Steven Erikson

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Steven Erikson (born October 7, 1959) is a pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, Canadian archaeologist, anthropologist and author.

Steven Erikson was born in Toronto, grew up in Winnipeg, lived in the UK with his wife and son and has returned to Canada. He is an anthropologist and archaeologist by training, as well as being a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

His first fantasy novel Gardens of the Moon (1999) also constitutes the first book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. This is projected to be a ten volume work. His style of writing is original, with many personages and a complex, sullen plot. The Malazan world was devised by Steven Erikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont, initially as a setting for a role-playing game.

The books to date are of high quality in language and tone, being both able to stand alone as separate novels, as well as being intricately linked to other volumes. Erikson has stated explicitly that he attempts to avoid the standard conventions of fantasy, and deliberately began the Malazan Book of the Fallen series in the midst of an ongoing story rather than beginning with a more conventional opening. He has been criticized for failing to provide sufficient back-story and explanations of ongoing events, but these are gradually revealed as each new book is published.