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Authors: Steven Erikson

Dust of Dreams

BOOK: Dust of Dreams
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Dust
of Dreams

 

 

 

 

Also by Steven Erikson

 

Gardens of the Moon

Dead house Gates

Memories of Ice

House of Chains

Midnight Tides

The Bonehunters

Reaper’s Gale

Toll the Hounds

STEVEN ERIKSON

Dust
of Dreams

B
OOK
N
INE OF
T
HE
M
ALAZAN
B
OOK OF THE
F
ALLEN

A TOM DOHERTY ASSOCIATES BOOK
NEW YORK

 

 

 

 

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

DUST OF DREAMS: BOOK NINE OF THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN

Copyright © 2009 by Steven Erikson

First published in Great Britain by Bantam Press, a division of Transworld Publishers

All rights reserved.

Map by Neil Gower

A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Erikson, Steven.

Dust of dreams / Steven Erikson. — 1st ed.

   p. cm. —(The Malazan book of the fallen ; bk. 9)

“A Tom Doherty Associates book.”

ISBN 978-0-7653-1009-5 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-7653-1655-4 (trade paperback)

I. Title.

PR9199.4.E745D87 2010

813'.6—dc22

2009040411

First U.S. Edition: January 2010

Printed in the United States of America

0  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

 

 

 

 

Ten years ago I received an endorsement from a most
unexpected source, from a writer I respected and admired.
The friendship born in that moment is one I deeply treasure.
With love and gratitude, I dedicate this novel
to Stephen R. Donaldson.

Contents

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

A
UTHOR’S
N
OTE

M
AP

D
RAMATIS
P
ERSONAE

 

P
ROLOGUE

B
OOK
O
NE
     
The Sea Does Not Dream Of You

B
OOK
T
WO
     
Eaters of Diamonds and Gems

B
OOK
T
HREE
  
Only the Dust Will Dance

B
OOK
F
OUR
    
The Path Forever Walked

Acknowledgments

Commenting on the first half of a very long, two-volume novel is not an easy task. My thanks (and sympathy) go to William Hunter, Hazel Kendall, Bowen Thomas-Lundin, and Aidan-Paul Canavan for their percipience and forbearance. Appreciation also goes to the staff at The Black Stilt and Café Macchiato in Victoria who were very understanding in my surrender to caffeine-free coffee. Thanks too to Clare Thomas; and special gratitude goes to my students in the writing workshop I have been conducting for the past few months. Shannon, Margaret, Shigenori, Brenda, Jade, and Lenore: you have helped remind me what fiction writing is all about.

Author’s Note

While I am, of course, not known for writing door-stopper tomes, the conclusion of ‘The Malazan Book of the Fallen’ was, to my mind, always going to demand something more than modern bookbinding technology could accommodate. To date, I have avoided writing cliff-hangers, principally because as a reader I always hated having to wait to find out what happens. Alas,
Dust of Dreams
is the first half of a two-volume novel, to be concluded with
The Crippled God
. Accordingly, if you’re looking for resolutions to various story-threads, you won’t find them. Also, do note that there is no epilogue and, structurally,
Dust of Dreams
does not follow the traditional arc for a novel. To this, all I can ask of you is, please be patient. I know you can do it: after all, you have waited this long, haven’t you?

Steven Erikson

Victoria, B.C.

Dramatis Personae
The Malazans

Adjunct Tavore

High Mage Quick Ben

Fist Keneb

Fist Blistig

Captain Lostara Yil

Banaschar

Captain Kindly

Captain Skanarow

Captain Faradan Sort

Captain Ruthan Gudd

Captain Fast

Captain Untilly Rum

Lieutenant Pores

Lieutenant Raband

Sinn

Grub

The Squads

Sergeant Fiddler

Corporal Tarr

Koryk

Smiles

Bottle

Corabb Bhilan Thenu’alas

Cuttle

Sergeant Gesler

Corporal Stormy

Shortnose

Flashwit

Mayfly

Sergeant Cord

Corporal Shard

Limp

Ebron

Crump (Jamber Bole)

Sergeant Hellian

Corporal Touchy

Corporal Brethless

Balgrid

Maybe

Sergeant Balm

Corporal Deadsmell

Throatslitter

Galt

Lobe

Widdershins

Sergeant Thom Tissy

Tulip

Gullstream

Sergeant Urb

Corporal Reem

Masan Gilani

Saltlick

Scant

Sergeant Sinter

Corporal Pravalak Rim

Honey

Strap Mull

Shoaly

Lookback

Sergeant Badan Gruk

Corporal Ruffle

Skim

Nep Furrow

Reliko

Vastly Blank

Sergeant Primly

Corporal Kisswhere

Hunt

Mulvan Dreader

Neller

Skulldeath

Drawfirst

 

Dead Hedge

Alchemist Bavedict

Sergeant Sunrise

Sergeant Nose Stream

Corporal Sweetlard

Corporal Rumjugs

The Khundryl

Warleader Gall

Hanavat (Gall’s wife)

Jarabb

Shelemasa

Vedith

The Perish Grey
Helms

Mortal Sword Krughava

Shield Anvil Tanakalian

Destriant Run’Thurvian

The Letherii

King Tehol

Queen Janath

Chancellor Bugg

Ceda Bugg

Treasurer Bugg

Yan Tovis (Twilight)

Yedan Derryg (the Watch)

Brys Beddict

Atri-Ceda Aranict

Shurq Elalle

Skorgen Kaban

Ublala Pung

Witch Pully

Witch Skwish

Brevity

Pithy

Rucket

Ursto Hoobutt

Pinosel

The Barghast

Warleader Onos Toolan

Hetan

Stavi

Storii

Warchief Stolmen

Warlock Cafal

Strahl

Bakal

Warchief Maral Eb

Skincut Ralata

Awl Torrent

Setoc of the Wolves

The Snake

Rutt

Held

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