A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 1

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Deadhouse Gates
    A Tale of the
Malazan Book of the Fallen
    STEVEN ERIKSON

This novel is dedicated to two gentlemen:
David Thomas Jr, who welcomed me to
England with an introduction to a certain
agent; and Patrick Walsh, the agent he
introduced me to. There has been a lot
of faith shown over the years, and I
thank you both.

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
    With deepest gratitude I acknowledge the
following for their support: The staff at Café
Rouge, Dorking (keep the coffees coming...);
the folks at Psion, whose extraordinary 5
Series was home to this novel's first draft;
Daryl and crew at Café Hosete; and, of course,
Simon Taylor and the rest at Transworld.
For my family and friends, thank you for
your faith and encouragement, without which
all that I achieve means little.
Thanks also to Stephen and Ross
Donaldson for their kind words, James Barclay,
Sean Russell and Ariel. Finally, a big thank
you to those readers who took time to write
their comments on various websites – writing
is a solitary, isolating activity, but you have
made it less so.



DRAMATIS PERSONAE
     
ON THE PATH OF THE HAND
     
    Icarium, a mixed-blood Jaghut wanderer
    Mappo, his Trell companion
    Iskaral Pust, a High Priest of Shadow
    Ryllandaras, the White Jackal, a D'ivers
    Messremb, a Soletaken
    Gryllen, a D'ivers
    Mogora, a D'ivers
     
THE MALAZANS
    Felisin, youngest daughter of House Paran
    Heboric Light Touch, exiled historian and ex-priest of Fener
    Baudin, companion to Felisin and Heboric
    Fiddler, 9th Squad, Bridgeburners
    Crokus, a visitor from Darujhistan
    Apsalar, 9th Squad, Bridgeburners
    Kalam, a corporal in the 9th Squad, Bridgeburners
    Duiker, Imperial Historian
    Kulp, cadre mage, 7th Army
    Mallick Rel, chief adviser to the High Fist of the Seven Cities
    Sawark, commander of the guard in the Otataral mining camp, Skullcup
    Pella, a soldier stationed at Skullcup
    Pormqual, High Fist of the Seven Cities, in Aren
    Blistig, Commander of Aren Guard
    Topper, Commander of the Claw
    Lull, a captain in the Sialk Marines
    Chenned, a captain in the 7th Army
    Sulmar, a captain in the 7th Army
    List, a corporal in the 7th Army
    Mincer, a sapper
    Cuttle, a sapper
    Gesler, a corporal in the Coastal Guard
    Stormy, a soldier in the Coastal Guard
    Truth, a recruit in the Coastal Guard
    Squint, a bowman
    Pearl, a Claw
    Captain Keneb, a refugee
    Selv, Keneb's wife
    Minala, Selv's sister
    Kesen, Keneb and Selv's first-born son
    Vaneb, Keneb and Selv's second-born son
    Captain, owner and commander of the trader craft Ragstopper
    Bent, a Wickan cattle-dog
    Roach, a Hengese lapdog
     
WICKANS
    Coltaine , Fist, 7th Army
    Temul, a young lancer
    Sormo E'nath, a warlock
    Nil, a warlock
    Nether, a warlock
    Bult, a veteran commander and Coltaine's uncle
     
THE RED BLADES
    Baria Setral (Dosin Pali)
    Mesker Setral, his brother (Dosin Pali)
    Tene Baralta (Ehrlitan)
    Aralt Arpat (Ehrlitan)
    Lostara Yil (Ehrlitan)
     
NOBLES ON THE CHAIN OF DOGS (MALAZAN)
    Nethpara
    Lenestro
    Pullyk Alar
    Tumlit
     
FOLLOWERS OF THE APOCALYPSE
    Sha'ik, leader of the rebellion
    Leoman, captain in the Raraku Apocalypse
    Toblakai, a bodyguard and warrior in the Raraku Apocalypse
    Febryl, a mage and elder adviser to Sha'ik
    Korbolo Dom, renegade Fist leading the Odhan army
    Kamist Reloe, High Mage with the Odhan army
    L'oric, a mage with the Raraku Apocalypse
    Bidithal, a mage with the Raraku Apocalypse
    Mebra, a spy in Ehrlitan
     
OTHERS
    Salk Elan, a traveller on the seas
    Shan, a Hound of Shadow
    Gear, a Hound of Shadow
    Blind, a Hound of Shadow
    Baran, a Hound of Shadow
    Rood, a Hound of Shadow
    Moby, a familiar
    Hentos Ilm, a T'lan Imass Bonecaster
    Legana Breed, a T'lan Imass
    Olar Ethil, a T'lan Imass Bonecaster
    Kimloc, a Tanno Spiritwalker
    Beneth, a crime lord
    Irp, a small servant
    Rudd, an equally small servant
    Apt, an aptorian demon
    Panek, a child
    Karpolan Demesand, a merchant
    Bula, an innkeeper
    Cotillion, patron god of assassins
    Shadowthrone, Ruler of High House Shadow
    Rellock, a servant

Prologue
    What see you in the