The Wurms of Blearmouth: A Dark Comedy of Errors by Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20: A Review
If you are a fan of fantasy novels, you might have heard of Steven Erikson and his acclaimed series Malazan Book of the Fallen. But did you know that he also wrote a novella called The Wurms Of Blearmouth, which is set in the same world and features some of the same characters? In this article, we will review The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20, which is the latest edition of the novella in electronic format. We will tell you what it is about, who wrote it, why you should read it, and what we think of it. Let's get started!
Steven Erikson The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20
Introduction
What is The Wurms Of Blearmouth?
The Wurms Of Blearmouth is a fantasy novella by Steven Erikson, published in 2014. It is the fifth book in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series, which is a spin-off from the main Malazan Book of the Fallen series. The novella follows the adventures of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, two necromancers who travel across the Malazan world with their hapless manservant Emancipor Reese. In this story, they arrive at a remote island called Spendrugle, where they encounter a tyrannical ruler, a mad mage, a rebellious populace, and a mysterious creature lurking in the depths of the sea.
Who is Steven Erikson?
Steven Erikson is a Canadian author, archaeologist, and anthropologist. He is best known for his epic fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen, which consists of ten volumes and spans thousands of years of history and hundreds of characters. He has also written several other novels and novellas set in the same world or in different genres. He is widely regarded as one of the most original and inventive fantasy writers of his generation, and his works have received critical acclaim and commercial success.
Why should you read The Wurms Of Blearmouth?
You should read The Wurms Of Blearmouth if you are looking for a short but entertaining fantasy story that combines dark humor, action, mystery, and horror. You should also read it if you are a fan of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series and want to explore more aspects of his rich and complex world. You don't need to have read the previous books in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series to enjoy this one, as it can be read as a standalone story. However, if you have read them, you will appreciate some references and connections to the other stories.
Plot summary
The setting
The story takes place on Spendrugle, a small island in the middle of the ocean. Spendrugle is ruled by Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render, a brutal dictator who oppresses his subjects with high taxes, harsh laws, and frequent executions. He lives in a fortress called Castle Fangatooth on top of a cliff overlooking the sea. He is assisted by his advisor Guld Tyrant-killer, who is secretly plotting to overthrow him.
The island is also home to a powerful mage named Wurm, who lives in a tower called Wurms Keep on the opposite side of the island. Wurm is obsessed with finding the source of a mysterious voice that he hears in his head, which he believes belongs to a god. He is also fascinated by the giant sea creature that occasionally emerges from the water and devours ships and people. He calls it the Wurm of Blearmouth, and he thinks it is somehow connected to the voice.
The rest of the island is populated by various factions and groups, such as the rebels led by Rallick the Taker, who want to overthrow Lord Fangatooth; the cultists led by Sister Flicker, who worship the Wurm of Blearmouth; the smugglers led by Captain Sater, who trade with other islands; and the villagers led by Elder Gris, who try to survive amid the chaos.
The characters
The main characters of the story are Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, two necromancers who travel across the Malazan world with their manservant Emancipor Reese. Bauchelain is a tall, thin, and elegant man who dresses in black and wears a silver skull ring. He is a master of sorcery and alchemy, and he collects souls in his soul-jar. Korbal Broach is a short, fat, and grotesque man who dresses in rags and wears a leather apron. He is a master of anatomy and surgery, and he creates abominations from dead bodies. Emancipor Reese is a balding, middle-aged man who dresses in brown and wears a straw hat. He is a former sailor who became the servant of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach after they killed his previous employers. He is constantly terrified of his masters and their experiments, but he is also loyal to them.
The other characters of the story include Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render, Guld Tyrant-killer, Wurm, Rallick the Taker, Sister Flicker, Captain Sater, Elder Gris, and many others. Each of them has their own personality, motivation, and role in the plot.
The main events
The story begins with Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and Emancipor Reese arriving at Spendrugle on a ship called The Suncurl. They are greeted by Captain Sater and his crew, who offer to take them to Castle Fangatooth or Wurms Keep. Bauchelain chooses to go to Castle Fangatooth, while Korbal Broach decides to go to Wurms Keep. Emancipor Reese follows Bauchelain reluctantly.
On their way to Castle Fangatooth, they encounter a group of rebels led by Rallick the Taker, who attack them. Bauchelain easily defeats them with his magic and kills Rallick. He then takes his soul and puts it in his soul-jar. He also takes his sword, which is called The Taker.
At Castle Fangatooth, they meet Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render and Guld Tyrant-killer. Lord Fangatooth welcomes them as guests and invites them to stay for dinner. Guld Tyrant-killer recognizes Bauchelain as a necromancer and tries to warn Lord Fangatooth about him. However, Lord Fangatooth ignores him and orders him to prepare for the feast.
Meanwhile, at Wurms Keep, Korbal Broach meets Wurm, who shows him his laboratory and his experiments. Wurm tells him about the voice in his head and the Wurm of Blearmouth. Korbal Broach is intrigued by both and offers to help Wurm find out more about them.
Back at Castle Fangatooth, Bauchelain attends the feast with Emancipor Reese. He notices that Lord Fangatooth is paranoid and cruel, as he executes several people for minor offenses or no reason at all. He also notices that Guld Tyrant-killer is plotting against him, as he poisons some of the food and drinks. Bauchelain avoids eating or drinking anything that Guld has touched.
After the feast, Lord Fangatooth invites Bauchelain to his private chamber for a chat. He reveals that he knows that Bauchelain is a necromancer and that he wants to learn from him. He also reveals that he has a secret weapon: a dragon that he keeps chained in his dungeon. He plans to use it to destroy his enemies and conquer other islands.
dragon. He also plans to free the souls in his soul-jar and use them to create an army of undead. At the same time, Guld Tyrant-killer leads a group of rebels and cultists to storm the castle and kill Lord Fangatooth. He also intends to kill Bauchelain and take his soul-jar. He thinks that he can use the souls to summon the Wurm of Blearmouth and become its master.
The two plots collide in a bloody and chaotic battle that involves magic, swords, fire, explosions, and dragons. Bauchelain manages to kill Lord Fangatooth and take his dragon. He also frees the souls in his soul-jar and commands them to fight for him. Guld Tyrant-killer manages to reach Bauchelain's room and take his soul-jar. He also tries to summon the Wurm of Blearmouth with a ritual.
However, things go wrong for both of them. Bauchelain's dragon turns out to be a fake, made of wood and metal. It falls apart and crashes into the sea. Bauchelain's souls turn out to be rebellious and ungrateful. They refuse to obey him and attack him instead. Guld Tyrant-killer's ritual turns out to be a mistake. He summons the Wurm of Blearmouth, but it does not recognize him as its master. It devours him and destroys the castle.
The only survivors of the carnage are Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, Emancipor Reese, and Wurm. They escape on The Suncurl with Captain Sater and his crew. They leave Spendrugle behind, which is now a smoking ruin with a giant sea monster circling around it.
Analysis
The themes
The Wurms Of Blearmouth explores several themes that are common in Steven Erikson's works, such as power, ambition, greed, madness, humor, and irony. The story shows how different characters pursue their goals and dreams, often at the expense of others or themselves. It also shows how their plans backfire or fail due to unforeseen circumstances or their own flaws. The story also uses humor and irony to contrast the seriousness and absurdity of the situations and events.
The style
The Wurms Of Blearmouth is written in a style that is typical of Steven Erikson's works, which is characterized by complex vocabulary, rich descriptions, witty dialogue, multiple perspectives, intertextual references, and metafictional elements. The story uses a third-person omniscient narrator who switches between different characters' points of view and sometimes addresses the reader directly. The story also includes several references and connections to other works by Steven Erikson or other authors, such as Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Hobbit, Frankenstein, Dracula, etc. The story also plays with some conventions and expectations of the fantasy genre, such as dragons, necromancers, heroes, villains, etc.
The humor
The Wurms Of Blearmouth is a dark comedy that uses humor to lighten the mood and enhance the effect of the story. The humor comes from various sources, such as the characters' personalities, interactions, dialogues, actions, reactions, etc. The humor is often sarcastic, ironic, absurd, or grotesque. Some examples of humorous moments are:
When Bauchelain kills Rallick the Taker and takes his soul and sword.
When Lord Fangatooth executes people for trivial reasons or no reason at all.
When Guld Tyrant-killer tries to poison Bauchelain but fails.
When Bauchelain discovers that Lord Fangatooth's dragon is a fake.
When Guld Tyrant-killer summons the Wurm of Blearmouth but gets eaten by it.
When Emancipor Reese complains about his life and his masters.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20 is a fantasy novella by Steven Erikson that tells the story of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach's visit to Spendrugle island. It is a short but entertaining story that combines dark humor, action, mystery, and horror. It is also a part of the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series, which is a spin-off from the main Malazan Book of the Fallen series. It is a story that explores themes such as power, ambition, greed, madness, humor, and irony. It is also a story that uses a style that is complex, rich, witty, intertextual, and metafictional. It is also a story that plays with some conventions and expectations of the fantasy genre.
Recommendation and rating
We recommend The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20 to anyone who likes fantasy novels, especially those who are fans of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. We also recommend it to anyone who likes dark comedy, action, mystery, and horror. We think that it is a well-written, well-crafted, and well-executed story that will keep you entertained and amused. We give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20:
Q: Do I need to read the previous books in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series to enjoy this one? A: No, you don't need to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. The Wurms Of Blearmouth can be read as a standalone story. However, if you have read the previous books, you will appreciate some references and connections to the other stories.
Q: Do I need to read the Malazan Book of the Fallen series to understand this one? A: No, you don't need to read the Malazan Book of the Fallen series to understand this one. The Wurms Of Blearmouth is set in the same world as the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, but it does not directly relate to the main plot or characters of that series. However, if you have read the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, you will recognize some elements and details of the world and its history.
Q: Where can I get The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20? A: You can get The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20 from various online platforms and stores, such as Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Kobo, etc. You can also get it from some physical bookstores or libraries.
Q: How long is The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20? A: The Wurms Of Blearmouth Epub 20 is about 200 pages long or about 50,000 words long.
Q: What is the next book in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series? A: The next book in the Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach series is called The Fiends Of Nightmaria. It was published in 2016 and it follows Bauchelain and Korbal Broach's adventures in a prison colony called Farrog.
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