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.
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.
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
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
What see you in the horizon's bruised smear
That cannot be blotted out
By your raised hand?
Toe the Younger
