[Gem Windcaster]

Why not making 2 different threads: on with the questions, and one with the answers?
It will make it easier

[Grimjust Bearegular]

is there any other way of getting in contact with Mr Erikson?

We have a club dedicated to his books on deviantart.com which it would be really cool if he checked out..we try to gather Malazan art and poetry/prose:

http://malazan-art-g...deviantart.com/

[caladanbrood]

I'd recommend PMing Hetan, the admin here:)

[Malaclypse]

@Grimhilde: I will include a link to your Guild in my next email to SE (next week sometime), but please don't feel slighted if he doesn't respond openly ... Cheers

[Kage-za]

Thanks Hetan. I guess I have a question if I may be so bold. Forgive me if it's been asked elsewhere.

Dear Mr Erikson,
How, if at all, has ICE getting his publishing deal affected the process of writing for you? Even though the two of you developed the Malazan world together, up until now, your novels have primary way to introduce the world to your fans. Does it feel different while you are writing to know that there will be more than just your interpretation reaching the Malazan audience? Finally, are there any worries about keeping the story straight between the two of you? After all, as Tolkien said, "The tale grew in the telling."

[Aptorian]

Hmm, now that I actually have the chance to ask questions it's hard to make them up

I guess we could take some of the questions from the Book Q&A... and change them:

1 Any comments on the Eres'al critic. She's been described as the Deus Ex Machina of the MBotF. Was this your intention or are there hidden facets or limitations to the Eres you haven't shown us yet.

2 Any comments on the general inconsistency's between the power levels of characters and creatures. The point being that SE in one book describes creatures to be powerful enough to scare ascendants or crush cities and civilisations and in the next moment is wiped out by seemingly easy pray for such a creature.

I'm sure that SE doesn't want to answering more simple questions that could spoil the next books.

[Illuyankas]

What really happened at Pale? Tattersail and Tayschrenn both have differing accounts of what went on, with people dying at different times to suit each story. Was Tattersail confused? Was Tays lying? Or was it just an accident of the otataral sword kind?

[Aptorian]

3 Whats the connection between the Jheck in Midnight Tides and the Jheck we hear of in the Bauchelin and Korbald Broach stories?

4 Will our two favorite Necromancers pop up again in the storie? Last we heard of them, Quick Ben had informed them of The Chained One. They don't seem to be the types to hold a grudge, but will they play a bigger role in the future?

5 On the topic of Necromancers, there seems to still be spies from the Mott Irregulars in the 14th. Does this imply that they will also play a further role in the story? Even if it is only in regards to Darujistan, The Seguleh and the mysterious Tyrant.

6 When will we meet this Big Bad Bole Sister

Edit:

7 How tall are the Teblor and more specifically Karsa?

I know that several references of Karsa's stature can be found in the book's but since the evidence and eye-witness accounts is often missleading, it would be nice to have it confirmed by the author. Is he half as tall again as a human or is it more? The start of HoC makes one wonder if Teblor isn't at least twice the hight of a human being.

[Aptorian]

Saint Chains;107351 said:

Do you ever visit this board (malazanempire.com/forums)?

If so, do you ever makes posts under another name?

Do you really think that God would reveal his true nature while walking among his humble subjects

[Rat Mentor]

This is not directly a question in regard to the malazan books, but are you a Neil Young fan as a name of a certain God makes me think you are.

[Illuyankas]

From rereading the parts in TBH and MOI about the Seguleh, there's a small error - the Seventh Seguleh, who was killed by Rake, was said to have seven stripes on his mask, which would make him the Eighth according to their ranking system. So, was it a six striped mask, or is Rake now technically the Eighth?

[Ivan the terrible]

This is not a question in which i want you to reveal the ending or anything like that, but in your books you seem to depict a series of opposites embodied by characters or creatures and motifs etc, etc,, diverging philosophical themes. e.g Karsa civilisation/barbaric is this an attempt to declare a Heraclitian universality of opposites, or an attempt to show that humanity tend to gravitate towards extremes. Holding to a certain ambiguity all view points seem equally valid avoiding distinctions of good or evil, something most of your readers find refreashing. The question i ask is will this theme continue? Or will you finish the conflict with a victor propelled by his philosophy. Showing that in the Malazan universe things are decided on a might is right basis, or will you keep to a vague and ambivalent, ultimatly more satisfactory ending?

[Sir Thursday]

1. Is the 'Ardata' we hear about when Cotillion encounters Mogora in The Bonehunters the same being as the 'Ardatha' that Kallor mentions in the prologue of Memories of Ice?

2. Which of the many deaths in the series so far was the hardest for you to write in terms of emotional attachment to the character in question?

3. Have you ever reread what you have written so far from beginning to end? If so, how many times/how often?

4. If you had the power to change one thing that you have written in this series (be it character, plot device, setting...anything really), with hindsight, what would you do?

Sir Thursday

[drinksinbars]

1, whats the funniest thing anyone has asked you at a book signing?

2, is writing now still as much fun as when you started out? or do you find writers block more common as the series develops?

[Obdigore]

Why/How did so many sentient races evolve on one 'planet' at the same time? Was that because of the intervention of the 'elemental forces'?

If gods are much more powerfull than ascendants, why is Hood afraid when Rake threatens to assault his warren?

Would you ever open the Malazan license up, for someone, or a group of people to write books, of other time periods you are not going to cover, such as the War between short/long tails, or Journies of Rake, Envy, and Brood?

[zeeny]

Quote

Would you ever open the Malazan license up, for someone, or a group of people to write books, of other time periods you are not going to cover, such as the War between short/long tails, or Journies of Rake, Envy, and Brood?

I adore that question. I'd change it, if possible. I don't know how is the Malazan universe licenced(and if your publisher actually retains any rights on it from you), but would you & ICE consider releasing it* under a Creative Commons licence or similar that would give people the freedom to use elements of it not restricted to books(even for commercial use)?
Actually, if we have the right to go there, what is your view on current copyright laws?(appicable to book publishing, of course)

*it being concepts and universe, not actual books.