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Fisher kel Tath, or simply "Fisher", was a poet and bard whose works were well-known.[1] His poems were featured in many of the epigraphs preceding chapters in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Perhaps his most famous work was the epic poem Anomandaris. He was a genius with the lyre and a dozen other obscure instruments and knew songs from a hundred cultures on dozens of worlds.[2] The 'Kel' part of his name was spelled with both lower- and upper-case 'K' throughout the Malazan books.

Fisher appeared old and gaunt[3] and spoke with a deep voice.[4] He wore his grey hair in a ponytail and had grey eyes that seemed to contain the grief of the world.[1][5] He saw one of his tasks as remembering the rush of faces who would otherwise be lost in the great sweep of history. But as a bard, he sang the lies as well as the truths.[1]

Fisher claimed to originally be from Korel where he witnessed Greymane lead the Malazan Empire's invasion.[1]

In Memories of Ice[]

High Fist Dujek Onearm and Whiskeyjack referred to a Fisher poem on the Chaining as a source of information on the Crippled God. Dujek recalled hearing bits and pieces of it spoken by bards in taverns.[6]

In Toll the Hounds[]

Fisher lived in a backroom at K'rul's Bar in Darujhistan where he became close to the retired Bridgeburners and Duiker while performing on their modest stage.[7][8] He convinced the morose historian to tell the story of the Chain of Dogs as a collaborative poem instead of recording it as a historic account, something Duiker found himself incapable of doing well on his own.[9] When he learned Scillara was had lived in Sha'ik's camp in Raraku, he plied her for details and sent her to speak to Duiker about the fate of his old friend Heboric.[10] While not performing, Fisher worked on creating additional verses for Anomandaris.[11]

Antsy believed Fisher had stolen the name of the famous bard, believing someone of his notoriety would not be playing in their bar. Blend was skeptical as well, claiming he was too young to have produced works that were known to be a hundred years old. Fisher admitted only that he was a prodigy.[12]

Fisher was playing to a small crowd at K'rul's Bar when Seba Krafar's assassins attempted to eliminate the retired Bridgeburners as per Humble Measure's contract. Some fifteen assassins surprised the Bridgeburners, killing Mallet and Bluepearl. The bard escaped unscathed, killing at least four of the assailants on his own when they stormed the stage.[13] The bard was so infuriated by the attack, he headed straight to Lady Envy's estate to call in an old favour.[14]

After twelve pickled Seguleh were discovered stored in vats in the bar's cellar, Fisher, Duiker, and Baruk put their heads together to research the cause.[15]

Fisher tracked down Seba Krafar to his tunnels beneath the city, surprising and overpowering the brawny master assassin. An iron grip around Seba's neck left his nerves paralysed and, with seemingly preternatural strength, Fisher held him in the air against a wall with one hand while holding a knife to the assassin's eye with the other. The bard forced Seba to accept a "buy out" to cancel the contract to kill the Bridgeburners for five councils. Fully aware of Humble Measure's involvement, the bard believed there was plenty of time to consider the means of the man's downfall.[16] Following the exchange, the mystified Fisher was given a message by Iskaral Pust from Shadowthrone, advising "when all this is done...seek the Eel".[17] Returning to K'rul's Bar, Fisher's claims that the matter of the assassins' contract was settled was met with skepticism from the surviving Bridgeburners.[18]

Fisher and Lady Envy became romantically involved. She found she could not mock or mistreat him the same way she played with other mortals. In fact, she was not entirely sure he was a mortal.[19] When she returned to her estate after visiting the new barrow outside the city, Fisher was waiting for her to ask what happened. She told him her father Draconus was back.[20]

In Orb Sceptre Throne[]

He assisted Spindle in an attempt to break the magical circle protecting Majesty Hall in Darujhistan.[21]

It transpired that Fisher knew Caladan Brood. When Brood asked him what he was doing in Darujhistan, Fisher responded "You know how I feel about witnessing things."[22]

Fisher also met Iceblood mercenary Cull Heel, who told Fisher it was time to come home. He had been away too long.[23]

Spoiler warning: The following section contains significant plot details about Fisher kel Tath.

In Assail[]

Fisher traveled to Assail where it became apparent he was a native and part Iceblood, and had grown up in the far north of the continent. Like many natives, this meant he carried Jaghut blood.

At Holly he joined a band of foreign treasure seekers, including Enguf the Broad, Malle of Gris, and Marshal Teal, who had come to the continent following rumours of newly discovered gold fields. He also found and helped the amnesiac Tiste Andii, Jethiss, to recover his true identity.[24]

Leaving the treasure hunters, Fisher discovered old friends Coots and Badlands in a cave deep in the chasm guarded by Yrkki, the bonewright. They said they had had a falling out with their brother/cousin, Stalker, and were in no hurry to go home. Fisher convinced them to escape with him and Jethiss and head north back to the Lost family holding.[25]

Fisher was later present when the four races (Forkrul Assail, T'lan Imass, Jaghut, and Tiste Andii) pledged a new founding of peace in the Salt Mountains.[26] At the time, it was also revealed that Fisher had a familiar relationship with Kilava Onass.[27] Afterwards, he and Jethiss planned to travel to Coral on Genabackis where the Tiste Andii hoped to meet an old friend.[28]

In The Kharkanas Trilogy[]

Fisher appeared in the framing sequence of these prequel novels which recalled events that took place thousands of years before the events of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. In Forge of Darkness, he sat with the Tiste Andii poet, Blind Gallan, to hear the tale of Anomander Rake and the early history of Kurald Galain.[29] In Fall of Light the story continued. Presumably, Galan concluded the tale in the still to be published Walk in Shadow.

History[]

Fisher's mother was an Iceblood native of the fallen Fanyar Hold in northern Assail. She was taken in by the Iceblood clan at Myrni Hold where she raised Fisher. As a half-blood, Fisher found he was not welcome in either his adopted home or in the human lowlands. Disgusted by the blood-feuds and bigotry of his adopted home, he renounced the Myrni and swore never to return. Despite his oath, he returned from time to time, the last time after a gap of 30 years.[30]

Significant plot details end here.

Poems[]

One of his better known works was the epic poem Anomandaris. Other poems included:

Poems published as simply "Fisher"[]

Anonymous poem attributed by some to Fisher Tel Kath[]

It is not known if the spelling "Tel Kath" vs. "kel Tath" was deliberately skewed or a printing error.

Quotes[]

"Light, shadow and dark —
This is a war unending.
"
―Fisher[src]
"And it is this moment, my friends,
When you must look away,
As the world unfurls anew
In shapes announced both bright
And sordid, in dark and light
And the sprawl of all existence
That lies between.
"
―Fisher kel Tath[src]
"And he knew to stand there
Would be a task unforgiving
Relentless as sacrifices made
And blood vows given
He knew enough to wait alone
Before the charge of fury's heat
The chants of vengeance
Where swords will meet
And where once were mortals
Still remain dreams of home
If but one gilded door
Could be pried open
Did he waste breath in bargain
Or turn aside on the moment
Did he smile in pleasure
Seeking chastisement?

(See him still, he stands there
While you remain, unforgiving
The poet damns you
The artist cries out
The one who weeps
Turns his face away
Your mind is crowded
By the inconsequential
Listing the details
Of the minuscule
And every measure
Of what means nothing
To anyone

He takes from you every rage
Every crime…
Whether you like it
Or you do not…
Sacrifices made
Vows given
He stands alone
Because none of you dare
Stand with him)
"
―Fisher's challenge to his listeners, breaking the telling of The Mane of Chaos[src]
"Madrun and Lazan Door—
from distant lands they hail.

One day Door did announce:
'Tis time my hair to cut<.br>
Yet no shear would tear
No blade would part
No scissor snick nor sever

And so it grew—
this bounteous mane.
Wenches plotted
Knives were sharpened
Yet no helm nor hat could tame
These willful, prideful curls

When last Door heard
His hair had fled
Fighting pirates off far Elingarth!
"
―Attributed to Fisher[src]

Trivia[]

  • Steven Erikson has written many poems for use as epigraphs in the series, giving him the opportunity to play with authorial voices, producing work for poets who sometimes may not be "as deft as others" and employing the use of "different rhyme sequences--or lack thereof--different meter, different everything." But Erikson says, "If I end up writing something that I really quite like, I'll probably attribute it to Fisher...That's a poem I like."[31]
  • Erikson says "there's enough hints from both Cam and I that Fisher could well be an Ascendant--the god of art, if you will, or the god of poetry."[32] Ironically, Fisher himself weighs in on the topic, telling Duiker, "Did you know that there is no god or goddess in all the pantheon that claims to be the patron – or matron – of bards? It's as if we've been forgotten, left to our own devices. That used to bother me, for some reason, but now I see it for the true honour it represents. We have been made unique, in our freedom, in our responsibility."[33]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273-274
  2. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.607-608
  3. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.546
  4. Toll the Hounds, Prologue, US SFBC p.28
  5. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.363
  6. Memories of Ice, Chapter 15
  7. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273
  8. Toll the Hounds, Prologue, US SFBC p.27
  9. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273-274
  10. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.363-364
  11. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.273
  12. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.779
  13. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.455
  14. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.537-538/546-547
  15. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.588-591
  16. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.674-676
  17. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.676-677
  18. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.778-779
  19. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.608-609
  20. Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US SFBC p.1007
  21. Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20
  22. Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20
  23. Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20
  24. Assail (novel), Chapter 2
  25. Assail (novel), Chapter 7
  26. Assail (novel), Chapter 15
  27. Assail (novel), Chapter 15
  28. Assail (novel), Epilogue
  29. Forge of Darkness, Prelude, UK HC p.xxi
  30. Assail (novel), Chapter 10
  31. A Conversation with Steven Erikson - Malazan Mid-Series Reflection - Green Team of the Legendarium - See 13:45
  32. Steven Erikson Interview and Discussion of The Kharkanas Trilogy - Books with Banks - See 1:28:20
  33. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7
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