Quick Ben

The Master of the Deck who outwitted Poliel and saved the Host from plague.

Quick Ben is a pivotal figure in the events surrounding Steven Erikson's The Bonehunters, the sixth volume of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Set two months after the destruction at Y'Ghatan, he arrives from Genabackis as the newly appointed Master of the Deck of Dragons. Tasked with addressing the chaos engulfing Seven Cities, he works alongside Onearm's Host to contain a deadly plague threatening the region. His actions in this volume are defined by direct intervention against divine forces and critical support for the Malazan Empire's survival during its most turbulent hours.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Malazan Empire
Role: Master of the Deck of Dragons

Lore & Background

In The Bonehunters, Quick Ben operates as a high-level magical agent whose authority is recognized by both military and divine entities. Upon arriving in Seven Cities, he immediately confronts a deadly plague unleashed by the goddess Poliel, who has aligned herself with the Crippled God. Utilizing his position as Master of the Deck and the assistance of the god Shadowthrone, Ben successfully contains the outbreak through strategic outwitting rather than brute force. However, despite containing the disease, he is too late to save Ganoes Paran's predecessor, Dujek, who succumbs to the illness. Following this tragedy, Paran assumes leadership of Onearm's Host, while Ben continues his mission to stabilize the region against escalating supernatural threats.

Reader's Guide

For readers tracking Quick Ben's specific contributions in The Bonehunters, focus on three distinct phases: containment, escape, and defense. His primary achievement is the neutralization of Poliel's plague with Shadowthrone's aid, though Dujek's death marks a somber limit to his power. In terms of military support, he provides the magical shield that enables the Fourteenth Army to evade the Letherii fleet after Y'Ghatan. Finally, his narrative concludes in this volume by being removed from the Malazan Empire entirely, transferred by Shadowthrone to defend the First Throne. This move separates him from the main army but places him at the center of a critical cosmic defense involving Icarium and the Tiste Andii, including Nimander, who joins the Bonehunters as they depart.

Did You Know?

A display of Quick Ben's magic allows the Bonehunters to escape a naval clash with the Letherii Empire.
Shadowthrone spirits Quick Ben away to join the defense of the First Throne against the Letherii.