Steven Erikson's debut is one step ahead of most fantasy series today. By creating a world that does not borrow concepts from Tolkien, he was still able to mold memorable characters and a unique universe in this first book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. When I first read the book not more than two years ago, I was amazed at how he was able to develop not just one but a dozen characters in a few pages without sacrificing the need for pace and action. His experience as an anthropologist and archaeologist served him well. Though not obvious, some of the concepts have similarities in several myths, but he was able to twist them and make them unique to create the book. The first few chapters might be confusing because his point of view is not consistent. But as the story progresses, the reader will soon get used to his style. The characters themselves are fascinating. However, the reader is not forced to follow just one main character in the series. I thought at first t...