Return of the Crimson Guard

Last updated
Return of the Crimson Guard
ReturnOfTheCrimsonGuardCover.jpg
Paperback edition cover
Author Ian Cameron Esslemont
Cover artistSteve Stone
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series Novels of the Malazan Empire
Genre Fantasy
Published 2008 by PS Publishing (UK) & Bantam (UK & Canada)
Media typePrint (Hardback and Paperback)
Pages743 (PS Publishing edition)
ISBN 0-593-05809-7
OCLC 228196485
813.6
LC Class PS3605.S684
Preceded by Night of Knives  
Followed by Stonewielder  

Return of the Crimson Guard is a fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont, his second book set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen , co-created with friend and colleague Steven Erikson. [1] Chronologically, Return of the Crimson Guard takes place after the events in Erikson's sixth Malazan novel, The Bonehunters . [2] [3] [4] Return of the Crimson Guard is the second of six planned novels by Esslemont to take place in the Malazan world, starting with Night of Knives and followed by Stonewielder. [5]

Contents

Many characters and locations which appear in Return of the Crimson Guard also appear in Erikson's novels as well as Esslemont's Night of Knives. [3]

Plot overview

The novel is set shortly after the events of The Bonehunters. The Malazan Empire is in turmoil following the catastrophic war in Seven Cities and the plague which has devastated the subcontinent and severely disrupted food supplies to Quon Tali, the Empire's home continent. In an attempt to divert the populace's anger elsewhere, the Empress Laseen has pinned the blame for the disaster on the Wickan contingents of the armies in Seven Cities, and a pogrom has been launched into the Wickan homelands. However, this bluff has not succeeded and civil war threatens to tear the Empire apart. Whilst the Malazan Empire teeters on the brink of disaster, the mercenary group known as the Crimson Guard has been summoned back to Quon Tali to take advantage of the chaos and fulfil their century-old vow to liberate their homeland from the occupiers.

Publication history

Return of the Crimson Guard was first published in the United Kingdom by PS Publishing in May 2008 as a limited, two-volume hardcover. Bantam UK published Return of the Crimson Guard in hardcover on 15 August 2008. A two volume limited edition of the novel was also available from PS Publishing. [3] The book was released in North America by Bantam on 16 September 2008. [6]

Critical reception

Publishers Weekly described the novel as "a long, bloody, explosive-filled battle to end all battles" while noting that Esslemont handily outdoes even series co-creator Erikson in evoking the gore and grit of the battlefield. [7] The novel received mostly positive reviews with reviewers praising its relentless, driving pace, [3] [ unreliable source? ] world-building and characterization, [4] [ unreliable source? ] while noting that its size and complexity for its main drawbacks. [2]

Other reviews

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Erikson</span> Canadian fantasy author

Steve Rune Lundin, known by his pseudonym Steven Erikson, is a Canadian novelist who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist.

<i>Gardens of the Moon</i> Book One of Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steve Erikson

Gardens of the Moon, published on April 1, 1999, is the first of ten novels in Canadian author Steven Erikson's high fantasy series the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

<i>Malazan Book of the Fallen</i> Fantasy book series by Steven Erikson

Malazan Book of the Fallen is a series of epic fantasy novels written by the Canadian author Steven Erikson. The series, published by Bantam Books in the U.K. and Tor Books in the U.S., consists of ten volumes, beginning with Gardens of the Moon (1999) and concluding with The Crippled God (2011). Erikson's series presents the narratives of a large cast of characters spanning thousands of years across multiple continents.

<i>House of Chains</i> 2002 novel by Steven Erikson

House of Chains is an epic fantasy novel by Canadian author Steven Erikson, the fourth volume of his series the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It is a direct sequel to the second volume in the series, Deadhouse Gates.

<i>Midnight Tides</i> Book by Steven Erikson

Midnight Tides is the fifth volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Although it is part of the larger series, it has only limited references to the previous books. However, it is not a stand-alone volume as the events of the books Reaper's Gale and Dust of Dreams follow on from it.

<i>The Bonehunters</i>

The Bonehunters is the sixth volume in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The Bonehunters is a direct sequel to the fourth volume, House of Chains, and alludes to events in the fifth, Midnight Tides.

Ian Cameron Esslemont is a Canadian writer. He was trained and has worked as an archaeologist. He is best known for his series Novels of the Malazan Empire, which is set in the same world as the Malazan Book of the Fallen epic fantasy series written by his friend and collaborator, Steven Erikson. Esslemont is the co-creator of the Malazan world.

<i>Night of Knives</i>

Night of Knives is the first novel of the Novels of the Malazan Empire series by Canadian author Ian Esslemont, set after the prologue, but before the main body of Gardens of the Moon, the first novel in the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

<i>The Healthy Dead</i> 2004 novella by Steven Erikson

The Healthy Dead is a novella by Canadian author Steven Erikson, set in the world of his Malazan Book of the Fallen epic fantasy series. It continues the story line of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and Emancipor Reese, three characters who had a cameo appearance in the novel Memories of Ice and were the focus for the previous novella, Blood Follows.

<i>Orb Sceptre Throne</i>

Orb Sceptre Throne is the fourth fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Orb Sceptre Throne is the fourth of six novels by Esslemont to take place in the Malazan world.

<i>Assail</i> (novel)

Assail is the sixth and final volume of the Novels of the Malazan Empire series by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. The novel is set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson.

<i>Forge of Darkness</i>

Forge of Darkness is the first novel of The Kharkanas Trilogy by Canadian author Steven Erikson, set before the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

The Kharkanas Trilogy is an epic fantasy series by the Canadian writer Steven Erikson. The series consists of three novels, two of which—Forge of Darkness and Fall of Light—have been published as of 2023. The series serves as a prequel to Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, and tells the story of the Tiste, Jaghut and Azathanai, three hundred thousand years before the Malazan Empire began its conquest on Genabackis, with a focus on characters such as Anomander Rake, Draconus, Hood, Gothos and K'rul. The series draws inspiration from the Shakespearean declamation style, and is framed as being told by one poet to another. It was received positively by critics as well as readers.

<i>Fall of Light</i>

Fall of Light is the second novel in the Kharkanas Trilogy written by Canadian author Steven Erikson. The story is divided into three main plot threads told from major and minor character POVs. The first tells the story of the Tiste race as they struggle to find their place in a society now divided into three factions — Andii, Liosan and Deniers — and which is on the brink of civil war. The second tells the story of the Jaghut who have now declared war against Death itself, and of various groups and races who have answered this call to arms. And the last tells the story of the Azathanai K'rul who has gifted the world sorcery, yet now finds himself vulnerable against his own kin.

<i>Dancers Lament</i>

Dancer's Lament is the first novel of the Path to Ascendancy trilogy by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. Set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Dancer's Lament tells the story of the founding of the Malazan empire.

<i>Toll the Hounds</i> Eighth book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series

Toll the Hounds is the eighth novel in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It was first published on June 30, 2008 in the UK and Canada, and on September 16, 2008 in the USA.

List of complete works by Canadian fantasy fiction author Steven Erikson.

<i>Deadhouse Landing</i> 2017 novel by Ian Cameron Esslemont

Deadhouse Landing is the second novel of the Path to Ascendancy trilogy by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. Set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Deadhouse Landing tells the story of the founding of the Malazan empire.

<i>Kellanveds Reach</i>

Kellanved's Reach is the third novel of the Path to Ascendancy series by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. Set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Kellanved's Reach tells the story of the founding of the Malazan empire.

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Jeremly L. C. (2009). "The Minimal and Finely Focused Fantasy of Ian C. Esslemont". Clarkesworld Magazine. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 Cilli, Dominic (2009). "Return of the Crimson Guard: A Novel of the Malazan Empire". SFSite.com. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Whitehead, Adam (19 September 2008). "Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian Cameron Esslemont". The Wertzone. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Return of the Crimson Guard". Fantasy Hotlist. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Novels of the Malazan Empire". Macmillan. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Esslemont, Ian. Return of the Crimson Guard. Bantam Books, 2008, p. 4.
  7. ↑ "Return of the Crimson Guard". Publishers Weekly . 1 April 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.