Previous SFF Author: Laura Esquivel
(1962- )
Ian Cameron Esslemont is a Canadian writer. He was trained and has worked as an archaeologist. He is best known for his Novels of the Malazan Empire, which is set in the same world as the Malazan Book of the Fallen epic fantasy series popularized by his friend and collaborator, Steven Erikson. Esslemont is the co-creator of the Malazan world.
Night of Knives by Ian Cameron Esslemont
Any die-hard fan of the Malazan novels by Steven Erikson should know of Ian Cameron Esslemont. For the uninitiated, Mr. Esslemont and Steven Erikson are the co-creators of the Malazan world, which was originally conceived as a role-playing game.
I am a big fan of the Malazan novels. It was in 2004 that I first heard about the series thanks to the Science Fiction Book Club, which was featuring Gardens of the Moon when it was making its U.S.
Robert Thompson and João Eira | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian C. Esslemont
Return of the Crimson Guard is the second of Ian C. Esslemont’s books set in the world he helped create with Steven Erikson, whose longer-established Malazan Empire series has been going for years (the tenth and final book is due out in January).
Esslemont’s first Malazan book, Night of Knives, took place a bit back in the pre-history of Erikson’s series, set on the night that the old emperor Kallenvad and his companion Dancer ascended into the realm of Shadow and Laseen became empress.
Bill Capossere´s rating: 3.5 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Stonewielder by Ian C. Esslemont
Stonewielder is Ian C. Esslemont’s third book in the Malazan series co-created with Steven Erikson, and which Erikson has been exploring for years with his own series. If you look over my reviews for Esslemont’s first two Malazan books, Night of Knives and Return of the Crimson Guard, you’ll see I’ve given them mixed reviews, though I thought Return of the Crimson Guard was an improvement on Night of Knives and boded well for the next book in the series.
Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Orb, Sceptre, Throne by Ian Cameron Esslemont
It has been a real pleasure to watch the development of Ian Cameron Esslemont as a writer. Both Night of Knives and Return of the Crimson Guard were solid offerings but burdened with problems of pacing and character, though Return of the Crimson Guard showed some improvement. Each seemed pretty clearly the product of a new author. Stonewielder, the third of Esslemont’s MALAZAN novels was a big jump forward in terms of quality and craft;
Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Blood and Bone by Ian Cameron Esslemont
Blood and Bone is the penultimate book of Ian Cameron Esslemont’s main MALAZAN EMPIRE series (I say “main” because he has just begun a prequel trilogy) and while it has its issues, it easily ranks in my top three of the main series’ six titles thanks to a few well-drawn characters and, especially, thanks to its relatively unique setting.
That setting is the jungles of Jacuruku, one of the as-yet-unexplored continents of the Malazan universe.
Bill Capossere´s rating: 4 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Once upon a time one could speak of the “upcoming conclusion” to the tales of the Malazan Empire, the multi-volume shared world series by Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont. But with Erikson currently writing the second book in his prequel trilogy, and both he and Esslemont contracted for more books set in this world, it’s best nowadays to perhaps muse on “resting points” rather than “conclusions.” And so it is with Esslemont’s sixth book, Assail, billed as bringing to “a thrilling close” the “epic story of the Malazan Empire,” but which also,
Bill Capossere´s rating: 3.5 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Dancer’s Lament by Ian Cameron Esslemont
Prequels can be tricky things for authors. One obvious obstacle is that being a prequel, the story is robbed of at least some of its natural narrative tension, as readers already know that this or that character will not die, that this or that battle will not be won. Authors also run the risk of having painted themselves into narrative corners via the original work — this character has to do A to end up at C, this thingamabob has to appear because it’s the signature thingamabob of Character X and so on.
Bill Capossere´s rating: 4.5 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |
Deadhouse Landing by Ian Cameron Esslemont
Because it occurs not that far along into Deadhouse Landing (2017), I don’t feel bad about revealing that at one point our erstwhile heroes Wu and Dancer are forced into confronting one of the most dire threats of the Malazan Universe — being taken by an Azath. A revelation that I’m sure will have many of you wondering which of the many great powers of that universe could have driven them onto those perilous grounds: K’rul? T’riss? Kallor, a Matron, Icarium? Worthy candidates all,
Bill Capossere´s rating: 4.5 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Kellanved’s Reach by Ian Cameron Esslemont
Kellanved’s Reach concludes Ian Cameron Esslemont’s PATH TO ASCENDANCY, his prequel series of MALAZAN books (as opposed to Steven Erikson’s prequel series of MALAZAN books) and while three is the classic book number in fantasy series, I personally wouldn’t mind if he snuck in another volume or two between this and Night of Knives, the next book chronologically in the series’ events.
Bill Capossere´s rating: 4.5 | Ian C. Esslemont | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Previous SFF Author: Laura Esquivel
We’re in total agreement David!
I felt just the same. The prose and character work was excellent. The larger story was unsatisfying, especially compared to…
Hmmm. I think I'll pass.
COMMENT Was I hinting that? I wasn't aware of it. But now that you mention it.... 🤔
So it sounds like you're hinting Fox may have had three or so different incomplete stories that he stitched together,…