Fiddler
Also known as: Strings, Fid | Race: Human | Warren/Affiliation: Bridgeburners, BonehuntersSummary
Fiddler is a sapper, musician, and soldier whose story spans the entire Malazan Book of the Fallen, making him one of the series' most enduring characters. Originally a Bridgeburner under Whiskeyjack, he survives the destruction of that legendary company and goes on to serve in Tavore Paran's Bonehunters under the alias "Strings." A master of munitions and demolitions, Fiddler is also gifted — or cursed — with a preternatural sensitivity to fate, often expressed through his readings of the Deck of Dragons and his fiddle playing.
Fiddler is the emotional heart of the common soldier's experience in the Malazan world. He is not an ascendant, not a mage of great power, not a commander of armies — he is a sapper who loves his fellow soldiers, plays his fiddle, and does what needs to be done. His readings of the Deck of Dragons, performed with a regular deck of cards, are among the most memorable scenes in the series, consistently revealing truths that more powerful figures miss.
His evolution from Bridgeburner sapper to the sergeant who holds the Bonehunters together through their most desperate hours exemplifies the series' central theme: that ordinary people, bound by loyalty and compassion, can endure anything. Fiddler's music literally channels the emotions of war, and his performances serve as catharsis for soldiers and readers alike.
Arc by Book
Book 1: Gardens of the Moon
Fiddler serves as a sapper in Whiskeyjack's Bridgeburner squad in Darujhistan. He demonstrates his expertise with munitions and his value as a steady, experienced soldier. His presence is more background compared to later books, but his competence and loyalty are firmly established. He participates in the defense against the Jaghut Tyrant.
Book 2: Deadhouse Gates
Fiddler travels to Seven Cities with Kalam, Apsalar, and Crokus, escorting Apsalar home. Their paths diverge, and Fiddler ends up in the Path of Hands, navigating the dangerous convergence of Soletaken and D'ivers seeking the gateway to ascendancy. He encounters Icarium and Mappo and performs a pivotal Deck reading at Tremorlor. His journey culminates at the Deadhouse in Malaz City, establishing his sensitivity to magical forces.
Book 4: House of Chains
Fiddler re-enlists in the Malazan army under the alias "Strings" and is assigned to the Bonehunters. He takes on a sergeant's role, shaping raw recruits into soldiers. His experience as a Bridgeburner veteran makes him invaluable, though he hides his true identity. He participates in the campaign in Raraku and the confrontation with Sha'ik's forces.
Book 6: The Bonehunters
Fiddler's identity as a Bridgeburner becomes increasingly open. He leads his squad through the nightmare of Y'Ghatan, where many soldiers are trapped underground in a terrifying escape beneath the burning city. His Deck readings become more powerful and prophetic, and he plays a crucial role in holding the Bonehunters together during their crisis of faith and identity.
Book 9: Dust of Dreams
Fiddler performs what may be his most significant Deck reading, one that draws the attention of gods and ascendants across the world. He leads his squad as the Bonehunters march toward their final confrontation. His role as the moral and emotional anchor of the common soldiers becomes increasingly important as the army faces impossible odds.
Book 10: The Crippled God
Fiddler fights through the final battles alongside his soldiers, his sapper skills and leadership proving vital in the desperate convergence. His fiddle playing provides moments of grace amid the horror, and his survival to the series' end feels earned. He is one of the last links to the Bridgeburner legacy, carrying their memory into whatever comes next.
Key Relationships
- Whiskeyjack — his original sergeant/commander; Fiddler carries the Bridgeburner legacy forward
- Kalam Mekhar — close friend and fellow Bridgeburner
- Quick Ben — fellow Bridgeburner; they share a deep bond of survival
- Apsalar — he escorts her home in DG; protective relationship
- Crokus Younghand — companion during the DG journey
- Tavore Paran — the Adjunct under whom he serves; mutual unspoken respect
- Hedge — fellow Bridgeburner sapper; their friendship transcends death
- Icarium — encountered in DG; Fiddler recognizes the danger Icarium represents
Notable Quotes
"Sappers lead the way!" — BH
"Children are dying." That was all Fiddler needed to hear. — DG
"We are the Bridgeburners. We don't die easy." — MoI
Appearances
| Book | Role |
| 1. Gardens of the Moon | Major |
| 2. Deadhouse Gates | Major |
| 3. Memories of Ice | Mentioned |
| 4. House of Chains | Major |
| 5. Midnight Tides | Absent |
| 6. The Bonehunters | Major |
| 7. Reaper's Gale | Major |
| 8. Toll the Hounds | Mentioned |
| 9. Dust of Dreams | Major |
| 10. The Crippled God | Major |