The first in a trilogy of three prequels, Forge of Darkness purports to be a new beginning for the Malazan Book of the Fallen, but as ever with the work of Steven Erikson, it is not so simple—an assertion the cult Canadian novelist acknowledges at the outset:
“What I would speak of this morning is but the beginning of a tale. It is without borders, and its players are far from dead, and the story is far from finished. To make matters even worse, word by word I weave truth and untruths. I posit a goal to events, when such goals were not understood at the time, nor even considered. I am expected to offer a resolution, to ease the conscience of the listener, or earn a moment or two of false comfort, with the belief that proper sense is to be made of living. Just as in a tale.”
A tale such as this tale of tales. But where else are we to begin, if not at the beginning?
[Beginning a new fantasy series]