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The Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach #1-3
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach
The first three tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, the famed necromancers from the Malazan Book of the Fallen, collected in one volume.
Contents:
Blood Follows (2002)
The Healthy Dead (2004)
The Lees of Laughter's End (2007)
Contents:
Blood Follows (2002)
The Healthy Dead (2004)
The Lees of Laughter's End (2007)
316 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2009
About the author
Steven Erikson
128 books13.8k followersSteven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist. His best-known work is the series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
January 2, 2020
This collection of Malazan novellas is a splendid example of high quality fantasy in short form, retaining the beauty of the longer books, including the astute political and social analyses which Erikson tends to indulge in. It also illustrates the sheer compellingness of well-crafted malicious characters. A fascinating viewpoint which is still somewhat underexposed.
Blood Follows
Urban murder mysteries from the perspective of heavily involved necromancers and their hapless manservant. A delightful reintroduction to Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and an absolutely brilliant bite-sized adventure in the Malazan world. It is quite different from Erikson’s typical long form escapades, but it is no less well-crafted. In fact, I found myself wishing for the inclusion of such writing, more focused and precise, in the main series. At the very least it provides an interesting change.
Rating: 5 stars
The Lees of Laughter’s End
A fascinating sequel story. The sea voyage setting makes for a confined mystery plot evocative of Agatha Christie, but subsequent events turns this novella into something more reminiscent of an absurd Tarantino film. Considerably stranger than its predecessor, but an interesting addition in its own right.
Rating: 4 stars
The Healthy Dead
The collection’s jewel. The more philosophical of the three, it is a fantastic statement on the perils of rigidity (even rigid goodness) and the ease with which good intentions are twisted and transformed into horrid practices. As a dark, but light-hearted inspection of morality, it is both intelligent, witty and entertaining.
Rating: 5 stars
Blood Follows
Urban murder mysteries from the perspective of heavily involved necromancers and their hapless manservant. A delightful reintroduction to Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and an absolutely brilliant bite-sized adventure in the Malazan world. It is quite different from Erikson’s typical long form escapades, but it is no less well-crafted. In fact, I found myself wishing for the inclusion of such writing, more focused and precise, in the main series. At the very least it provides an interesting change.
Rating: 5 stars
The Lees of Laughter’s End
A fascinating sequel story. The sea voyage setting makes for a confined mystery plot evocative of Agatha Christie, but subsequent events turns this novella into something more reminiscent of an absurd Tarantino film. Considerably stranger than its predecessor, but an interesting addition in its own right.
Rating: 4 stars
The Healthy Dead
The collection’s jewel. The more philosophical of the three, it is a fantastic statement on the perils of rigidity (even rigid goodness) and the ease with which good intentions are twisted and transformed into horrid practices. As a dark, but light-hearted inspection of morality, it is both intelligent, witty and entertaining.
Rating: 5 stars
August 31, 2022
I veterani della saga Malazan ricorderanno in Memorie di Ghiaccio, terzo romanzo del ciclo, la presenza di tre loschi individui, due negromanti e il loro servitore Emancipor Reese. (Se non ricordate, vergogna!)
Ebbene questa è la prima raccolta di racconti a loro dedicata.
-Blood Follows: 3 stelle
In cui lo sfortunato Emancipor Reese trova infine lavoro come servitore presso una strana coppia di avventurieri. Thriller di presentazione.
-The Lees of Slaughter's End: 4 stelle
In cui quello che doveva essere un tranquillo viaggio (fuga) per nave si rivelerà un viaggio negli incubi più neri. Scene grottesche ed esilaranti inseguono scene raccapriccianti.
-The Healthy Dead: 4 stelle
In cui il trio si troverà ingaggiato per cambiare le sorti di una città sull'orlo della follia dove la rettitudine è diventata legge e dittatura. Surreale e magnifico intreccio con vena sociale.
Erikson prende tre personaggi secondari, apparsi solo di sfuggita nella saga Malazan, e li rende protagonisti di questi racconti che strizzano l'occhio all'horror ma talmente divertenti da farmi piegare dalle risate.
Mescola con la sua solita abilità parti raccapriccianti a siparietti spassosi al limite del grottesco e come nel caso del terzo racconto, the Healthy Dead, con una profondità etica e sociale già riscontrata ampiamente nella saga principale. Vizi e follia dei comportamenti umani al limite.
Bauchelain e Korbal Broach sono terribili assassini, perseguono i loro loschi fini senza curarsi delle conseguenze delle loro azioni, viaggiatori per necessità, braccati da uomini e dei per le loro arti negromantiche che sconvolgono l'ordine terreno e divino.
Bauchelain anziano e aristocratico sempre composto e sicuro delle proprie capacità, tremendamente potente.
Korbal Broach, un vero mistero, eunuco grasso e quasi muto, una presenza discreta, appare poco e quando lo fa sconvolge.
Emancipor Reese, il servo, è l'unico apparentemente "normale" del trio ed è anche l'unico punto di vista con cui seguiamo le gesta della strana coppia, il più delle volte ottenebrato dalle troppe droghe ingerite.
Una raccolta di tre racconti che divertono e intrattengono scritti da un Erikson in gran forma. Possibile varco di entrata, molto accessibile, al mondo Malazan per chiunque abbia la voglia di provare lo stile di Erikson.
Ebbene questa è la prima raccolta di racconti a loro dedicata.
-Blood Follows: 3 stelle
In cui lo sfortunato Emancipor Reese trova infine lavoro come servitore presso una strana coppia di avventurieri. Thriller di presentazione.
-The Lees of Slaughter's End: 4 stelle
In cui quello che doveva essere un tranquillo viaggio (fuga) per nave si rivelerà un viaggio negli incubi più neri. Scene grottesche ed esilaranti inseguono scene raccapriccianti.
-The Healthy Dead: 4 stelle
In cui il trio si troverà ingaggiato per cambiare le sorti di una città sull'orlo della follia dove la rettitudine è diventata legge e dittatura. Surreale e magnifico intreccio con vena sociale.
Erikson prende tre personaggi secondari, apparsi solo di sfuggita nella saga Malazan, e li rende protagonisti di questi racconti che strizzano l'occhio all'horror ma talmente divertenti da farmi piegare dalle risate.
Mescola con la sua solita abilità parti raccapriccianti a siparietti spassosi al limite del grottesco e come nel caso del terzo racconto, the Healthy Dead, con una profondità etica e sociale già riscontrata ampiamente nella saga principale. Vizi e follia dei comportamenti umani al limite.
Bauchelain e Korbal Broach sono terribili assassini, perseguono i loro loschi fini senza curarsi delle conseguenze delle loro azioni, viaggiatori per necessità, braccati da uomini e dei per le loro arti negromantiche che sconvolgono l'ordine terreno e divino.
Bauchelain anziano e aristocratico sempre composto e sicuro delle proprie capacità, tremendamente potente.
Korbal Broach, un vero mistero, eunuco grasso e quasi muto, una presenza discreta, appare poco e quando lo fa sconvolge.
Emancipor Reese, il servo, è l'unico apparentemente "normale" del trio ed è anche l'unico punto di vista con cui seguiamo le gesta della strana coppia, il più delle volte ottenebrato dalle troppe droghe ingerite.
Una raccolta di tre racconti che divertono e intrattengono scritti da un Erikson in gran forma. Possibile varco di entrata, molto accessibile, al mondo Malazan per chiunque abbia la voglia di provare lo stile di Erikson.
July 26, 2015
This is one of the sickest things i have ever read! And just to avoid misunderstandings, i mean sick in a best possible way;)
Its not so much the language, there is no excessive swearing here. And its not the gore. all dough there is quite a bit of that here, too.
Its more a strong feeling of unease that comes from every single thing here being twisted in some weird unpredictable some way.
There is Emancipor Reese....He is probably the only half-decent person in this book. He may be half-decent, but i wouldn't recommend his company, as he is a walking disaster magnet. He is a bit simple minded, naive and not outright evil, at least he doesn't mean to be evil, he is more like a evil omen. People around him meet gruesome ends, like his last 3 employers. Hence his nickname Mancy the Luckless.
This evil omen thing effect everybody except Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. My personal theory is that they soak-up the evil and thrive on it.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach...They don't in anyway pretend or make excuses for themselves. They are evil necromancers and wonders off all kinds (mostly fatal ones) never cease around them.
There was that time when Korbal Broach wanted a child, so he made one by stealing organs from his victims and reanimating them by binding their souls in them.
Most of the time i was unable to decide if I'm in shock or in awe of them. I think both apply in equal measure. As they are really powerful and brilliant in a horrible way. They are fascinating!
And lets not forget to say that this book is hilarious. But not in a obvious way, like those books that desperately want to be funny. Nothing is given here. There is a remark here, a subtle reference there, again a remark....And then you put 2+2 together, and then it suddenly all makes sense. I was howling with laughter, its gallows humor at its best:)
Its not so much the language, there is no excessive swearing here. And its not the gore. all dough there is quite a bit of that here, too.
Its more a strong feeling of unease that comes from every single thing here being twisted in some weird unpredictable some way.
There is Emancipor Reese....He is probably the only half-decent person in this book. He may be half-decent, but i wouldn't recommend his company, as he is a walking disaster magnet. He is a bit simple minded, naive and not outright evil, at least he doesn't mean to be evil, he is more like a evil omen. People around him meet gruesome ends, like his last 3 employers. Hence his nickname Mancy the Luckless.
This evil omen thing effect everybody except Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. My personal theory is that they soak-up the evil and thrive on it.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach...They don't in anyway pretend or make excuses for themselves. They are evil necromancers and wonders off all kinds (mostly fatal ones) never cease around them.
There was that time when Korbal Broach wanted a child, so he made one by stealing organs from his victims and reanimating them by binding their souls in them.
Most of the time i was unable to decide if I'm in shock or in awe of them. I think both apply in equal measure. As they are really powerful and brilliant in a horrible way. They are fascinating!
And lets not forget to say that this book is hilarious. But not in a obvious way, like those books that desperately want to be funny. Nothing is given here. There is a remark here, a subtle reference there, again a remark....And then you put 2+2 together, and then it suddenly all makes sense. I was howling with laughter, its gallows humor at its best:)
June 7, 2016
If you've read Steven Erikson's third volume in his "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series, Memories of Ice, you may remember encountering three very eccentric characters among the Caravanserai--the two necromancers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and their manservant, Emancipor Reese. Later in the novel, you might also recall that the Malazan Bridgeburner mage, Quick Ben, has a most interesting (and intense!) meeting with Bauchelain and Korbal Broach at their house in Capustan, and oh what a scene it is! Well, if you were like me you probably wondered who are these guys? What's their story, or back-story? Fortunately, Steven Erikson is starting to answer these questions for all of us who love anything at all connected with the Malazan Empire.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach is a terrific collection of three novellas that tell the story of these creepy, weird, and kind of scary necromancers. Bauchelain is the more taciturn, and more 'normal' appearing fellow; while his partner-in-crime (horror), Korbal Broach, a large, bald eunuch is nothing short of horrifyingly scary. Their manservant, Emancipor Reese, is one of the funniest Malazan characters that Erikson has come up with yet, rivaled only, in my opinion, by Tehol Beddict and his manservant Bugg (see Erikson's later novels in the MBotF series). The relationship and dialog between Bauchelain and Emancipor Reese will have you laughing out loud, I guarantee it!
This collection of novellas starts off with Blood Follows and tells the story of a serial murderer killing folks, left and right, in the port city of Lamentable Moll (don't you just love the names that Erikson comes up with?). This is where Bauchelain and Korbal Broach hire Emancipor Reese as their new manservant. In the meantime, just who is killing all of these people, and why? Hmmm...
The second tale follows on the heels of the first, and is entitled, The Lees of Laughter's End and takes place at sea on the ship "Suncurl". But it seems that there's more aboard the "Suncurl" than the crew, Bauchelain, Broach, and Emancipor Reese--something that wants to kill them all! This story rapidly shifts the reader from rolling-on-the-floor humor to sheer terror and horror.
The third and final story in the collection is The Healthy Dead (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one! LOL!), and this one is simply so imaginative it almost boggles the mind. One almost gets the feeling that Erikson is gently poking fun at some of us and our lifestyles today in this tale. By now the reader is probably pretty much ready to expect the completely unexpected from these three daft and slightly nefarious characters, and this story certainly doesn't disappoint.
Personally, you could read this collection at any point in the Malazan series following the third book, Memories of Ice. You could even wait until you are completely done with the series. What is important is that you read this collection of novellas. It is just priceless! A wonderful, slightly evil, but very effective blend of terrific humor and some seriously scary moments of sheer horror! It is a very fast read, with each story easily being read in a single sitting. Finally, it is also my understanding that Erikson is working on more stories or novellas dealing with the exploits and adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Emancipor Reese. I, for one, can't wait!
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach is a terrific collection of three novellas that tell the story of these creepy, weird, and kind of scary necromancers. Bauchelain is the more taciturn, and more 'normal' appearing fellow; while his partner-in-crime (horror), Korbal Broach, a large, bald eunuch is nothing short of horrifyingly scary. Their manservant, Emancipor Reese, is one of the funniest Malazan characters that Erikson has come up with yet, rivaled only, in my opinion, by Tehol Beddict and his manservant Bugg (see Erikson's later novels in the MBotF series). The relationship and dialog between Bauchelain and Emancipor Reese will have you laughing out loud, I guarantee it!
This collection of novellas starts off with Blood Follows and tells the story of a serial murderer killing folks, left and right, in the port city of Lamentable Moll (don't you just love the names that Erikson comes up with?). This is where Bauchelain and Korbal Broach hire Emancipor Reese as their new manservant. In the meantime, just who is killing all of these people, and why? Hmmm...
The second tale follows on the heels of the first, and is entitled, The Lees of Laughter's End and takes place at sea on the ship "Suncurl". But it seems that there's more aboard the "Suncurl" than the crew, Bauchelain, Broach, and Emancipor Reese--something that wants to kill them all! This story rapidly shifts the reader from rolling-on-the-floor humor to sheer terror and horror.
The third and final story in the collection is The Healthy Dead (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one! LOL!), and this one is simply so imaginative it almost boggles the mind. One almost gets the feeling that Erikson is gently poking fun at some of us and our lifestyles today in this tale. By now the reader is probably pretty much ready to expect the completely unexpected from these three daft and slightly nefarious characters, and this story certainly doesn't disappoint.
Personally, you could read this collection at any point in the Malazan series following the third book, Memories of Ice. You could even wait until you are completely done with the series. What is important is that you read this collection of novellas. It is just priceless! A wonderful, slightly evil, but very effective blend of terrific humor and some seriously scary moments of sheer horror! It is a very fast read, with each story easily being read in a single sitting. Finally, it is also my understanding that Erikson is working on more stories or novellas dealing with the exploits and adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Emancipor Reese. I, for one, can't wait!
July 20, 2023
My 2-star rating is based on my level of enjoyment of the book.
If you are a fan of Grimdark fantasy then you will likely love this collection of three short stories. For me, they were another example of why I stopped reading the main Malazan series. Very dark, macabre stories with some equally dark humour thrown in.
It has dedications by authors:
Stephen R Donaldson
James Barclay
Paul Kearny
They are all very clearly huge fans of Steven Erikson's work.
The majority of the characters (if not all of them) that inhabit his Malazan empire are flawed. I couldn't find anyone who I cared about in this book, they were all just as twisted and unlikable as each other. I was hoping that this book would be more to my taste because it is shorter, but I didn't find it to be that way and I didn't find the ending satisfying either.
So to cut a long story short I probably won't be reading any more of this author's work, even though I have 7 of the 10 Malazan books on my shelves.
This in no way means that others won't enjoy the books, but they really don't appeal to me.
If you are a fan of Grimdark fantasy then you will likely love this collection of three short stories. For me, they were another example of why I stopped reading the main Malazan series. Very dark, macabre stories with some equally dark humour thrown in.
It has dedications by authors:
Stephen R Donaldson
James Barclay
Paul Kearny
They are all very clearly huge fans of Steven Erikson's work.
The majority of the characters (if not all of them) that inhabit his Malazan empire are flawed. I couldn't find anyone who I cared about in this book, they were all just as twisted and unlikable as each other. I was hoping that this book would be more to my taste because it is shorter, but I didn't find it to be that way and I didn't find the ending satisfying either.
So to cut a long story short I probably won't be reading any more of this author's work, even though I have 7 of the 10 Malazan books on my shelves.
This in no way means that others won't enjoy the books, but they really don't appeal to me.
October 2, 2019
I am following the fan-created reading order for the Malazan series/es, and the first couple of stories in this book came next. They're described as "short novels" on the book's title page; I'd more call them "novelettes," but close enough. Appropriately for this time of year, they have a whiff of haunting and horror to them.
"Blood Follows"
This first story isn't set in the Malazan empire, but in a port city Lamentable Moll in the country of Theft. Perpetually unlucky Emancipor Reese--his last three employers have died!--finally finds a stable job working for a couple of magic users named Bauchelain and Korbal Broach.
Meanwhile, there have been a series of murders in Moll that city guard sergeant Guld is investigating. It isn't much of a mystery who is doing them, but the how. As is usual with Erikson's stories I've read so far (admittedly not many), the ending is great.
"Blood Follows" is basically Malazan in miniature, with a stronger emphasis on gallows humor and the grue slathered on with a trowel. Despite the awful things going on, it's hard to take anything seriously.
"The Lees of Laughter's End"
Our lead trio is on a ship fleeing retribution for their activities in Lamentable Moll. Mayhem ensues as monsters--quite literally--come out of the woodwork.
This is a really strange combination of 1930s madcap comedy like Anything Goes and body-count horror. Just like "Blood Follows" it has more than its fair share of spraying bodily fluids, which seems to be a motif for this series of novellas. Another, somewhat unexpected motif in this specific story is "parents and children." Of course, none of the parent-child pairings here are ordinary, or anywhere close to normal.
There's a dubcon or non-con scene in this one which I think was intended to be funny or satirical, but just made me wince. I'm getting a bead on the depiction of women in this series and I ain't 100% happy with it. Or 50%. Oh well.
"The Healthy Dead"
Thankfully, this isn't as pedantic as I'd feared from its epigraph, although Beauchelain does seem more purposeful, less whimsical, and more prone to delivering lectures in this story than in the other two in this book. Two of its up-front morals were old news to me. First: that we all die in the end regardless of how "healthily" we live. Second: that seeming benevolence can become tyranny if its judgment is delivered strictly, and without mercy. Yep, been aware of those for a while.
I enjoyed a few things about this story. The demons of Sloth, Gluttony and Vice were fun, especially Sloth, who--appropriately--couldn't ever be bothered; there's more gruesome slapstick, which this squeamish reader chuckled at more often than she expected; and there's a brief, funny scene with one of Hood's beleaguered underlings, who is not happy that Korbal Broach is making his job harder by meddling with necromancy.
*
Other than that minor reference to the Malazan pantheon, and hints that Korbal Broach is , there isn't much that connects these shorts with the Malazan series, and they could probably be read on their own. Despite that, I wouldn't recommend these as an introduction to Malazan because the tone is so very different from the Ultra-Serious Epic Business of the main series.
I don't unreservedly recommend these since they're so far afield from what I typically enjoy reading, but they were more of a hit with me than I would have expected. They might work for a fantasy reader who enjoys broad satire and has a taste for black-as-pitch comedy.
"Blood Follows"
This first story isn't set in the Malazan empire, but in a port city Lamentable Moll in the country of Theft. Perpetually unlucky Emancipor Reese--his last three employers have died!--finally finds a stable job working for a couple of magic users named Bauchelain and Korbal Broach.
Meanwhile, there have been a series of murders in Moll that city guard sergeant Guld is investigating. It isn't much of a mystery who is doing them, but the how. As is usual with Erikson's stories I've read so far (admittedly not many), the ending is great.
"Blood Follows" is basically Malazan in miniature, with a stronger emphasis on gallows humor and the grue slathered on with a trowel. Despite the awful things going on, it's hard to take anything seriously.
"The Lees of Laughter's End"
Our lead trio is on a ship fleeing retribution for their activities in Lamentable Moll. Mayhem ensues as monsters--quite literally--come out of the woodwork.
This is a really strange combination of 1930s madcap comedy like Anything Goes and body-count horror. Just like "Blood Follows" it has more than its fair share of spraying bodily fluids, which seems to be a motif for this series of novellas. Another, somewhat unexpected motif in this specific story is "parents and children." Of course, none of the parent-child pairings here are ordinary, or anywhere close to normal.
There's a dubcon or non-con scene in this one which I think was intended to be funny or satirical, but just made me wince. I'm getting a bead on the depiction of women in this series and I ain't 100% happy with it. Or 50%. Oh well.
"The Healthy Dead"
Thankfully, this isn't as pedantic as I'd feared from its epigraph, although Beauchelain does seem more purposeful, less whimsical, and more prone to delivering lectures in this story than in the other two in this book. Two of its up-front morals were old news to me. First: that we all die in the end regardless of how "healthily" we live. Second: that seeming benevolence can become tyranny if its judgment is delivered strictly, and without mercy. Yep, been aware of those for a while.
I enjoyed a few things about this story. The demons of Sloth, Gluttony and Vice were fun, especially Sloth, who--appropriately--couldn't ever be bothered; there's more gruesome slapstick, which this squeamish reader chuckled at more often than she expected; and there's a brief, funny scene with one of Hood's beleaguered underlings, who is not happy that Korbal Broach is making his job harder by meddling with necromancy.
*
Other than that minor reference to the Malazan pantheon, and hints that Korbal Broach is , there isn't much that connects these shorts with the Malazan series, and they could probably be read on their own. Despite that, I wouldn't recommend these as an introduction to Malazan because the tone is so very different from the Ultra-Serious Epic Business of the main series.
I don't unreservedly recommend these since they're so far afield from what I typically enjoy reading, but they were more of a hit with me than I would have expected. They might work for a fantasy reader who enjoys broad satire and has a taste for black-as-pitch comedy.
March 17, 2016
Extensively Morbid and unashamedly violent yet deliciously comic. Written by someone who's clearly loving every moment, a feeling that goes across to the reader and Erikson is surely at the top of his craft here. The Healthy Dead and the Lees of Laughter's end.... well... there's nothing to compare them to... they are singular achievements. They are pure genius. They very much appear to be the machinations of a drunken, uninhibited quite insane mind. And I quite loved them.
March 8, 2024
Hacía tiempo que no visitaba los mundos de Malaz y lo echaba de menos. Cuando leí la saga principal fueron dos años intensos en los que disfruté una de las mejores sagas fantásticas que he podido degustar. La escritura de Erikson es genial y siempre me atrapa esa fenomenal mezcla de magia, antropología y grimd dark que elabora.
El mundo de Malaz es gigantesco y es por eso que algunos personajes que dan para libros propios están siendo tratados a parte por el autor. Así ha pasado con Karsa orlong en la nueva trilogía o con Kellanved y Danzante en la serie de Esslemont.
En esta ocasión nos encontramos con las aventuras de Bauchelain y Korbal Espita, un par de nigromantes sin mucha moral que se meten en unos berenjenales de cuidado por allà donde pasan.
Emancipor Reese es su criado, un hombre gafe como él solo que sufrirá viendo las barrabasadas de sus amos pero que poco podrá hacer. El tono de la serie es muy divertido y recuerda a Terry Pratchett y su mundo disco, eso sí, con un tono más gore o grimdark.
Las tres historias del tomo son las siguientes:
La sangre sigue(****): En este primer cuento se nos presentan los personajes y asistimos a una historia detectivesca. En la ciudad de Lamentable Moll, una serie de extraños asesinatos están siendo investigados por el sargento Guld. Todo parece indicar que están relacionados con un par de extraños forasteros que han llegado a la ciudad y que han tomado como criado a Emacipor Reese, el tipo con más mala suerte de la ciudad. Un cuento divertido, sobretodo por como Korbal Espita va juntando piezas de cadaveres para crear una especie de golem.
Los posos de Final de la risa(***): En este segundo cuento ya tenemos a nuestros 3 protagonistas que han huido de Lamentable Moll y viajan en el Suncurl, un barco con una tripulación de descastados que no saben que han acogido a bordo y que viaja a toda leche perseguido por unos tiburones gigantes. Las cosas se descontrolarán en el navío cuando algunas horribles criaturas empiecen a hacer de las suyas. Este segundo cuento aunque tiene más acción lo he visto más flojito ya que se convierte en una batalla muy loca donde el argumento pierde un poco en pos de la acción.
La muerte saludable(*****): La mejor historia con diferencia del tomo. Aquí Erikson aprovecha para ironizar sobre el estilo de vida super healthy y fitness que tan de boga esta hoy en día.
Nuestros tres protagonistas llegan a una extraña ciudad donde un culto a la salud se ha convertido en el código que domina las vidas de la urbe. El rey obsesionado con ello prohíbe comer carne, el sexo,beber vino, fumar durhang e incluso a los bebés.
Bauchelain junto a un pequeño demonio ideará un plan para restituir al antiguo rey muerto pero eso implicará resucitar a todos los muertos de la ciudad, muchos de ellos fallecidos a causa de una indigestión de hierba.
Un relato totalmente delirante con el que te partes de risa y que analiza que parte de libertad queda en las cosas que se hacen por estilo, moda o seguir la corriente imperante.
El mundo de Malaz es gigantesco y es por eso que algunos personajes que dan para libros propios están siendo tratados a parte por el autor. Así ha pasado con Karsa orlong en la nueva trilogía o con Kellanved y Danzante en la serie de Esslemont.
En esta ocasión nos encontramos con las aventuras de Bauchelain y Korbal Espita, un par de nigromantes sin mucha moral que se meten en unos berenjenales de cuidado por allà donde pasan.
Emancipor Reese es su criado, un hombre gafe como él solo que sufrirá viendo las barrabasadas de sus amos pero que poco podrá hacer. El tono de la serie es muy divertido y recuerda a Terry Pratchett y su mundo disco, eso sí, con un tono más gore o grimdark.
Las tres historias del tomo son las siguientes:
La sangre sigue(****): En este primer cuento se nos presentan los personajes y asistimos a una historia detectivesca. En la ciudad de Lamentable Moll, una serie de extraños asesinatos están siendo investigados por el sargento Guld. Todo parece indicar que están relacionados con un par de extraños forasteros que han llegado a la ciudad y que han tomado como criado a Emacipor Reese, el tipo con más mala suerte de la ciudad. Un cuento divertido, sobretodo por como Korbal Espita va juntando piezas de cadaveres para crear una especie de golem.
Los posos de Final de la risa(***): En este segundo cuento ya tenemos a nuestros 3 protagonistas que han huido de Lamentable Moll y viajan en el Suncurl, un barco con una tripulación de descastados que no saben que han acogido a bordo y que viaja a toda leche perseguido por unos tiburones gigantes. Las cosas se descontrolarán en el navío cuando algunas horribles criaturas empiecen a hacer de las suyas. Este segundo cuento aunque tiene más acción lo he visto más flojito ya que se convierte en una batalla muy loca donde el argumento pierde un poco en pos de la acción.
La muerte saludable(*****): La mejor historia con diferencia del tomo. Aquí Erikson aprovecha para ironizar sobre el estilo de vida super healthy y fitness que tan de boga esta hoy en día.
Nuestros tres protagonistas llegan a una extraña ciudad donde un culto a la salud se ha convertido en el código que domina las vidas de la urbe. El rey obsesionado con ello prohíbe comer carne, el sexo,beber vino, fumar durhang e incluso a los bebés.
Bauchelain junto a un pequeño demonio ideará un plan para restituir al antiguo rey muerto pero eso implicará resucitar a todos los muertos de la ciudad, muchos de ellos fallecidos a causa de una indigestión de hierba.
Un relato totalmente delirante con el que te partes de risa y que analiza que parte de libertad queda en las cosas que se hacen por estilo, moda o seguir la corriente imperante.
April 10, 2012
So, here it is. If you have read Memories of Ice or *cough* Orb, Sceptre, Throne, you would have all ready run into the titular characters of this collection of three novellas as well as their manservant, Emancipor Reese the Unlucky. Perhaps you have wondered about these characters, perhaps not, but here are these novellas, any way!
The tone of these novellas are considerably lighter than that of the books in the 'main' series. Nothing, not the various threats, atrocities, crimes, etc. are really taken seriously in these novellas. This creates an odd sensation, since there seems like there just might be more purpose to these novellas than dark humour, but with the exception of 'The Healthy Dead', that point is not clear. Are these satire? Are they commentary on the current state of fantasy literature? Is this appearance part of the joke?
In any sense, these novellas are meant to be humorous... in the dark sense. If anyone has ever seen Peter Jackson's Dead Alive, it's the same type of humour, a strange mixture of horror, gore, and Scooby-Doo antics. Most of the humour also comes from every character being completely self-interested. If anyone does something good for something else, it's only because it was accidental or to break one's ennui. This is probably necesary so that Bauchelain and Korbal Broach could be considered protagonists.
So what part do the duo of necromancers play in these stories? Frankly, not as much as you might think. For the most part, they are more the setting/impetus of the plot then they are participators in it. The stories would not exist without them, but that does not mean they get a lot of screen time. It probably is not necessary, though, since all the other characters are reflections of them anyway. Bauchelain is a sort of arrogant self-proclaimed scholar of the dark arts whereas Korbal Broach is his assistant/ eunuch with massive issues. It's probably a good thing Korbal Broach does not have much screen time, he's a pretty creepy bastard.
So, this edition has the novellas in chronological order, not published order. The novellas in this book are Blood Follows, The Lee of Laughter's End, and The Healthy Dead. Each are structured as fast paced adventures, each could be read easily within three hours. Now, individually:
Blood Follows opens up with a murder 'mystery'. I say 'mystery' because it is very obvious at the off set who is committing the murders, and I imagine is meant to be... it seems to be convention in Erikson's and Esslemont's writings to have these psuedo-mysteries, but I digress. Blood Follows mainly introduces Emancipor Reese and the modest necromancers and the current flow of their lives. We find out how Reese ended up as a manservant to these creatures, and have a bit of adventure to boot.
The Lee of Laughter's End follows almost directly after Blood Follows with our 'heroes' on a ship going elsewhere. The ship hits a magical current and resurrects some monstrosity in the hull of the ship that begins devouring the crew one by one. This novella, more than any other, is like Dead Alive as it follows the bumbling antics of soldiers on the ship trying to deal with the problem and various... unlucky... occurrences that prevent Bauchelain from dealing with the threat directly.
The Healthy Dead is an indictment against lifestyle fascists. Here, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are hired to kill a king that has imposed his tyrannical views of exercise and healthy eating the city of Quaint's populace.
All in all, this was an enjoyable and fun read. There is not really a lot in the way of information into the Malazan universe, and that's fine by me. The main problem is the dirty feeling you get after you realize you have just read these novellas. Of course, George R R Martin is still more graphic... somehow, so the general populace should not be too judgmental in their condemnation of those who have read these novellas.
The tone of these novellas are considerably lighter than that of the books in the 'main' series. Nothing, not the various threats, atrocities, crimes, etc. are really taken seriously in these novellas. This creates an odd sensation, since there seems like there just might be more purpose to these novellas than dark humour, but with the exception of 'The Healthy Dead', that point is not clear. Are these satire? Are they commentary on the current state of fantasy literature? Is this appearance part of the joke?
In any sense, these novellas are meant to be humorous... in the dark sense. If anyone has ever seen Peter Jackson's Dead Alive, it's the same type of humour, a strange mixture of horror, gore, and Scooby-Doo antics. Most of the humour also comes from every character being completely self-interested. If anyone does something good for something else, it's only because it was accidental or to break one's ennui. This is probably necesary so that Bauchelain and Korbal Broach could be considered protagonists.
So what part do the duo of necromancers play in these stories? Frankly, not as much as you might think. For the most part, they are more the setting/impetus of the plot then they are participators in it. The stories would not exist without them, but that does not mean they get a lot of screen time. It probably is not necessary, though, since all the other characters are reflections of them anyway. Bauchelain is a sort of arrogant self-proclaimed scholar of the dark arts whereas Korbal Broach is his assistant/ eunuch with massive issues. It's probably a good thing Korbal Broach does not have much screen time, he's a pretty creepy bastard.
So, this edition has the novellas in chronological order, not published order. The novellas in this book are Blood Follows, The Lee of Laughter's End, and The Healthy Dead. Each are structured as fast paced adventures, each could be read easily within three hours. Now, individually:
Blood Follows opens up with a murder 'mystery'. I say 'mystery' because it is very obvious at the off set who is committing the murders, and I imagine is meant to be... it seems to be convention in Erikson's and Esslemont's writings to have these psuedo-mysteries, but I digress. Blood Follows mainly introduces Emancipor Reese and the modest necromancers and the current flow of their lives. We find out how Reese ended up as a manservant to these creatures, and have a bit of adventure to boot.
The Lee of Laughter's End follows almost directly after Blood Follows with our 'heroes' on a ship going elsewhere. The ship hits a magical current and resurrects some monstrosity in the hull of the ship that begins devouring the crew one by one. This novella, more than any other, is like Dead Alive as it follows the bumbling antics of soldiers on the ship trying to deal with the problem and various... unlucky... occurrences that prevent Bauchelain from dealing with the threat directly.
The Healthy Dead is an indictment against lifestyle fascists. Here, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are hired to kill a king that has imposed his tyrannical views of exercise and healthy eating the city of Quaint's populace.
All in all, this was an enjoyable and fun read. There is not really a lot in the way of information into the Malazan universe, and that's fine by me. The main problem is the dirty feeling you get after you realize you have just read these novellas. Of course, George R R Martin is still more graphic... somehow, so the general populace should not be too judgmental in their condemnation of those who have read these novellas.
January 20, 2020
Wasn't expecting much from these. Which is a bit silly given Eriksons prowess as a writer.
The 'healthy dead' story made me laugh a lot.
Ridiculous stories, with a clumsy manservant, with all kinds of weird stuff going on amongst lots of humour. A much lighter but welcoming side to the Malazan world.
As far as short stories go, I don't think you can get much better, apart from Last Wish.
The 'healthy dead' story made me laugh a lot.
Ridiculous stories, with a clumsy manservant, with all kinds of weird stuff going on amongst lots of humour. A much lighter but welcoming side to the Malazan world.
As far as short stories go, I don't think you can get much better, apart from Last Wish.
February 13, 2018
Three short stories that feature one of the most enduring and memorable duos in the series 'A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen' - Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. Necromancers with a taste for knowledge ... well really, what Necromancer isn't searching for knowledge? It just isn't done in the 'normal' fashion but rather in a manner that takes them down dark and quiet roads and ones that usually leave bodies behind. With parts missing. Because ........well, knowledge.
Completely fun and delightfully dark, these wee stories have further endeared these guys to my heart. It was fun to see how they ended up with their perpetually stoned and unlucky manservant (it's one way to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans) and how he bumbles his way through his newly found role only to find his calling in life. After all, all his former employers terminated his employment with their deaths - and he was on quite a roll. Three or more in quick succession just before he lands the job with his new and quirky masters. Timely. And these ones don't seem like the type to just keel over and die, so long term employment looks good!
Such a great aside for enhancing one of the best science fiction-fantasy series I've read. Don't know how he finds the time (have you seen those books? They're huge!). GRR Martin could take a page out of Steven Erikson's book on timely writing. Just saying.
Completely fun and delightfully dark, these wee stories have further endeared these guys to my heart. It was fun to see how they ended up with their perpetually stoned and unlucky manservant (it's one way to turn a blind eye to the shenanigans) and how he bumbles his way through his newly found role only to find his calling in life. After all, all his former employers terminated his employment with their deaths - and he was on quite a roll. Three or more in quick succession just before he lands the job with his new and quirky masters. Timely. And these ones don't seem like the type to just keel over and die, so long term employment looks good!
Such a great aside for enhancing one of the best science fiction-fantasy series I've read. Don't know how he finds the time (have you seen those books? They're huge!). GRR Martin could take a page out of Steven Erikson's book on timely writing. Just saying.
March 23, 2017
Blood Follows: ★★
We're introduced to Reece and his backstory. Dark and okay.
It was hilarious and pathetic at how he couldn't see that his wife was cheating on him!
The Lees of Laughter's End: ★★
Greed can make people do stupid things and when all those stupid people are trapped on a ship in waters teeming with Dhenrabi..you get the idea!
The Healthy Dead: ★★★
A city where all and any vices are outlawed..where children might be being eaten or are they?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
Umorismo negromantico
Tre romanzi brevi. Nel terzo, The Healthy Dead, il mondo fantastico e l'umorismo negromantico presente anche nei due precedenti, sono piegati ai fini di una satira "anacronistica" del fanatismo salutista e dell'intolleranza benintenzonata e bigotta. Il pedale del paradossale e del grottesco rimane sempre premuto e il racconto diventa una vera e propria danse macabre.
Tre romanzi brevi. Nel terzo, The Healthy Dead, il mondo fantastico e l'umorismo negromantico presente anche nei due precedenti, sono piegati ai fini di una satira "anacronistica" del fanatismo salutista e dell'intolleranza benintenzonata e bigotta. Il pedale del paradossale e del grottesco rimane sempre premuto e il racconto diventa una vera e propria danse macabre.
May 24, 2010
Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and Emancipor Reese make cameo appearances during the siege of Capustan in Memories of Ice Malazan Book of the Fallen 3. There Quick Ben and Bauchelain cross sorcerous swords, and Quick unleashes half of his Warrens to escape the demonologist’s trap. As narrative goes, it’s a spandrel, a meaningless episode made possible by the convergence of Erikson’s Malazan story arc and the path of three favorite characters. The scene in the book reminded me of an incident from my own past: I managed to survive high school by joining Drama Club in my sophomore year and spending the next three having a ball acting with a group of people who had some real talent. I was the student director for the last play of my senior year – “The Miracle Worker.” There’s a scene (I forget the exact circumstances) where a neighbor of the Kellers is visiting the house and we contrived to have me accompany her as her husband. I had no lines and changed nothing in terms of the story but it gave me a chance to appear one last time on stage – a convergence of the play’s story arc and my “career” as an actor.
But I digress.
The book in question here is a collection of three Bauchelain & Korbal Broach (BKB) novellas – “Blood Follows,” “The Lees of Laughter’s End” and “The Healthy Dead.” Erikson tells “Blood Follows” from the point of view of Emancipor Reese, a resident of Lamentable Moll, whose most recent employer has become the latest victim of a gruesome serial killer. Family obligations and a nagging wife drive Mancy to seek employment with the enigmatic Bauchelain and the creepy Korbal Broach, visitors to the city. It will not be a spoiler to reveal that Bauchelain is a demonologist and Korbal, a necromancer (and Soletaken*), or that the latter is responsible for the recent spate of murders. Eventually, the city’s investigators close in on Korbal and the pair flee, dragging the hapless Mancy along (nagging wife being a far more intimidating prospect than going on the lam with homicidal maniacs).
“The Lees of Laughter’s End” picks up right after the events in “Blood Follows.” Mancy and his new employers flee Lamentable Moll aboard Suncurl. Reese’s ill luck continues because the ship is cursed with a crew of deserters pursued by implacable foes (their ship’s name is Unreasoning Vengeance) and the nails holding it together have been inadvertently imbued with souls from Lamentable Moll’s cemeteries. The latter causes the dead to rise in the course of the journey. This and an attack from the sea monsters infesting the channel known as Laughter’s End cause no end of havoc.
“The Healthy Dead” takes place after the first two stories but is not a direct sequel. At the end of “Laughter’s End,” the pursuers of Captain Sater and her crew are closing in on Suncurl but that encounter and its denouement go unmentioned as “The Healthy Dead” opens. This story finds the trio approaching the city of Quaint, which endures the rule of King Macrotus, a healthy-living fanatic. “The Healthy Dead” is the most overtly “preachy” of Erikson’s stories, an allegory about the fascism of good intentions and self-righteous certainty, and the evil that results.
I’m not in love with the characters of Bauchelain and Korbal. And I’m even less of a fan of prose humor generally but the stories are amusing in an elicits-a-chuckle sort of way, not a knee-slapping-laugh-out-loud way. And Erikson shows a flair for good (if ridiculous) names, e.g., Lamentable Moll or Invett Loath, Paladin of Purity, or Well Knight Storkul Purge. If you like Erikson already, then I’d recommend this collection. I’m more hesitant t recommend this to nonfans even though they might enjoy the grisly humor and cynicism of the protagonists.
* For non-Erikson fans: Soletaken are weres able to take a singular form (in Korbal’s case, a raven); as opposed to D’ivers, who are weres who can take multiple forms (like a swarm of rats or spiders).
But I digress.
The book in question here is a collection of three Bauchelain & Korbal Broach (BKB) novellas – “Blood Follows,” “The Lees of Laughter’s End” and “The Healthy Dead.” Erikson tells “Blood Follows” from the point of view of Emancipor Reese, a resident of Lamentable Moll, whose most recent employer has become the latest victim of a gruesome serial killer. Family obligations and a nagging wife drive Mancy to seek employment with the enigmatic Bauchelain and the creepy Korbal Broach, visitors to the city. It will not be a spoiler to reveal that Bauchelain is a demonologist and Korbal, a necromancer (and Soletaken*), or that the latter is responsible for the recent spate of murders. Eventually, the city’s investigators close in on Korbal and the pair flee, dragging the hapless Mancy along (nagging wife being a far more intimidating prospect than going on the lam with homicidal maniacs).
“The Lees of Laughter’s End” picks up right after the events in “Blood Follows.” Mancy and his new employers flee Lamentable Moll aboard Suncurl. Reese’s ill luck continues because the ship is cursed with a crew of deserters pursued by implacable foes (their ship’s name is Unreasoning Vengeance) and the nails holding it together have been inadvertently imbued with souls from Lamentable Moll’s cemeteries. The latter causes the dead to rise in the course of the journey. This and an attack from the sea monsters infesting the channel known as Laughter’s End cause no end of havoc.
“The Healthy Dead” takes place after the first two stories but is not a direct sequel. At the end of “Laughter’s End,” the pursuers of Captain Sater and her crew are closing in on Suncurl but that encounter and its denouement go unmentioned as “The Healthy Dead” opens. This story finds the trio approaching the city of Quaint, which endures the rule of King Macrotus, a healthy-living fanatic. “The Healthy Dead” is the most overtly “preachy” of Erikson’s stories, an allegory about the fascism of good intentions and self-righteous certainty, and the evil that results.
I’m not in love with the characters of Bauchelain and Korbal. And I’m even less of a fan of prose humor generally but the stories are amusing in an elicits-a-chuckle sort of way, not a knee-slapping-laugh-out-loud way. And Erikson shows a flair for good (if ridiculous) names, e.g., Lamentable Moll or Invett Loath, Paladin of Purity, or Well Knight Storkul Purge. If you like Erikson already, then I’d recommend this collection. I’m more hesitant t recommend this to nonfans even though they might enjoy the grisly humor and cynicism of the protagonists.
* For non-Erikson fans: Soletaken are weres able to take a singular form (in Korbal’s case, a raven); as opposed to D’ivers, who are weres who can take multiple forms (like a swarm of rats or spiders).
September 28, 2012
My take on the three novellas in this collection.
Blood Follows
This is the first novella in the ‘A Tale of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach’ series. This is a secondary series to the ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’, whereas The Malazan books are huge and epic, this book is a little murder mystery that shares the same world as The Malazan books. Currently two of the books are available, but it's been three years since the second book. I hope Steven continues this series as it's a nice departure from his epic warmongering novels, and we just get a little story, but we get all the atmosphere of the world setting. Bauchelain and Korbal Broach actually show up in Memories of Ice.
All in all it wasn't a great novel, but it was enjoyable. It was a dark story, as usual, and because of the small scope in comparison to his usual novels, I really like the idea, and await reading further adventures from this series.
The Lee's of Laughter's End
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach have taken passage with a ship and within the mystic waters of The Lees of Laughter's End, they try to raise a lich. Well, that's not all that got raised, a god also decides to make an appearance. And the hapless crew pretty much all get slaughtered, except the one poor fool who has an ear chopped off, then the second ear, then his nose, and finally his toes. It was funny to see what body part he was going to lose next. Black comedy for sure, but Erikson weaves a fun little black story with our two favorite necromancers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. A fun read.
The Healthy Dead
This actually is a re-read. I picked it up and noticed that I've read it before, but hey it’s a short book and I wanted to read it again, so I did. The reason why these novellas set in the Malazan Empire are fun and this story is no exception. It tells another dark comedy adventure of the two necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. This time they've been hired to oust a King of the city of Quaint. The reason being is the King has outlawed alcohol, whoring, and any other vice possible and everybody must be clean, even to the point of the fact if they get caught coughing they will get killed because the person is labeled "unwell". So obviously throw in a couple of necromancers into this hilarious premise and we get a fun dark fantasy story. I liked it, enough to read it twice, so I can easily recommend this story.
The third installment of Erikson's ‘A Tale of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach’, but it falls chronologically as the second book. In a new omnibus of the first three books this is the second story, so I read it after the first novella. This was a funnier story than the first, and it seems to be what Erikson is trying to do. Whereas his novel series within Malazan it is serious, and in this novella series of Malazan he is able to let loose and have some fun. Which is what I, as the reader was put through, a fun story.
December 11, 2014
“— Отвратителна си. — Той преглътна. — Кажи още отвратителни неща.”
Не мога да се сетя за по-подходящ цитат, с който да опиша възхищението си за тази книга.Също така, за пръв път си отбелязвам толкова бележки на четеца, всяка от които ме е забавлявала максимално.
Стивън Ериксън е ОТВРАТИТЕЛНО добър!
Това се доказа (лично за мен), след като може в три разказа да натъпче толкова сарказъм, ирония, идеи и философия, които биха стигнали поне за още една цяла поредица с обем на Малазанската.При това поднесени по завидно интелигентен начин, с неговия специфичен и тук, смея да твърдя, дестилиран до съвършенство стил, за да се получат кратки като обем трите невероятни повести за двамата некроманти и техния слуга .Сравнение трудно бих могъл да направя с друг автор, но, уверявам ви, ако нямате нищо против изпълнените с безсрамно насилие, кървища и бруталности истории, gore хуморът (такова определение ми хрумна и го намирам за адски подходящо) на Ериксън се доближава до нивото на Пратчет.Чел съм (и съм гледал) немалко от жанра на хоръра, може би затова ми допада до такава степен.„И изобщо не изглеждаше уплашен, което означаваше, че е побъркан.“ Но, както бях чел в едно ревю, наистина има вероятност на по-деликатните читатели да им дойде в повече.„И и тримата моряци (или двама моряци и една морячка, която всъщност беше моряк) изведнъж изпитаха ужасна нужда да идат до нужника.“
Струва ми се съвсем подходящо и на място да прочета тази книга, след третата, от десетологията за Малазан, когато вече съм се срещнал с образите на Бочълайн и Корбал Броуч и силно препоръчвам това на всеки, който е запален по поредицата и случайно тепърва я започва като мен.Сега очаквам с нетърпение да продължа да изчета всичко от този автор.
Отдавна не се бях забавлявал така.
ПС – благодарен на Бард за това, че са запазили оригиналната корица!Така съвсем нямам забележки към книгата.
Не мога да се сетя за по-подходящ цитат, с който да опиша възхищението си за тази книга.Също така, за пръв път си отбелязвам толкова бележки на четеца, всяка от които ме е забавлявала максимално.
Стивън Ериксън е ОТВРАТИТЕЛНО добър!
Това се доказа (лично за мен), след като може в три разказа да натъпче толкова сарказъм, ирония, идеи и философия, които биха стигнали поне за още една цяла поредица с обем на Малазанската.При това поднесени по завидно интелигентен начин, с неговия специфичен и тук, смея да твърдя, дестилиран до съвършенство стил, за да се получат кратки като обем трите невероятни повести за двамата некроманти и техния слуга .Сравнение трудно бих могъл да направя с друг автор, но, уверявам ви, ако нямате нищо против изпълнените с безсрамно насилие, кървища и бруталности истории, gore хуморът (такова определение ми хрумна и го намирам за адски подходящо) на Ериксън се доближава до нивото на Пратчет.Чел съм (и съм гледал) немалко от жанра на хоръра, може би затова ми допада до такава степен.„И изобщо не изглеждаше уплашен, което означаваше, че е побъркан.“ Но, както бях чел в едно ревю, наистина има вероятност на по-деликатните читатели да им дойде в повече.„И и тримата моряци (или двама моряци и една морячка, която всъщност беше моряк) изведнъж изпитаха ужасна нужда да идат до нужника.“
Струва ми се съвсем подходящо и на място да прочета тази книга, след третата, от десетологията за Малазан, когато вече съм се срещнал с образите на Бочълайн и Корбал Броуч и силно препоръчвам това на всеки, който е запален по поредицата и случайно тепърва я започва като мен.Сега очаквам с нетърпение да продължа да изчета всичко от този автор.
Отдавна не се бях забавлявал така.
ПС – благодарен на Бард за това, че са запазили оригиналната корица!Така съвсем нямам забележки към книгата.
June 10, 2020
Read this for the podcast. Was delighted. It's not essential, and it's not trying to fill in holes in a "Malazan Canon". Rather Steve just wrote three terrific short stories. Constrained by the format I think he does some great writing and creates tiny worlds.
Sometimes though there is an awful lot of plot for 100 pages!!
Worth checking out if you like his writing for sure.
Sometimes though there is an awful lot of plot for 100 pages!!
Worth checking out if you like his writing for sure.
January 12, 2018
Am scazut o stea din maximul de cinci din pricina numelor absolut aiuritoare ale personajelor din a treia povestire. Alegerile onomastice ale lui Steven Erikson sunt in acest caz.. nefericite.
May 29, 2018
7.5/10
During the writing of the 10-volume epic series Malazan Book of the Fallen - in a world where he and Ian C. Esslemont made together - Steven Erikson started writing some stories of shorter form, and, with his imagination being uncontrollable at the beginning of his literary career, what he created was something wholeheartedly both strange and special: three unusual characters who managed to stand out with their own, very unique personalities as they showed and in their very brief appearance in Memories of Ice .
Here, then, are collected the first three novellas that follow the adventures of the infamous necromancers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and their faithful manservant, Emancipor Reese - known also as ‘Mancy the Unlucky; three adventures of emerging, foreseeable horrors and of irresistible, abundant laughter with the only purpose to leave dumfounded, deprived of any thought and desperately craving for more!
Blood Flows
At the Lamentable City of Moll - a port city that attracts many wonders - an unrest has arisen amidst its people: eleven mysterious murders have occurred into eleven, consecutive nights. Yet, for Emancipor Reese what bothers him most is the loss of his current employer, and with his wife, Subly, and his urchins being over his head all the time he will soon have to seek for a new job. And when for his good luck, or not, he hears about a posting, asking for a manservant, Reese will find himself in the service of two highly strange figures; two figures that will bring him into new adventures and into an unknown destiny.
Meanwhile, Guld - a Sergeant of the City Watch - having undertaken the task of investigating these mysterious cases, wanting to capture the murderer at all costs, will find himself in his own adventures when he falls onto something that he shouldn’t have seen, and the consequences for that may bring him in front of great dangers.
The first novella opens the collection with a simple, yet quite good adventure, introducing us for the first time these peculiar figures - long before their appearance in Memories of Ice - and with Erikson managing to make an interesting plot, holding you focused throughout the story, handling greatly the characters and the mystery that surrounds these murders.
Surely, it has a different, lighter tone than his novels, but carries, too, its own dark moments, showing us at the same time and his talents onto a story of shorter form that doesn’t fail in its purpose to entertain you.
The Lees of Laughter’s End
The open seas, it is said, hides many dangers, and indeed, with the ship Suncurl, Captain Sater and her hapless crew traveling through the Red Road of Laughter’s End these dangers may very quickly become true. But, for Emancipor Reese - leaving behind the Lamentable City of Moll and the events of those dark nights - and his unusual masters, this journey is a good opportunity to improve their mutual relationship - though that’s harder than it seems.
However, the necessary repairs of the ship Suncurl, back at Moll’s port, brought aboard some very restless entities, and when these nightmares emerge from its depths it will put Reese, who was left - mistakenly - as a sacrifice in the nest of a wizened witch’s daughter, Bauchelain, who fell under the influence of a liquor of insatiable lust, Korbal Broach, as he chases a demon of great power, and Heck, Birds and Gust, who are trying to forget the lives they left in Toll’s City, into a great adventure which will prove critical for their survival; an adventure that, if they fail, may lead them even to a fate like they had never imagined.
This novella was originally published a few years after The Healthy Dead, but - chronologically - it is placed right after Blood Flows and its events. Beyond that, however, which may not be of much importance, The Lees of Laughter’s End is probably the best story of this collection - and not unfairly.
Many who have read the novels of the series from Midnight Tides onwards will have noticed how Erikson’s humor has evolved from book-to-book, making his stories not only better, but also a lot more enjoyable. And indeed, that happens and here with Erikson putting all his craft and creating a highly entertaining, enjoyable and hilarious adventure full of incredible and funny situations that - through its darkest moments - manages to offer lots of humor, suspense and great twists and turns, bringing you often at the brink of tears, but without failing to bring also and a strong plot that makes you forget all the rest.
The ending, on the other hand, has its own significance as it introduces some new faces, preparing us for their next adventure in the novella The Wurms of Blearmouth - a story that was written later from this collection but, fear not, it will be collected in the next one.
The Healthy Dead
In the isolated city of Quaint - after the fall of King Nectrotous and his corrupt ways - its people have adapted to a new lifestyle: fallen under the rule of his brother, King Macrotus and his overly obsessive beliefs in their purification through the worship of the Lady of Beneficence, the Goddess of Wellness; a cult that has caused the prohibition of any evil notions and actions - from the greatest to the simplest things that can be considered as weaknesses - and rewarding with sanctification those that achieve to remain healthy.
However, when from a random coincidence of fate, or not, two necromancers get hired by Imid Factallo and Elas Sil - two disappointed Saints - it will fall onto the hands of their faithful manservant, Emancipor Reese, the mission to depose this tyrannical king. But, when initiatives are taken along the way - since no-one told him not to! - and other forces start their own plots of power, a madness will be unleashed among the people of the city of Quaint, and if things become uncontrollable everything may turn very quickly to the worst - much worse indeed!
Continuing four years after Blood Flows - and for the first time seeing them after their adventures in Memories of Ice - the third and last novel of this collection brings something different from the previous two, as Erikson tries to show us here - through a more sarcastic but still quite hilarious writing - how a society immersed in a lifestyle that tries to achieve a false utopia, and thus keeping the soul of themselves healthy, by banning simple everyday things like: choices of foods and liquors, ideas and conceptions, but coming even and to the public mischief of the children and the wailing of the newborns.
It certainly has something more that hides behind it, but nevertheless manages to become a very funny story as Erikson succeeds in passing the message he wants, but also offer at the same time and a strong and extremely entertaining adventure through the protagonists and their unusual situations and challenges that they are faced.
Overall, The First Collected Tales of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach is a good introduction to the world of these three unusual characters, with Steven Erikson succeeding at making some darkly comical, but highly enjoyable adventures full of unceasing humor and hilarious situations, as also offering and a good break from the Malazan Book of the Fallen and its grand scope.
Ελληνική κριτική:
During the writing of the 10-volume epic series Malazan Book of the Fallen - in a world where he and Ian C. Esslemont made together - Steven Erikson started writing some stories of shorter form, and, with his imagination being uncontrollable at the beginning of his literary career, what he created was something wholeheartedly both strange and special: three unusual characters who managed to stand out with their own, very unique personalities as they showed and in their very brief appearance in Memories of Ice .
Here, then, are collected the first three novellas that follow the adventures of the infamous necromancers, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and their faithful manservant, Emancipor Reese - known also as ‘Mancy the Unlucky; three adventures of emerging, foreseeable horrors and of irresistible, abundant laughter with the only purpose to leave dumfounded, deprived of any thought and desperately craving for more!
Blood Flows
At the Lamentable City of Moll - a port city that attracts many wonders - an unrest has arisen amidst its people: eleven mysterious murders have occurred into eleven, consecutive nights. Yet, for Emancipor Reese what bothers him most is the loss of his current employer, and with his wife, Subly, and his urchins being over his head all the time he will soon have to seek for a new job. And when for his good luck, or not, he hears about a posting, asking for a manservant, Reese will find himself in the service of two highly strange figures; two figures that will bring him into new adventures and into an unknown destiny.
Meanwhile, Guld - a Sergeant of the City Watch - having undertaken the task of investigating these mysterious cases, wanting to capture the murderer at all costs, will find himself in his own adventures when he falls onto something that he shouldn’t have seen, and the consequences for that may bring him in front of great dangers.
The first novella opens the collection with a simple, yet quite good adventure, introducing us for the first time these peculiar figures - long before their appearance in Memories of Ice - and with Erikson managing to make an interesting plot, holding you focused throughout the story, handling greatly the characters and the mystery that surrounds these murders.
Surely, it has a different, lighter tone than his novels, but carries, too, its own dark moments, showing us at the same time and his talents onto a story of shorter form that doesn’t fail in its purpose to entertain you.
The Lees of Laughter’s End
The open seas, it is said, hides many dangers, and indeed, with the ship Suncurl, Captain Sater and her hapless crew traveling through the Red Road of Laughter’s End these dangers may very quickly become true. But, for Emancipor Reese - leaving behind the Lamentable City of Moll and the events of those dark nights - and his unusual masters, this journey is a good opportunity to improve their mutual relationship - though that’s harder than it seems.
However, the necessary repairs of the ship Suncurl, back at Moll’s port, brought aboard some very restless entities, and when these nightmares emerge from its depths it will put Reese, who was left - mistakenly - as a sacrifice in the nest of a wizened witch’s daughter, Bauchelain, who fell under the influence of a liquor of insatiable lust, Korbal Broach, as he chases a demon of great power, and Heck, Birds and Gust, who are trying to forget the lives they left in Toll’s City, into a great adventure which will prove critical for their survival; an adventure that, if they fail, may lead them even to a fate like they had never imagined.
This novella was originally published a few years after The Healthy Dead, but - chronologically - it is placed right after Blood Flows and its events. Beyond that, however, which may not be of much importance, The Lees of Laughter’s End is probably the best story of this collection - and not unfairly.
Many who have read the novels of the series from Midnight Tides onwards will have noticed how Erikson’s humor has evolved from book-to-book, making his stories not only better, but also a lot more enjoyable. And indeed, that happens and here with Erikson putting all his craft and creating a highly entertaining, enjoyable and hilarious adventure full of incredible and funny situations that - through its darkest moments - manages to offer lots of humor, suspense and great twists and turns, bringing you often at the brink of tears, but without failing to bring also and a strong plot that makes you forget all the rest.
The ending, on the other hand, has its own significance as it introduces some new faces, preparing us for their next adventure in the novella The Wurms of Blearmouth - a story that was written later from this collection but, fear not, it will be collected in the next one.
The Healthy Dead
In the isolated city of Quaint - after the fall of King Nectrotous and his corrupt ways - its people have adapted to a new lifestyle: fallen under the rule of his brother, King Macrotus and his overly obsessive beliefs in their purification through the worship of the Lady of Beneficence, the Goddess of Wellness; a cult that has caused the prohibition of any evil notions and actions - from the greatest to the simplest things that can be considered as weaknesses - and rewarding with sanctification those that achieve to remain healthy.
However, when from a random coincidence of fate, or not, two necromancers get hired by Imid Factallo and Elas Sil - two disappointed Saints - it will fall onto the hands of their faithful manservant, Emancipor Reese, the mission to depose this tyrannical king. But, when initiatives are taken along the way - since no-one told him not to! - and other forces start their own plots of power, a madness will be unleashed among the people of the city of Quaint, and if things become uncontrollable everything may turn very quickly to the worst - much worse indeed!
Continuing four years after Blood Flows - and for the first time seeing them after their adventures in Memories of Ice - the third and last novel of this collection brings something different from the previous two, as Erikson tries to show us here - through a more sarcastic but still quite hilarious writing - how a society immersed in a lifestyle that tries to achieve a false utopia, and thus keeping the soul of themselves healthy, by banning simple everyday things like: choices of foods and liquors, ideas and conceptions, but coming even and to the public mischief of the children and the wailing of the newborns.
It certainly has something more that hides behind it, but nevertheless manages to become a very funny story as Erikson succeeds in passing the message he wants, but also offer at the same time and a strong and extremely entertaining adventure through the protagonists and their unusual situations and challenges that they are faced.
Overall, The First Collected Tales of Bauchelain & Korbal Broach is a good introduction to the world of these three unusual characters, with Steven Erikson succeeding at making some darkly comical, but highly enjoyable adventures full of unceasing humor and hilarious situations, as also offering and a good break from the Malazan Book of the Fallen and its grand scope.
Ελληνική κριτική:
May 18, 2019
Blood Follows: 2.5 stars
The Lees of Laughter's End: 2 stars
The Healthy Dead: 2.5 stars
Very generously rounded up because I can't bring myself to rate a Malazan book 2 stars.
Hood's marble balls on an anvil, what did I just read?? These three novellas are among the weirdest stuff I've ever read (not neccessarily weird in a negative way, they're just really morbid).
There is the great prose and original ideas, civilisation gets punched in the face and potsherds are mentioned. So why did I not love this? I don't really know myself...
I can't really put my finger on why I didn't love them. I think one problem is that I found it really hard to connect to any characters. Sure, the novellas center around B&KB and their manservant Emancipor, but it would not be an Erikson book without introducing a ton of new characters in every book. Because the stories are so short and yet so much is happening in them I found that the characters more or less bled together and became a bit undistinguishable, especially in the Lees of Laughter's End. Yes, I sometimes had that issue with the main series, too (*cough, Bonehunters, cough*) but there was always the big, epic plot that kept me interested.
These novellas are much lighter in plot and atmosphere but somehow that made me feel more distanced. Sometimes was thinking 'is this really the Malazan world I love so much? Because I somehow don't see it'.
Oh well.
So, would I recommend this? Only if you love the main series.
Do you really have to read this? No.
Should you still try? Hell yes! I can see a lot of good things about these novellas, they just somehow didn't work for me.
The Lees of Laughter's End: 2 stars
The Healthy Dead: 2.5 stars
Very generously rounded up because I can't bring myself to rate a Malazan book 2 stars.
Hood's marble balls on an anvil, what did I just read?? These three novellas are among the weirdest stuff I've ever read (not neccessarily weird in a negative way, they're just really morbid).
There is the great prose and original ideas, civilisation gets punched in the face and potsherds are mentioned. So why did I not love this? I don't really know myself...
I can't really put my finger on why I didn't love them. I think one problem is that I found it really hard to connect to any characters. Sure, the novellas center around B&KB and their manservant Emancipor, but it would not be an Erikson book without introducing a ton of new characters in every book. Because the stories are so short and yet so much is happening in them I found that the characters more or less bled together and became a bit undistinguishable, especially in the Lees of Laughter's End. Yes, I sometimes had that issue with the main series, too (*cough, Bonehunters, cough*) but there was always the big, epic plot that kept me interested.
These novellas are much lighter in plot and atmosphere but somehow that made me feel more distanced. Sometimes was thinking 'is this really the Malazan world I love so much? Because I somehow don't see it'.
Oh well.
So, would I recommend this? Only if you love the main series.
Do you really have to read this? No.
Should you still try? Hell yes! I can see a lot of good things about these novellas, they just somehow didn't work for me.
August 16, 2021
Ідеальний варіант не читаючи десятитомну "Малазанську книгу полеглих" посмакувати стиль і думки Еріксона. Він тут. Все круто. Остання повість це Пратчетт + некромантія 😁
January 24, 2023
I looooved The Healthy Dead, really liked Blood Follows, and did not care for Laughter's End.
May 1, 2023
This book consisted of 3 short stories. My ratings are as follows:
Blood Follows: 3/5
The Lees of Laughter’s End: 4/5
The Healthy Dead: 5/5
Blood Follows: 3/5
The Lees of Laughter’s End: 4/5
The Healthy Dead: 5/5
August 5, 2014
Here's a extract from my review, full link: http://afantasyreader.blogspot.ca/2010/01/bauchelain-and-korbal-broach-review.html
For unknown reasons, the novellas are not in their release order in the omnibus. I was really looking forward to reading these books/novellas and since the individual editions were kind of hard to find at a reasonable price, this book came just at the right time. Funny and impressive would be the words I choose to express my feeling after this wonderful read and here's why.
To sums things up, Blood Follows is the story of how Emancipor Reese came to be the manservant to the two infamous necromancers. The setting is the city of Lamentable Moll and a serial killer is hunting at night. Sergeant Guld is the king's man investigating the murders, poor fellow. The Lees of Laughter's End is set on a ship called Suncurl, in which the necromancers are getting away from Moll. The seas hold dangerous beasts but it's even more deadly inside the hold. As for The Healthy Dead, it's the tale of the degradation of the mighty and imaginary goodness in the city of Quaint, inopportunely visited by the two sorcerers and their butler.
For those of you who read Memories of Ice, a strong connection with Bauchelain, Korbal and Mr. Reese is probably already acquired. Although you don't have to go through the Malazan series to enjoy these stories, it can simply add a nice layer of depth. The references to the gods, the warren-based magic system, the empires and mercenary groups are not legion, but are sort of assumed by the author.
I enjoyed all the novellas, but I have to admit that The Healthy Dead stands out a little. On the other hand, it could not have been what it was without the "real" introduction of the trio (mostly for Emancipor's background) from Blood Follows. The manservant is usually the main PoV and that's a great choice, he's simply baffled by what he goes through and that's something to experience. Bauchelain is much more interesting from this perspective. Aside from those two, most of the protagonists that make the substantial parts are engrossing. I grew easily absorbed even though there's not much time for Erikson to develop them in so short tales.
One of the most defining characteristic about this volume was the humour. Bauchelain is witty, mostly so with Emancipor (poor guy at the wrong place in the wrong moment) and numerous situations are completely absurd. Erikson is known to be able to spice things up with a touch of amusement and kick ass moments, and in this case, he outdone himself. He really used the theme of necromancy in a perversely delicious manner. I believe that the author must have had a lot of fun writing those, you can feel it.
Why should you read this book? If you want a fun ride where you'll grin more often than not, pick it up. This is necromancy at a totally different level, set in unbelievable, well written and vibrating stories. In addition, it's fast read where you'll get pulled in strikingly fast. And lastly, if you're already a Malazan fan, you can't miss this.
May 10, 2024
I just finished my second read of this novella collection and this is my re-review.
Well, just like first time, I flew though this one extremely quickly, basically in one or two sittings. And I enjoyed a lot. I do not understand why these stories have such mixed review. My only theory is that people expect to see more of Malazan Book of the Fallen and in that case... yeah, that is not what this is.
These novellas are clearly about humor, some twisted ideas and typical Eriksonian themes, but presented in very different, satirical way. And as I already said, I love them for it.
The last thing I got to say about the collection as a whole is: If you read Malazan and you enjoy Erikson's humor, give these a go and I do not see how you could be dissapointed. If you do not vibe with his humor, these are not for you, clearly. And if you have not read Malazan, you can read them, but I would advise you to wait after you finish Memories of Ice, because you will have more context + as I said, this collection will not give you a sneak peak to how Malazan is, because it is something completely different.
Now, to individual novellas.
1. Blood Follows
This story probably does not work as good if you have not read Memories of Ice, but if you have, it serves as a perfect introduction to what those stories are going to be like. It is absurdly funny, it gives us brief but telling backstory to the central characters and it sets the tone perfectly. And as a bonus, its plot is not half bad, so it just makes you fly though it instantly. 8/10.
2. The Lees of Laughter's End
The weakest one of the three stories, The Lees of Laughter's End does not really have a strong story or theme attachted to it and it exists purely to provide absurd necromantic comedy. It made me laugh several times and just like other stories from this book, you finish it before you blink, but it definitelly is the least memorable. 7/10.
3. Healthy Dead
Healthy Dead is an excelent example of how Erikson can write utterly ridicilous story, that makes you laugh on every other page, while maintaining interesting plot and even strong themes within it. Just like during my first read, I absolutely loved this novella and would call it one of the best pieces short fiction I have ever read. 10/10.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach Volume One: 8,5/10.
Well, just like first time, I flew though this one extremely quickly, basically in one or two sittings. And I enjoyed a lot. I do not understand why these stories have such mixed review. My only theory is that people expect to see more of Malazan Book of the Fallen and in that case... yeah, that is not what this is.
These novellas are clearly about humor, some twisted ideas and typical Eriksonian themes, but presented in very different, satirical way. And as I already said, I love them for it.
The last thing I got to say about the collection as a whole is: If you read Malazan and you enjoy Erikson's humor, give these a go and I do not see how you could be dissapointed. If you do not vibe with his humor, these are not for you, clearly. And if you have not read Malazan, you can read them, but I would advise you to wait after you finish Memories of Ice, because you will have more context + as I said, this collection will not give you a sneak peak to how Malazan is, because it is something completely different.
Now, to individual novellas.
1. Blood Follows
This story probably does not work as good if you have not read Memories of Ice, but if you have, it serves as a perfect introduction to what those stories are going to be like. It is absurdly funny, it gives us brief but telling backstory to the central characters and it sets the tone perfectly. And as a bonus, its plot is not half bad, so it just makes you fly though it instantly. 8/10.
2. The Lees of Laughter's End
The weakest one of the three stories, The Lees of Laughter's End does not really have a strong story or theme attachted to it and it exists purely to provide absurd necromantic comedy. It made me laugh several times and just like other stories from this book, you finish it before you blink, but it definitelly is the least memorable. 7/10.
3. Healthy Dead
Healthy Dead is an excelent example of how Erikson can write utterly ridicilous story, that makes you laugh on every other page, while maintaining interesting plot and even strong themes within it. Just like during my first read, I absolutely loved this novella and would call it one of the best pieces short fiction I have ever read. 10/10.
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach Volume One: 8,5/10.
November 8, 2019
I've already reviewed each of the novellas in this collection, so I'll simply paste my reviews below.
BLOOD FOLLOWS
I'm back in the Malazan world! And boy does it feel good. The Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas have been on my radar since I finished the main series, but I was waiting for the right time to fit them in. Obviously, I've begun. It was the Fall gloom that did it, I think. The subject matter of this story (and I believe the novellas at large) is rather grim, following as they do the necromancer Bauchelain, and his eunuch associate Korbal Broach. Those who have read the main Malazan series will remember them from the third book, Memories of Ice.
Now. It seems like some folks that read these were expecting more of the same, as far as the main series goes. Expectations of that variety would be a mistake. Blood Follows, and, one assumes, the tales that follow it, are lighter in substance that the main books, if not lighter in tone.
Our story this time takes place on the island of Theft, in the city of Moll; affectionately referred to as Lamentable Moll by most of its residents. That moniker makes sense right from the get-go, as we get our first look at Lamentable Moll in all its barrow-filled, downtrodden glory. It turns out that a killer is on the loose in Moll. Eleven nights running, eleven victims, and no witnesses. No souls, either. Thus the scene is set for our little novella. Malazan fans will also recognize Emancipor Reese, recently out of a job seeing as how his last three employers each were one of the unfortunate eleven. And Hood's new herald isn't exactly the gig he's after. Sergeant Guld, a new character, is our other main POV, and his is the unfortunate job of tracking down the killer.
This was a promising start to the novellas. I found myself enjoying it even more than expected. In fact, I was between four and five stars on my rating, and of course reserve the right to modify that later. I felt right at home with the story, as Erikson displays the witty banter and excellent dialogue that I love so much, and some trademark dark humor throughout. I think he picked a good set of characters to follow for a narrower scope series like this, and I'm excited to see where it goes next.
THE HEALTHY DEAD
The second novella in Steven Erikson's 'Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach' series earns the full five stars with ease. It seemed like he really found his footing in this one, and all the things he was going for in the first book, especially tonally, were achieved and exceeded here. Above all, one gets the sense that he's just having so much fun with these novellas. And when the writer is having a lot of fun, it often translates to the reader having just as much.
The Healthy Dead takes place four years after our first story, Blood Follows. Note that the collection in which I'm reading these actually places The Lees of Laughter's End as the second story, and The Healthy Dead as the third. That is the chronological order. However, I decided to stick with the published order, as I typically do, and read this one first. I do not bemoan my decision at all. So then, four years after Blood Follows our favorite necromancers and Emancipor Reese find themselves at the city of Quaint, in which the recent death of their king has given way to an overzealous cult-following of the Lady of Beneficence, and all things associated with living well. Vices of any and all kinds, big or small, are now not only frowned upon, but punishable offenses (a problem for Emancipor Reese, who happens to be sporting a drug collection so extensive Hunter Thompson would drool), and certain citizens have taken it upon themselves to seek aid, in the form of ones Bauchelain and Korbal Broach.
As I mentioned before, I think Erikson really hit his stride here, and if the other novellas are like this one I think I'm in for a real treat with this series. The Healthy Dead is chock full of that trademark Erikson humor that wavers between subtle quips and utter ridiculousness. Anyone who has read his Malazan work will know what I mean, and will be pleased to find him firing on all cylinders here. In fact, he sets the tone immediately with this message, 'WARNING TO LIFESTYLE FACISTS EVERYWHERE. DON'T READ THIS OR YOU'LL GO BLIND.' Not hard to tell I was in for some fun. When it comes down to it, Erikson is taking these novellas as an opportunity to take things a little less seriously, while still cozy inside his Malazan world. And with characters like Bauchelain and Emancipor Reese at the helm, he has near limitless potential to work with. At one point Bauchelain has Korbal Broach revive the former king (whose corpse happens to be spiked to the wall of Quaint) just so they can chat him up and invite him to partake in a revolution by the city's dead. Oh, and they are both in their Soletaken crow forms. This is the type of weirdness that works so well in novellas like these. Erikson has a knack for that, turning the weird into a delight. I look forward to more.
Quickly, I also wanted to give a shout out to Mike Dringenberg (of renown for his work on Gaiman's Sandman comics) for his cover art contributions for both this story and the first one. His work fits perfectly with the tone.
Do you not realise, Mister Reese, how perfectly diabolical is this king’s genius? Every tyranny imaginable is possible when prefaced by the notion that it is for the well-being of the populace.
THE LEES OF LAUGHTER'S END
I am between three stars and four on this, the third tale of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. I suppose that makes it my 'lowest ranked' of the collection, if you're into that sort of thing. But it was a fun one nevertheless.
The Lees of Laughter's End, though released as the third tale, takes place chronologically before the second and after the first. Immediately after, in fact, as we pick back up with our unlikely trio aboard the Suncurl, the ship they hired to take them away from Lamentable Moll at the end of Blood Follows. Only, it seems that they aren't the only additions to the ship that were made in Moll. And that's just the beginning of the troubles leading up to the blood red straits of Laughter's End. This story takes place during just one night. And what a night it is...
That wraps up the first collection of these novellas. I'll be diving into the fourth story (the beginning of the second collection) soon.
Wizards delegate. One could always tell the wizards who did by the way they sat around in their towers day and night concocting evil schemes of world domination. Somebody else was scrubbing out the bedpan. Wizards who didn’t delegate never had the time to think up a black age of tyranny, much less execute what was necessary to achieve it.
BLOOD FOLLOWS
I'm back in the Malazan world! And boy does it feel good. The Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas have been on my radar since I finished the main series, but I was waiting for the right time to fit them in. Obviously, I've begun. It was the Fall gloom that did it, I think. The subject matter of this story (and I believe the novellas at large) is rather grim, following as they do the necromancer Bauchelain, and his eunuch associate Korbal Broach. Those who have read the main Malazan series will remember them from the third book, Memories of Ice.
Now. It seems like some folks that read these were expecting more of the same, as far as the main series goes. Expectations of that variety would be a mistake. Blood Follows, and, one assumes, the tales that follow it, are lighter in substance that the main books, if not lighter in tone.
Our story this time takes place on the island of Theft, in the city of Moll; affectionately referred to as Lamentable Moll by most of its residents. That moniker makes sense right from the get-go, as we get our first look at Lamentable Moll in all its barrow-filled, downtrodden glory. It turns out that a killer is on the loose in Moll. Eleven nights running, eleven victims, and no witnesses. No souls, either. Thus the scene is set for our little novella. Malazan fans will also recognize Emancipor Reese, recently out of a job seeing as how his last three employers each were one of the unfortunate eleven. And Hood's new herald isn't exactly the gig he's after. Sergeant Guld, a new character, is our other main POV, and his is the unfortunate job of tracking down the killer.
This was a promising start to the novellas. I found myself enjoying it even more than expected. In fact, I was between four and five stars on my rating, and of course reserve the right to modify that later. I felt right at home with the story, as Erikson displays the witty banter and excellent dialogue that I love so much, and some trademark dark humor throughout. I think he picked a good set of characters to follow for a narrower scope series like this, and I'm excited to see where it goes next.
THE HEALTHY DEAD
The second novella in Steven Erikson's 'Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach' series earns the full five stars with ease. It seemed like he really found his footing in this one, and all the things he was going for in the first book, especially tonally, were achieved and exceeded here. Above all, one gets the sense that he's just having so much fun with these novellas. And when the writer is having a lot of fun, it often translates to the reader having just as much.
The Healthy Dead takes place four years after our first story, Blood Follows. Note that the collection in which I'm reading these actually places The Lees of Laughter's End as the second story, and The Healthy Dead as the third. That is the chronological order. However, I decided to stick with the published order, as I typically do, and read this one first. I do not bemoan my decision at all. So then, four years after Blood Follows our favorite necromancers and Emancipor Reese find themselves at the city of Quaint, in which the recent death of their king has given way to an overzealous cult-following of the Lady of Beneficence, and all things associated with living well. Vices of any and all kinds, big or small, are now not only frowned upon, but punishable offenses (a problem for Emancipor Reese, who happens to be sporting a drug collection so extensive Hunter Thompson would drool), and certain citizens have taken it upon themselves to seek aid, in the form of ones Bauchelain and Korbal Broach.
As I mentioned before, I think Erikson really hit his stride here, and if the other novellas are like this one I think I'm in for a real treat with this series. The Healthy Dead is chock full of that trademark Erikson humor that wavers between subtle quips and utter ridiculousness. Anyone who has read his Malazan work will know what I mean, and will be pleased to find him firing on all cylinders here. In fact, he sets the tone immediately with this message, 'WARNING TO LIFESTYLE FACISTS EVERYWHERE. DON'T READ THIS OR YOU'LL GO BLIND.' Not hard to tell I was in for some fun. When it comes down to it, Erikson is taking these novellas as an opportunity to take things a little less seriously, while still cozy inside his Malazan world. And with characters like Bauchelain and Emancipor Reese at the helm, he has near limitless potential to work with. At one point Bauchelain has Korbal Broach revive the former king (whose corpse happens to be spiked to the wall of Quaint) just so they can chat him up and invite him to partake in a revolution by the city's dead. Oh, and they are both in their Soletaken crow forms. This is the type of weirdness that works so well in novellas like these. Erikson has a knack for that, turning the weird into a delight. I look forward to more.
Quickly, I also wanted to give a shout out to Mike Dringenberg (of renown for his work on Gaiman's Sandman comics) for his cover art contributions for both this story and the first one. His work fits perfectly with the tone.
Do you not realise, Mister Reese, how perfectly diabolical is this king’s genius? Every tyranny imaginable is possible when prefaced by the notion that it is for the well-being of the populace.
THE LEES OF LAUGHTER'S END
I am between three stars and four on this, the third tale of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. I suppose that makes it my 'lowest ranked' of the collection, if you're into that sort of thing. But it was a fun one nevertheless.
The Lees of Laughter's End, though released as the third tale, takes place chronologically before the second and after the first. Immediately after, in fact, as we pick back up with our unlikely trio aboard the Suncurl, the ship they hired to take them away from Lamentable Moll at the end of Blood Follows. Only, it seems that they aren't the only additions to the ship that were made in Moll. And that's just the beginning of the troubles leading up to the blood red straits of Laughter's End. This story takes place during just one night. And what a night it is...
That wraps up the first collection of these novellas. I'll be diving into the fourth story (the beginning of the second collection) soon.
Wizards delegate. One could always tell the wizards who did by the way they sat around in their towers day and night concocting evil schemes of world domination. Somebody else was scrubbing out the bedpan. Wizards who didn’t delegate never had the time to think up a black age of tyranny, much less execute what was necessary to achieve it.
February 28, 2013
I enjoyed this collection of short stories and would recommend them to fans who have all ready read a few of his Malazan books. To me these stories didn't really feel like they were set in the same world, but they did offer a nice change of pace to Erikson's usual massive volumes. The humor was nice, if a bit morbid. The hardest thing to get used to was the small chapeters! Some were only 1/2 a page long. I remember one chapter in "The Crippled God" that was 120 pages!
March 3, 2013
I would give this 4 or even 5 starts, but the first tale wasnt as great as the second, and especially the third tale... still great buy and another good book by Erikson, dont feel discouraged by three stars here :)))
November 16, 2013
Neskutečně povedené tři na sebe navazující povídky. Něco podobného bych si chtěl přečíst i o Paličích mostů. To by bylo super. Ale nekromanti byli taky skvělí. I se sluhou.
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