Reaper's Gale
Encyclopedia
Reaper's Gale is the seventh volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson
's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen
. Reaper's Gale is a direct sequel to both the fifth and sixth volumes, Midnight Tides
and The Bonehunters
.
The novel was first published in hardcover and trade paperback in the United Kingdom
on 7 May 2007, and in Canada
on 5 June 2007. It was published in the United States
on March 4, 2008.
All is not well in the Letherii Empire. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness, surrounded by sycophants and agents of his Machiavellian chancellor, while the Letherii secret police conduct a campaign of terror against its own people. The Errant, once a farseeing god, is suddenly blind to the future. Conspiracies seethe throughout the palace, as the empire – driven by the corrupt and self-interested – edges ever-closer to all-out war with the neighboring kingdoms. And the great Edur fleet – its warriors selected from countless people – draws ever closer. Amongst them are Karsa Orlong
and Icarium Lifestealer – each destined to cross blades with the emperor himself. That yet more blood is to be spilled is inevitable... Tehol Beddict's manipulation of the Letherii economy continues whilst a grand conspiracy between nations beyond the new Empire's borders gathers pace. Meanwhile, from the sea comes word of a huge flotilla of ships from a remote empire on the far side of the world, who have come in search of the homeland of the Edur fleets scattered across the globe. The Malazan
14th Army has come to pay its respects to the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths...
Against this backdrop, a band of fugitives seek a way out of the empire, but one of them, Fear Sengar, must find the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye. It is his hope that it might help halt the Tiste Edur, and so save his brother, the emperor. Yet, traveling with them is Scabandari's most ancient foe: Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake. And his motives are anything but certain – for the wounds he carries on his back, made by the blades of Scabandari, are still fresh. Fate decrees that there is to be a reckoning, for such bloodshed cannot go unanswered – and it will be a reckoning on an unimaginable scale... This is a brutal, harrowing novel of war, intrigue and dark, uncontrollable magic; this is epic fantasy at its most imaginative, storytelling at its most thrilling.
From the Inside Flap
The Letherii Empire – driven by the corrupt and self-interested – is crumbling. Surrounded by sycophants and agents of his venal chancellor, the Emperor Rhulad Sengar descends into madness. Conspiracies abound. The imperial secret police conduct a campaign of terror against its own people. The Errant, once a farseeing god, is suddenly blind to the future. Scenting chaos, dread forces are closing in from all sides.
And the great Edur fleet – its warriors selected from countless peoples – draws ever closer to home. Among its number are Karsa Orlong
and Icarium Lifestealer – each destined to cross blades with the emperor himself. But in crossing half the world, the Tiste Edur have left behind a tide of blood. Such brutality cannot go unanswered. For some there must be a reckoning, for some this is far from over...
A brutal, harrowing tale of war, betrayal and dark, uncontrollable magic, this is epic fantasy at its most imaginative, storytelling at its most thrilling.
Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist....
's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Malazan Book of the Fallen
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is an epic fantasy series written by Canadian author Steven Erikson, published in ten volumes beginning with the novel Gardens of the Moon, published in 1999. The series was completed with the publication of The Crippled God in February 2011...
. Reaper's Gale is a direct sequel to both the fifth and sixth volumes, Midnight Tides
Midnight Tides
Midnight Tides is the fifth volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Although it is part of the larger series, it has only limited references to the previous books...
and The Bonehunters
The Bonehunters
The Bonehunters is the sixth volume in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The Bonehunters is a direct sequel to the fourth volume, House of Chains, and alludes to events in the fifth, Midnight Tides.The novel was first published in the United...
.
The novel was first published in hardcover and trade paperback in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 7 May 2007, and in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on 5 June 2007. It was published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on March 4, 2008.
Plot summary
SynopsisAll is not well in the Letherii Empire. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness, surrounded by sycophants and agents of his Machiavellian chancellor, while the Letherii secret police conduct a campaign of terror against its own people. The Errant, once a farseeing god, is suddenly blind to the future. Conspiracies seethe throughout the palace, as the empire – driven by the corrupt and self-interested – edges ever-closer to all-out war with the neighboring kingdoms. And the great Edur fleet – its warriors selected from countless people – draws ever closer. Amongst them are Karsa Orlong
Karsa Orlong
Karsa Orlong is a fictional character in Steven Erikson's fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen. He makes his first appearance in the novel Deadhouse Gates as Toblakai, bodyguard to Sha'ik. His past is revealed in the subsequent novel House of Chains.-The Teblor Giant:Karsa Orlong is a Teblor...
and Icarium Lifestealer – each destined to cross blades with the emperor himself. That yet more blood is to be spilled is inevitable... Tehol Beddict's manipulation of the Letherii economy continues whilst a grand conspiracy between nations beyond the new Empire's borders gathers pace. Meanwhile, from the sea comes word of a huge flotilla of ships from a remote empire on the far side of the world, who have come in search of the homeland of the Edur fleets scattered across the globe. The Malazan
Malazan Empire
The Malazan Empire is a fictional state in the epic fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. It is one of only two human empires in the series - the other being Lether. It is likely the largest group of humans under one name...
14th Army has come to pay its respects to the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths...
Against this backdrop, a band of fugitives seek a way out of the empire, but one of them, Fear Sengar, must find the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye. It is his hope that it might help halt the Tiste Edur, and so save his brother, the emperor. Yet, traveling with them is Scabandari's most ancient foe: Silchas Ruin, brother of Anomander Rake. And his motives are anything but certain – for the wounds he carries on his back, made by the blades of Scabandari, are still fresh. Fate decrees that there is to be a reckoning, for such bloodshed cannot go unanswered – and it will be a reckoning on an unimaginable scale... This is a brutal, harrowing novel of war, intrigue and dark, uncontrollable magic; this is epic fantasy at its most imaginative, storytelling at its most thrilling.
From the Inside Flap
The Letherii Empire – driven by the corrupt and self-interested – is crumbling. Surrounded by sycophants and agents of his venal chancellor, the Emperor Rhulad Sengar descends into madness. Conspiracies abound. The imperial secret police conduct a campaign of terror against its own people. The Errant, once a farseeing god, is suddenly blind to the future. Scenting chaos, dread forces are closing in from all sides.
And the great Edur fleet – its warriors selected from countless peoples – draws ever closer to home. Among its number are Karsa Orlong
Karsa Orlong
Karsa Orlong is a fictional character in Steven Erikson's fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen. He makes his first appearance in the novel Deadhouse Gates as Toblakai, bodyguard to Sha'ik. His past is revealed in the subsequent novel House of Chains.-The Teblor Giant:Karsa Orlong is a Teblor...
and Icarium Lifestealer – each destined to cross blades with the emperor himself. But in crossing half the world, the Tiste Edur have left behind a tide of blood. Such brutality cannot go unanswered. For some there must be a reckoning, for some this is far from over...
A brutal, harrowing tale of war, betrayal and dark, uncontrollable magic, this is epic fantasy at its most imaginative, storytelling at its most thrilling.