Forge of Darkness
Now is the time to tell a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come... and all those already told.
It is the Age of Darkness and the ancient land called Kurald Galain - home of the Tiste Andii and ruled over by Mother Dark from her citadel in Kharkanas - is in a perilous state. For the commoners' great warrior hero, Vatha Urusander, is being championed by his followers to take Mother Dark's hand in marriage but her Consort, Lord Draconus, stands in the way of such ambition.
As the impending clash between these two rival powers sends fissures rippling across the realm and rumours of civil war flare and take hold amongst the people, so an ancient power emerges from seas once thought to be long dead. None can fathom its true purpose nor comprehend its potential. And caught in the middle of this seemingly inevitable conflagration are the First Sons of Darkness - Anomander, Andarist and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold - and they are about reshape the world...
Here begins Steven Erikson's epic tale of bitter family rivalries, of jealousies and betrayals, of wild magic and unfettered power... and of the forging of a sword.
Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson's writing is an intricate tapestry of history, mythology, and human experience, woven into the fabric of his expansive fantasy worlds. Born in Canada and trained as an archaeologist and anthropologist, his background in these fields lends a rich texture to his novels. His stories are not just escapist adventuresâthey are philosophical explorations into the nature of conflict, morality, and the intricate societies that shape human lives.
Eriksonâs Malazan Book of the Fallen series stands as a towering achievement in epic fantasy. Its labyrinthine plots, vast world-building, and morally complex characters have garnered a loyal following, with each novel revealing new layers of depth. The series kicks off with Gardens of the Moon, a work that redefined the scope of fantasy with its mature themes and unflinching exploration of power, war, and the price of immortality. Recognized with critical acclaim and shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award, this series catapulted Erikson into the pantheon of modern fantasy giants.
The Kharkanas Trilogy
Set against the vast and shadowed backdrop of a world that predates the Malazan Empire, The Kharkanas Trilogy invites readers into an epic tale of ancient gods, mortal aspirations, and the turmoil of divided realms. Millennia before the rise of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, the fate of an entire race is shaped within the warren of DarknessâKurald Galainâwhere gods, mortals, and magic itself are in constant flux.
The Kharkanas Trilogy consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Main series Malazan World