Suvudu - Steven Erikson Reading and Q&A (Part 1)

On September 22, 2008, author Steven Erikson held a reading and signing at University Bookstore in Seattle WA. He read from Toll the Hounds and Dust of Dreams as well as answered why Dust of Dreams will have a cliffhanger ending and how he writes. (8 parts altogether)

Steve reading a poem from the forthcoming book.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Suvudu
• Steven
• Erikson
• Malazan
• Books
• of
• the
• Fallen
• University
• Bookstore
• Seattle
• Washington
• Reading
• Excerpt
• Dust
• Dreams

[FaustianDreams]

@DrunkenPoetic Well, it depends on what you're looking for in a fantasy book. I'd say Steven Erikson's books are rather philosophical, but its imaginative and he describes scenes in a way that really makes you feel as though you are in the book itself. Erikson is also harder to read compared to George Martin - a lot harder. A Song of Ice and Fire is elegance in simplicity, but no less engaging. I think that if you like Martin's work, you'd like Erikson's. Both are awesome.

[lagathy]

phenomenal writer.

[Psyshimmer]

He's an incredible author, but I can't help but feel that his writing leaves much to be desired. Working my way through the series takes effort that shouldn't be required. The characters are uninspired, the plot uncompelling. As mentioned below, a great deal of the book is waiting, slowly and mind-numbingly gathering information for the inevitable climax at the end of the book.

I've made a priority of finishing the series, but I don't believe it will ever be one I'll want to pick up again.

[lostship47]

@byrobyro What? His books are some of my favorites in the series.

[scavengedfantasyname]

He's writing very little novellas in truth. But they get bloated to over 1000 pages by all that repetition and waiting. And oh, these characters are waiting too. Look how they're passing the time... Fantastic isn't it? Here, have a tidbit about the T'lan Imass on the other end of the world (where we are not).

[scavengedfantasyname]

That man is driving me mad. He's the author, alright? He's writing the books. He should be writing all the stuff that's going on and important. Instead I have to read hundreds of pages of characters doing nothing, staring into vacancy, day-dreaming, doing generic RPG banter and talking about not having enough information. Whenever he could make a little jump or go to characters who are doing something or providing information he's describing to the characters who know nothing and do nothing.Aarg

[1finalfantasyplayer]

Erikson is a god of high fantasy!!! And i'm not quite so impressed by Esslemont...its just not the same...

[iannnc]

if his skin was darker I'd sort of imagine quick ben looking like him

[insulatedmemory]

one person never read the series

[TwoNNsB]

Love Erikson...he is the most unique fantasy author i've ever read

[Alex2C1]

IMHO, his counterpart Ian Cameron Esslemont writes even better.

Nevertheless they both are leaders in modern epic fantasy.

Both are masters of language and I.C.Esslemont is also a master of composition.