Gardens of the Moon
First edition cover
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| Author | Steven Erikson |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Malazan Book of the Fallen |
| Genre | High Fantasy |
| Publisher |
Bantam (UK & Canada) Tor Books (USA) |
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Publication date
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1 April 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) Audiobook Ebook |
| Pages | 712 pp (Bantam paperback) |
| ISBN | (Bantam paperback) |
| OCLC | 42953978 |
| 823.92 | |
| LC Class | PR9199.4.E745 |
| Followed by | Deadhouse Gates |
Gardens of the Moon is the first of ten novels in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It was first published in 1999, and nominated for a World Fantasy Award.
The novel details the various struggles for power on a world dominated by the Malazan Empire. It is notable for the use of high magic, and unusual plot structure. Gardens of the Moon centres around the Imperial campaign to conquer the city of Darujhistan on the continent of Genabackis.
The Malazan world was devised by Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont, initially as a setting for a role-playing game while working on his thesis at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. In 1991, they collaborated to create a film-script set in the same world, titled Gardens of the Moon. When the script did not sell, Erikson turned the script into a novel and struggled to publish it until Transworld signed a deal.
The novel opens in the 96th year of the Malazan Empire, during the final year of the rule of Emperor Kellanved. A young boy, aged 12, named Ganoes Paran witnesses the sacking of the Mouse Quarter of Malaz City. Paran wants to be a soldier when he grows older though the Commander Whiskeyjack disapproves.
Erikson skips seven years from the Prologue, during which time the Emperor and his ally, Dancer, have been assassinated and supplanted by his chief of the assassin corps. Empress Laseen now rules with the aid of the "Claw", the imperial assassins. The story opens several years into a series of wars by the Malazan Empire to conquer the continent of Genabackis.
The Malazan 2nd Army under High Fist Dujek has been besieging the city of Pale, one of only two Free Cities left in the Malazans' path in Genabackis, for several years. Pale is holding out thanks to an alliance with the powerful Anomander Rake, Lord of Moon's Spawn (a floating fortress), leader of the non-human Tiste Andii. Pale finally falls when Rake withdraws his fortress following a fierce battle. Even then, the Empire suffers severe losses, including the near total destruction of a legendary infantry unit in its 2nd army, the Bridgeburners. Several characters speculate that someone higher up within the Empire may be engineering the elimination of various people who were loyal to the late Emperor.
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