As some of you know, I'm a big fan of Steven Erikson's Malazan books. I've completed six books of the series, and enjoyed them all. I don't really want spoilers for the remainder of the series, but I was thinking about something I've heard people say, which is that Erikson utilizes Deus ex Machina in his stories. Erikson is a pretty careful writer, so this strikes me as odd. I'm wondering if it is actually the case. I haven't seen it thus far.
Referring to the Merriam-Webster definition of Deus ex Machina:
Is this really what happens in the series? As best I can tell, people say Erikson uses this technique because the gods descend and intervene in the resolution of the story. But that in and of itself is not sufficient. The gods in his world are interactive and at war. The events that are taking place are largely due to the activities of the gods. They walk among men, enact their schemes, and interfere. You know starting with book one that there is powerful, dangerous magic at work and that the gods and god-like forces are at play.
Whenever some god-level event happens, I'm not surprised. The stage has been set for them. It would be unexpected to me if they didn't act, given what is at stake and how Erikson has built the story.
If a Deus ex Machina is a "sudden" and "unexpected" interference by the divine or some other powerful force, it seems to me that doesn't describe what is going one in the Malazan world. In my case, at least, I fully expect it and the groundwork has been laid every step of the way.
The other aspect of the definition is that the solution is "contrived." I don't see that so far either, for the reasons stated above.
Thoughts?
Referring to the Merriam-Webster definition of Deus ex Machina:
a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty.
Is this really what happens in the series? As best I can tell, people say Erikson uses this technique because the gods descend and intervene in the resolution of the story. But that in and of itself is not sufficient. The gods in his world are interactive and at war. The events that are taking place are largely due to the activities of the gods. They walk among men, enact their schemes, and interfere. You know starting with book one that there is powerful, dangerous magic at work and that the gods and god-like forces are at play.
Whenever some god-level event happens, I'm not surprised. The stage has been set for them. It would be unexpected to me if they didn't act, given what is at stake and how Erikson has built the story.
If a Deus ex Machina is a "sudden" and "unexpected" interference by the divine or some other powerful force, it seems to me that doesn't describe what is going one in the Malazan world. In my case, at least, I fully expect it and the groundwork has been laid every step of the way.
The other aspect of the definition is that the solution is "contrived." I don't see that so far either, for the reasons stated above.
Thoughts?