[Shinrei]

1) How were you introduced to the Malazan series?

At the time I had only just gotten into reading books. There was all the hype about Harry Potter books, and even though I never read for leisure (typical teenage attitude towards reading at that time), I decided to find out what all the hype was about and brought the first Harry Potter book, which I greatly enjoyed, I then found that LOTR (and Hobbit) was highly recommend from visiting websites, so read that next, then while browsing at ‘W H Smith’, came across GoTM, which had the original cover (which to a young teenager looked quite cool at the time), and after reading the synopsis about empires etc decided to get it (note: I was quite new to reading, so empires, assassins, sorcerers etc sounded intriguing).

2) What brought you create! the Malazan Empire forums? This is a story I (we all) want to hear.

The first two series I read (Harry Potter and LoTR) both had lots of websites with discussion forums. After reading GoTM, I did a search for any websites related to the Malazan books, but couldn’t find any. I was just getting into programming at the time, so I thought I’ll create a website and add a discussion forum to it, which hopefully might attract other fans of the books as I had so many theories, questions about the books.

So I went and created a website, found a discussion forum software that was free and added that to the website. Registered as ‘Anomander Rake’ (As he was my favourite character after reading GoTM).

I wasn’t sure what domain to register for the website, but malazanempire sounded quite good to me, so I just registered that.

After a few weeks, slowly people started joining, and topics and discussions slowly started to get under way. Got excited that people from around the world were visiting a website I created, was quite surprised from how many different countries fans came from (lots of Canadians joining in the early period).


3) What are your fondest memories of the first version of the forum?

• Seeing the first few members joining and starting to post, started to make the forum come alive.
• Reading the different theories and viewpoints on the books, or things mentioned that I didn’t notice when I read the book first time but others did.
• Getting to talk to fans of the same books.


4) Which members do you feel a special connection with?

I haven’t been very active on the forums for last 2-3 years, so I don’t know most members as well as I would have in the past. But some members whom I interacted with a lot were members like Topper, Calos, Lady Athelian etc, members from the early years.

Oh yes, as an admin you always have a special connection with members who you have to moderate with a lot such as Snake (or all the other variations of snake).


5) When you look into the Phoenix Inn these days, do you feel like you know anybody anymore? Any members you particularly miss?

There are a few such as Rodeo (always enjoyed reading his posts, very funny, cheery etc), Gothos, Caladan Brood etc whom I recognise. But lots of new names I don’t recognise.

There are some members I miss such as Topper, Lady Athelian, Calos etc. I haven’t seen them post for a while.


6) Are you a member of any other forums (book or otherwise)?

I have registered at lots of forums, some I was quite active, but most I’m not very active nowadays. I generally tend to be more of a reader than actually posting. I end up joining forums based on my interests at the time.

Some forums I’ve been at are that will be more familiar to members here, westeros.org, sffworld.com, some author specific forums, as well as forums covering movies, tv, dramas, music, cultures from the east and west.

7) What fantasy series would be your second choice behind (obviously) MbotF?

I hate ranking favourites, as each one is different and gives you something different. If I have to choose, I’ll say Harry Potter series as that got me started reading books from the fantasy world and I greatly enjoyed it, and A Song of Ice and Fire.


8) You have shown interest in the study of culture/cultural practices on the Discussion Board. From whence does this interest come?

You can say I have been brought up in/with two cultures, so while I have been exposed to tv shows, movies, songs, customs, weddings, funerals from both cultures, I’ve always enjoyed things from other cultures also. I always find it interesting finding similarities between cultures and just understanding why they do certain things the way they do. I also like learning about the history of the different areas of the world.

As you expose yourself more to different cultures whether by visiting different countries, watching movies/dramas/tv shows from those countries, the more I become curious, and the more you understand it.


9) What members would you particularly like to meet in real life (who you have not met previously)?

Not sure, lol.


10) Where have you lived and traveled in the world? Any good stories?

Haven’t done as much travelling as I would have liked. Hopefully in future I’ll be able to correct that. But been to Australia a few times, Malaysia, South Asia and a couple of other countries. I actually wouldn’t mind working overseas for a couple of years (maybe an international city like Dubai, Singapore etc)

The thing I don’t understand is, why the size of a can/bottle of Coca Cola is different in every country.


11) If you were stranded on a desert island with only one MBotF, which one is it?

Oooo, this is a hard one to choose. Hmm, it’ll probably be between GoTM or DHG.


12) If you met Steven Erikson (have you?) and you could only ask one question, what would it be?

Anomander Rake, how did you create such an awesome character and why couldn’t you give him more screen time


13) Who is you favorite character from the series?

Anomander Rake. Kalam and Quick Ben are at the top also, especially when they are together (they kick ass).


14) You took a pretty long sabbatical from the forum. What were you doing during that time?

Wish I was still a student, used to have so much time even with studying, lol. I just started spending less time on forums as I can end up spending hours, and just got busy with work, outside activities such as football, squash etc, and spending time I would have previously spent surfing forums on reading more books, movies, tv etc.


15) Who wins?

All of us.


16) It is the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. What preparations do you take?

Get myself plenty of swords, knives, guns and learn archery. Maybe get one of those Monster trucks.


17) Do you do any creative writing yourself?

I do to a little extent, I’ve got a couple of stories in my head and though I can imagine scenes in my head very well, I’ve always found it difficult putting it to paper.


18)When not reading MBotF, what are you typically curling up with?

Other books (currently reading House Name and A Dance with Dragons) or my Laptop.


19) Do you keep a personal library, or do the books just cycle through your possession?

For some reason I never sell on my books, dvds, or cds. I just keep them stored in the garage or my room, so I have quite a large collection.


20) Please bare one random little known fact about yourself for the peanut gallery please.

I wear glasses.

[Gust Hubb]

Yay!!!! I'm so excited this interview got put up. Thank you both.

What type of glasses?

[rhulad]

Great interview, I've always wondered about the founding member...

[tiam]

The damn founding member who got the best name before anyone else could...

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

Founding this forum was a visionary act indeed - and a merciful one. I was happy to discover I wasn't the only freak out there reading MBotF. So- thankyou, Anomander Rake.

[stone monkey]

Gust Hubb, on 09 February 2012 - 11:15 AM, said:

Yay!!!! I'm so excited this interview got put up. Thank you both.

What type of glasses?

Beer goggles perhaps

[amphibian]

I'm still amazed this place was up and running in late 1999 or early 2000. That's an incredibly quick time from publication to Anomander going "This is awesome enough to have a website forum built around it".

I applaud that decision and the determination to see it through. Good luck!

[Apsalar]

It's an odd feeling to miss people on the Internet. We're not supposed to be able to establish lasting connections but my nostalgia induced haze makes it seem like we were all just chatting in a room. Or maybe pub.


Thanks for the happy memories Mandy.

This post has been edited by Apsalar: 10 February 2012 - 07:18 AM

[Shinrei]

Wow! Hey Apsalar, how ya been?

This post has been edited by Shinrei: 10 February 2012 - 07:50 AM

[Adjutant Stormy~]

This was enlightening. Thanks matey!

[Cougar]

Nice to see 20 Questions again, this is definitely a highlight on the forum.

[Anomander Rake]

I tend to wear rimless ones most of the time, got some reaction ones, and one pair for sports as my other glasses kept getting out of shape each time the ball hits the face while playing football.

I must say, it's always a great experience when you get a chance to find something you enjoy (for me MBoTF and ASoIaF) that has just started as it gives you a lot more opportunity to talk about it, rather than something that's finished.

[Apsalar]

Shinrei, on 10 February 2012 - 07:50 AM, said:

Wow! Hey Apsalar, how ya been?

Good. Not as busy as last year. Couldn't really follow anything that wasn't spoon fed to me by an rss feed and even then I cut about half of them in the fall.

[Anomander]

I've wondered about some of these questions over the years, nice to have some answers! Thanks again Rake for starting this place.

Funny how you mention Calot though, he resurfaced at the end of January in the New Users thread.

[Shinrei]

Anomander, on 13 February 2012 - 05:52 PM, said:

I've wondered about some of these questions over the years, nice to have some answers! Thanks again Rake for starting this place.

Funny how you mention Calot though, he resurfaced at the end of January in the New Users thread.

Posing as a newb? Or is it like the old Bottle left and a new Bottle came along?

[Gust Hubb]

Shinrei, on 14 February 2012 - 02:01 AM, said:

Anomander, on 13 February 2012 - 05:52 PM, said:

I've wondered about some of these questions over the years, nice to have some answers! Thanks again Rake for starting this place.

Funny how you mention Calot though, he resurfaced at the end of January in the New Users thread.

Posing as a newb? Or is it like the old Bottle left and a new Bottle came along?

Calot, definitely eligible for PEN

[Shinrei]

Next interview victim guest shall be

Kanese S's


Send in as many inappropriate questions as you wish to my PM. Serious questions are acceptable too.

[Loki]

Caved into the newbie pressure there, Shin?





Edit: Ensuring humour through emoticon.

This post has been edited by Loki: 24 February 2012 - 10:35 AM

[King Lear]

Awesome!

Now, to find out if there are any inappropriate questions I haven't asked Kan already

[Shinrei]

It's all about variety.

It was funny how K was all confused about my PM asking about the interview. "Wait, what, who are we interviewing"

This post has been edited by Shinrei: 24 February 2012 - 10:46 AM