Best Fantasy Series Ever

Okay, so a little context here: I've been reading fantasy from the very beginning. It was the first genre I began reading at around age nine or ten, in primary school and it began with King Arthur but only really became a major must-read from now on, after Harry Potter.

There is no great series or fantasy novel that I have not read, or do not know of.

So when I say that this series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen, is probably the best ever written, I want you to understand in full, the strength of that statement. And I've only read two books in the series. Certain series will always be in my heart - certain moments in my life are ear-marked by the series I was reading at the time - and so I will never discount them. My all time favourites - Janny Wurts (Wars of Light and Shadow), Tolkien (LOTR), Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time), Raymond. E. Feist (Magician and Daughter of the Empire series) amongst tonnes of others - are all in danger of being surpassed by Steven Erikson.

With his first two books, he has tied them. With the next, if it is even half as good as the second, I will feel confident in saying he is the best fantasist. Ever. His world is so rich, so complex and dark - the characters are brilliant, the sorcery is new and innovative, the storyline is ever changing - no fixed plot, but merely following a set of characters that continually grow, not only in number, but in strength, and wisdom - sometimes falling, sometimes rising and perhaps both.

The tragedy of this writing is that its too good - It can't appeal to the general public as say, Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter did, no, its far more advanced I think - only the true admirers/lovers/readers of Fantasy will be able to appreciate what Erikson has achieved.The man is simply astonishing - not only in the sheer breadth of his vision, the inventiveness of his characters, creatures, magic, world, and everything in between but in the style of writing also. He doesn't let up. He doesn't let you breathe. You simply get dragged down into his world, willing or not. What I love most is that it seems as though every explanatory sentence has been cut in the editing process. So many novels spend half of the time explaining what is happening, or how such and such works - Erikson doesn't.

He simply tells the story.

He demands to be read and I kick myself for ignoring him for so long - yes, I knew of him, but simply discounted him or never had the time to pick up one of his books but now that I have, I am simply in awe.

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