Return of the Crimson Guard

infobox Book |
name = Return of the Crimson Guard
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Ian Cameron Esslemont
cover_artist = Steve Stone
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Malazan Book of the Fallen
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = PS Publishing (UK) & Bantam (UK & Canada, forthcoming)
release_date = May 2008 (PS Publishing Edition) 15 August 2008 (Bantam UK hardcover)
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 743 pp (PS Publishing edition)
isbn = ISBN 0593058097 (Bantam UK hardcover edition)
preceded_by = Night of Knives
followed_by = Stonewielder (forthcoming)

"Return of the Crimson Guard" is the second high fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont set in the world of the "Malazan Book of the Fallen", co-created with Esselmont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Chronologically, "Return of the Crimson Guard" takes place after the events in Erikson's sixth "Malazan" novel, "The Bonehunters". "Return of the Crimson Guard" is the second of five planned novels by Esslemont to take place in the Malazan world, starting with "Night of Knives" and followed by "Stonewielder".

"Return of the Crimson Guard" was first published in the United Kingdom by PS Publishing in May 2008 as a limited, two-volume hardcover. Bantam UK, who publish Erikson's "Malazan" novels, published "Return of the Crimson Guard" in hardcover on 15 August 2008. The book will be released in North America by Bantam on September 16th, 2008.

Plot overview

The novel is set shortly after the events of "The Bonehunters". The Malazan Empire is in turmoil following the catastrophic war in Seven Cities and the plague which has devastated the subcontinent and severely disrupted food supplies to Quon Tali, the Empire's home continent. In an attempt to divert the populace's anger elsewhere, the Empress Laseen has pinned the blame for the disaster on the Wickan contingents of the armies in Seven Cities, and a pogrom has been launched into the Wickan homelands. However, this bluff has not succeeded and civil war threatens to tear the Empire apart. Whilst the Malazan Empire teeters on the brink of disaster, the mercenary group known as the Crimson Guard has been summoned back to Quon Tali to take advantage of the chaos and fulfil their century-old vow to liberate their homeland from the occupiers.

Many characters and locations which appear in "Return of the Crimson Guard" also appear in Erikson's novels as well as Esslemont's "Night of Knives".