Saturday, August 18, 2007

This is just to say...

...thankyou to all the people who came along to the X-Fire chat this evening. My apologies to anybody who didn't get their question answered. You can always ask it again here. It was fairly frantic, and Nik was typing her fingers off. I enjoyed it, and I hope you did too.

I never met Mike Wieringo, but I always admired his work. He was one of the most distinctive pencillers in the comics industry, and we lost him far too young.

I did, however, know Phil Gascoigne. He drew some of the first scripts I ever wrote (Ghostbusters) and I've worked with him on and off for the last fifteen years. With Andy Lanning, we produced strips for Loaded, adapting Get Carter and Quadrophenia. He was one of the most professional freelancers its ever been my pleasure to work with.

Phil and Mike both died in the past week, which makes me very sad.

46 comments:

Unknown said...

The chat was great! I managed to bag another signed book, so I'm happy. From a chatter side of things, it was a lot less frantic than the last one, and I had a lot of fun!

Sorry to hear about Phil and Mike.. I shall have to check out some of their work.

Anonymous said...

I was out and about during this...does anyone have a transcript of the chat by any chance?

Unknown said...

I believe Xfire is going to put some Transcripts online.

And Dan.. Were you toying with us when you dropped that hint about the film? Much excitement erupted in the chat room.

Prospero's Manga said...

Did we get an update about his upcoming books? Especially any Phantine/Air ones?

Prospero's Manga said...

Never mind, found the transcript. No sign of them.

colonel tempest said...

i didn't get into our chat but got into thursdays chat with james patrick kelly. got me a signed book too xD

Pack_master said...

@ Tim: film? you mean, movie?

What the heck?

Gospog said...

I had not heard about Phil Gascoigne. That really stinks and I'm sorry.

Unknown said...

Hey yeah the chat was great (apart from someone stealing my name and making it look like I was asking pretty stupid question!) The transcript is up on Xfire. Thanks a lot Dan for answering one fo my questions at least! Also thanks for giving Xfire ten signed books, one of them should be heading my way soon. Also, any details you can drop in about this film then? It's intriguing to say the least....

Pack_master said...

Huh, I'm just absorbing the Xfire transcript. Found the movie mentioning, veeeeery interesting.

You know, Dan, you're going to have a really hard time from now on, because we're going to camp on your nerves with that statement? >:D

Anonymous said...

well at least someone got the post about the Triffids! (thanks Dan)
Did someone say film? where, when, what, why, and wow!
as for the persieds, Alpha legion insurgeny teams i say,using drop pods under the cover of an annual meteor shower.

Toymachine said...

Im back!

Yes, I was missing (momentarilly).

My excuse? There would be a universal temporal parradox if I commented any earlier than today.

*Puffs out chest in satisfied fashion*

My presonal and deepest appologies Dan, and also my deepest sympathies.





...Film? WHAT?

Anonymous said...

Defend the jam! Defend the jam ! Hussar! Hussar!

Anonymous said...

Just read the transcript from XFire, wish I'd been in that.

Movies you say? I'd love you even more.

The first of your books I ever read was Honour Guard (which I picked up for a car ride) and I burned through it faster than any other book. I've read it almost 20 times I think. One main reason I can keep comming back to it is because I found while reading it, I could see it play out. I could see the camera shots, hear what it would sound like, how the whole thing would be filmed to be exactly as it was in the novel. It was like a novel length screenplay for me. It was something different for someone like myself, who doesn't read a whole lot, and has always had a problem getting a solid mental image of what I'm reading.

Do keep us well updated with any info on a film!

You offered to answer any questions here, so I figured I'd take you up on the offer:
Was the "Shores of Marik" speech in His Last Command based on any specifc speech, or just your own imagination?

It's become a favourite thing to type out line for line by me and a friend when we're using the Tanith banners in Dawn of War, along with a good amount of Fury!

Anonymous said...

ive just read the transcript, used to be an editor of marvel UK? Did you ever get the chance to meet stan lee?

Movies, i like the sound of that, i reckon a Ravenor trilogy of movies would be really good.

Im hoping to start reading the Eisenhorn seiries a.s.a.p but my local book store is crappy, so i have to order everything and wait a few weeks for them to get it in.

After i started reading some of your stuff in school, alot of other people have asked to read your stuff. by far id have to say your my favourite writer.

Bodjo said...

So, I read the free sample pages of "Only In Death" on the black library website. Good work, as usual--I like that Baskevyl's getting face time--but I swear to god, if you killed Shoggy I'll...um...continue reading the book. But I won't be happy: my guinea pig's name is Shoggy.

And my condolences in regard to Phil and Mike. It's never fun to lose a friend.

Dan Abnett said...

John - the speech came out of my imagination.

Rory - I met Stan Lee in 1988, he was much shorter than me, and he had a very bad wig. But, he was still The Man.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reply! Novobazky really was a favourite of mine in the book, characters like him made the Belladon so easy to love as much as the others.

I read that preview for only in death last night, must say I was left mouth hanging open in a silent scream of "NO SHOGGY, NO!"

Anonymous said...

The extract was fantastic cant wait till i can read only in death. To be honest the most ominous thing in the extract was gaunt saying he didnt think the tanith would ever get there own world i hope they do its the least they desrve isnt it?

well i suppose your the only one who knows Dan :)

Anonymous said...

I think it's time to join this group of Abnett addicts. And if it's only because I've every CE edition of Dan's books. *g* Yeah, call me showoff, but when you read the best books in the World, it's a different thing, when they are bound in leather. :D

Ah yeah, Dan. I'll visiting GB in September for 3 Months, for language school. (I'm from switzerland) Soooo, tell me where you'll sing the next books, I'll come with a truck full of books. *g*

Pack_master said...

Aaah, dammit, the freak show continues.... Hello Marius...

Dan, this is the freak I old you of... the one so nuts to buy everything, that is called Limited or CollectorÄs Edition... ;)

Anonymous said...

Hiho Martin.

Did I hear Limited? Where? *g* I'll never miss one again... I've missed Horus Heresy collected visions CE... what a shame...

Anonymous said...

Wow. Stan lee eh? that musta been a big moment for you. meeting pretty much the God of marvel

colonel tempest said...

would you ever write about a catachan regiment?

i like cats

Jeff said...

I'm sorry for your loss, Phil Gascoigne was extremely talented. Mike Weiringo was one of my heroes (and one of the guys who got me in to illustration). The art world has taken an awful big hit.

Just finished Brothers of the Snake. My wife is reading it now. Ironically I was watching 300, and other Spartan stuff on The History Channel, and seeing a lot of ties. I commented to my wife that you must have seen 300, watched some history channel...and set about writing BotS.

I loved the book, and of course and now stripping my space marine figs and repainting them to Iron Snakes.

Dan Abnett said...

Jeff

Ironically, I wrote BotS about a yar before I saw 300. When I went to see the film, I thought "oh sod, now everyone will just assume I saw this and wrote the book".

Jeff said...

...and you're prescient too?!?

Nah, I figured as much. Books take time to write and get edited and then finally publish.

Still, it does certainly come to mind while watching 300, History Channel (especially when they talk about the "games" like capture the cheese, etc.

BotS is a fantastic novel. I'll be re-reading it as soon as my wife gets done with it. Thanks again Dan.

Bodjo said...

To be honest the most ominous thing in the extract was gaunt saying he didnt think the tanith would ever get there own world i hope they do its the least they desrve isnt it?

Not that I can actually answer Richard's question, of course, but the WH40k universe isn't exactly known for people getting what they deserve....unless you're talking about in a sinister way. If people what they deserved...well...who else thinks that Gaunt would probably be a better theater commander than Lugo, Dravere, or Sturm?

Oh yeah, not to be a broken record or anything, but losing Shoggy would be a serious blow to my Gaunt's Ghosts Mental Health. Domor always been on such an even keel, not one to get caught up in inter-regiment politics. Shame if he's dead.

Anyone else care to take a guess at who dies in Only In Death? :P Other than Gaunt, obviously. I'm guessing that Haller dies because I always think he's already dead for some reason...uh...he's not dead, right?

And Dorden is what, 158 years old, Dan? Isn't he almost eligible to become a Dreadnought or something?

Anonymous said...

lol I guess your right about people in the 40 k universe not getting what they want / deserve but I’ve always believed and hoped the ghosts that survive the series would get some sort of reward for their service to the emperor I mean they’ve already done things which seemed impossible so why couldn’t they achieve some sort of happy ending as it were.

Oh and I think Rawne could have a good chance of biting the bullet in the next book but then I’ve thought that every time I’ve started a new GG book so I am probably wrong again. Also given the extract it isn’t looking good for shoogy, I also thought Dorden’s speech from the extract didn’t bode well for his survival but maybe that’s just me looking into these things too much :)

Rob Rath said...

Speaking of character deaths. (And don't take this as a "you should write this" suggestion, Dan, I'm just thinking out loud.)

One gripe I've often had about 40k fiction (and historical fiction too) is that it always cuts out the enormous effects of camp disease. No one in 40k ever seems to die from illness, despite the fact that the Guard are packed in close quarters, given bad food, kept in unsanitary conditions, exposed to planets which have been biologically isolated, put in contact with alien entities with different microbiology...

Even discounting deliberate biological attacks, Guardsmen are a virologist's nightmare.

Now I know it's less dramatic for characters to die of disease, (Caffran dying from the flux is far less heart-wrenching than being shot by a kid) but I'd really like to see that addressed in a 40k novel somewhere. I think it could increase drama. After all, how do you defend the outpost with half the men on sick call?

Rob Rath said...

I'm sorry to hear about Phil and Mike as well, I'll check out their stuff.

My friend was bidding on e-bay for those Ghostbusters comics you wrote, by the way.

I don't think he won.

Pack_master said...

Dan, my face is frozen in happyness: The Inquisition arrived today, and your words are really really good!

Thanks a lot, again!

Rob Rath said...

Sorry to post so many comments BUT...

I think we found the Eye of Terror.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/08/24/universehole_spa.html?category=space&guid=20070824124530&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

Anonymous said...

Robert - followed your link!

ooooooooh!

Anonymous said...

Should try out the new Google Earth update.....all sorts of grooviness that actually exists in the photographed universe.

Pack_master said...

Uhm... examples maybe? I don't get your point... ;)

lordy said...

I just finished reading the latest Darkblade book, Lord of Ruin. I hope this isn't the last we see of Malus, and that he warrents a series of Book 2 (and 3, and 4 as well preferably) of the comic.

Anonymous said...

Lordy well said! Malus definataly needs to continue .Dan if ur reading will Malus continue?

Jeff said...

Well...not exactly Golden Daemon winning, but it's an Army in a Week (with my wife's assistance of course).

http://emperyan.blogspot.com/2007/08/iron-snakes-chapter-1750-points.html
Enjoy!

Thanks Dan for yet another wonderful book which has captured my mercurial interest and kept me coming back for more GW/ 40k Goodness.

Jeff

Unknown said...

I know this doesn't really cover it all so easily, but isn't it mentioned in one of the books that the troopers recieve shots for every new planet they go to, to help the body in dealing with the local common diseases and what have you?

Anonymous said...

Dan,

I just have to say that you have quickly become my favorite SciFi writer. A friend of mine turned me onto your Eisenhorn series and I have been hooked ever since. I am currently in the middle of Brothers of The Snake and I am just excited to turn every page! Keep 'em coming!

Rob Rath said...

John–

That's true, I think it was mentioned in one of the books... but also remember that shot regimens when liberally applied will create strains resistant to that particular cocktail of antibiotics.

Also, along with the unique planetary infections, there's the home-grown stuff that evolves in the pressure-cooker environment of the transport ships...

To all–

Anyone else see the eclipse? Very nice. This is turning into quite the astronomical blog lately.

Kampfhamster said...

I Just saw^... Games Day UK is coming! And I'm in the UK at that date! (Ok, I'm in theUK for 3 months so...) Ohhh, Dan then you can sing all my Collectors editions I've from ou (And of course the Inquisition).

My face is frozen in happyness!

Rory said...

Lucky Lucky guy, not just that youre going to be able to go to Games day, but that you have collectors Editions. i am Very Jealous... ¬.¬

Pack_master said...

Heh, without me he wouldn't even have noticed the GD thing^^

And he is not lucky. He simply has the money to afford it ;)

lordy said...

And the lack of sense required as well. That's very important.

I settle for just getting the standard editions when they come out. Otherwise I'd have to wait longer.