Read The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen Online
Authors: Steven Erikson
The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen (2 page)
Book Three: To charge the spear
Book Four: The fists of the world
Book Five: A hand upon the fates
Book Seven: Your private shore
THE MOON
BOOK ONE OF THE
MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN
STEVEN ERIKSON
Gardens of
the Moon
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
GARDENS OF THE MOON: BOOK ONE OF THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN
Copyright © 1999 by Steven Erikson
Maps by Neil Gower
Originally published in Great Britain in 1999 by Bantam Books, a division of Transworld Publishers
All rights reserved.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
The Library of Congress has catalogued the hardcover edition as follows:
Erikson, Steven.
Gardens of the moon / Steven Erikson.
p. cm.
“A Tom Doherty Associates Book.”
ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-1001-9
ISBN-10: 0-7653-1001-5
1. Fantasy fiction. I. Title.
PR9199.4.E745 G37 2004
823’.92—dc22
2004301319
ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-2288-3 (trade paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7653-2288-9 (trade paperback)
0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
eISBN 9781429926584
This novel is dedicated to
I. C. E
SSLEMONT
worlds to conquer worlds to share
No novel is ever written in isolation. The author wishes to thank the following for their support over the years: Clare Thomas, Bowen, Mark Paxton-MacRae, David Keck, Courtney, Ryan, Chris and Rick, Mireille Theriacelt, Dennis Valdron, Keith Addison, Susan, David and Harriet, Clare and David Thomas Jr, Chris Rodell, Patrick Carroll, Kate Peach, Peter Knowlson, Rune, Kent and Val and the kids, my tireless agent Patrick Walsh, and Simon Taylor, one terrific editor.
The Malazan Empire
O
NEARM’S
H
OST
Tattersail
, Cadre Sorceress, 2nd Army, a reader of the Deck of Dragons
Hairlock
, Cadre Mage, 2nd Army, an unpleasant rival of Tayschrenn
Calot
, Cadre Mage, 2nd Army, Tattersail’s lover
Toc the Younger
, scout, 2nd Army, a Claw agent badly scarred at the Siege of Pale
T
HE
B
RIDGEBURNERS
Sergeant Whiskeyjack
, 9th Squad, past commander of the 2nd Army
Corporal Kalam
, 9th Squad, an ex-Claw from Seven Cities
Quick Ben
, 9th Squad, a Seven Cities Mage
Sorry
, 9th Squad, a deadly killer in the guise of a young girl
Hedge
, 9th Squad, a sapper
Fiddler
, 9th Squad, a sapper
Trotts
, 9th Squad, a Barghast warrior
Mallet
, 9th Squad, the squad healer
Sergeant Antsy
, 7th Squad
Picker
, 7th Squad
T
HE
I
MPERIAL
C
OMMAND
Ganoes Stabro Paran
, a noble-born officer in the Malazan Empire
Dujek Onearm
, High Fist, Malazan Armies, Genabackis Campaign
Tayschrenn
, High Mage to the Empress
Bellurdan
, High Mage to the Empress
Nightchill
, High Sorceress to the Empress
A’Karonys
, High Mage to the Empress
Lorn
, Adjunct to the Empress
Topper
, Commander of the Claw
Empress Laseen
, Ruler of the Malazan Empire
H
OUSE
P
ARAN
(U
NTA
)
Tavore
, Ganoes’ sister (middle-child)
Felisin
, Ganoes’ youngest sister
Gamet
, House Guard and veteran
I
N THE
E
MPEROR’S
T
IME
Emperor Kellanved
, the founder of the Empire, assassinated by Laseen
Dancer
, the Emperor’s chief adviser, assassinated by Laseen
Surly
, Laseen’s old name when Commander of the Claw
Dassem Ultor
, the First Sword of Empire, killed outside Y’ghatan, Seven Cities
Toc
(the Elder), disappeared in Laseen’s purges of the Old Guard
T
HE
P
HOENIX
I
NN
R
EGULARS
Kruppe
, a man of false modesty
Crokus Younghand
, a young thief
Rallick Nom
, an assassin in the Guild
Murillio
, a courtier
Coll
, a drunk
Meese
, a regular
Irilta
, a regular
Scurve
, the barman
Sulty
, a serving woman
Chert
, an unlucky bully
T
HE
T
’ORRUD
C
ABAL
Baruk
, a High Alchemist
Derudan
, a Witch of Tennes
Mammot
, a High Priest of D’riss and eminent scholar, uncle to Crokus
Travale
, a pious soldier of the Cabal
Tholis
, a High Mage
Parald
, a High Mage
T
HE
C
OUNCIL
Turban Orr
, a powerful councilman and Simtal’s lover
Lim
, an ally of Turban Orr
Simtal
, Lady of Simtal Estate
Estraysian D’Arle
, a rival of Turban Orr
Challice D’Arle
, his daughter
T
HE
G
UILD OF
A
SSASSINS
Vorcan
, Mistress of the Guild (also known as the Master of Assassins)
Ocelot
, Rallick Nom’s Clan Leader
Talo Krafar
, an assassin of Jurrig Denatte’s Clan
Krute of Talient
, an agent of the Guild
A
LSO IN THE
C
ITY
The Eel
, a rumoured master-spy
Circle Breaker
, an agent of the Eel
Vildrom
, a city guard
Captain Stillis
, Captain of Guard, Simtal Estate
T
HE
T
ISTE
A
NDII
Anomander Rake
, Lord of Moon’s Spawn, Son of Darkness, Knight of Darkness
Serrat
, second-in-command to Rake
Korlat
, a night-hunter and blood-kin to Serrat
Orfantal
, a night-hunter
Horult
, a night-hunter
T
HE
T’
LAN
I
MASS
Logros
, Commander of the T’lan Imass Clans serving the Malazan Empire
Onos T’oolan
, a clanless warrior
Pran Chole
, a Bonecaster (shaman) of the Kron T’lan Imass
Kig Aven
, a Clan Leader
O
THERS
Crone
, a Great Raven and servant to Anomander Rake
Silanah
, an Eleint and companion to Anomander Rake
Raest
, a Jaghut Tyrant
K’rul
, an Elder God, the Maker of Paths
Caladan Brood
, the warlord, opposing the Malazan armies in the North Campaign
Kallor
, Brood’s second-in-command
Prince K’azz D’Avore
, Commander of the Crimson Guard
Jorrick Sharplance
, a Crimson Guard officer
Cowl
, a High Mage in the Crimson Guard
Corporal Blues
, Sixth Blade of the Crimson Guard
Fingers
, Sixth Blade of the Crimson Guard
The Hound Baran
, a Hound of Shadow
The Hound Blind
, a Hound of Shadow
The Hound Gear
, a Hound of Shadow
The Hound Rood
, a Hound of Shadow
The Hound Shan
, a Hound of Shadow
The Hound Doan
, a Hound of Shadow
The Hound Ganrod
, a Hound of Shadow
Shadowthrone/Ammanas
, Ruler of the Warren of Shadow
The Rope/Cotillion
, Companion of Shadowthrone and Patron of Assassins
Icarium
, Builder of the Wheel of Ages in Darujhistan
Mappo
, Icarium’s companion
The Pannion Seer
, a Prophet Tyrant ruling the Pannion Domin
Now these ashes have grown cold, we open the old book.
These oil-stained pages recount the tales of the Fallen,
a frayed empire, words without warmth. The hearth
has ebbed, its gleam and life’s sparks are but memories
against dimming eyes – what cast my mind, what hue my
thoughts as I open the Book of the Fallen
and breathe deep the scent of history?
Listen, then, to these words carried on that breath.
These tales are the tales of us all, again yet again.
We are history relived and that is all, without end that is all.
The Emperor is dead!
So too his right hand—now cold, now severed!
But mark these dying shadows,
twinned and flowing bloody and beaten,
down and away from mortal sight . . .
From sceptre’s rule dismissed,
from gild candelabra the light now fled,
from a hearth ringed in hard jewels,
seven years this warmth has bled . . .
The Emperor is dead.
So too his master’d companion, the rope cut clean.
But mark this burgeoning return—
faltering dark, the tattered shroud—
embracing children in Empire’s dying light.
Hear now the dirge faint reprised,
before the sun’s fall, this day spills red
on buckled earth, and in obsidian eyes
vengeance chimes seven times . . .
C
ALL TO
S
HADOW
(I.
I
. 1–18)
F
ELISIN
(
B
. 1146)