Say whatever you want about him but one thing you can't aruge, Steven Erikson is not wasting time! While working on the ending to his epic saga (Malazan Book of the Fallen) Steven is publishing another book, a Bauchelain and Korbal Broach Novella: Crack'd Pot Trail. The book is scheduled for publishing on December 31th 2009 and you can preorder it here.

And while we wait for the release date, take a look at the cover art and the blurb:
It is an undeniable truth: give evil a name and everyone's happy. Give it two names and... why, they're even happier.

The intrepid necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, scourges of civilization, raisers of the dead, reapers of the souls of the living, devourers of hope, betrayers of faith, slayers of the innocent and modest personifications of evil, have a lot to answer for and answer they will. Known as the Nehemoth, they are pursued by countless self-professed defenders of decency, sanity and civilization. After all, since when does evil thrive unchallenged? Well, often: but not this time.

Hot on their heels are the Nehemothanai, avowed hunters of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. In the company of a gaggle of artists and pilgrims, stalwart Mortal Sword Tulgord Vise, pious Well Knight Arpo Relent, stern Huntsman Steck Marynd, and three of the redoubtable Chanter brothers (and their lone sister) find themselves faced with the cruelest of choices. The legendary Cracked Pot Trail, a stretch of harsh wasteland between the Gates of Nowhere and the Shrine of the Indifferent God, has become a tortured path of deprivation.

Will honour, moral probity and virtue prove champions in the face of brutal necessity? No, of course not. Don't be silly.

Once again I'm amazed with they way things work out in the book publishing business. When I found out that Dust of Dreams is going to come to US later than the UK version I thought that it's the same publisher pulling the same stunt again. Not the case. Dragon Keeper (that's the other book) is published by Eos while Dust of Dreams comes out under the Tor banner.

Whatever the reason though, it's a fact, if you're living in US you're not going to see neither Dust of Dreams nor Dragon Keeper this year. That is unless you want to purchase an imported version, which is also available on Amazon.com. If you're stubborn and don't want to contribute to UK economy, the official US release date for Book 9 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen is January 19th 2010. You can preorder it here.

And while you wait for the book to come out, here's a little bit of info on the next book of the series, the grand finale called The Crippled God.

If you're a Malazan Book of the Fallen fan you might already know this, but for those fans who are not up to speed, here's some info on the grand finale of the series, the 10th book called The Crippled God. First off, lets start with where the information about the last book comes from.

On September 22, 2008, Steven Erikson held a reading and signing at University Bookstore in Seattle WA. He read from Toll the Hounds and Dust of Dreams and talked about the last book of the series, the one to "wrap up" the epic saga. You can watch the Q&A on YouTube.

Pat's Fantasy Hotlist posted recently extract from Steven Erikson's next book: Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. The book will be a collection of three independent stories about the famed necromancers from the Malazan Book of the Fallen:

Blood Follows
In the port city of Lamentable Moll, a diabolical killer stalks the streets and panic grips the citizens like a fever. As Emancipor Reese's legendary ill luck would have it, his previous employer is the unknown killer's latest victim. But two strangers have come to town and they have posted in Fishmonger's Round a note, reeking of death-warded magic, requesting the services of a manservant...

The Healthy Dead
The city of Quaint's zeal for goodness can be catastophic, and no one knows this better than Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, two stalwart champions of all things bad.The homicidal necromancers - and their substance-addled manservant, Emancipor Reese - find themeselves ensnared in a scheme to bring goodness into utter ruination. Sometimes you must bring down civilization...in the name of civilization.

The Lees of Laughter's End
After their blissful sojourn in Lamentable Moll, the sorcerors Bauchelain and Korbal Broach - along with their manservant, Emancipor Reese -set out on the open seas aboard the sturdy ship Suncurl. Alas, there's more baggage in the hold than meets the beady eyes of the crew, and unseemly terrors awaken. For Bauchelain, Korbal Broach and Emancipor Reese, it is just one more night on the high seas, on a journey without end.

Bauchelain and Korbal Broach will be released on September 15th in the US. You can preorder the book on Amazon.com.

Patrick from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist was lucky enough to get his hands on the latest novel in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series: Dust of Dreams. He has just read it and provided probably first review of this second to last book in the cycle. Dust of Dreams is essentially the first half of a two-volume novel, to be concluded with the forthcoming The Crippled God.

If you want to find out what he thought about it, take a look here. If you don't want to spoil the fun of discovering the book for yourself, just read this:

Believe me when I tell you that this book will have you begging for more! Steven Erikson is a master storyteller. Dust of Dreams is epic fantasy with a capital E!

Sounds good, doesn't it? :-)

It has been ten years since Steven Erikson published his first book of the Malazan saga. Gardens of The Moon opened up big and paved the way for the sequels (nine so far). Today The Malazan Book of the Fallen is one of the pillars of the modern epic fantasy. Congratulations Mr. Erikson!

To learn more about the series visit Malazan part of Fantasy Fan.

Pat's Fantasy Hotlist posted the cover for UK version of Steven Erikson's Dust of Dreams. The cover is not final yet, but if I may be so bold to say that it already looks awesome!

Dust of Dreams will be the first half of the series finale, and it will end on a cliffhanger. The Crippled God, the tenth and final novel, will be the second half.

The Malazan Book of the Fallen fans will be happy to learn that release date of the next book in the series, Dust of Dreams, will not be pushed to 2010 after all. The book is almost finished. Erikson is finishing up some "massive battle scenes", but the publisher Bantam Press still expects the book to be out in the late summer.

A group of Erikson fans decided to take a swing at making a game based on the amazing world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. They have secured permission from Steven (although he will not be directly involved) and started working on a single player Role Playing Game. If you'd like to find out more or join them visit the website: Malazan Project .

For those of you hunting for a signed copy of Malazan Book of the Fallen or want to start their adventure with the series in great style Subterranean Press prepared a treat: a signed, limited edition of the first book of the Malazan series: Gardens of The Moon .

If signature of Steven Erikson is what you want to have on your copy of Gardens, head now to the Subterranean Press website! The book will not be available through other sources!

In order to understand the complex world and storyline of The Malazan Book of the Fallen we have prepared a quick guide to the series. The recommended reading order is the order of publication, however the chronological is much more interesting and difficult to work out. Take a look at both of them listed below:

Dave Brendon (from Dave Brendon's blog) managed to get a permission to record the reading of a fragment of Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon, first book in his epic Malazan Book of the Fallen series. If you enjoy listetning to Audio Books and would like to give Malazan Book of the Fallen a try, go to Dave Brendon's blog and listen to the Gardens of the Moon Audio Excerpt!

Steven Erikson (born October 7, 1959) is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist. His best-known work is the ongoing series Malazan Book of the Fallen. Here you will find the list of his books published under both names.

He'd never before sought to pass through such a door. He was not even certain that it was possible. And if he survived into the beyond, was there any way to return? One thing loomed over his final, most difficult worry: he was about to attempt entry into a realm where he wasn't welcome.

Gardens of the Moon, Steven Erikson

'Oh, yes,' Rake said, refilling his goblet. 'I received the two Pale wizards' heads. As you promised. I admire your efficiency, Baruk. Did they protest?'
Baruk paled. 'I explained to them the options,' he said quietly. 'No, they didn't protest.'

Gardens of the Moon, Steven Erikson

'Ben Adaephon Delat,' Pearl said plaintively, 'see the last who comes. You send me to my death.'
'I know,' Quick Ben whispered.
'Flee, then. I will hold them enough to ensure your escape, no more.'

Gardens of the Moon, Steven Erikson

'Always an even trade, Sorceress.' The man snapped a second salute, this one sharper, and in its way more personal.
Always an even trade, Sorceress. Save our skins, we'll save yours.

Gardens of the Moon, Steven Erikson

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is an epic fantasy series written by Canadian author Steven Erikson, published in ten volumes starting with Gardens of the Moon. Eight books are available as of July 2008 and two are forthcoming. It is wide in scope and encompassing the stories of a very large cast of characters.

As the tales begin, the Malazan Empire, under the rule of Empress Laseen, a murderous usurper of the throne, seeks ever to add to its holdings and is often sorely tasked with both consolidating and expanding its rule when faced with rebel armies, religious zealots, and immortal Ascendants opposed to its ambition. But Malazan is not an evil empire, particularly, no more so than any, and like the Romans, often brings order, peace, prosperity and uniform administrative rule under law to its conquered lands.

You dream that with memories will come knowledge, and from knowledge, understanding. But for every answer you find, a thousand questions arise.

Deadhouse Gates, Steven Erikson

We do naught but scratch the world, frail and fraught. Every vast drama of civilisations, peoples with their certainties and gestures, means nothing, affects nothing. Life crawls on, ever on.

Deadhouse Gates, Steven Erikson

Such tears had been shed before, and would be again - by others like her and yet unlike her. And the winds would dry them all.

Gardens of the Moon, Steven Erikson

Betrayal was the greatest of all crimes in Rallick's mind, for it took all that was human within a person and made it a thing of pain.

Gardens of the Moon, Steven Erikson

"Tell me, Tool, what dominates your thoughts?"
The Imass shrugged before replying. "I think of futility, Adjunct."
"Do all Imass think of futility?"
"No few think at all."
"Why is that?"
The Imass leaned his head to one side and regarded her. "Because, Adjunct, it is futile."

Malazan Book of The Fallen, Steven Erikson

Fantasy HotList has another fantasy book giveaway.

The latest giveaways are for five copies of the US edition of Steven Erikson's Reaper's Gale, as well as five autographed copies of R. A. Salvatore's The Ancient, courtesy of the kind folks at Tor Books. They are really pushing the new Salvatore, what with the 250,000$ national marketing plan.