Tehol, Bugg, and their friends were the only reason I made it through "Midnight Tides." The entire story of the Edur-- three stinking books worth-- was pure garbage. Were it not for the Malazans finally showing up in later books, I would have given up on the entire series. I actually rejoiced at the Edur's demise, just knowing that I wouldn't have to slog through their miserable crap any longer. I skipped or crudely skimmed whole Edur chapters through the books. Yep-- dude's still a crazy, undead tyrant, the rest are wallowing in pity... next chapter-- AHHHHH! Tehol and Bugg and Shirq Elal!

I think the entire Toblakai (sp) plot thread was terrible, too. Of all the races and groups that Erikson wants to "color in," I have no desire to buy any of the Toblakai books. I see nothing interesting or useful, or even compelling about the Toblakai. Karsa Orlong holds absolutely no interest to me. Chest-thumping egomaniacal killer for his own pride's sake. Nothing more. YAWN.

But, hang in there-- because there are some really spectacular moments involving Bugg, the Eddict Brothers' circle of friends, and all of the Edur tripe sets up the arrival of the Malazans.

Erikson wastes a LOT of ink-- entire books-- on a couple of cultures that are simply too boring and screwed-up for a reader to care about, but the rest of the series is well worth the few long slogs.