I finished my copy of Lees yesterday afternoon, which was a most spectacular afternoon in every way. Not only was the sky as blue as you could only dream of and the temperature was near to perfect, but as three little doggies played beneath me I had the chance to finish the last Malazan book I had yet to read.

“Lees” is a short novella clocking in at a 114 pages and it was published some time ago by PS Publishing. It is the third and last installment in a trilogy about an enchanter named Bauchelain, a necromancer named Korbal Broach and their manservant, Emancipor Reese. “Lees” takes place between Blood Follows and The Healthy Dead (novella nr. 3). The latter two have been published by Night Shade in the US and are easily accessible both in stores and on the Internet.

I was fortunate enough to get a hold on a deluxe signed, limited edition of “Lees”, which costs twice the price of the normal signed, limited edition. This is my second signed book and I must admit that I get the fanboy-shakes when I think of the fact that Steven Erikson, in my opinion the greatest Fantasy writer alive today, has personally fondled my book. Everything about this book is b-e-a-u-tiful and it’s easily worth the thirty quid I spent on it.

I began reading the Malazan series last spring and when I discovered that there were two novellas published in the same universe I just had to read them. I picked up “The Healthy Dead” first and I then continued on with “Blood Follows”. The fact that I’ve read this trilogy in a seriously messed up way and still love it with a passion should not only be the mark of novellas that can stand on their own two feet, but of a trilogy that is so good that you can’t go wrong no matter how hard you try.

Following the disturbing events in Lamentable Moll, Emacipor Reese and his two masters find themselves on a ship heading towards the bloody waters of Laughter’s End. Little do they know that the Suncurl is the home to fearsome ghosts, a gruesome demon and in their wake lurks things more terrible than the sharks and dhenrabi…

“The Lees of Laughter’s End” is both funny, scary and grotesquely written. The book depicts the events of a single night aboard the Suncurl - a night I dare say no one will forget. Erikson’s novellas manages to be horrifyingly funny and fast paced and I can’t think of single book that I’ve enjoyed as much from an entertainment perspective this year. I’d rate it just beneath “The Healthy Dead” in sheer brilliance but it’s better than “Blood Follows”. If you’re a fan of Erikson you must read this book one time or another. If you aren’t a fan of him yet then I’d heartily recommend starting out with this trilogy. They are easier to read then The Malazan Book of the Fallen, but not as ultimately satisfying, which is of course both logical and understandable. Final Verdict: 8,5/10.