[INFORMATION REQUESTED] Holy shit you guys are still alive?



It's been a hot minute since we last posted, friends, and while this particular Cradle episode has been stewing for some time, we finally did get around to posting it. Uncrowned is a while back, but we still look upon it fondly. If by fondly you mean "how dare you," then yes, very fondly.



Uncrowned marks the beginning of the tournament arc of Cradle, which if you know much about such things, means it's packed jam full of action. And, you know what? We're simple creatures. We like that.



Still, how dare you, Mr. Wight. You'll be hearing from our lawyers soon.



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[Topic accepted, continuing report...] Reach out to [Smiley's]: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Watch [Smiley's] on [YouTube]: https://youtu.be/pfgOC93mjLA

Receive schedule [Updates]: https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley Buy [Smiley's] a drink: https://ko-fi.com/smileys

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[Don't get your hopes up yet.]

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Cradle Book Seven - Uncrowned

[Spoilers MBotF]



If you've been in the Malazan sphere long enough, you've probably heard the adage "Kallor did nothing wrong" more than once. Turns out, those four words encompass whole avenues of discussion that one video couldn't possibly hope to tackle. But all in due time.

Inspired largely by our chat with AP about narration & his excellent videos on the subject.

His prologue close reading (spoilers for MoI): https://youtu.be/TCMsQIBGx_I?si=XEOxv8C6KhXqidMq

His "tragedy of the High King" (spoilers for all Malazan Books): https://youtu.be/Kb7Rwa_5SBM?si=m6wkr7LPtwzpimyN



And my recent discussions over on the Malazan subreddit (well, not quite "recent" per se, but this is a recurring subject), I figured I had to put my money where my mouth is & actually write/record something on the matter. I elected to do the latter.

This is the second attempt at doing so (due to technical errors on the first one) & it's rather sizeable (I'm quite loquacious, I am). I could (and perhaps, had I thought about it sooner, would) have split this episode along different lines, but for such matters you'll have to head over to more knowledgeable turf.

The excerpts discussed are the second prologue of Memories of Ice & a certain scene in Midnight Tides. What that tells us about Kallor & the characters present, how it plays into his making into a tragic figure, and how it ties back to the adage of "Kallor did nothing wrong."



If you, too, think Kallor did nothing wrong (or if you think he's the Malaz devil incarnate, or anything inbetween), please do reach out: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Would you prefer YouTube? https://youtu.be/WzsMHDSM8Ao

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"Kallor did Nothing Wrong?" - A Close Look at the MoI Prologue - Smiley's After Hours

[Spoilers for All Malazan books]

[Mild spoilers for Book of the New Sun, Kushiel's Legacy, Farseer Trilogy & the Scarlet Letter (we're thorough, damn it!)]

Hello & welcome to a very special guest episode featuring AP, longtime viewer, supporter, and indirect (and now somewhat more direct!) mentor. AP surely needs no introduction, so let's get to more pertinent matters.

We spend the better part of an hour discussing non-Malazan related narration, narrative techniques, layers, and a host of similar aspects. It's a mesmerizing learning experience when someone as passionate & knowledgeable about a subject as AP talks about said subject at length (and I did make use of some of the things I learned here in my own writings!).

Most of our discussion revolves around Kharkanas, but we do spend quite a bit of time talking about the narration present in the Book of the Fallen and the different narrative layers present. I daresay I have a new perspective on matters - especially in Kharkanas - which I lacked before (you may note that Steve had a similar effect when we talked to him, as did Cam).

AP, you're always welcome to the Tavern - just say the word. And everyone else, thank you for listening (and you, too, are welcome in the tavern!)



Per that idea, feel free to reach out for an invitation and we'll be quite accommodating, one hopes: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Would you prefer YouTube (though note that it, too, is audio only)? https://youtu.be/LKv1uuwKeCc

Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley

Wanna buy us a drink? https://ko-fi.com/smileys

Narrators in Malazan ft. A Critical Dragon

[Information Requested: How dare you, Will Wight?]

Smiley's is back to Cradle, with one core question: How dare you, Will Wight?

Underlord's a damn fine book. Action-packed, lots of heartfelt moments, interesting worldbuilding, and we hate it for all those reasons. We here at Smiley's have taken a firm stand against authors making us feel things. Not us, no sir.

Jests aside, this book led to us devouring Uncrowned in a handful of days in spite of being tremendously busy. It's a really good book.

But still. How dare you, sir?

[Suggested topic: Smiley's socials. Continue?]

[Topic accepted, continuing report...]

Reach out to [Smiley's]: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Watch [Smiley's] on [YouTube]: https://youtu.be/rJUv-90jibY

Receive schedule [Updates]: https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley Buy [Smiley's] a drink: https://ko-fi.com/smileys

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[Topic denied, report complete.]

Cradle Book Six: Underlord

Hello & welcome to our first (and hopefully not last) installment of the Smiley's Malazan Trivia Quiz! Lee, your host (that's me!) is joined by Mora, Wes, Nate of Podcast of the Fallen, and GB - all of which happen to be mods on the Malazan subreddit.

We actually go through a fair number of questions over quite a few rounds, and great times are (hopefully) had by all. There weren't any prizes (alas!) but the confirmation that your, uh, "mind palace is vast" indeed & the praise of all.

We hope you enjoy our impromptu wrap-up of 2023, that you have yourself a wonderful 2024, and join us in another year of Smiley's. Cheers!



If you want to participate in future quizzes- send us an email (we operate on a "first come, first served" basis): smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Would you prefer YouTube? https://youtu.be/dr3Am7eTtFw

Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley

Wanna buy us a drink? https://ko-fi.com/smileys

Malaz Trivia Quiz 2023

[Spoilers All, or only MBotF, we dont know, its all a drunken haze] We decided to slack off and not read FoL. Instead here is a random discussion on Malazan curses, limited to the ones we see in BotF. Spoilers abound, so beware new readers.



If you want us to tackle curses that appear in NotME, PtA or Kharkanas- send us an email: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Would you prefer YouTube? https://youtu.be/UJo_bOUO4WA



Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley



Wanna buy us a drink? https://ko-fi.com/smileys

Tavern talk: Malazan Curses

Don't you like it when chapters follow a certain thematic throughline that makes things easy? I know I do. We're back in the Citadel (or, at least, adjacent to it), and oh boy do we get going quickly. Rise Herat explores a dusty old room full of the shameful past, Orfantal explores sorcery to an unparalleled degree, Endest Silann sets off in search of decency, a goddamn dragon descends upon Kharkanas, the contingent of the Shake seeks to peruse the magic of the Terondai, and Caplo learns to heed his f***ing leopard instincts & to find some patience.



All that & more in this episode of Fall of Light, which ties in neatly to the next chapter where we mostly deal with Neret Sorr. Isn't it nice.

Heed your viewer instincts, friends, and send us an email: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Would you prefer YouTube? https://youtu.be/u3-3FI0ufxg

Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley

Wanna buy us a drink? https://ko-fi.com/smileys

Fall of Light Chapter 18

What starts off as a somewhat innocent chapter - with the biggest idiot of Fall of Light taking centre stage - quickly devolves into a mess of shifting alliances, weird mysticism, unsettling flashbacks, and overall bizarre scenes (see Narad & Threadbare).

At least it ends the way it began; simply, with the biggest idiot of Fall of Light taking centre stage. Something of a staple of Erikson's writing - showing the PoV of a character about to die - comes up more than a few times in this chapter, as does the cryptic & vague prophecy that you feel you should know about but simply don't. Ah, well.

Also, the answer to the question in the thumbnail is "Yes."

Come one, come all, Draconus apologists & propagandists as well, and reach out to us: smileyspodcast@gmail.com

Would you prefer YouTube? https://youtu.be/fEPbzFpjHu0

Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley

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Fall of Light Chapter 17

Don't you just love when a chapter lays out its theme in the first paragraph? I sure do. Makes summarising very easy. However, we do suggest at least some booze on hand for this particular one; it gets... odd.

Meddling Azathanai, pride & innocence, childhood & grief, all entwine to give us what is arguably the most bizzarre chapter of Fall of Light thus far. Wreneck continues to be the MVP, while Rake, ah, well, "if it isn't the consequences of my actions."

Furthermore, Draconus' authority gets further undermined - because of course, poor bastard can't catch a break - at the hands of both his master-at-arms, and his ex. And a few more innocents are caught in the crossfire.

Even so, Rake's a dumbass - sorry not sorry - though he is learning that his actions often have consequences.

If you, too, are a connoisseur of the finest character work and recognize Wreneck & Prok's supremacy, reach out to us; we'd love to talk: smileyspodcast@gmail.com Would you prefer YouTube? https://youtu.be/9OAIlWNcbpY Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley Wanna buy us a drink? https://ko-fi.com/smileys

Fall of Light Chapter 16

[Spoilers for Kushiel's Dart, the Book of the New Sun (mild at best), the Malazan Book of the Fallen, and Forge of Darkness] Perhaps a bit of an unorthodox question, but one I feel is worth asking: Why is Kaminsod, what is his narrative significance, and why is he portrayed in the manner that he is ? At least as far as his [Redacted because of spoilers.] I'm contrasting Kaminsod to a few other unreliable narrators throughout books I've heard of & read about - Blind Gallan (Kharkanas), Phedre no Delaunay (Kushiel's Legacy), Severian (Book of the New Sun), Latro (Soldier of the Mist) - to find similarities, and differences. This is not the end - of course - but perhaps a Part One to an impending conversation on Kaminsod's narrative aspects. For more on how exactly Kaminsod recontextualizes the Book of the Fallen, I can wholeheartedly endorse AP's videos on the subject: (on that note, get well AP!) https://youtu.be/d5ZqQxIaWIc?si=O5KIOd_rsNxPKQkF At least a partial measure of credit goes to Niflrog whose ideas I've probably leeched from by osmosis: https://youtu.be/L0qjIDcZK-I?si=ZTJukViGRCiJZ3af And our socials: Reach out to us - we promise we're reliable narrators with no ulterior motives: smileyspodcast@gmail.com Would you prefer my ruggedly handsome looks? https://youtu.be/bljlZwKPRjA

Want schedule updates? https://twitter.com/podcast_smiley Wanna buy us a drink? https://ko-fi.com/smileys

Smiley's After Hours - Why is Kaminsod?

A podcast meant for semi serious conversations on all things Malazan (and an occasional non-Malazan topic). The world of Malazan is a fictional one created by authors, friends and anthropologists, Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont. They have published more than 2 dozen critically acclaimed, fan favourite books set in this universe. We, the hosts Lee and Mora, are avid fans of the series and this podcast is but a peek into the many conversations we have about this fascinating topic.

Smiley's Podcast