Spoiler Chat: The God is Not Willing with Steven Erikson and Philip Chase

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I honestly had no idea we chatted for over two hours. It felt like half that - time flies, etc. But what a privilege to hear Steven Erikson talk about his sublime book!

[@ACriticalDragon]

As ever it was a lot of fun and, for me at least, an interesting conversation. I really enjoy the fact that you and I pick up on, and think about, different aspects of narrative. Obviously mine are the far superior aspects, that is just a given. But having you there for the conversation was a definite plus, and added a great deal to the discussion. Thank you, Philip.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ACriticalDragon Ha ha! Did you mean “posterior” rather than “superior”? “Posterior,” as in derrière? 😁

[@ACriticalDragon]

NEMESIS!!!! BEGONE!!!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ACriticalDragon 😁

[@bmoneybby]

2 hours! Dang, I could've read like 30 pages of Malazan in that amount of time.

[@RuthanBadd]

Just opened my computer and this was up. Nice timing! FIRST!

[@ACriticalDragon]

And I have two videos to watch later on when I am free. The Great High Fist himself with the Inimitable Quick Jen discussing Lady Envy, and then the OG Iskar with the Irascible Raf discussing all things Esslemont. It is a good day.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ACriticalDragon That’s a ton of awesome Malazan content to watch! And I was going to watch that show today . . . Something about a Wheel . . . But now I don’t have Time.

[@ACriticalDragon]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy You could probably weave it in somewhere. I've been heron marked things about it. Some people are Perrin very closely at the visuals, and going to the Mat to defend the Rand-iness of the first episode.

[@nilanniruthan]

@@ACriticalDragon The comments section on this channel is always lit.

[@ACriticalDragon]

But never as juicy as High Fist comment sections.

[@brush2canvas849]

What a great and very interesting discussion. Loved your questions and loved Eriksons answers even more. Enjoyed every one of the 122 minutes. Thank you to everyone involved!

[@ACriticalDragon]

Thank you so much. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@oniflrog4487]

Steve is too kind to humble Niflrog 🥺

[@ACriticalDragon]

Nope, he was spot on. It was a very persuasive argument.

[@blackduckrun]

A little off topic but you guys brought it up; I had precisely the same reaction as Phillip to the battle at the end of Fall of Light. For someone who doesn't always love an epic battle it was a refreshing change, and I think Steven pulled it off brilliantly.

[@ACriticalDragon]

I really enjoy that battle sequence. It communicated the essential elements. The story was revealed in an interesting way. It fit thematically with what was happening. I just really liked it.

[@RoxanaMagdaD]

Love to see how SE respects Nif's opinion, its wonderful! Philip so wonderfully described his emotions about the healing of Sarlis scene. This led to the much awaited Rake discussion

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Rox, Sorry the Rake discussion was so short, but I did promise that I will eventually get to recording a video specifically about that scene. Always so wonderful to hear from you.

[@RoxanaMagdaD]

@@ACriticalDragon Dear A.P., thank you for the reply. Of course I remember, and that's why it was so easy to deal with just a short discussion about the scene in this video. I'm very grateful for the fact that you are willing to make a whole video about that scene. I just finished listening to the discussion SE had with Iskaral Nutts last night, and it was very heart warming to see how much SE values you. Your friendship is very beautiful! This also gives your discussions with him and Philip the friendly and pleasant tones. I admire all three of you a lot, and I'm looking forward to the next videos :) Thank you very much!

[@alexwallachian7720]

What a surprise! I bow my head to all of you gentlemen!

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Alex, I hope that you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@SannasBookshelf]

Thank you so much for bringing us these wonderful talk. I loved this book, and hearing your discussions has felt like reading it all over again. Some time ago, I forget in what context, Erikson mentioned that he considered his ability as a writer to be much diminished from what it was when he wrote The Book of the Fallen - it's so nice to see him prove himself wrong! :)

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Sanna, I will pass on your observation to Erikson because it is always nice to pass on nice comments. I am really happy that you enjoyed the book and the discussions. Have a great week.

[@rickhammer7204]

YES! Just finished the book last night so now I can listen to all the fantastic youtube content on it! Thanks AP, Philip and of course Steve! This is such a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. The in-depth literary analysis of fantasy (and the writing of such) is such a deep well of untapped possibility :)

[@garethbundy]

An astounding book. Such a beautiful cast of characters across the board. Deep themes and the elephant in the room appears on every page, even though he doesn't appear.

[@bryson2662]

For me, in the healing scene I was most touched by Rakes reaction to being asked for help

[@ACriticalDragon]

It is a great scene, and I am probably going to do a follow up video on that at some point in the near future.

[@ZYXPQI]

Absolutely wonderful interview guys. Slowly getting through all of these and credit to you for getting the big man himself on again :) Also enjoying the CAM videos :)

[@Gl1tch2263]

Just finished the other day. One of the small things that really got me was the casual way in which Rant referred to Damisk as his oldest friend. Then after his death, how he started referring to Gower the same way. A thing that really surprised me was how Mallick Rel’s rule seems to be well regarded. Even by the marines which is saying something. I’ve read all of MBOTF and am half way through Stonewielder, so maybe there’s some development there later in NOTME.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Mallick Rel might be odious and nasty, but he is very intelligent, efficient, and goal oriented. So he is an efficient and successful dic-tator. 😁

[@awallerfamily]

This interview was great. Loved when yall began discussing style, prose and diction. I'm fascinated by this with writers. And It's his creativity, even if simply born out of boredom, that has kept me reading his words over and over for last 20 years.

[@ACriticalDragon]

I am very glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for watching.

[@Altruismisreal27]

What a wonderful discussion… still listening, but throughly enjoyed it so far. Thanks.

[@ACriticalDragon]

I am glad that you are enjoying it. Thanks for watching.

[@callinicobo5991]

I'll watch this in about two months. After the book will be published in Italy. Can't wait for both things.

[@ACriticalDragon]

That sounds like a great start to the new year. I hope that you enjoy the book at least half as much as I did.

[@bryson2662]

I think the end of Fall of Light is brilliant

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Bryson, I have to agree with you. I really loved that battle sequence. Erikson and I had some great discussions about it at the time.

[@Yoda0VGs]

Excellent discussion! A huge thanks to all parties involved for this wonderful start to a Friday morning :) It was really fantastic to get more insights into how a story like this is crafted and the process of discovery Steve went through while building it. As always I look forward to what comes next from all three of you. Thanks again! Also, I agree with Philip. Fuck you Steve. Why do you crave my tears!?! ?

[@ACriticalDragon]

If a reader cries enough they may water damage the book and therefore buy a replacement copy... I believe it is all an elaborate marketing plan.

[@martinjg3662]

You guys!! Dam you. I haven't even read the book yet (mid way through my reread of MBotF). I started to watch and stopped because I didn't want to spoil it for myself, but when Philip, A.P and Steve are in a chat I have to watch it. So I did. Once again a truly thoughtful and funny discussion. It really is the thing I look forward to most, you and Philip have the type of bromance that means you can speak easy and freely, that is reserved for the closest of friends. And all the more richer for it! I just need to forget everything I listened to! A.P can I ask a question? Oh thanks. As we all know you advance read for Steve, but are there other authors you AR for too, and if yes, who? And also if yes, do you have the same level of openness, or should I say, friendship with them?

[@ACriticalDragon]

I do advance reading for some authors and editing jobs for other authors. Some have become very good friends, others are professional relationships that are very warm and cordial.

[@oniflrog4487]

It's all laughs and dandiness until Gruff says he'd have sawed off a guy's head on chapter 1 😂

[@ACriticalDragon]

Is it such a big deal though? Baudin did it first. 😂

[@oniflrog4487]

@@ACriticalDragon Let me put it this way... if you heard that phrase from Mike "Baudin" Tyson... yeah, I can buy it. But you don't expect the Malazan equivalent of Gianni Versace to say so! And what a great loss for the Malazan High Fashion sphere when Gruff decided to go into the military 😔

[@ACriticalDragon]

@@oniflrog4487 he does have a killer dress sense.

[@grantwhelly1879]

First off I want to say thank you for this wonderful discussion. I truly truly appreciate any content of SE speaking of my favorite books! There was a lot about this book, the future of this trilogy and even the end of the Kharkanas trilogy revealed in this interview. When you get SE going he can get on a roll. That being said, especially in the last half, it seemed like SE was the interviewer asking all of the questions. There were entire 5 minute segments that Phil and AP went back and forth with no comment from SE or even a question. I LOVE your guys enthusiasm and access. Steve consistently said "AP we talked about this segment, remind me of your thoughts " or something along those lines. It should be the other way around. I hope this observation will only be taken as from someone who truly appreciates what you do. I can't imagine the nonsense and nose dive of a conversation I would create, haha. Just an observation from a huge fan. Thanks for all you do!

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Grant, thanks for watching, I am glad that you enjoyed it. I am sorry that you didn't enjoy the balance of the conversation. As to the balance of the conversation I will say that if it were a formal interview I would agree that the vast majority of the time should be spent with the guest, but both Philip and Erikson were guests here and both 'deserved' time to talk. Philip had just read the book, and I wanted to give time for Philip to be able to discuss things with Erikson, not just ask him questions. Added to this is that it wasn't a formal interview but a discussion, so we try to balance the points of view with giving extra weight and time to the author. Secondly, on some points, Erikson was referring to private discussions that he and I had, and I needed his explicit permission to discuss it because it falls under private and confidential information. When he signals stuff like that it is him giving me permission to talk about something and that he doesn't mind me sharing. I am more than happy to never discuss work I do with authors because it is easier to police 'never talk about it' than 'walk this tightrope of things you are and are not allowed to talk about', but Erikson sometimes wants to discuss aspects of private exchanges. So when he says things like that it is him giving express permission for me to discuss or raise points that came up in Advance Reading or in editing meetings. Lastly, if Erikson thought Philip and I were ignoring him he would be more than happy to let me know. This was a conversation that he was part of and if he wants to listen to Philip and I wrangle a point I am happy to oblige. This way he isn't doing all the work and it remains fun for all of us. With all that being said, I am cognisant of the fact that people want to hear from the author, so in the two hours I think we struck a fairly good balance on focusing on Erikson and not just Philip and I doing our usual conversation.

[@grantwhelly1879]

@@ACriticalDragon Thanks so much for the detailed response. You brought up so many points that I hadn't considered especially the "permission" aspect. I'm guessing (and hoping) that the time you took to explain the process and context of the discussion is a signal that my comment didn't hit a tone I feared. I really appreciate your work and all that you do. Thanks again for the response, I look forward to all future content!

[@ACriticalDragon]

@@grantwhelly1879 No problem at all, Grant. People have asked before so I do my best to explain. Thank you for watching and hopefully next time we will strike a better balance in the discussion.

[@garrettkitchen8622]

This was everything I could have hoped for and more, as usual. Thank you!

[@ACriticalDragon]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching.

[@sethulakovic3722]

Hi AP. Just finished the book. I loved the contrast between the marines immediately changing from fighting the teblor to accepting them as refugees, and the scene on the barge where the teblor is whispering to Hestalan that now was the time to ambush the marines. How she eliminates him because he couldn't adapt to the situation and would have unbalanced the situation. On another note, I thought I was going to make it through without crying. How wrong I was. Oams thinking about the horses that were sacrificed by Spindle. "Was there any point in thanking dead things? Oams didn't know, but it wouldn't stop him, not for one moment. He would whisper his thanks whenever the moment felt right. He had a lifetime to do it, a lifetime of remembering. In the realm of dead things, if such a thing existed, two beasts might lift heads at his words of gratitude, up from the sweet grasses, lift them high and bathe in the bright light and soothing warmth of his prayers. He hoped it was like that, anyway. It'd be a shame if it wasn't." I wasn't ready for this. Lots of catharsis last night.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Seth, I am glad that it was a release and was cathartic. These things will continue to sneak up on you for a while, but they become less raw and overwhelming. Take care of yourself.

[@sethulakovic3722]

@@ACriticalDragon Thanks AP. Have a great day.

[@feral7523]

Fabulous discussion guys.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Feral, I am glad that you enjoyed it. I always love catching up with Erikson... and tolerate speaking with my nemesis, the evil Dr. Chase. 🤣🤣🤣

[@txddybear4920]

Erikson mentioned being curious about what moment specifically the reader is hit with the emotion of a scene, so I'll throw in my two cents. For me when Stillwater is negotiating with Rake and Rake wants to know what the purpose them summoning is, and Stillwater says "to save a life," theres a brief pause and Anomander Rake sighs before responding "No other is required." I felt like there was so much weight behind that single line, partly because we understand Rake so well (or as well as can be expected from Malazan) from BotF. It just hit me because we know Rake has been through so much and yet he will still go out of his way to protect a single life from harm. The marines are that way too and we can see this with Rant as well, none of them make a distinction between saving a single life or many, and no cause is too small or insignificant to fight for, because who really can judge what is and isn't significant? Wonderful discussion, I loved listening to it and I always look forward to these with you, AP, as well as Dr. Chase and Erikson, it is a fantastic way to process the books after finishing them.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Thank you so much for the great comment. I will let Erikson know.

[@fantasticphilosophy181]

This was so enjoyable, definitly the shortest 2 hour video ever 😊.

[@ACriticalDragon]

That is great to hear. I always aim for short videos, and failing that, short two hour videos 😂

[@NKopp714]

So glad you put this discussion together. When you were talking about the potential redemption of Damisk I started thinking of the redemption the Empire in general, and of Mallick Rel in particular. The third to last POV in the book is Oams musing on how Power always corrupts and it (direct quote here) "that might one day come to an emperor; even one who was a Jhistal priest". That really struck me that someone as despicable as Mallick Rel has either lied his way into or possibly earned a reputation as incorruptible. The very next paragraph Oams takes it back and implies that Mallick has gone bad and something may have to be done about him. Has "gone" bad !!???!! He's one of the worst. Though maybe if the empire is at peace and doing good things, he isn't so bad after all.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Mallick Rel was a naughty boy... but can he ever be redeemed?

[@EricMcLuen]

Playing catch up and apparently I was one video early for the Tim Roth reference. The two flood scenes also added a lot of tension. While reading about the first scene, I wasn't thinking much about the second group. Then you get the 'two days earlier' and you are just waiting for thr flood to happen all over again. Stillwater's name, and character in hindsight, reminded me of a quote from The Tick cartoon. Where he is on an inward journey and asks something to the effect 'what us this wide flat plain' and is answered 'your mind'. Her thoughts are untroubled. Illusions can be done two ways in Malazan, optical phantasms or mind control. In the healing scene, it is noted that the blood oil connects Sarlis to both Rant and Karsa. To can be seen as a literal physical manifestation and/or a symbolic mental connection. So this healing seemed to be both physical as well as mental. Now to overthink things.....blood oil contains otataral which renders Teblor magic resistant. However there are several Toblakai mages, Bellurdan and one in NotME I don't recall the name. Rant did not use blood oil and seems to have a magical affinity which seems to be warren-less. But there certainly appears to be a lot more posession. I was kind of bummed Three is listed as an assassin in the dramatis personae. Being female threw me as I thought all K'Chain Ch'Malle other than matrons were sexless and G'Rul referred to as male as just a convention. But the name Three is very apt.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Still waters run deep.

[@EricMcLuen]

@@ACriticalDragon Except for puddles on a windless day...

[@JD-td8kl]

I really have to get around to reading Kharkanas. I think it's next on the list after Fall of Hyperion.

[@ACriticalDragon]

HI J D, Kharkanas is great. Very different tone, style, and approach than TMBotF, but I really enjoyed it.

[@allanwidner9276]

In the first three minutes I'm already amused at not remembering if he left Damisk alive.

[@jona2486]

Ah, no! I just got my copy in and haven't read it yet. The temptation to watch is too strong! Definitely saving this one for a watch later.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Well I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts once you are done.

[@koleary1798]

Definitely going to come back and watch this in a few weeks when I finish The God is not Willing! Recently finished the Book of the Fallen and I'm currently reading the other works set in the Malazan world. So far I've read Night of Knives by Esslemont and I'm 3/4 the way through Forge of Darkness. Loving every page!

[@ACriticalDragon]

I am so pleased that you are enjoying the books. I am looking forward to hearing what you think about the books when you are done.

[@koleary1798]

@@ACriticalDragon thanks AP! Blown away by Kharkanas so far. The only cloud to my silver is that for the first time I'll have to wait for a new Malazan installment! A lot of people sleep on Esslemont I feel. I really love his intimate treatment of characters. He writes tension absolutely phenomenally!

[@Stelfc]

Another top vid by the 3 musketeers! a longie but a goodie :) the bar was set so high after crippled God but Steve wrote this book so beautifully, for me the flood scene was not only the best bit in this book but one of the best pieces of writing in the malzan world, but for once I thought Steven missed an emotional trick! When we go back in time with the marines and this is on me as my imagination ran away with myself! I thought we would then see the story unfold and we would see the flood scene play out again but this time through the eyes of the mages giving their lifes trying to save everyone, I think if would of been double heartbreaking as it was so heroic what they did.

[@ACriticalDragon]

That is a really interesting point, Stephen. I am happy that you enjoyed the video, but even more so that you enjoyed the book. Have a great weekend.

[@Stelfc]

@@ACriticalDragon thank you :) hope u have a top weekend to.

[@jdracing551]

Finally got to watch this and now I need to read again to catch all the Marines being mages! Thanks a bunch

[@ACriticalDragon]

It is fun when you spot the little moments that give it away.

[@tinytownsoftware3837]

I actually purchased the book from the UK months before the November release here in the US. I don't think I was the only one who had this idea. I hope the book didn't do poorly in the US because of this. Which of course begs the question, why in the world did the publisher decide to release it so late in the US?

[@ACriticalDragon]

The ways of publishers are mysterious and beyond the mere ken of mortals such as myself. I hope that you enjoyed the book.

[@tinytownsoftware3837]

@@ACriticalDragon Have not read it yet 😅 Waiting on WiS to kickstart my first re-read.

[@ACriticalDragon]

It may be a while before we see WiS in bookstores.

[@tristancambonie2335]

I would like to avoid the Fall of Light potential spoilers. I saw a discussion began around 23:30. Could someone tell me how much time I have to skip ?

[@ACriticalDragon]

There is no spoiler. It is a reference to the ending of Fall of Light with no detail whatsoever, no discussion of what the ending is, and Philip saying it worked for him. The ending is not discussed, the ending is not spoiled, and no details are discussed... unless you consider Philip liking the ending a spoiler. 🤣

[@tristancambonie2335]

@@ACriticalDragon thanks a lot !

[@claudiaiovanovici7569]

This was a very entertaining discussion! I actually took notes, some of which I will keep for my own interviews with him :P I agree with Philip that Steve has a voice that remains unchanged regardless of the style. I am not an expert in literary styles, but I would say that at least the tone he uses in his books changes. If you think of Gardens of the Moon, the first third of House of Chains, Toll the Hounds, the Kharkanas books and now The God Is Not Willing, they all feel different, yet the core remains. And I am not talking about a commonality of thematic. I like to tell people to trust Erikson where he leads because he knows what he is doing, but I guess a lot of it could be ascribed to this voice you are talking about. I enjoyed the conversation about laughing at pain. I think the world is getting too rigid and too serious. We are beginning to equate respect with treating matters seriously, and any attempt to laugh at pain is seen as insulting and disrespectful to whoever is in pain. We have a saying with rhyme, 'fa haz de necaz', which basically translates as laugh at your troubles. This is something that the world is beginning to forget, and I am glad that it's one of the characteristic's of Steve's writing. The scene where Rant asks what is rape was particularly emotional to me because it awakened an old memory. In his drunk moments, my father would accuse my mother of being a whore, and he would include me and my sister in it as well. We were hardly 3 and 5 years old and I remember how we used to sit together and make lists of all the things that the three of us do that might be wrong, in the hope that maybe if at least the two of us stop doing it, daddy won't be that angry anymore, and how we used to ponder for ours on end what the word whore might mean. Rant's question opened those wounds all over again, but in a very different way. I suppose that in a way, the compassion I felt for him healed something in the child I left behind. One of Erikson's specialties, even if he rarely owns up to the fact he has this gift. I suppose he is too modest for that. And last but not least, wasn't Spindle the one to give Rant the knife? The way I read that scene, Rant recognized him and that's why he decided to help. The giving of the knife must have been a small gesture, easily forgotten by the marine who did it, including Spindle, but for Rant it had a life changing impact. It would make sense for Spindle not to remember giving him the knife.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Hi Claudia, I am glad that you enjoyed the chat. It seems that you will have more and more to talk to Erikson about next time :)

[@claudiaiovanovici7569]

@@ACriticalDragon If anything, finding ways to balance Malazan questions with other stuff is getting harder and harder. Providing an intellectually stimulating conversation to someone like Steve is not easy! But I intend to pillage every interview and video out there for inspiration :)))

[@benofavalon7121]

Thank for you the discussion, guys. I’ve watched both this one, and the two other videos on The God Is Not Willing. I particularly enjoyed Erikson’s notions on the evolution of military warfare, and the psychological consequences thereof. In fact, my master’s thesis from 10 years ago dealt partly with this issue 😊 Also, I love that you touched upon the humour in these works. This has always been one of the most important things for me, in terms of reading and enjoying works of this nature. There is some brutal stuff happening, and it truly needs those moments of levity. In fact, the darker the work and background, the more poignant, and even crucial, the humour becomes. 😊 Also, in the context of the healing of trauma! Oh, and you really got me to reminisce about all the crazy things I’ve encountered in my own gaming sessions, with regards to illusion magics! 😉 It never reached the point of existential crisis for me, though, thankfully! 😊 I found the book to be a very engaging and emotional read! I’ll concur with Philip, when he described the work as ‘sublime’. As always, I thoroughly appreciated the different (and difficult and complex!) themes Erikson explores, and the way in which they are explored. I also welcomed the return of the classic Malazan marine banter 😊 I was reminded that, of all the different things you can enjoy about the Malazan setting, the bread and butter of the series has, for me, always been the marines 😊 I don’t know why I can still be surprised, and humbled, by them… I especially loved the character arcs of Rant and Damisk; very compelling! As I already mentioned, I really adored all the marines-related stuff, but Stillwater in particular stood out to me; a powerhouse of a character, she has some truly epic moments. For example, the way, she handles the Hound of Shadow 😊 Captain Gruff, also, is an interesting, complex, character. Appearances deceive, and as ever, most of the Malazans are aptly named! 😉 And I was strangely fond of the character Nilghan, with all his bluster and bravado! It took me a while to realise the true nature of his relationship with his brother 😉 I think the most emotional moments for me (other than Rant’s), concerns Sarlis ☹ I appreciate that she finally gets the chance to live her life on her own accord, after what she’s been through… Also, from one of Spindle’s conversations, I get the sense that Mallick Rel seems to be performing adequately as Emperor? Despite the man’s character and past actions, he does seem to be a relatively able administrator, compared to his predecessors, at least 😊 he’s also mentioned again near the end of the book. I’m not saying his will be a benevolent reign, but the man does seem to be able to plan ahead! 😉 I guess we’ll see… It looks like the game has changed a bit (since the Book of the Fallen), in regards to religion (with new cults showing up), the magic system (Runts & Coins), and even the organisation of the Malazan armies? Makes it very interesting to see how things are going to progress, I think 😊 I almost never comment about a book cover (I think this may be the first one, in fact), but this might be the best so far? Very few covers actually manage to make me interested in reading a book by itself, yet this one made me curious about the character being portrayed 😊 I’ll not tell you who I thought the cover-character was, initially; it’s much too embarrassing! 😊 And with the God is not Willing, my own current reread is now complete. I’ll look forward to revisiting the Erikson/Esslemont books again someday. That has been one of the most rewarding things about reading these books; that you can pick them up again at a later date in your life, and find new things to love, and cherish 😊 (oh, by the way, I used to post under the name Benny Jensen, but I’ve changed it to a bit more mythical sounding name) 😉

[@ACriticalDragon]

Sir Ben of Avalon (formerly of Jensen) thanks for letting me know your thoughts. I am glad that you enjoyed the book and our discussions. Congratulations on completing the re-read.

[@benofavalon7121]

@@ACriticalDragon You’re most welcome, A.P. 😊 I’ve yet to adept and accommodate to my heightened social status, so it will probably take a while for me to get used to being called ‘Sir’ 😉

[@MacScarfield]

So Benger is Magic Hawkeye from «MASH»?

[@ACriticalDragon]

Pretty much. Maybe drinks a little less.

[@Kruppes_Mule]

I think it's interesting how Karsa has such a disdain for "civilization" but it's civilization that provides service to a victim of Karsa and at least attempts to make her as whole as possible.

[@ACriticalDragon]

I think that is a very important point that will be a point of investigation in the trilogy.

[@jdracing551]

Cpt. Gruff brought images of Cpt. Klinger(Jamie Farr) to me instantly!

[@claudiaiovanovici7569]

Oh, and how could I have forgotten about Rake? I think it was both real and an illusion, everything that happened in that scene. The illusion is how the mage chose to process what they were doing, but there was magic at work there that was real. And a power like Anomander's, even the ghost of it, would be strong enough to manifest itself in a real manner. And i still haven't lost hope that he will be returned to us, in some manner.

[@robpaul7544]

Finished the book. Absolutely loved it, beginning to end. The way it progresses the world we know and love , feels familiar yet fresh.. I'm sold, all in. And before I forget - brilliant chat between you three, thank you. Seriously 💜 On to some specifics. [SPOILERS] I did not remember Damisk from the earlier books, but I loved him as a character. I never saw him as evil, despite the horrendous things he did in his past. Much like how the spiraled tree was described as twisted by powers and circumstances beyond its control, Damisk was just a man with certain talents and a certain disposition surrounded by circumstances beyond his control. Could he have made different choices earlier? Yes. Not saying he's a good man either. There just didn't seem to be actual malice behind it. But there are many such characters in the Malazan world, who do or have done horrendous things. Yet we still root for them. The healing scene with Sarlis was exceptionally well done in that the magic wasn't used to heal the trauma - mainly. The magic was used to disconnect Sarlis from Karsa, and to release her from the poisonous influence of the blood oil. Since we're talking about Benger he might have done some additional work on her memories, but I don't think that was the focus or the intent. What I believe really started the healing process for Sarlis - beyond being clear of mind for the first time in around 17 years - was the fact that three people and apparently a mythological dragon were willing to step in and risk their lives for her. Unasked, no questions asked, no recompense required. They stood up for her. Stillwater is special. Her maskless, to-the-point personality reminds me of Karsa. Her disconnect with normal social behavior reminds me of Beak. And the hilarious lack of common sense - well, most sense even - reminds me of several Mott Irregulars, and adventurers in the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novellas. Excellently summarized and mirrored into Creature, the insane weasel Anyx Fro still holds dear to her heart. Rant, brilliant character, all the way. Can't wait to see where he goes next. Gruff, Spindle, Gower, Delas, loved them all. And you didn't even mention Balk and that whole story. Some excellent misdirection, building of tension and resolution just in that bit. The Malazan marines being bad ass to the core. Fifty against a thousand? We stand. Fifteen against thousands? We stand. Flood incoming? Rescue mode engaged. Loved the fact that the marines were already taking action, but their commanders immediately followed suit. Loved the off-hand comment about Mallick Rel's empire still standing for something. So much just fantastic stuff. The god might not be willing, but I'm certainly ready for the next installment 😄

[@ACriticalDragon]

I am very glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts, Rob. Some great insights there.

[@martinjg3662]

Also, maybe next time you chat with Steve..... Get Niflrog on too! That man knows to much, is he secretly SE's other Advance reader? 🤔

[@ACriticalDragon]

That is a great idea, I will have to ask the great Jaghut about his availability. By the way, Erikson has a number of advance readers. If you look in the acknowledgements section of the books you typically see him mention them. I am not the only one.

[@martinjg3662]

@@ACriticalDragon just the best one!

[@kalanredstone9658]

In The God Is not Willing, the Teblor have two hearts, however, I remember in the main series they had four lungs and the fokrul assail had two hearts. Am I correct?

[@ACriticalDragon]

Your memory seems sound enough.

[@JD-td8kl]

Damnit, I was just about to go to sleep.

[@ACriticalDragon]

Our voices will lull you to sleep. Then you can watch twice... MAWR VIEWS

[@SubFlow22]

If a raging feminist decided to impersonate Erickson, this is the book she would write. The book was awful.

[@garethbundy]

Tell me you haven't understood a word of Erikson's previous work without telling me you haven't understood a word of Erikson's previous work... Did you not get the themes of feminism, equality, equity and compassion in Malazan Book Of The Fallen??!