House of Chains
Encyclopedia
House of Chains is the fourth volume of Canadian author Steven Erikson
's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen
, and a direct sequel to the second volume in the series, Deadhouse Gates
.
The novel was the first in the series to be published in hardback, first appearing in the United Kingdom
on 2 December 2002. A mass-market paperback edition followed on 3 October 2003. The first United States
edition was a hardcover published on 22 August 2006.
on the subcontinent of Seven Cities. The Chain of Dogs - the evacuation of 50,000 Malazan
civilians across 1,500 miles of hostile territory - has ended in the tragic loss of the entire 7th army and its heroic commander, Coltaine. However, with their sacrifice was bought the lives of nearly 30,000 refugees. Meanwhile, the Chain of Dogs has become a legend spreading across Seven Cities, cowing even those responsible for its destruction. Now Adjunct Tavore Paran has arrived at the head of the 14th Army, largely consisting of untried recruits. Their mission is to advance into the heart of the Holy Desert Raraku, the very heart of the rebellion known as the Whirlwind, and destroy Sha'ik and her forces once and for all. The rebels outnumber the Malazans vastly. However, all is not well in Sha'ik's camp and internal conflicts threatens to destroy her army before the Malazans can. Meanwhile, a mighty warrior named Karsa Orlong
descends from his mountain fastness on Genabackis, beginning a journey that will live in legend, and the thief Crokus and assassin Apsalar find themselves drawn into a desperate struggle for control of the Throne of Shadow. Finally, a warrior named Trull Sengar is rescued from certain death with news of a terrible new foe arising to trouble all the world...
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...
, and a direct sequel to the second volume in the series, Deadhouse Gates
Deadhouse Gates
Deadhouse Gates is the second novel in Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Deadhouse Gates follows on from the first novel, Gardens of the Moon and takes place simultaneously with events in the third novel Memories of Ice...
.
The novel was the first in the series to be published in hardback, first appearing 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 2 December 2002. A mass-market paperback edition followed on 3 October 2003. The first United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
edition was a hardcover published on 22 August 2006.
Plot summary
House of Chains takes place immediately after the events of Deadhouse GatesDeadhouse Gates
Deadhouse Gates is the second novel in Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Deadhouse Gates follows on from the first novel, Gardens of the Moon and takes place simultaneously with events in the third novel Memories of Ice...
on the subcontinent of Seven Cities. The Chain of Dogs - the evacuation of 50,000 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...
civilians across 1,500 miles of hostile territory - has ended in the tragic loss of the entire 7th army and its heroic commander, Coltaine. However, with their sacrifice was bought the lives of nearly 30,000 refugees. Meanwhile, the Chain of Dogs has become a legend spreading across Seven Cities, cowing even those responsible for its destruction. Now Adjunct Tavore Paran has arrived at the head of the 14th Army, largely consisting of untried recruits. Their mission is to advance into the heart of the Holy Desert Raraku, the very heart of the rebellion known as the Whirlwind, and destroy Sha'ik and her forces once and for all. The rebels outnumber the Malazans vastly. However, all is not well in Sha'ik's camp and internal conflicts threatens to destroy her army before the Malazans can. Meanwhile, a mighty warrior named 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...
descends from his mountain fastness on Genabackis, beginning a journey that will live in legend, and the thief Crokus and assassin Apsalar find themselves drawn into a desperate struggle for control of the Throne of Shadow. Finally, a warrior named Trull Sengar is rescued from certain death with news of a terrible new foe arising to trouble all the world...