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![]() Tor 2nd Cover | |
Author | Steven Erikson |
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Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Series | Malazan Book of the Fallen |
Genre | High Fantasy |
Publisher | Bantam (UK & Canada) Tor Books (USA) |
Publication date | 30 June 2008 (UK & Canada) 16 September 2008 (USA) |
Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) Audiobook Ebook |
Pages | 1,296 (Bantam paperback) |
ISBN | 0-593-04638-2 (Bantam paperback) |
Preceded by | Reaper's Gale |
Followed by | Dust of Dreams |
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.
Toll the Hounds centers around the legacy of Anomander Rake, Lord of the Tiste Andii, and the convergence of various powers in the city of Darujhistan.
In an interview, Erikson has stated that he found it a bit difficult to write the novel because of personal issues. The issue, from subsequent Q&A's and interviews, was revealed to be the death of his father. [1]
When asked about the unique and divisive tone and style of the novel, Steven Erikson stated that he had planned to write the novel with Kruppe's voice "from very early on in the series". [2]
Many of the characters from Gardens of the Moon and Memories of Ice make a return in this novel.
The prologue is divided into four separate scenes.
The first is in a "necropolis of sorts", where two people, who are revealed to be dead, witness a meeting between Hood, Edgewalker, Shadowthrone and Anomander Rake, though they are not privy to what is discussed.
The second is set in the realm of Dragnipur, where it is suggested that the Wagon is becoming very difficult to pull, as more souls keep dying. While on the horizon, Chaos steadily advances on the Gate of Kurald Galain.
The third scene plays out in a village, where two girls notice the departure of a dog, and decide to follow.
And the last scene is by a fire on an empty plain (likely in Kruppe's dream world), where Kruppe asks K'rul to witness him dance.
The retired Bridgeburners are enjoying their retirement when Assassins from the Assassins' Guild suddenly come after them, though the assassins soon discover that the Bridgeburners aren't easy marks.
Spite and her companions arrive in Darujhistan, and go their separate ways. Crokus, under the alias Cutter, is anxious at the thought of being reunited with his old friends of the Phoenix Inn, while Barathol seeks anonymity in the city.
Mappo Runt is anxious to find Icarium, who is on the Letheri continent. He hires the Trygalle Trade Guild to take him to that distant continent and is accompanied by Gruntle, who does this because he is irritated by all the attention from the acolytes and priestess of Trake, the new God of War.
Itkovian's sacrifice (in Memories of Ice) gave birth to a new cult (the cult of the Redeemer), propelling him to godhood. But another god is out there to bend and corrupt the cult. And only a former Seerdomin appears to stand in that god's path.
Anomander Rake, the Son of Darkness, asks Endest Silann, the broken High Mage of Moon's Spawn, and Spinnock Durav, the wandering Tiste Andii warrior, to do what must be done, as he senses many things coming.
As Karsa Orlong and Samar Dev traverse the Plain of Lamatath, they encounter Traveller. Someone, Karsa realizes, not even he can cross.
Clip leads Nimander Golit and the others toward Black Coral, where his confrontation with the Son of Darkness awaits. They encounter Kallor, and he joins them on their journey.
Within the realm of Dragnipur, more and more souls are dying, and the ones left standing are more than aware that Chaos is on the verge of overtaking the wagon. And when that occurs, Draconus, the elder god who forged Dragnipur, is aware that all the realms could be destroyed. He has a desperate plan to face what seems inevitable, but little does he know that a blind Tiste Andii has an agenda of his own.
In a Q&A session on the Malazan Empire Forum, it was stated by a commenter, and not refuted by the author, that the themes of the novel were death and redemption. [3]
The novel was first released by Bantam in UK and Canada as a trade paperback edition on June 30, 2008, followed by a US release by Tor Books in September of the same year. [4] A Mass Market paperback edition was released on August 4, 2009. [5]
An Unabridged Audiobook was released by Brilliance Audio on March 15, 2015. The Audiobook was narrated by Michael Page, and is 44 hours and 9 minutes long. [6]
The novel received mixed to positive reviews on its initial release.
Fantasy Book Reviews gave the novel a 10 on a scale of 10. [7]
Neth Space stated in their very positive review that Toll the Hounds "may be the best written volume so far in Steven Erikson’s momentous epic fantasy series: The Malazan Book of the Fallen". [8] [ unreliable source? ]
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist gave it a 9 out of 10, stating that "After nearly 800 pages spent setting the stage, Steven Erikson finally goes in "attack mode." And when he does, prepare yourself to be blown away!" [9]
SFF also gave a positive review stating that "...until reading the last 300 pages, [this review was] going to be about whether the early negative elements had made this one of the weaker books in the series. Then four hours disappeared in a heartbeat and the words now fail to adequately convey how absolutely draining reading the last third of the book is". [10]
The Wertzone also gave a positive review, stating that "Toll the Hounds is also the Malazan series' most thematically-developed and tightest novel, with notions of family, responsibility and the role of desire all coming in for examination." [11] [ unreliable source? ]
Conversely, Daniel Lin on Daniel's Corner Unlimited gave it a mixed review stating that, "Toll the Hounds is my least favourite book in this series, but it is not a bad book. In fact, this book is extremely well written, and it has more depth than previous books". [12] [ unreliable source? ]
Steve Rune Lundin, known by his pseudonym Steven Erikson, is a Canadian novelist who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist.
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.
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.
Deadhouse Gates is an epic fantasy novel by Canadian writer Steven Erikson, the second in his series Malazan Book of the Fallen. Deadhouse Gates follows on from the first novel, Gardens of the Moon, and takes place simultaneously with events in the third novel Memories of Ice. The novel was first published in the United Kingdom as a trade paperback on 1 September 2000, with a mass-market paperback edition followed on 1 October 2001. The first United States edition was published in hardback by Tor Books on 28 February 2005 with a mass-market paperback edition following on 7 February 2006. This is the only novel in the series where the UK and US editions share the same cover; the other US books use a different cover artist and style. It received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the tones, the softer introduction, and the plot. Some critics criticized the way the book starts again in another continent.
Memories of Ice is an epic fantasy novel by Canadian writer Steven Erikson, the third volume in his series the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The events of Memories of Ice begin just after the first book, Gardens of the Moon, and at the same time as the second, Deadhouse Gates.
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.
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.
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.
Dust of Dreams is the ninth volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It is the first book in the series to end on a cliffhanger, dealing with the fallout from Reaper's Gale and forms the first half of the series finale, with The Crippled God forming the second half, and being the tenth and final novel in the series.
The Crippled God is the tenth and final volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
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.
Reaper's Gale is the seventh volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Reaper's Gale is a direct sequel to both the fifth and sixth volumes, Midnight Tides and The Bonehunters.
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. Chronologically, Return of the Crimson Guard takes place after the events in Erikson's sixth Malazan novel, The Bonehunters. 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.
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.
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.
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.
List of complete works by Canadian fantasy fiction author Steven Erikson.
The God is Not Willing is the first novel of The Witness Trilogy by Canadian author Steven Erikson, set after the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Upon its release, the book was generally praised for its prose, narrative, and worldbuilding.