.In fact I feel this is the most annoying book in the series. It had the right mix of characters to have been the best book so far but instead of advancing the story Erikson chose to write about nothing for 800 pages. Even characters like Karsa, cotillion and Rake lost their edge and did nothing but talk. I didnt feel involved with them, even as the usual expected toll was literally presented to Hood at the end.I had high hopes for Moppo but he like rest of the book didnt get any where. Erikson has droped the ball but I hope he gets back to form for the last two books. But before he starts writing the next book, some body please get him some anti depressants or get him to see a shrink because his writing has become too gloomy and depressing.

2 out of 5 stars

400 pages too long August 8, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

Having read the previous seven books, and formed the opinion this was one of the best fantasy series ever written, it's rather upsetting to look back on the experience of reading 'Toll the Hounds' with such ill feeling. Many of the previous books are based around characters journeying, not only to reach a destination, but to find themselves (and a great deal of life) along the way. 'Toll the Hounds' has many of the same characters, simply traveling aimlessly, for hundreds of pages! By page 450 I was almost ready to give up hope that anything was 'actually going to happen Reg!'. Remember GOTM? And just how mind-bendingly awesome that book was? 500% content overload per paragraph! Remember 'Memories Of Ice'? The best of the series, so far. TTH (tbh) pales in comparison. New, powerful characters are introduced (and by this point in the series, you've learned to get very excited about new characters), that ultimately fizzle out with barely a mention. What what??
OK. So to what purpose? What is this book actually about? To my mind, it's about moving characters on the game board, ready for the finale. Some characters need to go/exit/shuffle off the playing field well before the end, otherwise you'll be saying 'hey, how come xyz didn't turn up with his blah blah and sort all this out, huh?' This is basically what's going on in this book, a character card shuffle. Pity it couldn't have been done in 400 distilled pages rather than 923(yawn) pages. And no QuickBen! I mean, life eh?
Still, I intend to read it again to see if I missed anything important, the first time around, so it can't be all bad.
Finally, please, no more Shakespearian narration. Gives the whole thing the feeling of being a play, rather than raw-edged reality.