Ian Cameron Esslemont
Encyclopedia
Ian Cameron Esslemont is a Canadian writer
. He was trained and has worked as an archaeologist. He is best-known for his series Novels of the Malazan Empire, which is set in the same world as the Malazan Book of the Fallen
epic fantasy series popularised by his friend and collaborator, Steven Erikson
. Esslemont is the co-creator of the Malazan world.
and Japan
. He is currently completing a Ph.D in Literature
and lives in Alaska
with his wife, novelist Gerri Brightwell, and their three sons.
. When the script did not sell, Erikson greatly expanded the story and turned it into a novel. The two writers agreed to both write books set in the same world. However, it took a further eight years before Gardens of the Moon was published by Bantam
UK and Erikson agreed to write a further nine novels set in the same world. Life and work commitments delayed Esslemont's own entries to the series until 2004, when his first novel, Night of Knives
, was published as a limited edition by PS Publishing
(a mass-market release by Bantam UK followed in 2007). This book was a prequel
to the main Malazan sequence. His second novel, Return of the Crimson Guard
, takes place within the main Malazan sequence, shortly after the events of the sixth book, The Bonehunters
. It was published by PS Publishing in May 2008 and by Bantam UK later that year. Both Night of Knives
and Return of the Crimson Guard
have now been bought by Tor for publication in the United States. His third novel, Stonewielder, was published by Bantam UK in 2010 and Tor in the US.
He expects to write up to three more novels set in the Malazan world. As of the winter of 2010, he had finished the next novel in the series, set in Darujhistan, titled "Orb, Sceptre, Throne".
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was trained and has worked as an archaeologist. He is best-known for his series Novels of the Malazan Empire, which is set in the same world as the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Malazan Book of the Fallen
The Malazan Book of the Fallen is an epic fantasy series written by Canadian author Steven Erikson, published in ten volumes beginning with the novel Gardens of the Moon, published in 1999. The series was completed with the publication of The Crippled God in February 2011...
epic fantasy series popularised by his friend and collaborator, Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian novelist, who was educated and trained as both an archaeologist and anthropologist....
. Esslemont is the co-creator of the Malazan world.
Biography
Ian Cameron Esslemont was born in Winnipeg, Canada. He has lived and worked in South-East Asia, including four years spent in ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He is currently completing a Ph.D in Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and lives in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
with his wife, novelist Gerri Brightwell, and their three sons.
Works
Esslemont and Erikson co-created the Malazan world in 1982 as a backdrop for role-playing games. In 1991 they collaborated on a feature film script set in the same world, entitled Gardens of the MoonGardens of the Moon
Gardens of the Moon is the first of ten novels in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It was first published in 1999, and nominated for a World Fantasy Award.-Plot summary:...
. When the script did not sell, Erikson greatly expanded the story and turned it into a novel. The two writers agreed to both write books set in the same world. However, it took a further eight years before Gardens of the Moon was published by Bantam
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
UK and Erikson agreed to write a further nine novels set in the same world. Life and work commitments delayed Esslemont's own entries to the series until 2004, when his first novel, Night of Knives
Night of Knives
Night of Knives is the first novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. It is set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, a ten-volume epic fantasy series by Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson...
, was published as a limited edition by PS Publishing
PS Publishing
PS Publishing is a Hornsea based publisher founded in 1999 by Peter Crowther. They specialise in novella length fiction from the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres. It has quickly become established as one of Britain's premier small presses...
(a mass-market release by Bantam UK followed in 2007). This book was a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the main Malazan sequence. His second novel, Return of the Crimson Guard
Return of the Crimson Guard
Return of the Crimson Guard is the second high fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with Esselmont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Chronologically, Return of the Crimson Guard takes place after the events in...
, takes place within the main Malazan sequence, shortly after the events of the sixth book, The Bonehunters
The Bonehunters
The Bonehunters is the sixth volume in Canadian author Steven Erikson's epic fantasy series, the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The Bonehunters is a direct sequel to the fourth volume, House of Chains, and alludes to events in the fifth, Midnight Tides.The novel was first published in the United...
. It was published by PS Publishing in May 2008 and by Bantam UK later that year. Both Night of Knives
Night of Knives
Night of Knives is the first novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont. It is set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, a ten-volume epic fantasy series by Esslemont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson...
and Return of the Crimson Guard
Return of the Crimson Guard
Return of the Crimson Guard is the second high fantasy novel by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, co-created with Esselmont's friend and colleague Steven Erikson. Chronologically, Return of the Crimson Guard takes place after the events in...
have now been bought by Tor for publication in the United States. His third novel, Stonewielder, was published by Bantam UK in 2010 and Tor in the US.
He expects to write up to three more novels set in the Malazan world. As of the winter of 2010, he had finished the next novel in the series, set in Darujhistan, titled "Orb, Sceptre, Throne".
External links
- Interview at SFFWorld.com
- Interview at Clarkesworld MagazineClarkesworld MagazineClarkesworld Magazine is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. The first issue was published October 1, 2006 and it has maintained a regular monthly schedule since, publishing fiction by authors such as Sarah Monette, Catherynne Valente, Elizabeth Bear, Caitlin R...
, August 2009