The seventh awesome chapter in the most ambitious and acclaimed fantasy series of recent years.

The Letherii Empire is in turmoil. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness, while the Errant, once a farseeing god, appears suddenly blind to the future. Driven by the corruption and self-interest, the empire edges ever-closer to all-out war with its neighbouring kingdoms. And the great Edur fleet draws ominously ever closer. With Karsa Orlong and Icarium Lifestealer among its warriors, that blood will be spilled is certain. But a band of fugitives look to escape from Lether. One of them, Fear Sengar, seeks the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye, for he hopes that with its help, they might halt the Tiste Edur and so save the emperor, his brother. But another is Scabandari's old enemy: Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake. He carries scars inflicted by Scabandari, and such bloodshed cannot go unanswered. There is to be a reckoning and it will be on an unimaginable scale...

The Letherii Empire is in turmoil. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness, while the Errant, once a farseeing god, appears suddenly blind to the future. Driven by the corruption and self-interest, the empire edges ever-closer to all-out war with its neighbouring kingdoms. And the great Edur fleet draws ominously ever closer. With Karsa Orlong and Icarium Lifestealer among its warriors, that blood will be spilled is certain. But a band of fugitives look to escape from Lether. One of them, Fear Sengar, seeks the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye, for he hopes that with its help, they might halt the Tiste Edur and so save the emperor, his brother. But another is Scabandari's old enemy: Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake. He carries scars inflicted by Scabandari, and such bloodshed cannot go unanswered. There is to be a reckoning and it will be on an unimaginable scale...

The Letherii Empire ? driven by the corrupt and self-interested ? is crumbling. Surrounded by sycophants and agents of his venal chancellor, the Emperor Rhulad Sengar descends into madness. Conspiracies abound. The imperial secret police conduct a campaign of terror against its own people. The Errant, once a farseeing god, is suddenly blind to the future. Scenting chaos, dread forces are closing in from all sides.

Against this turbulent, treacherous backdrop, a band of fugitives are trying to flee the empire. One of them, Fear Sengar, seeks the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye, for this might save his brother, the emperor. However, with them travels Scabandari?s most ancient and bitter foe: Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake. The still-fresh wounds he carries on his back were made by the blades of Scabandari; his motives are anything but certain.

And the great Edur fleet ? its warriors selected from countless peoples ? draws ever closer to home. Among its number are Karsa Orlong and Icarium Lifestealer ? each destined to cross blades with the emperor himself. But in crossing half the world, the Tiste Edur have left behind a tide of blood. Such brutality cannot go unanswered. For some there must be a reckoning, for some this is far from over...

A brutal, harrowing tale of war, betrayal and dark, uncontrollable magic, this is epic fantasy at its most imaginative, storytelling at its most thrilling.

The Letherii Empire is in turmoil. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness while the Errant, once a farseeing god, appears suddenly blind to the future. And the venal self-serving courtiers who claim the emperor?s ear seem intent on waging all-out war against the empire?s neighbours.

And there is the matter of the Edur fleet that draws ever closer. Amongst its warriors are Karsa Orlong and Icarium Lifestealer and their presence alone means that blood will be spilled.

But a small band of fugitives seeks a way out. One of their company, Fear Sengar, hunts the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye, for with its help they might halt the Tiste Edur and save the emperor, his brother. However Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake, also travels with them. He carries wounds made by the blades of Scabandari, and seeks revenge. There will be a reckoning ? and it will be on an unimaginable scale...

Archaeologist and anthropologist Steven Erikson is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. His first fantasy novel, the bestselling Gardens of the Moon, opens his epic 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' sequence and was shortlisted for a World Fantasy Award. The equally acclaimed subsequent volumes are Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice, House of Chains, Midnight Tides, The Bonehunters and Reaper's Gale. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

2008-07-30 Waiting for Godot, or at least for something to happen

A french author once wrote in a letter; forgive me for writing so much, I had little time. Erikson is obviously extremely pressed for time, and his writing is getting more and more stream-of-consciousness. And since his conversations most of the time sounds like something out of Beckett, contributing very little to the plot, with minor characters speaking for pages at the time, the pace is rather slow. I think the first significant action happened after 300 pages, and then nothing much happened until we passed page 1200. I can only urge Erikson to a) get some really critical readers, b) change editor, and c) remember that if a conversation does not further the plot, it slows it down. Waiting for Godot is after all short, thank heaven.