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Smart, sexy, Manhattan assistant DA Alexandra Cooper--hero of Linda Fairstein's increasingly popular series--is taking her latest murder case very personally. Lola Dakota, abused wife and brilliant university professor, wouldn't cooperate when Cooper wanted to charge her ex-husband with assault. So when she's murdered, he's the logical suspect--except that he had been arrested just before the murder. So Alex needs another suspect.
Unable to protect Lola alive, Alex is determined to find the killer and bring him to justice. All she has to go on is a scrap of paper in the murdered woman's pocket with the words "The Deadhouse" on it, along with a series of numbers. Deciphering the clue leads Alex and Mike Chapman, her favorite homicide cop, to an abandoned gothic hospital on New York's Roosevelt Island, where smallpox victims went to die a century ago. Because of its history, the Deadhouse held a special attraction for Lola and for several of her university colleagues; and, as it turns out, almost all these deftly drawn minor characters had a reason to want Lola dead. Illuminating their personalities and motives gives Fairstein an opportunity to skewer the academic infighting that goes on at an elite Ivy League school.
The author's background as head of the New York district attorney's Sex Crime Unit is just one of the many assets she brings to her fast-paced, intricately plotted thrillers. What makes this one a standout is the wealth of historical detail about 19th-century New York, which adds an extra dimension of verisimilitude to an engrossing, atmospheric, and suspenseful read. --Jane Adams
Book Description
Assistant D.A. Alexandra Cooper is back -- in this page-turning New York Times bestseller from legendary Manhattan sex-crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein.
On Roosevelt Island, a strip of land in New York City's East River, stands an abandoned 19th century smallpox asylum, "The Deadhouse," where the afflicted were shipped off to die. It's a gruesome bit of history perhaps best forgotten. But for Alexandra Cooper, it may be the key to a shocking murder that cuts deeper than the arctic cold front gripping the city. A respected university professor is dead -- strangled and dumped in an elevator shaft. And while the school does damage control for anxious parents, Cooper and her close detective friend Mike Chapman scramble for answers, fueled by the most daunting discovery: a piece of paper, found on the lifeless body of Professor Lola Dakota, that reads The Deadhouse....
Download Description
One of the most haunting buildings in New York City, and perhaps themost dramatically beautiful, the Deadhouse sits on a small island in themiddle of the East River. The abandoned structure, like the ghostlyremains of a castle, plays in the imagination as a site of mystery andintrigue... a likely place for murder.
Following on the bestselling success of Cold Hit, Likely to Die,and Final Jeopardy, top Manhattan sex crimes DA Linda Fairsteinbrings her unique blend of authenticity and style to a mesmerizing taleof murder and deceit.
It's the holiday season but there's little reason for cheer at one ofNew York's most elite colleges. A respected professor is dead; strangledand dumped in an elevator shaft. Lola Dakota's lifeless fingers clutch afew strands of hair, and a piece of paper in her pocket reads "TheDeadhouse."
What brought a distinguished academic to such a tragic end?Opportunistic murder seems unlikely as assistant DA Alexandra Cooper,working with detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, uncovers adistressing pattern of betrayal and terror.
There's proof that Lola's husband, Ivan, wanted her dead. He has analibi, but could he have hired a killer? Or could one of Lola'scolleagues have erupted into unexpected violence? Some of their storiesdon't quite ring true. And why did Lola have a photograph oftwenty-year-old Charlotte Voight pinned to her office bulletin board?Charlotte left her dorm room eight months ago and vanished into thenight. Is she dead? Could she and Lola have become victims of the samepredator?
Perhaps most puzzling of all are the words "The Deadhouse." What wasLola's connection to this desolate place where people once endured slowand agonizing deaths? And what danger awaits Alex there or on thestreets of Manhattan as she targets Lola's killer?
A richly nuanced synthesis of history and suspense, The Deadhouseshowcases Linda Fairstein's immense talent as never before.
Customer Reviews:
Great mystery novel!.......2007-09-01
I discovered Linda Fairstein's talent quite by accident and am now reading the entire Alexandra Cooper series. After reading my first novel (which took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), I was amazed at the historical information and fascinating things I learned. I was ready for more!
The Deadhouse is an excellent example of Fairstein's attention to detail with surprises around each corner. Her research is impeccable. I was so intrigued with the historical information on Blackwell's Island that I found myself searching on my own for more. What fascinating people had links to the island! Billie Holiday even served time there for prostitution! Wikipedia has an 1853 drawing of the prison and a photograph of the ruins of the smallpox hospital as well as current photos of other parts of the island.
Fairstein's character development is equally marvelous, allowing the reader to truly get to know each of the characters complete with their flaws and idiosyncrasies. No shallow characters for Fairstein!
The Deadhouse is a rich book that builds in suspense so that I found myself carrying it with me as I approached the end -- I needed to know what would happen next! In the final chapter, as Alexandra stepped from icy rock to icy rock at the tip of the island, in an attempt to elude her captor, I was on the edge of my chair. I could almost feel the icy water as it swirled around her. Unfortunately, the novel ended too quickly. I still wanted more.
In reading the series, I find that my biggest challenge is trying to do it slowly. I have to remind myself that faster I devour each novel, the more quickly the series will be completed. I can only hope that Fairstein continues to produce such elegant mysteries! I will continue to want more!
Fun Read!!.......2007-03-21
This was my first Linda Fairstein novel and I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed the New York atmosphere and the story surrounding Roosevelt Island. The mystery was solid and unpredictable. I look forward to reading other books my Linda Fairstein and I highly recommend spending time with Alexandra Cooper, the main heroine - she's one of my new favorites!
A thriller, and knowledge too!.......2006-03-24
Ms. Fairstein not only writes a mesmerizing mystery, but enlightens her readers to boot! If you love New York City and a good mystery story, you get both with her books. I learned many interesting facts about Roosevelt Island, such that I would love to visit there.
Better than Cold Hit, But That's Not Saying Much.......2005-06-20
"The Deadhouse," the fourth installment in the Alexandra Cooper mystery series, focuses on the murder of Lola Dakota, a college professor. Dakota was part of a research project that involved a building called The Deadhouse, which supposedly held buried treasure and now possible the key to her murder.
"The Deadhouse" was much better than "Cold Hit." I think the problem that I am having with Fairstein right now is that she is too formulaic and her "cases" are semi-mundane. Fairstein has selected cases that are relatively simple. There is no sizzle and intrigue to her mysteries, which is what makes a mystery! Fairstein just needs to punch things up a bit and not approach her fiction with a clinical view that a prosecutor might.
Who talks like this??.......2005-06-10
No one can say I didn't try...I made it page 179 of this boring, plodding "thriller". Having read two of Ms. Fairstein's previous efforts and been moderately engaged, I started this one with an open mind, but finally decided that life is just too short.
Some of the dialogue between the characters would be fine as descriptive passages, but really...who talks like this? "When you see it at night, there's a hauntingly romantic look to it." "It's got a wonderfully romatinc aura, I agree with you completely." "The once tranquil farmland had become a zone for the dead and dying."
Come on! I come from a family of academics, so I'm accustomed to intelligent conversations, but this borders on the ridiculous.
Unless you enjoy page after page of historical facts masquerading as conversation, I'd advise giving this one a miss. As for me, I'll stick it in my nightstand drawer and pull it out on those occasional sleepless nights. I'm guessing it'll work better than a sleeping pill.
Book Description
In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha'ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising known as the Whirlwind. Unprecedented in size and savagery, this maelstrom of fanaticism and bloodlust will embroil the Malazan Empire in one of the bloodiest conflicts it has ever known, shaping destinies and giving birth to legends . . . Set in a brilliantly realized world ravaged by dark, uncontrollable magic, this thrilling novel of war, intrigue and betrayal confirms Steven Eirkson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination and originality--a new master of epic fantasy.
Customer Reviews:
Gore and Blood.......2007-10-09
First note: Parents, I would rate these books NC16
Erikson's first two books have been notable from the outset in four ways:
1. He immediately plunges us into his system of magic and introduces very powerful figures (like gods). These types of characters are often used very sparingly in more typical fantasy fare. I liked that change.
2. He has obviously spent huge amounts of time fleshing out his history and backstory, the books have the richness and texture that the best fantasy novels have and you feel pulled into a very deep and layered world.
3. Mr Erikson loves gore and horror, but likes writing fantasy novels. So his fantasy novel has LOTS of gore, horror, rape, blood, the murder and rape of children (more often than is appropriate). He is unrelenting and it is off putting and makes the books very difficult. I understand these are "dark" novels, but he rarely balances that darkness. I don't expect levity from him, but at least a respite here and there. He rarely lets an opportunity to stop and fetishize a horror go pass. Instead of main character riding through a square the writer has them encounter a child who men are attempting to rape, the child is saved but the men are murdered in the most grisly fashion possible. In other parts of the book the child isn't saved. He is a talented writer and I am intrigued by his world building, and I recognize that some of this horror is necessary for his style, but I am getting put out by it... I think I will read through book three and if things don't even out then I will be done with this series, the books are really starting to bring on a mood for me that I don't enjoy.
4. The almost total lack of romantic or simple kindness in love. People are loyal, they are comrades in arms, they back each other up as soldiers, but there is no overt caring or sympathy even between characters that truly seem to have that kind of relationship. I don't think he likes to write these scenes, so he doesn't... not when someone could be beheaded instead! I don't want the books to be mushy, I want Mr Erikson to stay true to his style, but the books are missing something so far, and I'm curious to see if he adds any more layers sometime soon.
Ambitious and largely satisfying.......2007-02-20
In the world of Steven Erikson, the destination is secondary to the journey.
This is the second book in the series, but shares little common ground with the first installment (The Gardens of the Moon). Geographically, it is set on a different continent, linked within a multi-continental empire. Regarding characters, only a select few carry over from book one- including Apsalar, Crokus, and Kalam (among the mortals) and several familar deities. There are plenty of new faces, though, so the reader should be prepared to meet a huge and largely unfamiliar cast.
That said, Erikson's world functions on so many levels that is can becomes difficult to unravel. Politically, it concerns the rebellion of the Seven Cities from the Malazan Empire; and there are plenty of shifting loyalties in this scope alone. However, a nearly seperate quest is ongoing in the heart of the revolt of the supernatural sort. It is enjoyable to read about either one, but the real fun is watching the two plots converge (often through several shifting points-of-view), with true significance difficult to discern. The magic system and racial structures are complex, and Erikson rarely feels the need to define the limits of magical potential or give the "flashback" scene to explicate the scenario- at least, never entirely. Finally, the intensity level is set high and maintained through much of the book, all leading to a sense of weariness that can daunt any reader. This works to keep the pages turning, if somewhat frustrating the reader who longs for a deeper understanding.
The conclusion is wild and unpredictable- only occasionally does a book surprise me quite like this one! All character threads are dealt with, some with more finality than others, with a few open-ended storylines typical of epic fantasy. However, the real hook for this reader is to figure out the full motives for the unexplained or half-explained actions of Kalam, Quick Ben, and the Malazan Empress (to name a few). One thing is clear at the end of this novel; the waters of Erikson's world run much deeper than the surface can tell, and it will require several more books just to plumb their depths! Very decent fantasy, but not for the young or the faint of heart.
The Chain of Dogs.......2007-01-12
Deadhouse Gates (2000) is the second Fantasy novel of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, following Gardens of the Moon. In the previous volume, Adjunct Lorn ran afoul of the Crimson Guard and received her death from assassins of the Eel. Captain Paran scared off the Oponn Twins. Anomander Rake took the soul of the Galayn Lord.
Crokus saved Baruk from Vorcan and then Rallick Nom saved Vorcan from the Tiste Andii by fleeing with her into the young Azath Deadhouse. Kalam and Fiddler sailed off with Crokus and Apsalar to take them back to her home in Itko Kan. Captain Paran, Whiskeyjack and the Bridgeburners rejoined Dujek Onearm to begin their new career as outlaws.
In this novel, in Unta, the Malazan Capital, Felisin -- youngest child in the Noble House of Paran -- finds herself among the chained nobles of the Cull. Behind her on the long chain of three hundred slaves is the ex-priest of Fener, Heboric Light Touch, and before her is the common thug, Baudin. After walking the gauntlet of commoners -- cannot run when chained together -- the survivors are shipped to the Otataral mines.
In the Pan'potsun Odhan, Mappo Runt the Trell watches a corkscrew plume of dust race across the Basin while he chews a wedge of emrag cactus. Beside him, Icarium the Jhag idly flicks a pebble over the cliff edge. His black hair is dripping black sweat onto the bleached rock. After Mappo finishes his repast, the pair checks their weapons, Mappo packs the tents, utensils and bedding onto his large leather bag, and the two go down the path to the basin.
Mappo and Icarium wander among countless ruins from long dead civilizations. They come upon a six-foot-high column and Icarium examines its sides. Near the base, he finds a scattering of tiny hand prints. The seekers are on the Trail; in this case, a set of rat D'ivers, probably Gryllen. There are others -- both Soletaken and D'ivers -- who seek the Path of Hands to Ascendancy.
Icarium, however, is searching for his memories. He knows that they are gone and is convinced that they are very important to him. But Mappo travels with Icarium to keep him from discovering these memories; the Nameless Ones have given him this task and he is determined to fulfill their directives. Yet Mappo is beginning to have doubts.
In Hissar, on the Seven Cities subcontinent, the Imperial Historian Duiker and Mallick Rel, the High Fist Pormqual's representative, watch Wickan horsesoldiers of the Seventh Army disembark from their ship. A cordon of Hissar Guard held back the demonstrative Wickans, hitching their shields and unsheathing their tulwars. The Wickans recoil and then draw their long-knives. A tall Wickan with fetishes in his hair waves his lone long-knife and bellows encouragement.
Then the tall man issues a wild scream and the Wickans sheath their weapons, saddle their horses, mount the horses and guide them into a parade formation. The tall man -- Fist Coltraine himself -- leads the Wickan formation to their barracks. Duiker later meets with Coltraine and Bult, his uncle.
On the Kansu Sea, a fisherboat carrying Apsalar, Crokus, Fiddler, Kalam, and Moby the familiar lands by a village on the Ehrlitan coast. The Seven Cities are about to rebel against the Malazan Empire and Kalam wants to acquire some inside information. Fiddler goes for a walk in the marketplace and rescues two young girls from the Red Swords and a pimp, then takes them home to their grandfather, Kimloc the Tano Spiritwalker.
Kalam acquires a pair of long knives and a package to deliver to the Holy Desert Raraku. Fiddler finds that all ships have left the harbor and plans to take Apsalar and Crokus overland to Tremorlor as a newly married couple on a pilgrimage. He disguises himself as a Gral tribesman.
In this story, Kalam and Fiddler find themselves amidst an insurrection. Both travel as natives, but Kalam is unknowingly followed by Red Swords. Fiddler finds his Gral disguise handy, but soon is being pursued by real Gral tribesmen. Apsalar has occasion to use her assassin talents and Crokus improves his skills with knives.
Kalam briefly meets Sha'ik, the leader of the uprising. Felisin, Heboric and Baudin are caught in the insurrection on Otataral Island and flee across the island desert to the coast. After the initial rebel attacks, Kulp -- a cadre mage -- and a party of coastal marines sail to Otataral Island to rescue Heboric.
This story recounts the massive rebellion of the Seven Cities natives against the Malazans. Everywhere on the subcontinent, Malazans are captured, tortured and killed. Others flee and some, such as Captain Keneb, successfully evade their native pursuers, but still lose kith and kin to the insurrection.
The Seven Cities under the Malazan Empire is much like India under the British Raj. This particular story seems strongly influenced by the Indian Mutiny -- AKA Sepoy Mutiny -- of 1857. In most instances, the Malazans -- like the British troops -- were better disciplined than the natives. Still, the Malazans in this story do not use native troops as much as the British did, but the tribes are relatively more powerful.
The Seven Cities tribesmen are as well armed as the Malazan soldiers, with the single exception of the Moranth munitions. Even their sorcery is comparable to that available to the Malazans actually on the subcontinent. Of course, the Malazan Empire, as a whole, has much more military and sorcerous power available to it than the Seven Cities forces, but such power is not immediately accessible.
Highly recommended for Erikson fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of native insurrections, military tactics and imperial corruption.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Disappointing Follow-Up to 'Gardens'.......2007-01-08
Sadly this book returned to the fantasy morasse that I delightedly found 'Gardens of the Moon' to be free from: static characters and miles and miles of battle scenes. Once I became so bored I started skipping pages without missing the plot I knew I was done with this book. Erickson's worldbuilding and imagination and writing skills are all impressive, but this novel would be twice as good if it was half as long. I hope the next book is as good as 'Gardens' was.
Amazing series continues.......2007-01-06
Hands down, one of the best fantasy books I have ever read.
I am not usually the type to complain about Tolkien-like books, and in fact I enjoy generic fantasy books quite a bit. I tend to steer clear of books such as Deadhouse Gates and its predecessor, Gardens of the Moon, because so often authors try to be original and instead come up with an R or X rated version of Tolkien.
Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series does not fall into the previous category. The scope of history behind his work, as well as the living qualities possessed by all the societies and characters set him above any other book of this type.
Although Deadhouse Gates follows an entirely different set of characters (for the most part) from the first book in the series, it does not take long to realize that although you might not have seen the actors before they are just as important as the "main" characters who make no appearance such as Whiskeyjack.
As far as dramatic and sensational endings, this book ends on a note that will make even hardened readers cringe. Once again, it is not that Erikson employs an overabundance of violence (although plenty of that is included). Erikson brings the trials of Coltaine and his men to life, and it is through the life given to his characters that the reader ends up feeling the ending in his/her gut, right where the author intended.
Book Description
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office chronicles the exploits of a diverse team of investigators at a coroner's office in Pittsburgh. Ed Strimlan is a doctor who never got to practice medicine. Instead he discovers how people died. Mike Chichwak is a stolid ex-paramedic, respected around the office for his compassion and doggedness. Tiffani Hunt is twenty-one, a single mother who questions whether she wants to spend her nights around dead bodies.
All three deputy coroners share one trait: a compulsive curiosity. A good thing too, because any observation at a death scene can prove meaningful. A bag of groceries standing on a kitchen counter, the milk turning sour. A broken lamp lying on the carpet of an otherwise tidy living room. When they approach a corpse, the investigators consider everything. Is the victim face-up or down? How stiff are the limbs? Are the hands dirty or clean? By the time they bag the body and load it into the coroner's wagon, Tiffani, Ed, and Mike have often unearthed intimate details that are unknown even to the victim's family and friends.
The intrigues of investigating death help make up for the bad parts of the job. There are plenty of burdens?grief-stricken families, decomposed bodies, tangled local politics, and gore. And maybe worst of all, the ever-present reminder of mortality and human frailness.
Deadhouse also chronicles the evolution of the field, from early rituals performed over corpses found suspiciously dead to the controversial advent of modern forensic pathology. It explains how pathologists "read" bullet wounds and lacerations, how someone dies from a drug overdose, or a motorcycle crash, or a drowning, and how investigators uncover the clues that lead to the truth.
Customer Reviews:
Educational, but somewhat dry........2006-03-28
This short, non-fiction book takes us into the fascinating world of the Pittsburgh coroner's office -- one of the few major U.S. cities that still uses elected coroners for its death investigations instead of appointed medical examiners. The book is broken into several sections, beginning with a chapter that follows a young college student around on her first night as an intern, capturing her horrors, fears, and reactions as she follows a death investigation from the call to the scene through the autopsy the next day. Another chapter shows us the ins and outs of the autopsy room, and another even takes us upstairs out of the morgue and into the world of inquest hearings.
In between personal stories about the coroners and descriptions of the fascinating cases they encounter, Temple educates us on the difference between coroners and medical examiners, as well as the pros and cons of relying on each type of organization for investigational work. Additionally, he mixes in some history, detailing the evolution of the coroner's office over the last couple of centuries. And though I will say the writing was a bit dry -- Temple definitely writes like a reporter, which is great when you're writing a scholarly piece of non-fiction, but less effective when you're writing a book like this that is clearly meant to appeal to the masses of CSI watchers out there -- overall, I found this book extremely engrossing and very educational. Anyone who's ever been curious about what coroners really do shouldn't hesitate to pick up a copy, and that goes double for readers who have enjoyed books like Jessica Synder Sacks' "Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death" or Mary Roach's "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers."
Awesome book about the life of coroners & staff..........2006-02-06
I really enjoyed reading this book. This book actually helped
me decide whether or not going into this field of work.
I absolutely love CSI (but hate CSI Miami and CSI NY...too much Hollywood in those...ugh).
This is a book about these professional's lives, NOT forensic science technology and the latest techniques used, etc..which I, for one, wasn't expecting by reading the overview of the book to begin with.
If you want to get a feel of what it's like to live in these professionals shoes than this is your book, and a wonderful one at that!
I like to read about stuff that people never talk about and that is so taboo. We should all get more comfortable with death and our immortal bodies.
Thanks author, It was an enjoyable read!
Great read for professionals and laymen.......2005-10-12
As a physician, I usually steer clear of medical books or TV shows, as they are typically all drama, no reality.
However, a friend gave me this book, and I was really surprised -- it is an accurate account of 'life' in the morgue, but told in a truly compellng manner. It was easy for me to empathize with the characters, especially the new interns, as I remember my first moments in medical school when I first dealt with death. I actually learned a lot too -- information about the infrastructure and politics behind the coroner's office.
Temple is a great story-teller. This book is a great read, from its medical detailing to its character development. I strongly recommend this book ... maybe I'll use it for my next book-club!
Perfect for CSI fans...or those just looking for a great story.......2005-10-12
Deadhouse doesn't club you over the head with the specifics science of forensics (yawn) but does give enough info. to keep forensic science enthusiasts interested. This isn't a textbook but rather a fast-paced look at the lives of people intersecting through a topic that is endlessly fascinating but not often discussed: death. And it takes place in Pittsburgh, not Philadelphia. That's enough reason to read this on its own.
This isn't the type of book I would normally pick up (I'm more of a Jane Austen, Larry McMurty reader) but I'm glad I did. The only bad thing about this book is that it didn't go on longer.
Not CSI.......2005-10-10
This book is written from the standpoint of a Philidelpia coroner's office intern, who obviously has never been exposed to cable television. While it was a fast read and interesting, it was very basic in the level of forensics it described. If you have watched any forensic television in the past, this is not the book for you. I hope that in the future, Mr. Temple would go a bit deeper, including not well known forensics to teach the reader a few things. There were interesting side plots about the acting deputy coroners in the office and some of the office politics, but all in all I felt disappointed to spend so much on a very short book that offered no new insights.
Book Description
In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha’ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising named the Whirlwind. Unprecedented in its size and savagery, this maelstrom of fanaticism and bloodlust will embroil the Malazan Empire in one of the bloodiest conflicts it has ever known, shaping destinies and giving birth to legends.
Set in a brilliantly realized world ravaged by dark, uncontrollable magic, this thrilling novel of war, intrigue and betrayal confirms Steven Erikson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination and originality, a new master of epic fantasy.
Customer Reviews:
Complex and challenging - I loved it!.......2004-05-27
Absolutely breathtaking. No lame story plots or ready set characters for Erikson. Totally original, he takes his skill and obvious flare beyond the boundaries in this thrilling new book. The Chain of Dogs was simply wonderful, the brutality of it made it all the more exciting and the characters' point of view was a very nice touch in helping the reader understand the sequence of events.
The story never gets boring; you get to see all the heroes' flaws and villains' good sides. Also Erikson doesn't associate villains with black and darkness and all that other nonesense found in most books.
Well, that's it I guess. I recommend it to all readers up to a challenge. Never slows down but can get a bit complex - NOT FOR AMATEUR READERS!!!
A series that is going somewhere..........2004-03-28
I won't waste time with what others have said. Okay maybe a little: this is dark, epic fantasy at its best, and you better keep track of the plot and characters, because the author is not going to walk you through this one. Erikson is a master of writing an emotionally gut-wrenching scene but then following it up with an uplifting glimpse into the future that will have you smiling in anticipation of what's to come.
Unlike many other series in this genre, you see the world and its characters progressing. Each book pulls the world forward and you can see a grand design taking place. You want to read this series because you *know* all 10 books will be great, and so far, each is greater than the last.
The best fantasy book ever. Simply breathtaking!.......2004-01-24
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is by far the best fantasy series I have read. Why is it different than the rest you may ask? First, the scale is epic in the full sense of the word - a lot of continents, hundreds of tribes, races, states, characters, more than a hundred thousand years history of the world, legends, many gods, factions and intrigues. Secondly, Steven Erikson writes superbly - the sentences flow effortlessly and he can play on the readers emotions like few other authors. He uses words people like Robert Jordan don't know that even exist in the dictionary. His characters are neither "good" or "bad" and his plot is as little cliche-plagued as possible while actually staying in the epic fantasy genre. Plus Erikson is a master of the humorous dialogue and hilarious characters.
About this volume - most of the characters are different from the Gardens of the Moon which may annoy some readers but be assured the cast from GotM returns in Book 3. This book is Dark fantasy in the true meaning of the word dark - bloody (and I mean really bloody) rebellion, gruesome battles, slave labor mines etc but SE doesn't describe the details with the sick passion of G.R.R.Martin he just shows us the real face of war. Erikson's world is not the nicest place to be.:) The Chain of Dogs military campaign is the best in the genre and its ending is one of the most emotionally touching scenes I have ever read in any book from any genre. If you like non-conventional fantasy you just have to give the Malazan Book of the Fallen a chance.
5 stars doesn't give this book the justice it deserves.......2003-12-29
More complex than the first book and yet completely engrossing. Only a few of the characters featured in Gardens are present in Deadhouse, but I'll be damned if one of the secondary characters in Gardens (Kalam), doesn't turn out to be one of the greatest characters in modern fantasy. Incredibly, each plot thread is woven with what has to be an enormous payoff, and yet the reader never loses interest. Well done again.
Hard Core Fantasy Buffs Take Note.......2003-11-13
If you're looking for a light fluffy easy-reading fantasy, read Brooks or Eddings. If, however, you are looking for something thought provoking, brutal, staggering, heartbreaking, & breathtaking with believeable characters to boot, then read Steven Erikson.
This book can be hard going. Even after 700 pages into the book I still found myself refering to the glossary and index of the book when new characters popped into being; no shortage of characters here folks as seems to be the case with all Erikson's Malazan books.
The book focuses on four separate but still connected groups of characters and their stories. I found characters whom I had forgotten about 400 pages back suddenly reappearing(thank God for the glossary!).
Erikson creates a thoroughly believeable world;
This is not a "Good vs. Evil" story, in fact it is usually impossible to discern between the two; Men and women fight side by side in battle; Assassins have "soft-spots"; Even the Gods themselves have "human" qualities such as weaknesses and a good sense of humour.
This is the second book in the Malazan Series(out of ten; however only four have been published so far) Gardens of the Moon is the first book. The reason I only gave it 4 stars was the lack of depth in certain characters(eg. Coltaine; leader of the Chain of Dogs: for someone so important to the story we know very little about him).
This book can also be purchased through amazon.ca. Erickson's books are usually in stock and sent out within 24 hours.
Average customer rating:
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The Deadhouse
Linda Fairstein
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0316646288 |
Average customer rating:
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Deadhouse Gates
Steven Erikson
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000O1MQD4 |
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- The Last Supper
- The Strangers in the House (New York Review Books Classics)
- To Die Well: Your Right to Comfort, Calm, and Choice in the Last Days of Life
- Tony Hillerman: The Leaphorn & Chee Novels: Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time, Coyote Waits
- Transgressions
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- I Spy: A History and Episode Guide to the Groundbreaking Television Series
- Dead Connection
- Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology
- Bali Style
- Biology: Concepts & Connections with Student CD-ROM
- Fierce Conversations: Achieving Sucess at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time
- Cat in a Hot Pink Pursuit: A Midnight Louie Mystery
- Irving Gill and the Architecture of Reform: A Study in Modernist Architectural Culture
- Alberto Pinto: Moderns
- Second Bill Slider Omnibus: Dead End / Blood Lines / Killing Time
Cold Hit (Alexandra Cooper Mysteries)
Likely to Die (Alexandra Cooper Mysteries)
The Kills
The Bone Vault
Final Jeopardy (Alexandra Cooper Mysteries)
