Author guide

Steven Erikson Books in Order

Steven Erikson is the pseudonym of Canadian author Steve Rune Lundin. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, he writes epic fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, satire, and horror, and is best known for the Malazan Book of the Fallen and its related series.

fantasyscience fictionliterary fictionsatirehorror

Catalog record updated August 25, 2026.

Steven Erikson's Newest Book

No Life Forsaken

novel · First published 2025

New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson continues his beloved Malazan Book of the Fallen—the iconic epic fantasy series that has sold more than 1.5 million copies—with the second book in the thrilling Witness sequel series. Return to the Malazan Empire! In No Life Forsaken, the second novel in Erikson's stunning Witness series, a god's bastard son cuts a bloody swathe through the forces of the Malazan Empire in order to take revenge on his father . . .

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Gardens of the Moon

The first novel of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Blood Follows

The first published novella in the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach sequence.

Forge of Darkness

The opening novel of the Kharkanas Trilogy.

Willful Child

The opening novel of the Willful Child trilogy.

The God Is Not Willing

The opening novel of the Tales of Witness.

This River Awakens

A standalone early novel.

Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart

A standalone science-fiction novel.

Read in order

Books by series

novel-series · completed

Malazan Book of the Fallen

A completed ten-volume epic fantasy series set in the Malazan world.

Series guide →

1
Gardens of the Moon
Book 1 · novel · 1999

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions,…
2
Deadhouse Gates
Book 2 · novel · 2000

The second book in Steven Erikson's thrilling epic fantasy series chronicling the ill-fated Malazan Empire.Weakened by events in Darujhistan, the Malazan Empire teeters on the brink of anarchy. In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the…
3
Memories of Ice
Book 3 · novel · 2001

The ravaged continent of Genabackis has given birth to a terrifying new empire: the Pannion Domin. Like a tide of corrupted blood, it seethes across the land, devouring all. In its path stands an uneasy alliance: Onearm's army and…
4
House of Chains
Book 4 · novel · 2002

In Northern Genabackis, just before the events recounted in GARDENS OF THE MOON, a raiding party of savage tribal warriors descends from the mountains into the southern flat lands. Their intention is to wreak havoc among the despised…
5
Midnight Tides
Book 5 · novel · 2004

After decades of internecine warfare, the tribes of the Tiste Edur have at last united under the Warlock King of the Hiroth. There is peace--but it has been exacted at a terrible price: a pact made with a hidden power whose motives are at…
6
The Bonehunters
Book 6 · novel · 2006

The Seven Cities Rebellion is over, Sha'ik is dead, but a last rebel force remains, holed up in the city of Y'Ghatan under the fanatical command of Leoman of the Flails. The prospect of laying siege to this ancient fortress makes the…
7
Reaper's Gale
Book 7 · novel · 2007

All is not well in the Letherii Empire. Rhulad Sengar, the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths, spirals into madness, surrounded by sycophants and agents of his Machiavellian chancellor, while the Letherii secret police conduct a campaign of…
8
Toll the Hounds
Book 8 · novel · 2008

In Darujhistan, the city of blue fire, it is said that love and death shall arrive dancing. It is summer and the heat is oppressive, but for the small round man in the faded red waistcoat, discomfiture is not just because of the sun. All…
9
Dust of Dreams
Book 9 · novel · 2009

In war everyone loses. This brutal truth can be seen in the eyes of every soldier in every world… In Letherii, the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore begins its march into the eastern Wastelands, to fight for an unknown cause…
10
The Crippled God
Book 10 · novel · 2010

The Bonehunters march for Kolanse, led by Adjunct Tavore. This woman with no gifts of magic, deemed plain, unprepossessing, displaying nothing to instill loyalty or confidence, will challenge the gods - if her own mutinous troops don't…

novella-series · ongoing

Tales of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach

A sequence of darkly comic novellas about the necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach and their servant.

Series guide →

1
Blood Follows
Book 1 · novella · 2002

All is not well in Lamentable Moll. A sinister, diabolical killer stalks the port city's narrow, barrow-humped streets, and panic grips the citizens like a fever. Emancipor Reese is no exception, and indeed, with his legendary ill luck,…
2
The Healthy Dead
Book 2 · novella · 2004

Things are going all too well in the city of Quaint. So well, in fact, that something has to be done. The zeal for goodness can be catastrophic, and no-one knows this better than Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, two stalwart champions of all…
3
The Lees of Laughter's End
Book 3 · novella · 2007

West of Theft, on a vast stretch of ocean known as the Wastes, the free-ship Suncurl pilots its way along the Lees of Laughter's end, away from the city of Lamentable Moll. Aboard the ship, three passengers have become the subject of the…
4
Crack'd Pot Trail
Book 4 · novella · 2009

It is an undeniable truth: give evil a name and everyone's happy. Give it two names and...why, they're even happier. Intrepid necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, scourges of civilization, raisers of the dead, reapers of the souls…
5
The Wurms of Blearmouth
Book 5 · novella · 2012

Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, and their manservant Emancipor Reese, come upon the quaint village of Spendrugle which falls under the benign rule of the Lord of Wurms. Spendrugle's memorable residents include the man who should have stayed…
6
The Fiends of Nightmaria
Book 6 · novella · 2016

The Fiends of Nightmaria is a new novella from New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson, set in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. The king is dead, long live King Bauchelain the First, crowned by the Grand Bishop Korbal…
7
Upon a Dark of Evil Overlords
Book 7 · novella · 2021

novel-series · ongoing

The Kharkanas Trilogy

A Malazan-world prequel series focused on the ancient Tiste realm of Kurald Galain.

Series guide →

1
Forge of Darkness
Book 1 · novel · 2012

It's a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power. and even death is not quite eternal. The commoners' great hero, Vatha Urusander, is being…
2
Fall of Light
Book 2 · novel · 2016

It's a conflicted time in Kurald Galain, the realm of Darkness, where Mother Dark reigns. But this ancient land was once home to many a power... and even death is not quite eternal. The commoners' great hero, Vatha Urusander, is being…

novel-series · completed

Willful Child

A completed comic science-fiction trilogy parodying space-opera conventions, especially Star Trek.

Series guide →

1
Willful Child
Book 1 · novel · 2014

From the New York Times Bestselling author Steven Erikson comes a new science fiction novel of devil-may-care, near calamitous and downright chaotic adventures through the infinite vastness of interstellar space. These are the voyages of…
2
Willful Child: Wrath of Betty
Book 2 · novel · 2016

These are the voyages (suchas they are) of the Engage-ClassStarship Willful Child. Itsrambunctious mission: to seek out new worlds on which to plant the Terran flag,to subjugate and occasionally obliterate strange and disgusting…
3
Willful Child: The Search for Spark
Book 3 · novel · 2018

The New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Malazan Book of the Fallen series, continues his hilarious science fiction series--parodying and paying homage to exploring the final frontier--with Willful Child: The Search for…

novel-series · ongoing

Tales of Witness

A sequel series to the Malazan Book of the Fallen centered on the legacy of Karsa Orlong.

Series guide →

1
The God Is Not Willing
Book 1 · novel · 2021

Many years have passed since three Teblor warriors brought carnage and chaos to the small lakeside settlement of Silver Lake. While the town has recovered, the legacy of that past horror remains, even if the Teblor tribes of the north no…
2
No Life Forsaken
Book 2 · novel · 2025

New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson continues his beloved Malazan Book of the Fallen—the iconic epic fantasy series that has sold more than 1.5 million copies—with the second book in the thrilling Witness sequel series.…

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Sort works

Novels (4)

This River Awakens
novel · 1996

From the acclaimed author of the Malazan series comes Steven Erikson's This River Awakens. In the spring of 1971, Owen Brand and his family move to the riverside town of Middlecross in a renewed attempt to escape poverty. For…
When She's Gone
novel · 2004
The Devil Delivered
novella · 2005
Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart
novel · 2018

"Imagine a First Contact without contact, and an alien arrival where no aliens show up. Imagine the sudden appearance of exclusion zones all over the planet, into which no humans are allowed. Imagine an end to all violence, from the…

Short fiction (4)

A Ruin of Feathers
linked-story-collection · 1991
Stolen Voices
short-story-collection · 1994
Revolvo and Other Canadian Tales
short-story-collection · 1998
The Last Vandals on Earth
short-story · 2024

Poetry (1)

Tall Boy: A Dialogue of Poems
poetry-collection · 2020

Other (1)

Fishin' with Grandma Matchie
chapbook · 2005

Frequently asked questions about Steven Erikson

Who is Steven Erikson, and what is he best known for?

Steven Erikson is a Canadian novelist, archaeologist, and anthropologist best known for the epic-fantasy Malazan Book of the Fallen. His publisher describes him as a major voice in fantasy fiction.

Sources: us.macmillan.com (opens in a new tab)penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)

What is Steven Erikson’s real name?

Steven Erikson is the pen name of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian writer who has also worked as an archaeologist and anthropologist.

Source: encyclopedia.com (opens in a new tab)

How did Steven Erikson’s archaeology and anthropology background affect his writing?

Erikson’s publisher says the Malazan series draws on his roughly twenty years of experience in archaeology and anthropology. He has also described archaeological fieldwork and broad cultural research as important sources for his world-building.

Sources: us.macmillan.com (opens in a new tab)sffworld.com (opens in a new tab)

What awards or honors has Steven Erikson received?

Gardens of the Moon was shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award, and Encyclopedia.com records that Erikson co-won the 1993 Three-day Novel Contest for Stolen Voices.

Sources: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)encyclopedia.com (opens in a new tab)

What is Steven Erikson’s legacy in fantasy literature?

The Malazan Book of the Fallen has received widespread international acclaim, and Macmillan says it established Erikson as a major voice in fantasy fiction.

Source: us.macmillan.com (opens in a new tab)