Sunday, July 05, 2009

Vikings? This Far Up?

There now follow a few apologies.

I apologise for the fact that many people have been saying “where the blinking flip is Blood Pact?” Also, I apologise that the promised follow-up YouTube interviews with me have yet to materialise. Oh, and that I haven’t blogged in a dog’s age. And also, that I went to Canada and never thanked the Canadians.

There’s really no excuse for any of this, but here’s one anyway.

I’ve been busy. I have been busier, by quite a margin, than I ever anticipated being in this particular part of 2009. I have been really fething busy. I’m not complaining, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but - oh my god! - it hasn’t left any time for the basics, like blogging, or keeping up with Facebook, or doing informal YouTube interviews, or speaking to other members of the household, or remembering to wash. Oh, and apparently Michael Jackson died. Who knew?

I can’t promise that this is me getting back on track, but a blog here, and Facebook there and maybe, in the next week or so, a few interview-casts, and we might be up to speed.

For the time being.

Blood Pact is done, and I’m really pleased with it. It’s nothing like Only In Death, but that’s the point. If Only In Death is a big climactic last stand, then Blood Pact is a far more valedictory event. With added tight, crunching, blood-soaked action. It’s much more like an espionage novel, The Khorne Identity, if you will. It’s very character-driven, and, if you’re a long time Ghost reader, I think you’ll get a kick out of seeing favourite characters in unfamiliar or unusual roles.

Now, Canada. Thank you, Canada. Thank you for having me. It was brief, but it was great. It was a total blast. I met a large number of very nice people, who seemed genuinely pleased to meet me and talk to me. I signed a lot of books. It was a three-Sharpie Games Day. I think that says it all. And you’ve got to love a country that brews great beer, serves humus and crudities at a Games Day, and uses as an ad-line for its national carrier “ninety-five percent of fatalities on Canada’s roads are caused by moose: aren’t you glad you’re flying?” Thank you, Canada. I look forward to coming back. I hope my next Games Day trip is as enjoyable. (Germany, in August... They’re not going to have any trouble with the ‘great beer’ part at least, are they?).

Just a thought: I wonder if there are any statistics for the percentage of air-crash fatalities in Canada that are caused by moose. I mean, you’d want diagrams, wouldn’t you?

So, now, as the temperature pushes into the thirties, the cats are flaked out like discarded draught-excluders wishing their fur coats were un-zippable, and Roddick and Federer fight it out to the bitter end, I’m girding my loins for the next big project. Yes, folks, it’s Prospero Burns (Mongomery’s less-well known brother).

Stop me if you’ve heard this, but, originally, I was going to tackle the Thousand Sons side of the deal, and Graham was going to handle the Space Wolves. The reason for this - and I really do understand that the following revelation is such a heretical statement that Eisenhorn might have to come and shoot me through the lungs - is that I don’t really like Space Wolves.

All right. Stop yelling. Stop it. Stop. I KNOW, okay? I know. Let me explain. I think the Space Wolves are great. They are a great, vivid, visceral element of 40K, great to play, great to collect. But for use in fiction they are, to me, too on the nose. They too obviously resemble the source of their inspiration. Think of it this way: I could write a novel about a chapter of space marines, who originated on a tough, unforgiving world of high plains and grassy savannahs. The chief way of life was as drovers, driving the million-animal herds of gigantic, and often very dangerous, grox across continents. This work bred men who were tough, weather-beaten and wily, relentless, dogmatic, reflective, but mercurially fast. They evolved quick wits and cunning, and quick reflexes, but they could also sit in the saddle for days, biding their time. They were almost empathically connected to their loyal steeds. They knew how to chase, hunt, defend the herd, bring down a big bull. And the very toughest and most promising of these drovers were selected by the mysterious warriors, who lived in their isolated fort on the isolated mountain, to be inducted into their ancient order of space marines.

Sounds pretty reasonable, doesn’t it? Sounds like a decent basis for a chapter, right?

Now what if I said the chapter was called the Six Shooters? And that their armour design included chaps, a bandana and a ten gallon hat? Oh, and spurs? And they were famous for their trademark ‘two-bolt-gun’ holsters?

You see what I mean?

The inspiration is fine. The Thousand Sons are Aztecs. The Blood Angels are goth vampires. The Imperial Fists are Romans. The White Scars are a mongol horde. The Iron Hands are robots. The Ultramarines (and, hell yeah, the Iron Snakes) are Greeks. The fact is that all of them have taken the point of inspiration and run with it. They’ve put the background idea through some kind of creative filter to make it both richer and less obvious. But the Space Wolves are exactly what they appear to be, with no filter and no remove, which makes them giant fun on the gaming table, and a giant pain in the arse in a novel.

So anyway... I finally suggested to Graham that I should take the Space Wolves, because it would force me to find a way into them. I’ve already seen the work he’s doing on the Sons, and, oh my god, it’s mouth-watering. His book, which will be called A Thousands Sons (one of those instances where the legion name is so good, you don’t need to invent a better book title), is going to be packed with great ideas. We’re knocking stuff back and forth, and a momentum is building. For my part, I’m filling my workspace with all things Norse and Viking, and Icelandic and barbarian. You wouldn’t believe the sources I’m going to. I want the Space Wolves to be ABSOLUTELY the Space Wolves all of you out there love, AND YET something you’re not expecting; something that’s gone through a filter; something that makes you all go “Christ in a longboat! I have never thought of them like that!”

Tomorrow, I may buy a bearded axe. If not tomorrow, then sometime this week. I kid you not. Sometimes, physically handling a key prop is the best way to unlock an idea. And I’ve already checked that the Rochester Armoury (that fine institution that, long time readers may remember, sold me a pilum on Good Friday), has something Danish and two-handed in my size.

More on the subject of axes and space vikings in coming weeks, I’m sure. In the meantime, I’m writing a David Tennant, Dr Who adventure for BBC Audio (all kinds of fun!), and the War Of Kings cosmic event for Marvel is getting serious praise. Other than that, it’s very warm and very quiet. I think the Hussar may have evaporated in the heat or taken to apporting in the cupboard under the stairs, where it’s dark and cool.

Oh, Federer just won. Longest men’s singles final in Wimbledubblybum history: fact.

Finally, some recommendations. The new album from White Denim is simply brilliant. The true crime book The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston is fascinating and unbearably gripping, and I recommend it to anyone who’s ever enjoyed anything with Hannibal Lector in it. The film Role Models, while in no way perfect, really REALLY tickled my funny bone. I guess that says a lot about my adolescent mind-set, though it also says a lot about my nerd-hood too. Role Models is surprisingly warm and celebratory of the concept of larping.

Forty years ago this month, America put a man on the moon. I remember it, though it didn’t seem a big deal at the time (I was four, after all). It was such a big deal. If you haven’t already been moved or inspired by the anniversary documentaries or books or articles, then go and buy a book like Moon Shot or A Man On The Moon, and stun yourself silly with details that are funny, strange, unexpected, intrepid and often insane. Remind yourself what it actually meant. For example, NASA didn’t think to fit an outside door handle on the hatch of the lunar module. If Buzz Aldrin had pulled the hatch shut behind him when he bounced down to follow Armstrong onto the surface, they wouldn’t have been able to get back in... at all... and history would have commemorated an altogether different, and more harrowing, story.

Buzz Aldrin was called Buzz because his little sisters, when they were kids, couldn’t pronounce the word ‘brother’. They said ‘buzzer’. “To infinity and beyond!” is a wonderful aspiration. “To infinity and then back home again alive!” is rather more rational.

68 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank zing - the tennis is over and done with for another year.
You know, the Space Wolves aren't just vikings in space - they are are viking werewolves in space!
Long canines, super sharp predatory senses even for a space marine, much too much in the body hair stakes and so on.
Just my(ever so humble) thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah - howling their dead to the Emperor's side - a bit like the Klingons in Star Trek, dont forget that.

frieslander said...

Hi,
Long time reader, first time commenter.
Firstly, after the new life you breathed into Chaos, in Traitor General, I believe that anything you do to the new/old space wolves would work well. After the twist in Legion I can't wait to see what your going to do with them.
Secondly, You Tube question: would you bring back Milo and Sabbat at any point, or are you don with them now?

Christopher Meyer said...

Excellent! But I thought Thousand Suns were Egyptian, hence the hat-thingies.

Anyway, can't wait for blood pact! Although, at some point, the Ghosts need to find a home. Seriously. Until then, Praise the Emperor and Pass the ammunition!

And would love to see someone else write space wolves. Sorry...the tales of Ragnar are a bit dull...

BUT! Great idea for a chapter :D hunter/herders. Unless ofcoarse this is already a chapter. But it gives me ideas for fan fiction.

Can't wait to see more from the Mind-of-Abnett :)

sredni vashtar said...

i strongly recommend Robert Calvert's Lucky Lief & the Longships for a less obvious form of inspiration

RasmusF said...

Since their ridiculous stats/point in 2ed i hate Space Wolves with a passion. Please have Ragnar Blackmane taken out and shot several times. I doubt that will be enough, but at least give it a try.

The way they were designed they were the equal of every other army in all areas and usually superior in at least one. Even if up against other marines they would, at no cost, be completely dominant in close quarters. Their most junior marines were the better of millenia old World Eaters.

Story-wise it also bugged me that the Space Wolves never showed something like a flaw. They were heroes through and through, and their biggest failing was their inability to stop punching the Emperor's enemies to a pulp. Sure they like to drink, but there are no massacres of civilians, traitors or horrible mutations in their background.

Zero weaknesses and zero flaws. To top that off they seemed much more like the silly sort of viking, with horns on his helmet, than anyone out of Njal's Saga or Norse legend. The brooding and sense of doom were mostly left out, which really is what the sagas were all about. Going raiding, fighting and swigging mead is secondary to that.

Imo making them more "genuine" and less stereotypical would make the chapter a lot more interesting. Complex, brooding warriors that pop out a terse one-liner before dropping dead are a lot more fun than some faux Conan that can't shut about how his axe thirts for blood.

Boom said...

The Space Wolves are personally my favorite chapter. Not because they're werewolves or vikings or both...but because of the links of brotherhood that are displayed which seem way stronger than any other chapter. Also the stories that are told by the "old timers" about Russ are just hilarious. I mean the fact that Russ would get so drunk that he would just chuck the Spear of Russ leagues away into the forest because he was smashed, pissed, shloshed(whatever drunk term you prefer) is awesome. Who other than Russ would be so drunk all the time that he was constantly losing the current(40k) Space Wolves most precious artifact? And the idea that his wolf brothers would hate the damn thing because they had to go and retrieve it all the time...I mean that is just too good.

While they seem somewhat what one dimensional on the surface, they have much more going on. I think you're on the right track Dan. Get into the culture of the Sons of Fenris and you could have one of the most compelling (and possibly funny) books of the HH series. I will be looking forward to any and all updates on it for sure. And bravo for finishing Blood Pact! Any idea on when the BL will be putting up a preview?

Unknown said...

Blood pact. So. Excited.

I just read One flew over the cukoos nest. Thats is one bloody strange book!

Rory

Unknown said...

RasmusF: Yeah, the heroes through and through bit is something I liked, and disliked, about the Space Wolves. On the one hand, in today's world where true, actual heroes are so vicarious, undaunted heroes like the Space Wolves are great to read about. Unswerving loyalty, uncorruptable, and the tightest bonds of brotherhood, short of the Spartan way (ew). On the other hand, it does leave one wanting. After reading so much good, you do want a bit of reality, those chapters that have the "normal" space marine problems of unfettered rage, traitors, and infighting.
On a side note, there IS a story in "Heroes of the Space Marines" where they mention a rogue-Space Wolf.

Blitzspear said...

I've never been a fan of the space wolves so this may finally make me like them. I think Mike Lee did a good job with them for Wolf at the Door as far as a short can go and using the name Bulveye as the leader of the 13th company made me chuckle. Oh and if anyone needs to know this for a pass word one day Odins pig is called Sarimnar and Frayr's is called Gullinbursti ;)

blitz

Big said...

Rasmusf- jealousy gets you no where
Dont hate ....just appreciate!

Dan- Wow........How do i begin!
Personally i think the background is so rich you may be slightly intimidated or not no where to start ! So why bother.......
Not as dumb as it sounds, we all know their based on the Northen European tribes so why concentrate on it!?!
Their so many other things that need attention the last thing we need is another drunken s.w.story!
Their are a zillion other concerns in this story from relaitionships with their terran brethren, their flaw and how they handle it, the competetiveness between wolf lords russ, the invasion etc etc.I mean youve been given 30k wolves bad ass and raw, savage proffesionals the magnitude astounds me!
Their "Magnificent" Viking culture shouldnt really be a problem because everyone else harps on about it and has been there Dan Abnett dosnt need to Let Russ take his place in a "Horus Heresy" book
leave the 40k cartoons behind let the sheer horror of the flaw be exposed unleash the real terror legion, dark, brooding immensely powerfull ,cursed by a genetic flaw that'll tear your fuckin head off man!
So as a massive Space Wolf fan
you dont have to write about vikings in space not at all in fact i would stay away from it ,its all been done before!
whats more scary than your average 7ft Killing machine
An 8ft one that turns into a monster so much more than vikings in space! no gimicks, no nonsense for the kiddies
real horror !

RasmusF said...

"Unswerving loyalty, uncorruptable, and the tightest bonds of brotherhood, short of the Spartan way (ew)."

I envision the Space Bears having an intense, but affectionate, rivalry with the Space, erh, Twinks. And then there's the Sisterhood of the Emperor's Scissors...

Suddenly I gained a deeper understanding of why there's absolutely no mention of the love life of Space Marines.

Seriously though, I would love it if the dialogue turned more towards something like Slaine would say. That's a lot more Viking like than talk about quaffing mead.

As for flaws, chronic drinking combined with a strict honor code for extracting bloody vengeance shouldn't make it too hard to set up some intra chapter bloodshed.

Big, part of the problem is that the Space Wolf Vikingness has the same relationship to the Norse as a conception of Jesus that beat up Satan and delivers presents to all the world's children every Christmas has to Christianity. Which is a pity, considering how cool the actual sources are.

sredni vashtar said...

oh pshaw there are plenty of traitor Space Wolves / Wolf Brothers mentioned in former CSM codexes and so on. also bear in mind that the SWs are intensely clannish and competitive amongst themselves; individual Great Companies can (and have) come to blows over real or perceived matters of honour and prestige. y'all seem to be filtering the SW image through some kind of rose-tinted prism (except Big, who has the right idea).

Pack_master said...

"Tomorrow, I may buy a bearded axe. If not tomorrow, then sometime this week."

Wheee! Does the Rochester Armory deliver to germany? ;)


And even if you don't like Space Wolves that much: I see your dedication there, and you're swapping ideas with Graham, so it only can be great! Both novels!

Xhalax said...

How come Ban can remember the statistic probability of getting some of the higher hands in the game but not the basic combination heiarchy and the correct amounts of his cards?

SSG Snuffy said...

I hope that Bjorn the Fell-handed makes an appearance.

Pack_master said...

Oh, he has to. He was still a cup, uhm, a bloodclaw then, but involved quite a bit (see the Collected Visions, short story there with him and the Custodes CiC).

cor said...

cant wait for the space wolf horus heresy book, when i used to play 40k they were my favourite army so full of character and a rich background tbhat i cant wait for you to expand on. Wolf at the door was a great little short story that left me wanting more 30k wolves so lets hope were not waiting too long :)

And role models is a brilliant film i wasnt expecting much when i saw it but the larping scenes are great especially the line 'i should never have started feeding the elves'

Rik said...

First time I've really come across, and read, Dan Abnett's blog.

Focusing on the section about the Horus Heresy novels, I think this pair up is much better. Dan's action packed style, bringing the true grit and horror of war to life will suit the Space Wolves absaloutely perfectly. And my colleagues in Games Workshop all agree that Graham McNeill must have something seriously mentally wrong with him, and as a result his more unhinged storylines will fit the Thousand Sons to an absaloute tee! Both of these upcoming novels are promising to be amazing books! I can't wait!

TheNuttyBuckeye said...

"Hell Yeah...The Iron Snakes"!!! Who cares about Vikings in space? When do we get more on the Sons of Ithaka?

I actually do care about Vikings in space. I think these two books are going to be an amazing fit to the Horus Heresy collection.

I just really want more Iron Snakes material.

Keep up the fantastic work.

Anonymous said...

I hope he doesn't kill the wolves. I loved the wolves from the ,oment i saw them years ago, and they are what got me into 40k. If mr.Abnett slaughter their fluff for a story i will never buy another of his books again.

Andrew said...

An Interesting comment about NASA, since it was mentioned that they forgot a door handle. Did you know that when the first astronauts went into space they discovered that the Biro Ink Pens they were using would not work under zero gravity conditions. To beat the problem NASA spent 6 years and $2 millon in designing a pen for use in space. The pen would work in zero gravity due to the preasurized ink inside, it would work in sub zero conditions, underwater, on glass and any known surface known to man.

The Russians used a pencil.

As to the Space Wolves, I have to say I am looking forward to reading Dan's take on them. I alwasy saw them as a bit xenophobic and grim to outsiders. Just like the real Vikings. Ready to take chances that would just as likly explode in their faces as prove them champions.

As for Faults...The inability to stop punching is a fault, especially when you are just as willing to punch your allies as your enemies...things get real lonely pretty soon. And together with the very real chance of turning into a slavering animal upon having the geneseed implanted...remember the lost company 13, they have faults aplenty. But they also have spice. more character then most other marines. Less starch than ultramarines, less prim than blood angels. There is something truly visceral about the sons of Russ. I mean who can fault a chapter whos Patriarch kept throwing away his favorite spear because he got drunk and was trying to shoot down the moon.

Gruff, xenophobic, ready to tear each other apart if not for the pack leader. You just have to love the Space wolves. Or fear them.

HiWayRobry said...

But Andrew, what if someone forgot to bring a pencil sharpener? :)

Big said...

I remeber having a chat with Dan about the perception of a normal human thinking that all Space Marines look alike....he wont have that problem with Wolves lol
You can imagine the Terran Wolves seeing the Change to Wulfen as a curse,a burden if you will...till they find Russ who tells them to embrace it as a gift and teaches them how to use it!
I would like to read more about duality of the Wolves ..Noble and spiritual but having to queit the beast inside.I belive this is why they feel so strongly about your average human ,its like their protecting the last vestiges of their own humanity but also why they see other Marines as a challenge, a sort of Alpha male thing i suppose. I mean they cant be pyhsically corrupted due to the Canis Helix but their constant fight against mental corruption must take its toll.One thing that always intrgued me was how the Helix affected their culture and how that was percieved by other Marines? i mean think about it , not even the Blood Angels have turned yet...their carrying this burden alone.I think the reason Why Russ loved the Emperor so much
was because he didnt see it as a curse but a blessing from the Emperor,a special gift for him and his Legion that he would use to do the Emperors bidding.
Do you think he created them as the last line ..the loyal lap dogs..the anti Marine..Marine? He definately had something on his mind when he made Russ.Different, Original, Disturbing even his sheer prsence mustve been unsettling to his brothers.
Was he original? were the missing Chapters some breed of Wolf that wouldnt heel and unlike Russ ,i mean are the Luna Wolves not a watered down version of the Wolves we know?
Golden eyes and a fascination with the Moon...The Lupercal? mmmmmmmm
The possibilitys are endless .
Not one mention of Vikings in Space!
Fenrisian culture is what it is
and is certainly not any less than Greek or Roman or Mongol.

cor said...

after that last post i vote we get black library to let Big right a space wolves book ;)

Elenaria Cúthalion ni Aesin said...

As long as there are no horns on helmets there can be no going wrong.
But I suppose I never saw them as too much of Vikings, mainly because my view of Vikings is quite different, since I'm an archaeologist. Do try the Oxford whateveritsnameis History of Vikings, and Peter Sawyer's rather light read "The Viking World", if you have any need of material to go indepth. But then again... giving advice to an experience writer is a bit stupid, anyway.
The Sons of Russ are such charming gits, I don't care if others will like the book or no, I am sure to be reading it with much joy anyway!

Big said...

Cor -if only i was a wordsmith!
i have so many ideas its untrue

Anonymous said...

Hi Dan,

When you do the Eisenhorn short stories, will there be one about Zeph Mathuin?

He was a great charater, not fully formed and something left unsaid about him. Thats why I liked him.

Cheers

Tom

Unknown said...

Hello Mr Abnett,

Would you be kind enough to use the 'Followers' widget on your blog so that your adoring (and axe wielding) fans can follow you properly using the Google community tools?

Many thanks
-Adam

Anonymous said...

HERESY !!!!

Thousand Sons are Egyptians !!!

Unknown said...

Sorry to change the topic but I'd like to bring to the attention, something we have mentioned a few times on the blog and im pretty sure Dan himself likes, Band of Brothers 2: The Pacific.

I found this the other day and I'm pretty sure you guys will like.

http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/24/hbos-the-pacific-trailer-band-of-brothers-2/

I dont think they're calling it band of brothers 2 but its got the same producers and i think, the same team working on it. :D


ENJOY!

Ahriman said...

"HERESY !!!!

Thousand Sons are Egyptians !!!"

QFT

xerxeshavelock said...

I find the most interesting part of the Heresy books to be character motivations. Lets hear why the Wolves don't trust the others, especially why they are keen to take out the 1K sons (were they?). How does the brotherhood of warriors mesh with hypnotic indoctrination, and how do you make a selfish boatboy care about the Emporors Great Crusade?

Unknown said...

@ Thousand Sons being Egyptian: Aztecs and Egyptians have a lot in common. For instance if I said:

'This culture was famed for its arcane practices, human sacrifice, monuments made from stone by slaves, massive military might used to oppress its neighbors, mastery of astronomy and engineering (relatively), and unusual pantheon of gods.' Who would I be talking about?

@Making the space wolves unique:

Why do people alway automatically attach viking to Space Wolves? They have just as must German Barbarian, Gallic Tribesmen, and Hun Raider in them as they do Viking. Personally, especially in such a setting as the Burning of Prospero, I think it would be appropriate to 'let the dogs out', if you will. Releasing all of those ancient and ingrained ancestral memories of the horrible barbarian hordes from the North would certainly put me on edge.

The chance to paint the Space Wolves in a genocidal and bloodthirsty light would not only be new and refreshing but contrary to the Twilight-esque werewolves with a conscience that they are portrayed as by the design studio (ex. Grimnar being upset with the Inquisition executing civilians).

This is just my opinion of course. But if Dan is looking at alternatives there are many other cultures to go from.

Big said...

Do you think Russ worries the Siggalite?, do you he could talk to Russ with the same compassion as he does to Dorn?.
How do the Custodes keep Russ in line?
Quote from "Snacth" Emperor
"Luv that boy, but he's a F**king liability ,see to it he does as he's told Errol"
Cpt Errol of the Custodes
"Yes Guvnor,but think..."
Emperor
"Shouldnt do to much of that if i were you Errol,might get you in trouble sweetheart.Nah then you tell that Lunatic of a son of mine if he dont behave himself theres a powerfist with name on it ,now F**k off"
Cpt Errol
"Yes Guvnor"
A cockney "Brick Top" Emperor is the way forward and as ever Cpt Errol the loyal lackey.....
just dont tell The Custodes i said that ok lol

Anonymous said...

"The chance to paint the Space Wolves in a genocidal and bloodthirsty light would not only be new and refreshing but contrary to the Twilight-esque werewolves with a conscience that they are portrayed as by the design studio (ex. Grimnar being upset with the Inquisition executing civilians)."

I love the way you put that.
The first war for Armageddon; the planet assaulted by the fell servants of Chaos led by none other than Angron, damned primarch and daemon-prince of Khorne.
The Space Wolves lead the defence, rallying the defenders of Armageddon to resist their horrific opponents.
And resist they do, winning a great victory, for which they are rewarded with a death sentence for contact with the tainted. Logan Grimnar is enraged at this betrayal of those who have fought and bled and died alongside the sons of Russ. A betrayal
perpetrated by those who were no where to be seen when the swords sang and the blood flowed.

Anonymous said...

You did a pretty good job writing the Space Wolves in the Lone Wolves comic. Just keep half the dialogue in Fenrisian!

cor said...

One of the key parts of the heresy stories always has been how the different space marine legions and there primarchs interact its why i liked fulgrim so much the interaction between the iron hands and the emporers children and fulgrim and ferrus manus were expertly done and im sure Dan will do the same with the Wolves and the other legions specifically the thousand sons.

Oh and im loving the idea of a cockney emporer ;)

‘you were only suppose to blow the bloody void shields off’

Anonymous said...

okay, this is out of context just so everyone knows.

I've not been reding the blog for close on a year now so I'm a bit out of the loop. And I've just been checking round on the web for the sequel of double eagle, I remember asking here on the blog once and I was tolt it was in the works and that it was to be named "interceptor city". just wondering what's happening there, I have been loking forward to it for a damn long time now:)

//Toobad

Big said...

Cor- hahahaha
Imperial Commander..." I'm sorry Emperor ,i have failed you"

Emperor.."Your no good to me alive are you sweetheart..Feed him to the pigs Errol"

Rob Rath said...

Rory-

Thanks for the link. I've been waiting for this series for a long time. For years I've been frustrated with my generation for taking their entire impression of the War from BoB and Saving Private Ryan, thus walking away with the impression that D-Day was all there was to the American experience in WWII. Maybe this'll turn some heads.

Though it's a shame they're not doing the Battle of Saipan... I've been waiting years for someone to come along, make a good movie about that battle, and undo all of John Woo's damage from Windtalkers.

Unknown said...

Ahh, the Pacific Theater. Where everyday was D-Day!

Andy said...

So, why did you say Aztec instead of Egyptian?

Big said...

Bring on Blood Pact
ARRRGGGHHHHH
cant.. wait.. anymore.. gonna.. freak... out....
skin turning green
RAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH..lol

Anonymous said...

White Denim? Hmmmmm...
Me thinks a shake, shake, shake is in order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eYwkkujr5Y

Tom

xerxeshavelock said...

Slaves to passion I can see, revenge and anger, sure, competitiveness etc. I guess if they're the most human of the Marines that has both good and bad sides. Endurance could be a good one since their trials are pretty hardcore.

Do they have a reason to hate the Thousand Islanders? They don't like magic, but why? If the Librarian program was shut down, where does that leave the Rune Priests?

I like Big's comment about making this a horror. Not sure about the Werewolf thing, but maybe Jekyll and Hyde? Maybe all the nice-guy stuff happened by 40K, but back in 30K they were really mean. It'd be nice to see 10,000 years actually changing something for a change.

How did they get to be vikings on Fenris? What happened to the original colonists? All these things are glossed over, maybe its time for some answers.

Oh, please stay away from the fantasy Dwarf parallels as they use some Viking references too - the last thing I want to read about is the Book of Grudges in space! ;0)

RasmusF said...

I too would like to express my support for a cockney gangster emperor.

preferably one with vast pig farms.

Big said...

Xerxes- I like the whole duality thing but for them it is down to the fact their werewolves, not much anyone can do about that one.
Why do Russ and the Wolves hate the Sons?
Well apart from Magnus being the biggest Primarch,hence a threat to Russ's claim he is the strongest,
is the fact that one of the bonuses of Canis Helix
(the cornerstone of the wolves unique genetic make up)is that it is a natural defence aginst chaos/chaos mutation....the Sons up to this point have been Magic/Warp users which sets of something in the Wolve's behaviour.No Wolf has ever fallen to Chaos through mutation...only ever because it suited them hahaha.
I would love to be a fly on the wall listening Dorn or Roboute asking the Emperor what he was thinking when he created the Wolves?!
Whats the science behind them?
The Phonicien, Sanguinius ,Roboute
are all "perfect".....Russ?
Horror... i think it would be refreshing to see the realitys of fighting the Wolves would be somewhat different to fighting the Ultramarines .

A Booger said...

Make the Space Wolves have a terrible secret...the chapter Primarch was never Leman Russ...it was Barry Bonds.

Rob Rath said...

Booger-

That would explain the 'roid rage that seems to take the Wolves over from time to time.

"Greetings, Imperial allies, I am Bjorn, and have come to your planet bringing gifts as a gesture..." (Blinks heavily.) "Er... as a gesture of... unnnnngggh! SOCKS TOO ITCHY! ITCHY SOCKS MEAN BJORN MUST KILL!!!"

Unknown said...

Story-wise it also bugged me that the Space Wolves never showed something like a flaw. They were heroes through and through, and their biggest failing was their inability to stop punching the Emperor's enemies to a pulp. Sure they like to drink, but there are no massacres of civilians, traitors or horrible mutations in their background.


CAnt remember who posted it right now but the space wolves are flawed if you ever read the background, They grow large canines and have been know to mutate into Wulfen (13th company anyone please research before commenting on a chapter you know little about

big said...

Fourtunatly for us that the only downside (or Upside) to the Canis Helix is....Lycanthropy .
The Closer a Wolf is to Chaos the stronger the effects of the gene become, making him more and more savage,eventually turning him into Wulfen ...but not some tentacled chaos freak .The Helix is so strong it will bring forth the Wulfen as a defence but also protects him from Warp spawned corruption!
Its also probably the reason why they hate the Sons!
was this the Cause of a massacre on Prospero?!

Xhalax said...

*****Only In Death spoiler ahead*****




Mr. Abnett have you given Gaunt one of the Nine Holy Wounds when he lost his eyes?

I ask as this morning I was listening to the Traitor General soundtrack and in track 3 (Nine Wounds) it mentions that Sabbat had her "sight taken", much like Gaunt has. So I wondered if the descriptions in the track were accurate to what Sabbat suffered and if there was any coincidence (outside of Vambs of course) or if you're dealing out the nine wounds to the Ghosts as a group.

Guess it all comes down to the accuracy of the lyrics in the end since I can't seem to find anything else on how Sabbat was martyred.

Kromvolt said...

With regard to the wolves, I think the first book by William King got across the first and best feel of SW so far. The novels after King are fit for the fireplace (imo)

I think we can trust Mr. Abnett to come up with something good, I mean look at Legion, now that’s a story!

So in short i am not worried about his portrayal of the 30k space wolves, furthermore I applaud Mr. Abnett for not taking the easy way! Looking forward to the next installments of HH

But first up Blood Pact, just reread the first 6 Gaunt novels, so I should be prepared in time for Blood Pact!

Keep it up Mr Abnett

Mark Roberts said...

Hi Dan,

Unrelated to the post, but you know that Paul Cornell had brought back Death's Head II for a cameo in the final issue of Captain Britain & MI13?

Anonymous said...

There is one side of the story you really dont see and that is the psychic side. Sure you get to be told about them but what challenges are there if you are handling the beast, psychic and clan mentality especially as a initiate?

Big said...

Double happy with Fallen Angels..i know its not one of Dans books but it has reinvigorated the Horus Heresy series ...the race is now back on!

lordy said...

Aye, Fallen Angels was far better than Descent.

Ironically, as Jonson becomes more of a traitor, I'm actually starting to like him more, cynical callous bastard that he is.

cor said...

fallen angels was a brilliant book and glad we finally got a sequel to decent loved the ending with perturabo and jonson.

cor said...

just pre ordered triumff off play

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/11061268/Triumff/Product.html?add=11061268

know its ages away but i cant wait for this book its always good to take a break from the warhammer / 40k universe and cant wait too see what come sout of your mind when given unlimited free reign as it were.
I was also wondering if you Dan or anyone else who reads this blog has seen the watchmen film and if so what they thought?, i went to see it in the cinema and thought it was a great film maybe a bit slow in places but given the epicness of the original graphic novel this is understandable got it on dvd the other way and since watching it my opinion is the same if not better i cant understand some of the people who slated it in reviews.

Anonymous said...

Sorry guys, but dont you think that blood pact brigades is not the challenge anymore for the Ghosts?
I think its time for the presentation by the Sons of Sek, loxatl and CSM. Mister Abnett what about Interceptor city?

cor said...

The Ravenor omnibus just came through my door so bloody tempting put off reading them to wait for an omnibus but currently making my way through Gotrek and Felix the third omnibus and currently trying to update and send of my CV ah so many distractions :(

Anonymous said...

I want to apologies from the begining, but...
Mister Abnett i beg you dont tell me that you dont have Chaos Space Marines and loxatls in Blood Pact!
Where are the real challenge? The blood pact troopers are so dead when they meet the Ghosts, that at least at Armour of Contempt and Only in death i dont feel any real danger for the ghosts. Or and what about the personalities of the enemy. At the last 3 books the enemy has no face. We have no fellings for chaosits, they are weak and pathetic! Make another Saggitar Slaith, show us Anakwanar Sek, Word bearers Dark Apostle, loxatl brood command, something!
Do something before we dont slip from the Tanith serie.

Or at least show us Double eagle 2 - Interceptor city!

Anonymous said...

And again
I want to apologies from the begining, but...
Mister Abnett i beg you dont tell me that you dont have Chaos Space Marines and loxatls in Blood Pact!
Where are the real challenge? The blood pact troopers are so dead when they meet the Ghosts, that at least at Armour of Contempt and Only in death i dont feel any real danger for the ghosts. Or and what about the personalities of the enemy. At the last 3 books the enemy has no face. We have no fellings for chaosits, they are weak and pathetic! Make another Saggitar Slaith, show us Anakwanar Sek, Word bearers Dark Apostle, loxatl brood command, something!
Do something before we dont slip from the Tanith serie.

Or at least show us Double eagle 2 - Interceptor city!

Anonymous said...

Mister Abnett can you write a little answer to my question: Do you have the CSM, or loxatl or Stalk tanks in Blood Pact and what happening to the Interceptor city?

My mail anakwanar@mail.ru
Please?

Orpheus said...

Heya. I cant believe that being a fan for as long as I have been to not have thought to look you up on the internet. I feel old and out of touch :p

I just wanted to thank you yet again for coming out to see us in Toronto. I had a real blast meeting you, you must have thought I was high or something 'cause I couldn't keep the stupid grin off my face...

Aaaanyway. Would you believe I was inspired by your "Six Shooters" remark? Well, I was. I just have to think of which iconic western character to base the captain on....

Dwaynexfcp said...

Xerxes- I like the whole duality thing but for them it is down to the fact their werewolves, not much anyone can do about that one. Why do Russ and the Wolves hate the Sons? Well apart from Magnus being the biggest Primarch,hence a threat to Russ's claim he is the strongest, is the fact that one of the bonuses of Canis Helix (the cornerstone of the wolves unique genetic make up)is that it is a natural defence aginst chaos/chaos mutation....the Sons up to this point have been Magic/Warp users which sets of something in the Wolve's behaviour.No Wolf has ever fallen to Chaos through mutation...only ever because it suited them hahaha. I would love to be a fly on the wall listening Dorn or Roboute asking the Emperor what he was thinking when he created the Wolves?! Whats the science behind them? The Phonicien, Sanguinius ,Roboute are all "perfect".....Russ? Horror... i think it would be refreshing to see the realitys of fighting the Wolves would be somewhat different to fighting the Ultramarines .

Anonymous said...

Another non-fan of the space wolves here. Please take them down twenty or so pegs, have them find out the hard way that bluster and drinking and backslapping and making noise won't win them battles, and that there's a reason for helmets. The mead hall frat boy fantasy of alcohol and guns should backfire spectacularly on at least one occasion.

I think that's the "way in" with these guys - burst their bubble of hubris and stereotype.