The most difficult books I’ve read would be The Road by cormac maccarthy and Dune. How difficult is it compared to these? Is it more difficult or less difficult?
The first book is structured differently than the rest of the series as it grew out of a movie script, but neither it nor the rest are particularly difficult to read. There are a ton of characters and a lot of plot threads moving around at the same time, but the transitions between them are handled pretty well and don’t make it terrible to keep things straight imo
Not very difficult I wouldn’t recommend it but not for reading level.
It’s not particularly difficult to read, there’s just a lot of stuff to keep track of - if you care enough to anyways. Oh and you should probably avoid Malazan if you are squeamish.
It’s… Different. Like, it’s not difficult in terms of what is happening in the moment etc but more, “why are these things happening?” There’s also a lot to keep track of over the ten books.
If you take Sanderson at one end, where everyone’s motivations are explained out loud, often repeatedly, Malazan is at the other end, with you having to work out what some folks/God’s are doing and why.
My second time through was arguably one of my favourite reading experiences of all time.
Was the prose too difficult for you? How would you compare it’s narration with other fantasy series like ASOIAF Or Wheel of time?
Oh, sorry I missed this! The prose shouldn’t be an issue (though Erickson does love the occasional fun word, so for example, I learned what “susurration” means.)
Again, the actual difficulty of Malazan is understanding why things are happening. Some of the narrators are unreliable (or, more often just don’t know the full picture) some people will lie but unlike something easier, where there will be a helpful “Bill narrowed his eyes at these lies but said nothing” its on the reader to decide whom they believe and to what extent.
I’d say give the first two books a shot. The second is much better than the first and really starts to get into the full majesty of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
I feel the Mazalan books aren’t difficult; they are information dense, but you get constant reminders of important plot points. I don’t think it is a particularly challenging series to read per se. Just very long, took me a few months to initially get through the main series. It gets pretty dark and grim (sprinkles of natural levity), but I did enjoy the Mazalan Book of the Fallen series. There is a stylistic choice shift between “Gardens of the Moon” and the rest of the series though. I felt that was weird as fuck, as another commenter mentioned it nearly read as a screenplay for a movie (it was based on one), still turned out pretty good! As I liked his world-building; Steven has a background in anthropology/archaeology makes the way he creates quite interesting.
I’ve read the first three so far, taking a break now.
Honestly, i found the first book the hardest and, at least in my view, it is the least “consistent”. The second and third book actually seem to repeat important information more often, which gave me the confidence to just keep reading without worrying too much about missing stuff. I’m sure i missed some points and details, but i could follow the story fine.
Actually in some cases i was sure i missed something, took a note to look it up after finishing the book, then upon looking it up online i found that no, there really wasn’t that much more to it or it’ll get explained in later books :)
Edit: I read Dune years ago and can’t really remember how difficult it was, sorry. I think i found the worldbuilding in Dune to be kind of lacking? That is not a problem with the Malazan books. I haven’t read The Road
Please tell us you’ve read more than 2 books or at least provide context. Unless you’re seven years old, in which case your first books are wild.Edit: op said most difficult, I missed that
I said most difficult lol tf you on abt
Oh snap…I missed that part. Pardon my snark.
It’s alright
All the books are long. Just take it book by book and stop when you have had enough. Don’t decide to finish the series up front.
