The Crippled God
The Bonehunters are marching to Kolanse, and to an unknown fate. Tormented and exhausted, they are an army on the brink of mutiny. But Adjunct Tavore will not relent. If she can hold her forces together, if the fragile alliances she had forged can survive and if it is within her power, one final act remains. For Tavore Paran means to challenge the gods.
Ranged against Tavore and her allies are formidable foes. The Fokrul Assail are drawing upon a terrible power; their desire is to cleanse the world – to eradicate every civilization, to annihilate every human – in order to begin anew. The Elder Gods, too, are seeking to return. And to do so, they will shatter the chains that bind a force of utter devastation and release her from her eternal prison. It seems that, once more, there will be dragons in the world.
And in Kurald Galain, where the once-lost city of Kharkanas has been found, thousands have gathered upon the First Shore. Commanded by Yedan Derryg, they await the coming of the Tiste Liosan. Are they truly ready to die in the name of an empty city and a queen with no subjects?
In every world there comes a time when choice is no longer an option – a moment when the soul is laid bare and there is nowhere left to turn. And when this last hard truth is faced, when compassion is a virtue on its knees, what is there left to do? Now that time is come – now is the moment to proclaim your defiance and make a stand…
And so begins the final cataclysmic chapter in Steven Erikson’s extraordinary, genre-defining ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’.
A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, archaeologist and anthropologist
Steven Erikson
recently moved back to the UK from Canada and now lives in Cornwall. His début fantasy novel,
Gardens of the Moon
, marked the opening chapter in the epic ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’ sequence, which has been hailed as one of the most significant works of fantasy of this millennium.
To find out more, visit
www.stevenerikson.com
and
www.malazanempire.com
Also by Steven Erikson
GARDENS OF THE MOON
DEADHOUSE GATES
MEMORIES OF ICE
HOUSE OF CHAINS
MIDNIGHT TIDES
THE BONEHUNTERS
REAPER’S GALE
TOLL THE HOUNDS
DUST OF DREAMS
THE FIRST COLLECTED TALES OF
BAUCHELAIN & KORBAL BROACH
A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Steven Erikson
This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781409010845
TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
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First published in Great Britain in 2011 by Bantam Press an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Copyright © Steven Erikson 2011
Steven Erikson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBNs 9780593046357 (cased)
9780593046364 (tpb)
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2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
Book Two
: All the takers of my days
Book Three
: To charge the spear
Book Four
: The fists of the world
Book Five
: A hand upon the fates
Book Seven
: Your private shore
Many years ago one man took a chance on an unknown writer and his first fantasy novel – a novel that had already gone the rounds of publishers a few times without any luck. Without him, without his faith and, in the years that followed, his unswerving commitment to this vast undertaking, there would be no ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’. It has been my great privilege to work with a single editor from start to finish, and so I humbly dedicate
The Crippled God
to my editor and friend, Simon Taylor.
My deepest gratitude is accorded to the following people. My advance readers for their timely commentary on this manuscript which I foisted on them at short notice and probably inopportune times: A. P. Canavan, William Hunter, Hazel Hunter, Baria Ahmed and Bowen Thomas-Lundin. And the staff of The Norway Inn in Perranarworthal, the Mango Tango and Costa Coffee in Falmouth, all of whom participated in their own way in the writing of this novel.
Also, a heartfelt thank you to all my readers, who (presumably) have stayed with me through to this, the tenth and final novel of the ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’. I have enjoyed our long conversation. What’s three and a half million words between friends?
I could well ask the same question of my publishers. Thank you for your patience and support. The unruly beast is done, and I can hear your relieved sighs.
Finally, my love and gratitude to my wife, Clare Thomas, who suffered through the ordeal of not just this novel, but all those that preceded it. I think it was your mother who warned you that marrying a writer was a dicey proposition …
In addition to those in
Dust of Dreams
THE MALAZANS
Himble Thrup
Seageant Gaunt-Eye
Corporal Rib
Lap Twirl
Sad
Burnt Rope
THE HOST
Ganoes Paran, High Fist and Master of the Deck
High Mage Noto Boil
Outrider Hurlochel
Fist Rythe Bude
Captain Sweetcreek
Imperial Artist Ormulogun
Warleader Mathok
Bodyguard T’morol
Gumble
THE KHUNDRYL
Widow Jastara
THE SNAKE
Sergeant Cellows
Corporal Nithe
Sharl
THE T’LAN IMASS: THE UNBOUND
Urugal the Woven
Thenik the Shattered
Beroke Soft Voice
Kahlb the Silent Hunter
Halad the Giant
THE TISTE ANDII
Nimander Golit
Spinnock Durav
Korlat
Skintick
Desra
Dathenar Gowl
Nemanda
THE JAGHUT: THE FOURTEEN
Gathras
Sanad
Varandas
Haut
Suvalas
Aimanan
Hood
THE FORKRUL ASSAIL: THE LAWFUL INQUISITORS
Reverence
Serenity
Equity
Placid
Diligence
Abide
Aloft
Calm
Belie
Freedom
Grave
THE WATERED: THE TIERS OF LESSER ASSAIL
Amiss
Exigent
Hestand
Festian
Kessgan
Trissin
Melest
Haggraf
THE TISTE LIOSAN
Kadagar Fant
Aparal Forge
Iparth Erule
Gaelar Throe
Eldat Pressan
OTHERS
Absi
Spultatha
K’rul
Kaminsod
Munug
Silanah
Apsal’ara
Tulas Shorn
D’rek
Gallimada
Korabas
