Rating: 
Summary: Magic, divine intervention and no motives...
Review: Basically this is a fantasy novel set in the middle of a particularly brutal war that has been going on forever. No motive for anything is given anywhere (i.e. why people are fighting, etc.) which is, for me, very annoying because everything every character does is distasteful to that character yet they do it anyway, which makes it hard to like any of the characters. It's also not the type of fantasy I like because this is what I would call "power-fantasy" - every character is extremely powerful. If my review is beginning to sound like a role-playing review that is because the book does have a very role-playing quality to it (which I don't think is a good thing). It's a very high magic setting. I like magic to be subtle and rare, whereas every page of this book has massive pyrotechnic warfare between near-immmortal wizards. At least two characters get resurrected and the gods intervene in every chapter. Not my thing. I prefer something more subtle and realistic.
Rating: 
Summary: Who is the hero?
Review: The question who are the heroes in this book is quite difficult to answer. During the story you see the world from the point of view of multiple characters. I found myself sympathising with nearly all the characters even though they sometimes acted in conflict with each other. I found this aspect of the book enjoyable.However the number of characters and their conflicting goals means that this is a book that gains from a second reading, meaning that on the first reading it can be complicated to try and sort out exactly what is happening. The biggest downside of the book for me was the lack of background depth, I am still after my second reading still confused as to how the characters arrived in their present situation, and have a scanty understanding of how the world as a whole operates.
Rating: 
Summary: Deadhouse Gates
Review: As Bantam, for some inexplicable reason, persists in delaying publication of Steven Erikson's books in the States, I wanted to announce for those of you listening---and for those of you who are unfamiliar with the author but should be---that the sequel to "Gardens of the Moon has been released in Britain, and is available through amazon.co.uk. And yes, in many ways it is even better than the original. If you prefer fantasy that draws upon the familiar, the tried and true as well as tired conventions, a storyline that is easily recognized and with which you are already well acquainted, with a main character whose adventures you can readily follow and a plot that is simple and linear, this is not the book for you. Shifting between a rich and varied cast of characters, with events taking place at a pace that at times leaves the reader breathless, this vivid and multifaceted tale contains enough material to fill another author's ten books. And, despite all the twists and turns confronting the narrative, rarely does the story ever lag or falter, instead hurtling on through a world so richly imagined and textured that any other writer must look on in wonder and envy---I know I certainly do. Stephen Donaldson has hailed the author's imagination as being "vast in scope" and "almost frighteningly fecund." I could not agree more. This is a work that demands the reader's attention: so much is taking place that if you blink you may miss it. Though at times the author's prolific weaving of plot threads and imaginative furies can almost overreach themselves, never once is the reader left long dangling, instead swept back into the maelstrom of events and worlds that not so much unfold as rush to be revealed, anticipation racing over every page. Even in rare moments, when the narrative's aims seem unclear, the vivid writing holds one spellbound. Quite an accomplishment, and not for the faint of heart. Without a doubt, one of the best books of the year. There's a new voice in fantasy, one as ringing and exuberant and clear as a legion's clarion call, and it belongs to Steven Erikson.
Rating: 
Summary: Purple Prose
Review: If verbosity and laconic description of suffering gets you to the hall of fame in the field of fantasy steven ericson has arrived there now. With purple prose and a nearly unbearable style this very elongated tale is filled with cliche! To mention a few: the evil empress the ambitious high wizard the zynic young warrior the good and homey whitch the flying city (thanks to ken bulmer and r. vardeman) unspeakable elder races verbose thiefes empty and vain eldermen (thanks to relaity) and all this is mixed into a jumble and drawn out into a long indigestible dough.
Rating:
Summary: Steven Erikson
Review: If god wrote a book he wrote this. Erikson is without a doubt the most impressive author I've seen in years. This book is THE definition of what a fantasy book should be like. His characters are real and so easy to relate to, his world is as complex as ours and his magics are original. I'm currently reading this book for the third time round and waiting for the sequel to come out. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a fantastic read!
Rating: 
Summary: the scales are balanced in this one!
Review: the scales are balanced in this book. There are very good reasons why one should not even bother buying the book, and then there are reasons why one should buy and read the book. Steven Erikson is a very good suspense writer, but lacks the skills to deftly introduce complex characters and sub-plots. He uses the aid of a Dramatis Personae and a glossary. A glossary is forgivable, but having both is indicative of poor writing skills with regards to characters and complex themes prevalent throughout the book. The fact that there is no clear protagonist is irkesome. The plots seems to focus on Capt.Paran and then jumps to another central character Crokus. Granted both are important to the book's progression, but the fact that the readers is abruptly jerked to another location, different scene, and one has to get to love a(the second on, that is). Erikson developed an interesting mythology - Ascendents - or gods as we know them - have provided a refreshing take on the whole plot. Another irksome dimension is that fantasy readers are used to the fact that gods, or ascendents in this case, are to be all-powerful, all-knowing, but that illusion is shattered. Granted that originality is central to success, but even then one should conform to the dictates of the market. I am all for the art of writing, but Erikson carries it to extremes. What really got me through the book was my human need to know what in the heck is going to happen next. I know the empress is the bad person, but what of anomander Rake? I suppose there are no heroes in this one. What was truely disturbing was the excessive bloodletting and the detailed murders prevalent in the book. A bit on the extreme side, but it did take the reader away from the monotony of a twisted political climate. Some part of the book is hauntingly familiar. Stalwart fantasy readers, if reading the book carefully, can see faint traces of David Eddings and Raymond E feist. In conclusion i have to say that Steven Erikson can become one of the greatest fantasy writers if he only schucked the deep-seated need to not cram every esoteric and complex character into x amount of pages and botch the job at that. He can go a long way, if his work is not so similar to janny Wurts. As i told a friend:"All that the book needs is a good editor!"
Rating:
Summary: Complex but great
Review: Great book, with complex plot. Like everyone else I am waiting for the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Too much, too soon
Review: Gave up when major characters were still being introduced around page 200. After a promising beginning focusing on Paran, Erikson starts jumping all over the place. It's hard to follow the plot, and even harder to care about the never-ending stream of characters that keep arriving on centre stage. It's a shame, because Erikson does a very good job in spots. A good editor would've made a world of difference. As it is, though, the book is all but unreadable.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Review: Gardens of the Moon is an astounding book. The world and its politics are extremely complex, yet not too hard to follow. The storyline is full of twists and surprises. Once you get half way through, you will not put it down! I only hope that Steven Erikson was able to keep the next books in the series as absorbing. Well worth reading!
Rating:
Summary: Hey buddy, can you spare a protagonist?
Review: I've finished book one (the first 123 pages)and I just can't go on. This book suffers from having too many characters, introduced too quickly- virtually all without description. The protagonist (Paran?) gets lost in a world of complex magics and places. The author takes little time to establish who the story is about and, more importantly, why we should care. There is certainly a great deal of invention and detail here. Impressive in fact. On reflection: I'd like to see the book edited further. I'd like to see just a single character- Tattersail or Hairlock perhaps- plucked out of the book and have a good tail spun around them. I'm going to put this epic away on the bookshelf now. I hope I havn't detered anyone from purchasing it.
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