January is the time for New Year’s resolutions. It’s too early in the year to give up and have excuses, right? Well, our book club read this month is going to be Garden’s of the Moon by Steven Erikson. It’s the start to a very established series in the genre, Malazan Book of the Fallen.
It’s one that I have put off reading for one reason or another. One that I will finally get to check off my list and find out what it is that so many people love about the series and why some people have such the opposite reaction. It does seem to be a marmite book, but that’s good because it should give ample opportunity for lively discussions as we hear why some people love it and why others just don’t. Personally, I am really looking forward to this one and hope that a good number of people decide to join in the discussions:
Bled dry by warfare, the vast Malazan Empire simmers with discontent. Sergeant Whiskeyjack’s Bridgeburners and surviving sorceress Tattersail wanted to mourn the dead of Pale. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities, holds out, Empress Lasseen’s ambition knows no bounds, and the gods intend to intervene.
World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2000)
Fantasy-Faction’s Review
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon UK
Discussion Break Points:
Week 1: Prologue & Book One
Week 2: Book Two & Book Three
Week 3: Book Four & Book Five
Week 4: Finished
Hope you can join in our discussions!
WANT TO JOIN IN?
If you would like to join us you can visit our forums and add your name to the list here. Want to know how our Book Club works first? Read on!
CHOOSING A BOOK
All books are nominated and voted on by our members. Each month we will have a theme or subgenre for the nominations. Anyone can nominate a book and everyone can vote. In February we will be reading The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. Check back soon to help pick a book for March!
SUGGESTING A THEME/SUBGENRE FOR UPCOMING MONTHS
We want to make sure to put out themes/genres that people are interested in and cover a wide selection of books. We are happy to get suggestions and ideas for upcoming months. If you have something you would like to see us do in the future, please share it here.
SPOILER FREE DISCUSSION
Fantasy Book Club begins on the 1st of every month. Once a book is started, we discuss it in a way that will not spoil the story. We limit how much you can discuss and when, and break it down by week.
Week 1 – You may only discuss the first 1/4 of the book
Week 2 – You may only discuss the first 1/2 of the book
Week 3 – You may only discuss the first 3/4 of the book
Week 4 – Anything goes
We are going to go based on page count. So for example, if a book has 500 pages then week one you can discuss up to page 125 and then week two 250 and so on. Each week will have a separate thread, so as not to spoil the story for people who fall behind or come in late.
WHAT IF YOU WANT TO READ FASTER THAN THAT?
Not a problem at all. You are more than welcome to read ahead, but when discussing things just remember to post in the appropriate thread. And if you’re not sure when something happened you can always use the spoiler tag to hide your post.
Should you not want any spoilers or discussion during the reading process, then just come after the end of week three and start discussing the book once you have finished. (This is how most book clubs operate anyway.)
We would love for you to join us! You can sign up for this month’s book club here or visit our book club section to see all our past selections here.
WANT REMINDERS?
Follow @FFBookClub on Twitter for reminders when book club starts nominations, voting and discussions.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
I would dearly love to read along with you. I actually started this book awhile back but never finished it. I just don’t think I’m going to have the time to get through it, but may pop in for discussion anyway.