The author of 'arguably the best fantasy series of all time' (SFSite) - 'The Malazan Book of the Fallen' - makes his long-awaited return to the Malazan Empire with a thrilling opening chapter in an epic new trilogy - and with him returns an unmatched warrior, a colossus of a character and a firm fan-favourite... Many years have passed since three Teblor warriors brought carnage and chaos to the small lakeside settlement of Silver Lake. While the town has recovered, the legacy of that past horror remains, even if the Teblor tribes of the north no longer venture into the southlands. One of those three, Karsa Orlong, is now deemed to be a god, albeit an indifferent one. In truth, many new cults and religions have emerged across the Malazan world, including those who worship Coltaine, the Black-Winged God, and - popular among the Empire's soldiery - followers of the cult of Iskar Jarak, Guardian of the Dead. A legion of Malazan marines is on the march towards Silver Lake. responding to intelligence that indicates the tribes beyond the border are stirring. The marines aren't quite sure what they're going to be facing but, while the Malazan military has evolved and these are not the marines of old, one thing hasn't changed- they'll handle whatever comes at them. Or die trying Meanwhile, in the high mountains, where dwell the tribes of the Teblor, a new warleader has risen. Scarred by the deeds of Karsa Orlong, he intends to confront his god, even if he has to cut a bloody path through the Malazan Empire to do it. Higher in the mountains, a new threat has emerged, and now the Teblor are running out of time. The long feared invasion is about to begin. And this time it won't be three simple warriors. This time thousands are poised to flood the lands of the south. And in their way, a single legion of Malazan marines . . . It seems the past is about to revisit Silver Lake, and that is never a good thing . . . 'Erikson is an extraordinary writer . . . treat yourself.' STEPHEN R. DONALDSON 'A master of lost and forgotten epochs, a weaver of ancient epics.' SALON.COM Acclaim for The Malazan Book of the Fallen- 'This masterwork of the imagination may be the high watermark of epic fantasy.' GLEN COOK 'Arguably the best fantasy series ever written . . . the quality and ambition of the ten books that make up The Malazan Book of the Fallen are unmatched within the genre.' FANTASYBOOKREVIEW 'Nobody does it better than Erikson . . . the best fantasy series around.' SFFWORLD 'In a league of his own in genre fiction terms - by turns lyrical, bawdy, introspective, poetical and blood-soaked . . . incredible.' BOOKGEEKS 'One of the most original and engrossing fantasy series of recent times.' INTERZONE