The God is Not Willing: The First Tale of Witness

· Transworld Digital · Narrated by Emma Gregory
5.0
13 reviews
Audiobook
23 hr 13 min
Unabridged
Eligible
Ratings and reviews aren’t verified  Learn More
Want a 10 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline. 
Add

About this audiobook

Brought to you by Penguin.

Many years have passed since three Teblor warriors brought carnage and chaos to the small lakeside settlement of Silver Lake. While the town has recovered, the legacy of that past horror remains, even if the Teblor tribes of the north no longer venture into the southlands. One of those three, Karsa Orlong, is now deemed to be a god, albeit an indifferent one. In truth, many new cults and religions have emerged across the Malazan world, including those who worship Coltaine, the Black-Winged God, and - popular among the Empire's soldiery - followers of the cult of Iskar Jarak, Guardian of the Dead.

A legion of Malazan marines is on the march towards Silver Lake. responding to intelligence that indicates the tribes beyond the border are stirring. The marines aren't quite sure what they're going to be facing but, while the Malazan military has evolved and these are not the marines of old, one thing hasn't changed: they'll handle whatever comes at them. Or die trying

Meanwhile, in the high mountains, where dwell the tribes of the Teblor, a new warleader has risen. Scarred by the deeds of Karsa Orlong, he intends to confront his god, even if he has to cut a bloody path through the Malazan Empire to do it. Higher in the mountains, a new threat has emerged, and now the Teblor are running out of time.
The long feared invasion is about to begin. And this time it won't be three simple warriors. This time thousands are poised to flood the lands of the south. And in their way, a single legion of Malazan marines . . .

It seems the past is about to revisit Silver Lake, and that is never a good thing . . .

'Erikson is an extraordinary writer . . . treat yourself.' STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

'A master of lost and forgotten epochs, a weaver of ancient epics.' SALON.COM

Acclaim for The Malazan Book of the Fallen:

'This masterwork of the imagination may be the high watermark of epic fantasy.' GLEN COOK

'Arguably the best fantasy series ever written . . . the quality and ambition of the ten books that make up The Malazan Book of the Fallen are unmatched within the genre.' FANTASYBOOKREVIEW

'Nobody does it better than Erikson . . . the best fantasy series around.' SFFWORLD

'In a league of his own in genre fiction terms - by turns lyrical, bawdy, introspective, poetical and blood-soaked . . . incredible.' BOOKGEEKS

'One of the most original and engrossing fantasy series of recent times.' INTERZONE

© Steven Erikson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Ratings and reviews

5.0
13 reviews
Kelly Flanagan
August 26, 2025
There is no better author, in fact even The Lord of the Rings cannot compare. let's be honest, the first series - all 10 books - covers such a huge time with details important from each period. In fact the details and breadth of interconnection gobsmacks me every time I start rereading one of the books. If you love deep oceans of story between the covers. One with beautiful poetry a great sense of humor,. oops gotta go. Read these books
Did you find this helpful?
Jonathan Haar
April 23, 2022
Emma Gregory is an incredible narrator. I chose this as my first Malazan audiobook just because of the quality of her reading. Please use her again! TGinW is also an amazing book and I guess we can also give Erikson credit for the quality of his prose. But please, more Emma.
Did you find this helpful?
Kevin Brown
July 25, 2024
Erikson is a pure genious ! love the audio naration
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Archaeologist and anthropologist Steven Erikson is the bestselling author of the genre-defining The Malazan Book of the Fallen, a multi-volume fantasy that’s been hailed ‘a masterwork of the imagination’ and one of the top ten fantasy series of all time. The first novel in the sequence, Gardens of the Moon, was shortlisted for a World Fantasy Award. He has written several novellas set in the same world. Forge of Darkness was the first Kharkanas novel, taking readers back to the origins of what would become the Malazan Empire; Fall of Light continued this momentous tale.
A lifelong science fiction reader, he’s written a trilogy that affectionately parodies a long-running television series as well as Rejoice!, a story of first contact.
Set in the world of the Malazan Empire, ten years after the events recounted in The Crippled God, The God is Not Willing heralded the start of a thrilling new series – The Tales of Witness. No Life Forsaken is the second Tale in this epic adventure.
Steven Erikson lives in Victoria, Canada. To find out more, look for him on Facebook: Steven Erikson – Author

Rate this audiobook

Tell us what you think.

Listening information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.

Listeners also liked

More by Steven Erikson

Similar audiobooks