DLC Bookclub Special: Interview with Steven Erikson, author of Reaper's Gale

[@slidenaway]

Sigh. Amazing. I can’t even call out a favorite thing I wanna comment on or anything, it’s just always wonderful to hear Steve talk about… whatever he wants to talk about!! I kinda love it when he doesn’t really answer the question 😂😂😂 Anyway thank you again Jeff and Lana for being fabulous people and fabulous fans of Malazan Book of the Fallen. Enjoy your little break, see you in 2 weeks for another EPIC installment… Toll the Hounds !!!

[@laughtrack1426]

Steven Erikson has moved me in ways I couldn’t imagine. I started reading this series because I love epic fantasy, but I kept reading because my perspective on life shifted with each book. I can tell that he is a caring person the way he treats these stories. Favorite author of all time and it’s not even close. At some point I want to thank him for writing this series. He made me fall in love with reading again, and I believe his books have made me a more compassionate human being. Much love for you, Steve

[@bobmcboberson6170]

Nefarias Bred here. Old school Malazan Forums member. Your writing changed my life, just like Herberts Dune. It left a mark on me like any Great Work. Thank you (Mr Eriksen) and thank you Ian C Esselmeont. You guys are the most underrated authors in modern times. TotH and OST are my personal favorites. Too many characters to list. Pust is high in the rankings lol. You both made me laugh, cringe, and cry. Magical Rap Battle being one of my favorites. RG is a humanist story. Like all of these novels, it explores our worst and best qualities and the absurdity of the status quo (and the fact that we allow it to happen). This is why the books are said to be a difficult read, it lays bare our hubris and folly and the brutality of nature and the creature that is Humankind. And Karsa is one of the best written characters I have ever encountered. He reminds me of Leto the Just. Is Kruppe Malky? Tehol is not a villain, they killed his momma! Please, Mr Eriksen, tell me of the Jaghut Puppets. I feel like they are the most missed of the series (by readers) in terms of importance.

[@EricMcLuen]

Not necessarily a villain but he is directly responsible for a huge body count and the decisions he made. I recommend Ruthan's video on why he is the most dangerous men is the series.

[@StarUnreal]

Great interview with Erikson, as always! Every time I hear him talk about his writing process I think "Oh, I better not become a writer, because I don't think I can do that!", and yet it's still inspirational, somehow. Can't wait for Toll the Hounds to start, and really for the last 3 books in general. Like the jump from House of Chains to Midnight Tides in terms of prose, Toll the Hounds starts a completely new level of writing quality that is honestly frightening. It's is such a divisive book in the fandom, partially because of this prose and stylistic shift, but people who love it REALLY love it. There is SO much to like about that book if you're open to what it's going for. I would be only slightly surprised if Toll the Hounds doesn't end up at the top of the list for you two, but there is absolutely 100% a world in which you both rank it near the bottom. Happy reading!

[@stevelundin5705]

Of course you 'can do that.' Don't be intimidated, please. Writing means to perpetually learn as you go, but for that to happen, you must write. No way around it, no short-cuts. When you write, you are exploring, not working, and exploration is fun. Flip the coin -- that which intimidates can also be seen to inspire. Choose the inspiration side, since intimidation is the voice of self-doubt winning before the task is even begun. Cheers, SE

[@BetheQuail]

The Kettle vs Beak comparison is a great insight into how Erikson tracks and tries to guide the emotional reactions of the reader as he writes.

[@slidenaway]

@@BetheQuail yeah that was a highlight of the interview for sure!!

[@MabelleVids]

I can’t remember the last time I was thrilled about a KZbin notification. I don’t have an attention span, but for this I will 😂.

[@LocallyConstantDuck]

Look at steve getting a better webcam!

[@overnightgrowth]

That scoopmat the end for the witness books, I'm so happy :D Also really enjoy Erikson talk about the business of writing as well. I remember that his 10 book deal at the time was one of the biggest advances received, I would love to learn more about that. Also because Malazan seems like such a slow burn of success.

[@Plaeya01]

Been waiting all day for this. Much needed today

[@andreamiller3578]

Awesome! Great interview and discussion. Thank you, Mr. Erikson!

[@feral7523]

Loved this guys,, am excited for 2 more books to hear more about Rant Bloodcurse plus Stillwater & Anyx Fro too of course...

[@AncalagonTheBlackMetalHead]

I’ve been listening to SE talk Malazan for over 15 years and I’ll listen to him for however many more years I can get. Thank you for continuing to create a space for such wonderful discussions! Also fantastic news about the witness .. quadrilogy now?

[@MultiWar22]

This was great as always. I'm really hoping he can publish his standalone novel and I'll FOR SURE be reading it first day. Also, very exciting that he's finished both No Life Forsaken and its part 2 AND is in the process of writing Walk in Shadow after so many years. I read Forge of Darkness a couple of weeks back and it was great, can't wait to get to Fall of Light and join the rest of the waiting team on that final book in the Kharkanas trilogy. Also, he's insightful as always, of course, love to see it

[@slidenaway]

What a beautiful surprise let’s go!!!!

[@salomealhusami594]

YESSSSSS!!!!! My favorite author and my favorite duo! 😍😍😍❤❤❤

[@volsere]

@44:33 The Austin / LA comedy scene explained succinctly

[@farhancheema6758]

Great Interview, Steve is great as always. I am feeling slightly melancholic that there are only 3 books left! But at least theyre all so long that my Friday morning routine isn't going to change quite yet Excited to hear your thoughts on TTH!

[@Bobbitthehobbit]

I mean there is also always the ESSLEMONT books and Kharkanas, and The God is Not Willing!

[@EricMcLuen]

​@@Bobbitthehobbit and bauchelain & korbal Broach if you need a fix.

[@darksaint0124]

I don't get why people have such a hard time with Red Mask. I can understand if you don't like the character and his actions. But, the character and the arc were both setup by Hull Bedict. If Hull was still alive then he would be doing what Red Mask did. If we didn't know that Hull died then I would definitely think he is the person underneath the mask.

[@laughtrack1426]

What I’ve been trying to tell people as well 🫡

[@salomealhusami594]

@@darksaint0124 Thank you for pointing this out. I have never considered this. But it makes so much sense.

[@stevelundin5705]

Yeah, I was meaning to bring up Hull Beddict as the precursor to Redmask but got distracted by something (lady bug on the window?). Well, something.

[@ErinXIV]

lets goooo! can't wait for you to go through TTH, my favourite in the series!

[@Theophoby]

Great stuff. Good job throughout reapers gale

[@trill_nathan]

Could I ask how you folks got in contact with Erikson? He always says his most important writing advice is simply to finish what you started. I decided that I wanted to try asking him for an interview only after doing that, so it was an extra bit of motivation while writing the 1st draft of a novel (2nd novel, 1st one I feel fairly good about..). And now I'm done with the draft! I've listened to all of these interviews I can find, and I'd really like to try talking to him one day!

[@CriticalNerds]

great interview :D

[@tomsativa]

💙💙

[@tightyellowshorts]

MAKE STEVE DANCE!

[@HitnRunTony]

Not the same without the dancing 😂

[@michaelaxt1977]

So Mr. Erikson I heard from a VERY reliable source that you are a weeb? I kid I kid.

[@stevelundin5705]

sorry, I'm old. what's a weeb?

[@michaelaxt1977]

@ ha it’s in reference to one of The 10 Very Big Books interviews when one of the hosts asked if you were influenced by anime. Your reaction was hilarious.

[@SouravUldyssian]

First again. So excited for this one.

[@225jwlanglois]

Jeff loving the book club, I listen every Thursday. Malazan is my favorite, and I can wait to see your reaction to TTH, that book is wild. But please stop injecting your TDS on Mr. Erikson. He is way more interested pass civilizations, and how those patterns repeat in current day, than anything happening now. Also, I hate to tell you, but in later books one of your favorite characters, resembles the bad "Orange Man."

[@stevelundin5705]

While I keep my personal politics to myself, I have no problem with Jeff and/or Lana commenting on any subject. My response will usually be the long-view, since that's the only way I can stay sane in the age we're in. As for the bad orange man observation, please return to present that analysis that makes that comparison, when the appropriate time arrives in the books to come. I'm curious. As for the real-world version, are you kidding me?