Gardens of the Moon is the first novel in the Malazan Book of the Fallen epic fantasy series. It was written by Steven Erikson in 1992–1993 and first released on April 1, 1999 in Great Britain and Canada. It was later released in the United States on December 28, 2004, and has been re-released in multiple editions and in many countries.
Like all of Erikson's Malazan books it has multiple layered storylines that usually weave together. At the lower level is an eclectic group of Darujhistanies who are just trying to solve their own problems. Then there is the expansionist Malazan Empire whose armies and their allies the Moranth are trying to conquer the last remaining Free Cities of Genabackis; Pale and Darujhistan. Pale falls quickly to a massive sorcerous enfilade, but at the cost of many of Empire's best. The Malazans then turn to Darujhistan which proves much harder to take. At a higher level there is also a power-struggle at the top level of the Empire as the Empress tries to consolidate her reign. And above that still the Gods and Ascendants with their own machinations.
The book features a large cast of characters. With major focus characters being, on the Imperial 'side': Ganoes Paran, a young nobleman turned army officer; Whiskeyjack and his elite soldiers the Bridgeburners; Tattersail, a military sorceress and divinator and Adjunct Lorn, the Empress's personal agent. Opposite them are those of Darujhistan: Kruppe, Crokus and the rest of the Phoenix Inn Regulars and Baruk, the High Alchemist with the rest of the T'orrud Cabal. Meanwhile Anomander Rake in his floating mountain fortress: Moon's Spawn; Shadowthrone, the possibly insane ruler of the Warren of Shadow and Oponn, the Twin Jesters of Chance are the major featuring Ascendants who each have their own motives.
Publisher's summary
The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake, lord of Moon's Spawn, and his Tiste Andii. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.
For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving sorceress of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the Siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out and it is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.
However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand...
Front matter
Dedication
This novel is dedicated to I. C. Esslemont.
Worlds to conquer, worlds to share.
Acknowledgements
No novel is ever written in isolation. The author wishes to thank the following for their support over the years: Clare Thomas, Bowen, Mark Paxton-MacRae, David Keck, Courtney, Ryan, Chris and Rick, Mireille Theriacelt, Dennis Valdron, Keith Addison, Susan, David and Harriet, Clare and David Thomas Jr, Chris Rodell, Patrick Carroll, Kate Peach, Peter Knowlson, Rune, Kent and Val and the kids, my tireless agent Patrick Walsh, and Simon Taylor, one terrific editor.
Maps
ca.1160 Burn's Sleep
Editions
| Publisher | Format/Edition | First published | Pages | ISBN-10 | ISBN-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK and Commonwealth — Gardens of the Moon | |||||
| Bantam | Trade paperback | 1 Apr 1999 | 523 | 0593044703 | 978-0593044704 |
| Bantam | Mass market paperback | 16 Mar 2000 | 736 | 0553812173 | 978-0553812176 |
| Bantam | Mass market paperback, special edition | 12 Feb 2008 | 768 | 0553819577 | 978-0553819571 |
| Bantam | Hard cover, 10th anniversary edition | 5 Nov 2009 | 544 | 0593065069 | 978-0593065068 |
| United States — Gardens of the Moon | |||||
| Tor | Hard cover | Jun 2004 | 496 | 0765310015 | 978-0765310019 |
| Tor | Hard cover, Science Fiction Book Club | Jun 2004 | 640 | 0765310015 | 978-0765310019 |
| Tor | Mass market paperback | Jan 2005 | 688 | 0765348780 | 978-0765348784 |
| Tor | Hard cover, library binding | 9 May 2008 | 688 | 1435270282 | 978-1435270282 |
| Subterranean Press | Hard cover | 30 Jun 2008 | 560 | 1596061456 | 978-1596061453 |
| Tor | Trade paperback, 10th anniversary edition | 12 May 2009 | 496 | 0765322889 | 978-0765322883 |
| German — Die Gärten des Mondes | |||||
| Blanvalet | Trade paperback | 1 Aug 2000 | 800 | 3442249325 | 978-3442249329 |
| Bulgarian — Лунните градини | |||||
| Bard | Trade paperback | 11 Oct 2004 | 624 | 9844831048 | 978-9545840197[1] |
| Czech — Měsíční zahrady | |||||
| Talpress | Trade paperback | 2002 | 576 | 8071971936 | 978-8071971931 |
| Talpress | Trade paperback, reprint edition | 4 Apr 2008 | 576 | 8071971936 | 978-8071971931 |
| Dutch — De Tuinen van de Maan | |||||
| J. M. Meulenhoff | Hard cover | May 2000 | 599 | 9029066431 | 978-9029066433 |
| Luitingh Fantasy | Trade paperback | Jul 2008 | 607 | 902452847X | 978-9024528479 |
| French — Les Jardins de la lune | |||||
| Buchet Chastel | Trade paperback | 16 Mar 2001 | 592 | 2283018404 | 978-2283018408 |
| Calmann-Levy | Trade paperback | 22 Aug 2007 | 586 | 2702137784 | 978-2702137789 |
| Hungarian — A Hold udvara | |||||
| Alexandra | Hard cover | 2003 | 493 | 9633684552 | 978-9633684559 |
| Italian — I Giardini della Luna | |||||
| Armenia | Hard cover | 2004 | 602 | 8834417429 | 978-8834416808 |
| Polish — Ogrody Księżyca | |||||
| Mag | Trade paperback | Oct 2000 | 604 | 8387968366 | 978-8387968366 |
| Mag | Hard cover, collector's edition | 2004 | 598 | 8389004755 | 978-8389004758 |
| Romanian — Gradinile Lunii[2] | |||||
| Tritonic | Paperback | May 2008 | 544 | 9737332296 | 978-9737332295 |
| Russian — Сады Луны (Sady Luny) | |||||
| ACT | Hard cover | 2002 | 704 | 5170110146 | 978-5170173105 |
| EKSMO | Hard cover | 2007 | 768 | 5699206337 | 978-5699206339 |
| Spanish — Los jardines de la Luna | |||||
| Timun Mas | Hard cover (part 1) | Oct 2004 | 300 | 8448033876 | 978-8448033873 |
| Timun Mas | Hard cover (part 2) | Oct 2004 | 320 | 8448033884 | 978-8448033880 |
| Idea Factory | Trade paperback | 11 Nov 2009 | 512 | 8498005094 | 978-8498005097 |
Introduction
Now these ashes have grown cold, we open the old book.
These oil-stained pages recount the tales of the Fallen,
a frayed empire, words without warmth. The hearth
has ebbed, its gleam and life's spark are but memories
against dimming eyes - what cast my mind, what hue my
thoughts as I open the book of the Fallen
and breathe deep the scent of history?
Listen, then, to these words carried on that breath.
These tales are the tales of us all, again yet again.
We are history relived and that is all, without end that is all.[3]
Plot summary
| Gardens of the Moon | |
|---|---|
| Dramatis Personae | Prologue |
| Pale | |
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 |
| Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |
| Darujhistan | |
| Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 |
| Chapter 7 | |
| The Mission | |
| Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |
| Chapter 10 | |
| Assassins | |
| Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 |
| Chapter 13 | |
| The Gadrobi Hills | |
| Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 |
| Chapter 16 | |
| The City of Blue Fire | |
| Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 |
| Chapter 19 | |
| The Fête | |
| Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 |
| Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 |
| Chapter 24 | |
| Epilogue | Pagination |
Prologue
The novel opens in the 96th year of the Malazan Empire, during the final year of the Emperor Kellanved
Young Ganoes Paran witnesses the sacking of the Mouse Quarter of Malaz City, where Surly, commander of the Malazan Claw (intelligence organisation), is flushing out unregistered sorcerers and executing them. Paran also witnesses a confrontation between Surly (now calling herself Laseen, or 'Thronemaster') and Whiskeyjack, commander of the Malazan 3rd Army, where their mutual dislike is confirmed. Paran wants to be a soldier when he grows older, to Whiskeyjack's disapproval.
Pale
| Epigraph |
...In the eighth year the Free Cities of Genabackis established contracts with a number of mercenary armies to oppose the Imperiums advance; prominent among these were the Crimson Guard, under the command of Prince K'azz D'Avore (see Volumes III & V); and the Tiste Andii regiments of Moon's Spawn, under the command of Caladan Brood and others. Volume IV, Genabackis Imrygyn Tallobant (b.1151) |
Seven years have passed. Laseen now rules as Empress. Two new demigods (Ascendants) have appeared in the pantheon, Ammanas (Shadowthrone) and Cotillion (The Rope), who have seized control of the House of Shadow and are now plotting the death of Laseen. Cotillion possesses a young fishergirl living in the Itko Kan province of the Quon Tali continent and has her join the Malazan 2nd Army, under the name of Sorry, fighting on the Genabackis continent, as part of a long-range scheme to get her close to the Empress. Ammanas unleashes the terrifying Hounds of Shadow to wipe out a nearby Malazan cavalry regiment to draw attention away from the sorcery used in the area. Adjunct Lorn, personal aide to the Empress, is not fooled and recruits Ganoes Paran, now a lieutenant, to help her track down the missing fishergirl.
1163 BS, two years later. The Malazan 2nd Army under High Fist Dujek is besieging the city of Pale, one of only two Free Cities left in the Malazans' path. Pale is holding out thanks to an alliance with the powerful Anomander Rake, Lord of Moon's Spawn (a floating fortress), commander of the non-human Tiste Andii race, and his own allies, Prince K'azz D'Avore of the Crimson Guard and the powerful human warlord Caladan Brood and his troops. D'Avore, Brood and their troops have been drawn off to the north by renewed efforts of the Malazan 5th Army to capture Blackdog Forest, leaving Rake vulnerable to attack. The decision is made to attack Moon's Spawn. During the battle several of the Empire's High Mages are seemingly killed by friendly fire. Only Tayschrenn and Tattersail, commander of the 2nd's mage cadre, survive. Moon's Spawn is driven off in the battle and flees to the south. Pale falls and the Malazans' allies, the Moranth (creators and suppliers of explosives), sack the city. Unbeknown to Tayschrenn, the Bridgeburners (an elite sapping unit, of whom the demoted Sergeant Whiskeyjack is de facto commander) manage to save the soul of a dying mage, Hairlock, and transfer it to a new vessel, that of a puppet. Tattersail agrees to help them expose Tayschrenn's treachery.
During the same period, Ganoes Paran has been traveling by ship to Genabackis. Topper, the Clawmaster visits Paran via Warren delivering orders for him to take command of the Bridgeburners. Arriving at Genabaris Paran travels by Quorl (a flying creature) with the Green Moranth to Pale.
Dujek is sending the Bridgeburners to Darujhistan, last surviving of the Free Cities, to lay the groundwork for the Malazan attack. The newly-promoted Captain Ganoes Paran arrives to take command of the squad, but is almost immediately assassinated by Sorry. Oponn, God of Luck, intervenes and arranges for Paran to survive. The Bridgeburners leave for Darujhistan without him.
Tattersail helps Paran return to health. Whilst there, Paran foils an attack on the sorceress by a Hound of Shadow.
Darujhistan
| Epigraph |
What windfall has brushed our senses? Fisher (b.?) |
Kruppe is having one of his dreams. In it he tells his audience of beggars that the coin will fall that night.
Crokus Younghand robs the D'Arle estate at about the same time as one of the members of Darujhistan's Assassins' Guild, Talo Krafar is ambushed by an unknown foe. As Crokus makes his getaway, Talo, who is mistaking the thief for his assailant, takes a shot at him. At that very moment, Crokus hears a coin fall and bends to pick it up, which saves his life. He is then pursued by those who attacked and killed Talo, escaping again and again through sheer luck. His pursuers come to the conclusion that an Ascendant is meddling.
Circle Breaker, a spy for The Eel, observes a meeting between Turban Orr and councilman Feder.
The Great Raven Crone visits the alchemist Baruk on behalf of Anomander Rake to arrange a meeting between them. Whilst there, Baruk allows her to observe as councilman Orr calls on him. Orr wants Baruk to support his intention of issuing a proclamation of neutrality. The alchemist declines and Orr tells him that even without his support the motion will be passed as he has secured a majority in favour.
To avenge a friend, Rallick Nom lies in wait to kill Lady Simtal but at the last minute, influenced by Oponn, kills her lover, the Councilman Lim instead. This inadvertently scuppers Orr's plans as he no longer has a majority.
In the meantime, more members of the Assassin's Guild have come under fire from unknown assailants.
Anomander Rake visits Baruk and agrees to an alliance with him and his fellow Cabal members.
The Mission
'Into Darujhistan' by Corporal Nobbs
| Epigraph |
Marionettes dance afield Theny Byle (b.?) |
Whiskeyjack and his squad have been dropped on the northern shore of Lake Azur. Deeming the given plan suicidal, he informs them that they will implement his own plan to infiltrate and bring down Darujhistan. Quick Ben, using his Warren, meets Hairlock who updates him about events in Pale. Afterwards, Quick proposes something to Whiskeyjack and Kalam which shakes both of them. The Bridgeburners then set about crossing the lake
On the Rhivi Plain, Toc the Younger comes across the site of a battle between the guards of Adjunct Lorn and a group of Barghast. The Adjunct and her remaining guards are making a stand but are not faring well. Lorn is saved by the arrival of Onos T'oolan and Toc who has followed her trail. Lorn is angry that the T'lan had not met up with her days earlier. Toc and the Adjunct ride double back to Pale, leaving Onos to make his own way.
Tattersail and Paran exchange what little information about the current situation they have and talk about how Paran got there.
Lorn meets with Dujek and they discuss local politics and the military campaign. Lorn has a private meeting with Tayschrenn where she passes on the displeasure of the Empress with the un-subtle way Tayschrenn handled the attack on Moon's Spawn. Their discussion reveals that the Empress is getting rid of the Old Guard and that Tayschrenn is helping her in that. Dujek however is one of the exceptions and is not to be touched. Tayschrenn informs Lorn that Oponn may have entered the fray and might be involving themselves in events in Darujhistan.
Tattersail realizes that Paran knew about Lorn's coming and that he works for her.
Lorn is sure that Tattersail is the sorceress responsible for the death of her parents and at dinner that evening challenges her. The situation is diffused by Dujek and Tayschrenn who remind Lorn that she is the Adjunct and has to leave behind her personal feelings. Tattersail is shaken by the encounter but has her morale subtly strengthened by Toc who is also present. She returns to her quarters and confronts Paran about her earlier suspicions. After a frank exchange Paran asks Tattersail to be his lover.
Lorn leaves Pale and meets up with Onos T'oolan who reveals much about the T'lan Imass to her.
Crone flies high over the Rhivi Plain on her way to Caladan Brood.
Toc convinces Paran that the Adjunct’s mission is not isolated to Sorry. They decide to catch-up to Tattersail, who has already left for Darujhistan to warn Whiskeyjack. Due to Tool’s Elder powers being in the area, travelling by Warren is becoming too difficult for Tattersail. She emerges on the Rhivi Plain and is confronted by Bellurdan. He does not believe her opinion that Tayschrenn and the Adjunct plan to raise a Jaghut Tyrant. Their fight ends in a conflagration which also takes in the remains of Nightchill. From a distance, Tool identifies a number of Warrens opened by Tattersail and Bellurdan, including Starvald Demelain, the First Elder Warren. He senses a new presence. Paran and Toc later come across what remains of Bellurdan and Tattersail; Toc finds tracks of a child-like being heading north-east.
Crone reports to Caladan Brood in the Blackdog Forest about events on the Rhivi Plain and Darujhistan. Brood’s forces are winning against the Empire. Two days after Tattersail’s battle with Bellurdan, Crone survives an encounter with Hairlock who has been incinerating Great Ravens with his Chaos Warren as he heads towards Darujhistan.
Tool and the Adjunct witness the flight of Crone. Tool cautions her over complacency against the unknown powers.
Assassins
Interpretation of Anomander Rake with Darujhistan in the background by slaine69
| Epigraph |
I dreamed a coin Ilbares the Hag |
In one of Kruppe's dreams, the Imass Bonecaster Pran Chole, the Elder God K'rul and Kruppe all work together to bring about the re-birth of Tattersail to a Rhivi woman, which also involves the souls of Nightchill and Bellurdan.
Sorry is shaken up by the mention of the word 'Seer' however, Cotillion seem to reassert his possession eventually. She follows Kruppe to the Phoenix Inn where she meets Crokus and where an incident identifies him as the coinbearer to her.
Baruk finds out from Crone that an unknown party, likely Malazan, is looking for the barrow of the Jaghut Tyrant which is supposed to be located in the Gadrobi Hills. Alarmed by this, he requests help from the scholar Mammot and sends his agents, Kruppe and friends, out into the hills to observe any digging party. He tells Kruppe to take the coinbearer along to avoid him falling into the wrong hands.
Quick Ben has a meeting with Shadowthrone and strikes a deal to eliminate Hairlock.
Anomander Rake sends Tiste Andii mage assassins to take out Darujhiustan's guild assassins. Quick Ben releases a demon, but it gets killed in minutes by the skilled mage assassins and Rake.
Crokus visits the D'Arle estate and returns the jewels to Challice. After talking for a while, she lets him go. Sorry watches him.
The Gadrobi Hills
| Epigraph |
Beyond these thin hide walls Outrider Hurlochel, 6th Army |
Tool and Lorn arrive at the Jaghut barrow. Although Tool's recounting of past events wakes doubts in Lorn's mind about the wisdom of what they are about to do, she decides to go ahead as planned.
Kruppe and his group are travelling in the Hills. Kruppe tells Crokus that they are working for Baruk and that they are trying to observe what has the crows in the area circling above.
Paran and Toc are following Hairlock's trail who is leaving dead Ravens in his wake. They are ambushed by the puppet and Toc is thrown into an unknown Warren. Quick Ben who was watching from afar, passes on the whereabouts of the puppet, to Shadowthrone who sends the Hounds who rip the puppet apart.
Lorn comes across Kruppe and his group and, not thinking clearly, attacks them unprovoked. The fight leaves Coll injured and Krupp and Murillio unconscious. Eventually, realising that the fight had been unnecessary, Lorn extracts a promise from Crokus to tend the wounded and leave for Darujhistan the following day. Meanwhile, Sorry is closing in on them.
Having finished with the puppet, the Hounds turn on Paran but Rake appears and kills two of them with his sword, Dragnipur. He then tells Shadowthrone to call them off and also orders him to recall his companion, resulting in Cotillion giving up his possession of Sorry. After they have left, Paran touches the blood of one of the dead Hounds and is transported into the Warren of Dragnipur where he encounters A huge waggon, pulled by those slain with the sword. With Oponn's help he manages to free the Hounds, then finds himself back in the real world with the bodies of the Hounds now gone.
The totally disorientated Sorry stumbles across Crokus and the others. Coll recognise that she has been possessed and tells Crokus to take her to his uncle Mammot immediately.
The City of Blue Fire
| Epigraph |
Rumours like tattered flags Fisher (b.?) |
Rallick meets an agent of The Eel who warns him that Ocelot has accepted a contract on Coll's life.
Rake and Baruk have a long meeting during which they explore the motivations for Rake's actions amongst other. Later, Baruk leads him to the sleeping Mammot and Rake points out that the scholar might have got too close in his research and might become possessed by tyrant.
The Fête
| Epigraph |
The Flaying of Fander, She-Wolf of Winter, marks the Dawn of Gedderone. The pristesses race down the streets, strips of wolf-fur streaming from their hands. Banners are unfurled. The noises and smells of the market rise into the morning air. Masks are donned, the citizens discard the year's worries and dance across the day into the night. Maskral Jemre (b.1101) |
Epilogue
As the novel ends Crokus, Fiddler and Kalam volunteer to take the former Sorry (now called Apsalar) back to her homeland of Itko Kan and they depart (their story continues in Deadhouse Gates). Meanwhile, the 2nd Army has rebelled against Laseen's increasingly unrealistic commands. Now called Dujek's Host, the 2nd Army has called for a truce with the Tiste Andii and the Crimson Guard. Dujek is also concerned about the declaration of Holy War called by the Pannion Seer, whose empire is advancing from the south-east of Genabackis. Darujhistan has evaded conquest by the Malazan Empire, for now, but may be in danger from this new threat. Elsewhere, it is confirmed that Seven Cities has begun a mass-uprising against the Empire.
Trivia
Although published in 1999, the novel was written in 1991–1992, eight years before the rest of the series and a number of minor inconsistencies can be found between this volume and the following. Orfantal, one of the Tiste Andii, changes gender between Gardens of the Moon and Memories of Ice, and the pre-ritual T'lan Imass are referred to as the T'lan, whilst the correct name is Imass. The former error was corrected in the US edition of the novel, but the latter one was not.
The novel first saw life as a feature film script co-written by Erikson and Malazan co-creator Ian C. Esslemont. According to Erikson, the script primarily covered the events occurring in the last quarter of the eventual novel as well as the assassins' rooftop fighting sequence from earlier in the book. The tone was also quite different, with Erikson saying, "we were thinking along the lines of 1001 Nights, Indiana Jones style of humour… It’s deadpan jokes all the way through, that kind of thing." After failing to sell the script, Erikson began reworking the story as a novel and the Gardens of the Moon film script was eventually lost. Erikson and Esslemont also produced a second film script titled Blackdog Blues. A prequel to Gardens of the Moon, it covered the Malazan Genabackan campaign. The script still exists, but only on a large floppy disk and is compatible with an obsolete word processing program.[4][5]
Cover gallery
Bantam (1999)
Bantam (2008)
Bantam (2009)
Bantam (2004)
Tor (2009)
Tor MMPB
Tor HC
Subterranean Press (2009)
Buchet Chastel TPB
C-Levy TPB
C-Levy
Goldmann (2000)
.jpg "1 Die Gärten des Mondes (Blanvalet).jpg (7 KB)")
Gardens of the Moon
_Paperback_2012.jpg "Die Gärten des Mondes (Blanvalet) Paperback 2012.jpg (7 KB)")
Blanvalet (2012)
Wydawnictwo MAG (2000)
Wydawnictwo MAG (2004)
Wydawnictwo MAG (2012)
ACT HC
EKSMO HC
Eksmo, 2014
Los Jardines de la Luna (2017)
Idea Factory TPB
.jpg "Spanish Timun Mas HC (part 1).jpg (84 KB)")
Timum Mas HC (part 1)
.jpg "Spanish Timun Mas HC (part 2).jpg (25 KB)")
Timum Mas HC (part 2)
Bard TPB
.jpg "Czech Talpress TPB (reprint).jpg (8 KB)")
Talpress TPB (reprint)
Talpress TPB
JMM HC
Luitingh TPB
Alexandra
Armenia (2004)
Tritonic
Notes and references
- ↑ https://www.book.store.bg/p3144/malazanska-kniga-na-myrtvite-skazanie-1-lunnite-gradini-stivyn-eriksyn.html
- ↑ https://nemira.ro/gradinile-lunii
- ↑ Gardens of the Moon, Introduction, UK MMPB
- ↑ http://www.elbakin.net/interview/exclusive/Elbakin-net-s-entretient-avec-Steven-Erikson2
- ↑ http://www.tor.com/2010/09/27/questions-for-steven-erikson-on-gardens-of-the-moon-start-asking