Quon Tali

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Lore & Background

According to Ian Cameron Esslemont's prequel series, Path to Ascendancy, Quon Tali is the setting for the early adventures of Dancer and Kellanved (known as Dorin and Wu in this specific narrative). These stories detail their rise to power on this land, establishing the foundation for what would become the Malazan Empire. The city of Quon Tali itself appears as a key location within these events. While the main series by Erikson spans thousands of years across multiple continents with a large cast, Esslemont's work focuses specifically on these formative moments in the history of the empire on this land. The source notes that the Malazan world was co-created in 1982 and expanded significantly by 1986 to approach its current scope, providing the historical depth for events occurring in Quon Tali.

In Their Own Story

In the narrative arc covered by Esslemont's Path to Ascendancy series, the focus remains on the early adventures of Dancer and Kellanved as they navigate the political landscape of Quon Tali. These characters, referred to specifically as Dorin and Wu within this prequel trilogy, engage in a struggle for dominance that leads to their eventual rise to power. This timeline runs concurrent with or precedes the events of the main Malazan Book of the Fallen series, which begins with Gardens of the Moon in 1999. The source does not provide specific scenes of wind howling across deserts or lone travelers on dunes; rather, it establishes that these prequel stories deal directly with the ascent of the empire's founders on this land, distinct from the later conflicts involving the Crimson Guard or the succession crises described in other series.

Reader's Guide

Readers seeking information about Quon Tali should consult Ian Cameron Esslemont's Path to Ascendancy series, which is explicitly set in the world of Malazan and deals with the early adventures of Dancer and Kellanved (Dorin and Wu) on this land. The authors recommend reading books in order of publication rather than chronological event order, as Tor.com's proposed chronological lists are not considered suitable for first-time readers. For a comprehensive understanding of the empire's origins on Quon Tali, one must look to these specific prequel novels alongside Esslemont's Novels of the Malazan Empire, which cover events simultaneous with the main series, including mysteries surrounding the Crimson Guard and the succession of the Malazan Empire.

Did You Know?

• Quon Tali is the specific setting where Dancer and Kellanved (referred to as Dorin and Wu in Path to Ascendancy) began their rise to power.
• The Malazan world, including Quon Tali, was originally created by Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont in 1982 for a role-playing campaign.
• Esslemont's prequel series, Path to Ascendancy, focuses entirely on the early history of the empire on this land.
• Steven Erikson jokingly referred to the entire Malazan world as 'Wu' in an interview.
• The authors recommend reading all books in order of publication rather than chronological event order.