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Автор Стивен Эриксон

Steven Erikson
Dust of Dreams

The ninth book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, 2009

Ten years ago I received an endorsement from a most

unexpected source, from a writer I respected and admired.

The friendship born in that moment is one I deeply treasure.

With love and gratitude, I dedicate this novel

to Stephen R. Donaldson.

Acknowledgments

Commenting on the first half of a very long, two-volume novel is not an easy task. My thanks (and sympathy) go to William Hunter, Hazel Kendall, Bowen Thomas-Lundin, and Aidan-Paul Canavan for their percipience and forbearance. Appreciation also goes to the staff at The Black Stilt and Café Macchiato in Victoria who were very understanding in my surrender to caffeine-free coffee. Thanks too to Clare Thomas; and special gratitude goes to my students in the writing workshop I have been conducting for the past few months. Shannon, Margaret, Shigenori, Brenda, Jade, and Lenore: you have helped remind me what fiction writing is all about.

Author’s Note

While I am, of course, not known for writing door-stopper tomes, the conclusion of ‘The Malazan Book of the Fallen’ was, to my mind, always going to demand something more than modern bookbinding technology could accommodate.

To date, I have avoided writing cliff-hangers, principally because as a reader I always hated having to wait to find out what happens. Alas, Dust of Dreams is the first half of a two-volume novel, to be concluded with The Crippled God. Accordingly, if you’re looking for resolutions to various story-threads, you won’t find them. Also, do note that there is no epilogue and, structurally, Dust of Dreams does not follow the traditional arc for a novel. To this, all I can ask of you is, please be patient. I know you can do it: after all, you have waited this long, haven’t you?

Steven Erikson

Victoria, B. C.

Dramatis Personae
The Malazans

Adjunct Tavore

High Mage Quick Ben

Fist Keneb

Fist Blistig

Captain Lostara Yil

Banaschar

Captain Kindly

Captain Skanarow

Captain Faradan Sort

Captain Ruthan Gudd

Captain Fast

Captain Untilly Rum

Lieutenant Pores

Lieutenant Raband

Sinn

Grub

The Squads

Sergeant Fiddler

Corporal Tarr

Koryk

Smiles

Bottle

Corabb Bhilan Thenu’alas

Cuttle

Sergeant Gesler

Corporal Stormy

Shortnose

Flashwit

Mayfly

Sergeant Cord

Corporal Shard

Limp

Ebron

Crump (Jamber Bole)

Sergeant Hellian

Corporal Touchy

Corporal Brethless

Balgrid

Maybe

Sergeant Balm

Corporal Deadsmell

Throatslitter

Galt

Lobe

Widdershins

Sergeant Thom Tissy

Tulip

Gullstream

Sergeant Urb

Corporal Reem

Masan Gilani

Saltlick

Scant

Sergeant Sinter

Corporal Pravalak Rim

Honey

Strap Mull

Shoaly

Lookback

Sergeant Badan Gruk

Corporal Ruffle

Skim

Nep Furrow

Reliko

Vastly Blank

Sergeant Primly

Corporal Kisswhere

Hunt

Mulvan Dreader

Neller

Skulldeath

Drawfirst

Dead Hedge

Alchemist Bavedict

Sergeant Sunrise

Sergeant Nose Stream

Corporal Sweetlard

Corporal Rumjugs

The Khundryl

Warleader Gall

Hanavat (Gall’s wife)

Jarabb

Shelemasa

Vedith