Hey there...don't know if you ever got around to seeing it (I was late in replying, as usual) but I did address your point with Dyelin on Part 12 of ToM. Might want to check it out. ;)

Hi Tess! So you finished the Bonehunters! It may be my favorite of the series....so many epic moments...so much growth. Join in the discussion over there! We need more people!

oops....I see you can make paragraphs as you type, but it doesn't print that way. Damn.

Malazan....Is the first 1/3 of DG the part that introduces Karsa? If so, yes...very painful....but if/when you meet him, just know that he evolves and grows on you. ;-) If this isn't' the book with Karsa, then it's just a new cast of characters and a new continent...they do become integrated, so hang in there! It's a very good book....much better than GotM. Hey...we can make paragraphs now!! cool. This makes these much easier to read! My husband was a sales rep for first Lord Abbett and then The American Funds for 25 years. He's with a start up now called BIC, repping some very interesting products to Advisors. He likes the ETF biz. Options, etc. were fun and interesting to me when I was a broker, but the pace was frantic. I didn't' like dealing with the public either, which was why I retired from that. People act emotionally, as you say, and almost always buy high and sell low. They become attached to a particular stock too....and they won't' listen. Drove me nuts. LOL. Let me know how DG is going for you!

Just read your bio....I was a Broker at Smith Barney when we first moved to Florida. Before Bob dragged me out of NYC, kicking and screaming, I worked at Institutional Investor an wanted to be an Institutional broker. Had to settle for retail down here and really didn't like it. Although my background is in the Arts, I loved structuring portfolios and following companies. Fascinating. What kind of trading do you do? Stocks? Bonds? Exotics?

The shout boxes are back and work!! Yippee!! So glad you are still at Malazan. It is a heavy heavy philosophical series. Lots of shades of gray. I'm on my second time through now and it's like a whole different series. So much is foreshadowed, and you just can't know that subtle stuff the first time through. SE is amazing. Keep at it...it is so worth it.

Soooooo.....Have you jumped into Gardens of the Moon? Have you checked out the Malazan thread on here? It is spoiler free because one of the moderators, Amanda, is a newbie. It helps a lot. Let me know how you are liking it!

So glad you got GotM!!! Go slow and pay attention. If you have any questions, email me....since I can never tell if anyone is leaving messages here and it's been a week since you left me a message! ;-) Tektonica@aol.com Welcome to Malazan!

btw, Tess...I agree with you about aSoIaF. I've read them all and well, meh. I'm not attached to anyone either. I don't trust GRRM with my emotions. It's an OK yarn, but doesn't have much meaning or resonance for me. Malazan on the other hand is deeply philosphical and I'd like to know many of the characters. Some I really love...all memorable. The two series are very different animals.

Hi Tess. So funny...with no notice of someone sending you a shout, I forget to check too. So today, I just wandered in here and saw your request vis a vis Malazan for Christmas. I HIGHLY recommend it!! I'm on my first reread now with the group, and it's even better on a reread. Steve Erikson is an amazing writer, thinker, historian, anthropologist, etc. He's laid clues everywhere, but you don't see them the first time. I would say that the Read/Reread group here on Tor is invaluable. I've never read anything so indepth, and thoughtful, as well as exciting. The characters are common soldiers and they are wonderful. The dialogue is amazing. I know I'm gushing, but truly, I"ve never read anything better. I will reread these many times. I love his world. Fiddler helped me figure out what was going on with private emails and posts, which helped in the beginning a lot. Bill who does the commentary, is an old hand with Malazan and is wonderful. It's all together a good, fun experience. (And being as WoT is coming to it's end, we need new forums!) Anyway...I highly recommend it. We'd certainly love to have you on the blog! Just know that SE throws you in the middle of the story in the first book, which was written 10 years before the next one. But stick it out....he second and third books really flesh things out. Feel free to ask any questions or email me....Tektonica@aol. And get on FB!! It's not bad if you set your privacy restrictions. We're having fun there! Merry Christmas!!