So you thought that Game of Thrones had a lot of characters? That’s cute…
If you think this is a typo, well, it is not. A fan claimed that their favorite fantasy series had over 3,000 named characters. I laughed! I figured they meant 300, and just hit an extra zero.
They didn’t.
There is a series out there that is so massive and complex that it makes other epic fantasies look like cozy novellas. You don’t just meet characters, you stumble through an entire civilization’s worth. Soldiers, mages, gods, shapeshifters, assassins, and entire squads of characters who exist for a single chapter and still somehow leave an emotional crater.
The wild part is, it actually works! Against all odds, this chaos becomes something beautiful. Stick with me, bring a pen and paper, because you will need it just to keep track of everything going on in this series.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series Is A Beast
The series is called Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson, and it’s not just one book; it’s ten. Ten massive, dense, and wildly ambitious novels that together form one of the most intricate fantasy epics ever written.
Often considered as one of the greatest epic fantasy series ever written, the series requires commitment from the readers, but many find it to be a highly rewarding experience!
If Tolkien laid the foundation and A Song Of Ice And Fire built the palace, Malazan is the entire city-state with functioning bureaucracy, ancient ruins, and several pantheons of deeply dysfunctional gods.
The story is almost impossible to summarize in something concrete, because it does not really follow one storyline. Or even two storylines. Instead, it is a mosaic of war-torn, magic-scortched, and heartbreak of interconnected tales across various continents and centuries.
It centers around the Malazan Empire, ruled by Empress Laseen, who is intent on expanding her control. This expansion leads to various conflicts, including uprisings against the Empire (as you do), such as one led by a prophetess in a vast desert.
That’s just the gist of it. You’ve also got imperial conquest, undead marines, immortal wolves, shape-shifting assassins, gods who are as confused as they are powerful, and soldiers just trying to survive long enough to see the next sunrise.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletterLater books in the series often focus on specific major events, such as the confrontation between Malazan forces under Adjunct Tavore and Shai’ik’s army of the apocalypse in Seven Cities. Another storyline involves plots to bring down the Letherii economy, and the overarching plot appears to be leading towards a confrontation involving the Crippled God.
Ouf… this is a lot and I am already lost… Like I said, it’s almost impossible to summarize the story cleanly, but you get the gist of it. It’s immense!
And yes, it really does have over 3,000 named characters. However, one of the key characteristics is the use of shifting perspectives, with a large number of point-of-view characters. Due to this, the concept of a single “main character” loses meaning…
I could keep going and name all 3,000 characters, but I won’t. Someone has already done that, and it would be a shame not to showcase their immense work.
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What It’s Like to Actually Read This Series
Reading Malazan is not like reading a cozy fantasy, far from it.
It does not ease you into the world, it does not give you a map you’ll actually understand right away. There is no hand-holding…
From page one, you’re dropped into the middle of a war, surrounded by unfamiliar names, obscure politics, and ancient magic systems that refuse to explain themselves.
Many readers have said that it’s like being thrown into the deep end. You are expected to work hard. If this is something that scares you, abandon all hope ye who enter here.
If not, here are some strategies that readers often use to keep track of the characters and understand the complex world;
- Referring to the Dramatis Personae and glossaries provided in the books
- Consulting online resources such as the Malazan wikis or online reread guides like the one on Tor, which offers chapter summaries and analysis
- Using tools like spreadsheets to track characters and their appearances
- Using digital readers’ features like the Kindle X-Ray to get context on names
If this does not scare you, you are in for a treat. Many readers have said that rereading the books offers a deeper understanding of the plot threads, characters, and subtle hints missed on the first read. Rereading is described as a far superior and highly rewarding experience, allowing readers to discover connections and appreciate the depth of the universe that Steven Erikson created.
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It’s frustrating. It’s brilliant. It’s exhausting. It’s unforgettable.
And weirdly enough? Once you’re in, the chaos becomes comforting.
The Mad Genius Behind It
Steven Erikson is not your average fantasy author.
He’s a Canadian anthropologist and an archaeologist by trade, which honestly explains a lot. His world is not just imagined, it’s excavated deep from his mind and personal and professional experience. Cultures have layers. History has weight. Gods behave like forces of nature, and mortals are messy, stubborn survivors.
Glen Cook is mentioned as his most important source of inspiration. Glen is also a fantasy and science fiction American author.
Erikson’s style is often described as demanding, and he does not often repeat explanations or descriptions. Same as an archaeologist would do, having to keep meticulous notes on everything he sees and finds.
Now you can understand where this 3,000 named characters epic and storybuilding comes from. Sometimes it feels like being invited to an epic party where everyone knows each other but you. And they’re all speaking in metaphors.
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Should You Read It?
If you are used to the usual, simple fantasy, Malazan will eat you alive.
But if you crave a challenge, if you love stories that make you work a little (or a lot), then welcome to your next obsession.
You don’t need to remember every character. You won’t. Because the real magic of Malazan Book of the Fallen isn’t the number of characters, it is how many of them manage to make an impact.
Therefore, if you are ready for a fantasy series that reads more like a history of an entire universe, give Gardens of the Moon a shot, the first book in the Malazan series. You might be confused. You might even rage-quit once or twice. But if you stick with it, you will get one of the most rewarding experiences in epic fantasy!
