The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen (2 page)

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.

GARDENS OF THE MOON: BOOK ONE OF THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN

Maps by Neil Gower

Originally published in Great Britain in 1999 by Bantam Books, a division of Transworld Publishers

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.

The Library of Congress has catalogued the hardcover edition as follows:

Erikson, Steven.
    Gardens of the moon / Steven Erikson.
        p. cm.
    “A Tom Doherty Associates Book.”
    ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-1001-9
    ISBN-10: 0-7653-1001-5
    1. Fantasy fiction. I. Title.
    PR9199.4.E745 G37 2004
    823’.92—dc22
                                                                                                                            2004301319

ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-2288-3 (trade paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7653-2288-9 (trade paperback)

0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

eISBN 9781429926584

This novel is dedicated to

I. C. E
SSLEMONT

worlds to conquer worlds to share

Acknowledgments

No novel is ever written in isolation. The author wishes to thank the following for their support over the years: Clare Thomas, Bowen, Mark Paxton-MacRae, David Keck, Courtney, Ryan, Chris and Rick, Mireille Theriacelt, Dennis Valdron, Keith Addison, Susan, David and Harriet, Clare and David Thomas Jr, Chris Rodell, Patrick Carroll, Kate Peach, Peter Knowlson, Rune, Kent and Val and the kids, my tireless agent Patrick Walsh, and Simon Taylor, one terrific editor.

Dramatis Personae
The Malazan Empire

O
NEARM’S
H
OST

Tattersail
, Cadre Sorceress, 2nd Army, a reader of the Deck of Dragons

Hairlock
, Cadre Mage, 2nd Army, an unpleasant rival of Tayschrenn

Calot
, Cadre Mage, 2nd Army, Tattersail’s lover

Toc the Younger
, scout, 2nd Army, a Claw agent badly scarred at the Siege of Pale

T
HE
B
RIDGEBURNERS

Sergeant Whiskeyjack
, 9th Squad, past commander of the 2nd Army

Corporal Kalam
, 9th Squad, an ex-Claw from Seven Cities

Quick Ben
, 9th Squad, a Seven Cities Mage

Sorry
, 9th Squad, a deadly killer in the guise of a young girl

Hedge
, 9th Squad, a sapper

Fiddler
, 9th Squad, a sapper

Trotts
, 9th Squad, a Barghast warrior

Mallet
, 9th Squad, the squad healer

Sergeant Antsy
, 7th Squad

Picker
, 7th Squad

T
HE
I
MPERIAL
C
OMMAND

Ganoes Stabro Paran
, a noble-born officer in the Malazan Empire

Dujek Onearm
, High Fist, Malazan Armies, Genabackis Campaign

Tayschrenn
, High Mage to the Empress

Bellurdan
, High Mage to the Empress

Nightchill
, High Sorceress to the Empress

A’Karonys
, High Mage to the Empress

Lorn
, Adjunct to the Empress

Topper
, Commander of the Claw

Empress Laseen
, Ruler of the Malazan Empire

H
OUSE
P
ARAN
(U
NTA
)

Tavore
, Ganoes’ sister (middle-child)

Felisin
, Ganoes’ youngest sister

Gamet
, House Guard and veteran

I
N THE
E
MPEROR’S
T
IME

Emperor Kellanved
, the founder of the Empire, assassinated by Laseen

Dancer
, the Emperor’s chief adviser, assassinated by Laseen

Surly
, Laseen’s old name when Commander of the Claw

Dassem Ultor
, the First Sword of Empire, killed outside Y’ghatan, Seven Cities

Toc
(the Elder), disappeared in Laseen’s purges of the Old Guard

In Darujhistan

T
HE
P
HOENIX
I
NN
R
EGULARS

Kruppe
, a man of false modesty

Crokus Younghand
, a young thief

Rallick Nom
, an assassin in the Guild

Murillio
, a courtier

Coll
, a drunk

Meese
, a regular

Irilta
, a regular

Scurve
, the barman

Sulty
, a serving woman

Chert
, an unlucky bully

T
HE
T
’ORRUD
C
ABAL

Baruk
, a High Alchemist

Derudan
, a Witch of Tennes

Mammot
, a High Priest of D’riss and eminent scholar, uncle to Crokus

Travale
, a pious soldier of the Cabal

Tholis
, a High Mage

Parald
, a High Mage

T
HE
C
OUNCIL

Turban Orr
, a powerful councilman and Simtal’s lover

Lim
, an ally of Turban Orr

Simtal
, Lady of Simtal Estate

Estraysian D’Arle
, a rival of Turban Orr

Challice D’Arle
, his daughter

T
HE
G
UILD OF
A
SSASSINS

Vorcan
, Mistress of the Guild (also known as the Master of Assassins)

Ocelot
, Rallick Nom’s Clan Leader

Talo Krafar
, an assassin of Jurrig Denatte’s Clan

Krute of Talient
, an agent of the Guild

A
LSO IN THE
C
ITY

The Eel
, a rumoured master-spy

Circle Breaker
, an agent of the Eel

Vildrom
, a city guard

Captain Stillis
, Captain of Guard, Simtal Estate

Further Players

T
HE
T
ISTE
A
NDII

Anomander Rake
, Lord of Moon’s Spawn, Son of Darkness, Knight of Darkness

Serrat
, second-in-command to Rake

Korlat
, a night-hunter and blood-kin to Serrat

Orfantal
, a night-hunter

Horult
, a night-hunter

T
HE
T’
LAN
I
MASS

Logros
, Commander of the T’lan Imass Clans serving the Malazan Empire

Onos T’oolan
, a clanless warrior

Pran Chole
, a Bonecaster (shaman) of the Kron T’lan Imass

Kig Aven
, a Clan Leader

O
THERS

Crone
, a Great Raven and servant to Anomander Rake

Silanah
, an Eleint and companion to Anomander Rake

Raest
, a Jaghut Tyrant

K’rul
, an Elder God, the Maker of Paths

Caladan Brood
, the warlord, opposing the Malazan armies in the North Campaign

Kallor
, Brood’s second-in-command

Prince K’azz D’Avore
, Commander of the Crimson Guard

Jorrick Sharplance
, a Crimson Guard officer

Cowl
, a High Mage in the Crimson Guard

Corporal Blues
, Sixth Blade of the Crimson Guard

Fingers
, Sixth Blade of the Crimson Guard

The Hound Baran
, a Hound of Shadow

The Hound Blind
, a Hound of Shadow

The Hound Gear
, a Hound of Shadow

The Hound Rood
, a Hound of Shadow

The Hound Shan
, a Hound of Shadow

The Hound Doan
, a Hound of Shadow

The Hound Ganrod
, a Hound of Shadow

Shadowthrone/Ammanas
, Ruler of the Warren of Shadow

The Rope/Cotillion
, Companion of Shadowthrone and Patron of Assassins

Icarium
, Builder of the Wheel of Ages in Darujhistan

Mappo
, Icarium’s companion

The Pannion Seer
, a Prophet Tyrant ruling the Pannion Domin

Now these ashes have grown cold, we open the old book.
These oil-stained pages recount the tales of the Fallen,
a frayed empire, words without warmth. The hearth
has ebbed, its gleam and life’s sparks are but memories
against dimming eyes – what cast my mind, what hue my
thoughts as I open the Book of the Fallen
and breathe deep the scent of history?
Listen, then, to these words carried on that breath.
These tales are the tales of us all, again yet again.
We are history relived and that is all, without end that is all.

The Emperor is dead!

So too his right hand—now cold, now severed!

But mark these dying shadows,

twinned and flowing bloody and beaten,

down and away from mortal sight . . .

From sceptre’s rule dismissed,

from gild candelabra the light now fled,

from a hearth ringed in hard jewels,

seven years this warmth has bled . . .

The Emperor is dead.

So too his master’d companion, the rope cut clean.

But mark this burgeoning return—