REVIEW: Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont

Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont
Publishing Information: Mass Market Paperback, U.S. Edition
Publisher: Tor, 2005 (first publishing) 2010 (current edition)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-6349-7
Series: Novels of the Malazan Empire, Book 1
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from back of book) Malaz gave a great empire its name, but now this island and its city amount to little more than a sleepy backwater--until this night. Because this night there is to be a convergence, the once-in-a-generation appearance of a Shadow Moon--an occasion that threatens the good people of Malaz with demon hounds and other, darker things.

Also it is prophesied that the Emperor Kellanved will return this night, and there are those who would prevent that happening at any cost. As factions within the Empire draw up battle lines, an ancient presence begins its all out assault upon the island. Witnesses to these cataclysmic events include a thief called Kiska and Temper, a war-weary veteran. Although they do not know it, they each have a part to play in a confrontation that will determine not only the fate of Malaz City but also of the world beyond.

Drawing on events touched on the prologue of Steven Erikson's landmark fantasy Gardens of the Moon, Night of Knives is a momentous chapter in the unfolding story of the extraordinarily imagined world of Malaz.



This novella, Esslemont's first contribution to the Malazan literature, serves as a prequel to Steven Erikson's landmark epic fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen. In Erikson's first book, Gardens of the Moon, the stage is set by a prologue describing a historical event - the Emperor Laseen, for all appearances, has usurped the throne of the founder of the Malazan Empire, Emporer Kellanved. Up until this book we had only received a few clues about how or why this event took place. Now, finally we would find out exactly what led to this power shift that has had such a domino effect throughout the series.

The challenge, for Esslemont as I see it (or ICE as his fans call him) is to establish his books as primary texts in the Malazan universe rather than mere secondary texts to pacify fans until the next Erikson book is released. As Erikson proclaims in the book's introduction, Night of Knives is not fan faction but rather just as important and canonical to the universe as his own works. He even describes the entire series as a conversation between himself and ICE, a conversation they've been having since they created the world through pen-and-paper role-playing. The readers are merely spectators, privileged enough to listen in on this dialogue between the two old friends. It is no wonder then that these books have never exactly been-reader friendly, often written as if they presuppose an extensive knowledge of the Malazan world before even opening the first book.

Night of Knives is different from Erikson's books in interesting ways. Rather than taking place over a long battle campaign, or across whole continents, the book takes place in one particular city on one particular night. It offers perspectives of common citizens, something that has been hard to come by in Erikson's books. Its fascinating to discover what ordinary people think of warrens (the alternative worlds where sorcerers draw their power) or the politics of the Malazan Empire. Like people in the real world, Malazan citizens are often susceptible to urban myths and superstition. It is sociological information about the Malazan world such as this that fills in many blanks that were left empty by other books, and allows a more vidid picture of the Malazan world to emerge.

Sadly though the book struggles to find a proper footing. While Erikson is a master of leaking just enough of the right information in the right places to tell a good story, ICE often has us blindly following characters with unclear and obscure motivations. Additionally, the supporting characters often blur together, as many of them are not different enough from one another to easily identify. The plot has a tenuous structure, often in a way that leaves the reader wondering whether he did not make up some of it as he went along. Erikson is skilled enough to captivate readers with his obscure and murky prose while offering a light at the end of tunnel. In contrast, ICE's characters meander without a clearly defined purpose, forcing me to follow them half-heartedly while I wait for their significance to be revealed. Erikson can often get away with being that opaque because there is a certain promise for an interesting payoff through his grand and monumental tone. ICE however comes up short in a poor imitation of Erikson, struggling to find his own voice in the Malazan world.

Even so, there is payoff in the climax and ending. It was just a somewhat boring ride there. However, its not that ICE didn't have a good story to tell. I imagine this same story could be written and executed in a more satisfying way. This is ICE's first novel though, and I still look forward to see how his writing develops in later works. In conclusion, I would recommend this one only to serious Malazan fans and series completists.


Plot……….4/10

Characters……….4.5/10

Style………..5/10

Overall……….4/10