Forge of Darkness Epic Fantasy: Kharkanas Trilogy 1

Steven Erikson was born in Canada on November 7, 1959. He is a qualified archaeologist and anthropologist and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

His debut fantasy novel, Gardens of the Moon, was acclaimed for its combination of originality and intelligent, strong and exciting storytelling, singling out its author as a writer destined to rank alongside Donaldson, Eddings, Gemmell, Jordan and other giants of the genre. The first in a truly epic series chronicling the ill-fated Malazan Empire, Gardens of the Moon also took the internet by storm and had fans falling over themselves to praise this brilliant debut.

Erikson's second book, Deadhouse Gates, won equal praise - fellow fantasy writer Michael A. Stackpole wrote 'rare is the writer who so fluidly combines a sense of mythic power and depth of world, with fully realized characters and thrilling action, but Steven Erikson manages it spectacularly'. It was also voted one of the ten best fantasy novels.