Malazan Praised Over Wheel of Time
Fantasy readers are transitioning from Wheel of Time to Malazan, praising Malazan's ancient lore spanning hundreds of thousands of years, unsolved mysteries, and "marvelously plotted" magic system. One detailed comparison thread earned 7 likes and 1,046 views, with readers noting Malazan's immersive world where they feel "part of" it. The post recommends reading Esslemont's companion books in chronological order for maximum impact.
- *The Wheel of Time* was primarily written by Robert Jordan, who passed away in 2007 before its completion. Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson was chosen by Jordan's widow to finish the series based on extensive notes, ultimately splitting the final planned book into three volumes: *The Gathering Storm*, *Towers of Midnight*, and *A Memory of Light*. - The main *Malazan Book of the Fallen* series by author Steven Erikson consists of ten books, beginning with *Gardens of the Moon* (1999) and concluding with *The Crippled God* (2011). In contrast, *The Wheel of Time* spans 14 primary novels and a prequel, with the first book published in 1990. - The Malazan world was co-created by Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont in the early 1980s to serve as a backdrop for a GURPS roleplaying game campaign. This collaborative origin is reflected in the multiple series set within the same universe. - Ian C. Esslemont's *Novels of the Malazan Empire* is a six-part series that runs concurrently with the main plot of the *Malazan Book of the Fallen*, and the two authors recommend reading both series in publication order for a complete narrative. - While *The Wheel of Time* begins with a more traditional fantasy trope of a young protagonist discovering his destiny, the *Malazan* series is known for dropping readers into the middle of a complex, ongoing conflict with a vast array of established characters and cultures. - In terms of length, the main 14-book *Wheel of Time* series is approximately 4.4 million words long. The 10-book core *Malazan Book of the Fallen* series is shorter at around 3.3 million words. - Common criticisms of *The Wheel of Time* often point to a slowdown in pacing in the middle books of the series and a repetitive writing style. Conversely, a frequent challenge for new *Malazan* readers is its initial inaccessibility, as the story begins with little exposition and requires the reader to piece together the world and plot over time. - Before selecting Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan's widow, Harriet McDougal, had briefly considered asking George R.R. Martin, a friend of Jordan's, to finish *The Wheel of Time*.
