Friday, April 11, 2008

Thank Blog It's Friday

Ah, the weekend beckons. I love the smell of Saturday in the morning. It smells of... eggs benedict. And Doctor Who. A couple of Saurdays ago, I opened the review section of the Guardian, and was delighted to find, not only a favourable review of 'The Second Solaris Book of Science Fiction', but, one that picked my story out as one of the highlights. As Xhalax would say, 'Yay! Go me!' *dances*. I won't repeat the review verbatim here, unless somebody actually wants me to.

So, I'll tell you where I won't be next week. I won't be at the New York Comicon. However, my partner in crime, Andy Lanning, will be, along with my other partner in crime, Ian Edginton. If you're at the con, do go up and shake either gentleman warmly by the hand, and say, 'It's so great to meet you, I wish Dan was here.'

Bu-dum-bum! Tish!

Seriously folks, they're lovely gents, and I mean that most sincerely.

Ooh! I came over all Hughie Green then.

I'll tell you where I will be. Paris, that's where! Games Day Paris, my favourite event of the convention circuit. I'll be there to sign books, shake hands, misspell names, sit next to Graham McNeill, pretend I'm not mono-lingual, and ravage Fnak for books for Jess.

Speaking of Jess, she's the latest member of the household to be troubled by the hussar (ie, our resident phantom). This afternoon, she spent a good while looking for the kitchen scissors, including searching the utensil pot several times. When she turned her back, she heard a noise from the utensil pot, turned around, and discovered the scissors, literally poking out at her. Then, of course, there's the case of the missing jigger. God knows where that went, but I'm sure it's tucked in the hussar's back pocket, and will no doubt turn up, now that I've replaced it. Jess, of course, has developed a scissors phobia, which is also related to cutting rosemary, which is why she needed the scissors in the first place, and I fear I have years of therapy to pay for.

So, what's been happening up your end, Dan? Well, thank you for asking, clone 68. As I said to clone 19, not half an hour ago, it's been a pretty full week, what with writing 'Titanicus' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy', fending off rosemary scented hussars and shopping at Bluewater with Lily. My younger daughter can never make her mind up about anything, I think. I don't know, can she?

In my not so copious free time, I've been reading Lee Child (what a refreshingly straightforward and fantastic author he is). I've been watching NCIS (really good, old-fashioned entertainment. How cool is Pauley Perrette?) And, I've been listening to 'The Breeders' (I believe it's a grower, and so does Nik, and so do clones 16 thru 28).

In answer to the posts on the last blog, I would like to reassure Matthew (how are you Matthew?) that I have, indeed, checked the clone enclosure and there are signs that one of them might have skipped out and taken my IP with him. The little funt!

Xhalax - I'd love an extra day in the week too, but could it be a Saturday, please. I'd call it Clonesday, and I'd use it for gentle relaxation and cell division. By the way, Nik would love a black sheep, but don't put yourself out on our account. Hope your knees are fine.

Al - Welcome aboard, and thanks for the very nice comments.

Rory - I share your pain.

Madclaw - If I'd known it would take you that long to get a copy, I'd have sent you one myself. I hope Jack is doing well.

Toymachine - So here I am on my harpsichord fighting with Titanicus. Tinkle... tinkle... tinkle... thunk! Whap! Crunch! I hope you're enjoying the mental images.

Oscarp - They have suggested that I might write a Time of Legends book. I'm CONSIDERING it (smoothes down velvet smoking jacket and lights another cigarillo).

Xhalax - Let's just say, 'Big front', and leave it there. What's not to admire about a big front?

Anonymous - It's not a new cyberman. It's been there all the time. It just snuck up on you, like cybermen do.

Logarithm - The third Gaunt Omnibus is due out shortly.

Rob - I take your point, but as far as I'm concerned, I sound like me. Am I strange?

Nemesis749 - Well, that was the point.

Col.gravis - I could come to Devon. October/November time because that's when my niece is having her baby (in Plymouth). Just get someone in your local shop to put a call through to BL to ask me.

Logarithm - The Fold of the Gaur is probably what this blog should have been called in the first place. It may also become the name of a future Ghost book. Good job, fella.

Well, that's me for the now. The garden gate just squeaked again, and what are those? Are they scissors? Oddly, they smell of rosemary.

I'd better go. The hussar is about.

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

And please remember to turn off your set.

102 comments:

Rory said...

First Post! ZING!

I was in games workshop today, i feel scared to go in there now, because the guys that used to work in the gamesworkshop in edinburgh were awsome, i spent an hour debating how cool corbec was with one of the staff last time i was there. I walked in today, and because its not school holidays in edinburgh the staff decended upon me liek vultures, i was in the small book section, searching for Horus Heresy Novels when one came up, and kinda patronised me because i had read them all yet. i was a tad scared. and Being pissed that i couldnt find the book i wanted, they kinda kept at me, intent that i buy more and more Warhammer models. I have little money, and the books i love to death, but i have no time to build models anymore!

Ugh!

anyway, dan, when are you coming to scotland? :D

Xhalax said...

I can't say I have much love for Saturdays as I work 5 out of every 6.....damn job in retail, oh how I loathe it! The only good thing about it is 5pm when I KNOW that I don't have to go to work the next day....that and thae extra 10 minutes in bed I get in the morning because I can get the later bus to work.

And more people should say 'Yay! Go Me! and dance.....not enough people randomly dance these days in joy of their own brilliance!

And it's only taken me about a week and a half to knit up a sheep....the actual construction of it is proving to be a bit of a mystery though....even to my mum and she used to knit toys all the time when I was younger. So knocking another on up by September time shouldn't be that much of a push. Am considering giving this sheep my my friend for her birthday if I get it finished tonight (it's her birthday today but I won't see her til tomorrow when I take her to see Dancing on Ice).

And speaking of Nik and sheep....I dreamt about them both last night. I was trying to find someone to help me sew mine together when I found a load in various states of being complete....and they'd all been made by Nik, so I asked her to show me how to put them together.

Lamentably I woke up before I saw how to do it, so I'm still no further forward.

BOOOOOOOOOO!

And Ah! The joys of frontage....and being a girl gamer, the conversation of frontage is not lost.

And I gathered that was the reason.....but i shall say no more!

Everyone at the minute is sitting reading Gaunt's Ghost and I'm still wading my way through Heldenhammer and wishing I was sitting reading something more Imperial Guard. I'm not impressed....especially since the next 6 books I have to read are all Warhammer.....ok, make that 7 as I forgot that I still have my brother's copy of Fell Cargo.

Will it never end??!?!

Ok, I have to start work now.

BOOOOOOOOOO!

Dju said...

Couldn't steal first post, damn.
I'm probably the only person who will post from France, but I can't wait to see you at Games Day Paris. Yay! *jumps around like crazy*. That's FNAC, by the way.

Dju, enjoys his NCIS once in a while. And Breeders ? Are we talking Cannonball ?

Logarithm said...

Wow, Dan liked my prose :does random bad whiteboy dance: I am very flattered. Maybe you could appease the Hussar with an offering of Turkish delight? I know I like them, and not just because Edmond did.

Logarithm said...

Oh ya, great to hear that another Omnibus is coming out. In other random speculation, I remember in the Ravenor series (or was it Eisenhorn?, that the Inquisitor mentioned talking to Hekate. That would put the Imperius Dictatio under Macabee right around the time of the Sabbat Crusade (maybe). Either way I am surely going to buy the book.

Rory said...

Hehe, im Devouring Double Eagle at the moment, im about half way through, and it is Rather excellent. Excuse my stupidness, but The Paradus were in Honor guard? and Jadgea was in Guns of Tanith? right? lolz

Xhalax said...

Oh and my knees are currently now without my bruises made of awesome.

I'm back to mysterious ones one my shins which I have no knowledge of until I look at my legs.

Pack_master said...

Dan, you sure that therapy is for Jess? ;)

Pack_master said...

And hell take me, but I'll come and carry you here by myself if you won't make it to a german GD in the future ;)


Another saturday... well, I'm working, too, at saturdays... but the evening (and night) belong to my p&p rpg group, too :)

Anonymous said...

Pack - I'm pretty sure Dan's got plans for Germany some time this year. I'll see if I can find out and let you know.

Anonymous said...

xhalax: there's some road works going on right outside where I work at the moment, and they've got a big yellow sign up that reads "ACCESS TO FRONTAGES ONLY." it always makes me giggle, but nobody else seems to get it. that is probably because i have a filthy, filthy mind.

OscarP said...

Ha! Dan Abnett responded to my question. Fantastic! I guess all new posters get a little excited the first Time Mr. Abnett responds. Or maybe I have a bit of an unhealthy excitment when it comes to things of Abnett nature.

Anyway I finished Legion on Thursday morning and it was a punch in the crotch. An amazing, funny, agonizing punch in the crotch.

I'm off any more Dan Abnett novels for a few months. I sort of cache them and I read 2 in a row(Hereticus & Legion) which is a big no-no. So I'm leaving the Ravenors and "The Lost" arc of the Ghosts on my bookshelf calling out to me in that oh so alluring syren call.

Anonymous said...

Devon october/november? oh hope it will be november great gift (mean autograph on my books, my boyfriend said im a freak when i wrote this) for my birthday :D
Dan do you always speak so fast? heard you on the radio and well it was nice interview just bit to short..
Paris in spring... oh wish i could be there, anyway enjoy ;]

Xhalax said...

sredni vashtar: Classy!

Rory said...

Dont worry Oscarp im the same. i get dead excited when im mentioned.

I was a gig tonight. i lost a Shoe, i miss my shoe :(

Bren said...

@ Xhalax
YEa, working weekends can suck. I remeber working most saturday and sundays tto help me through Uni. never enjoyed it, then vowed to never work another weekend as long as i lived!
I think ive only broken that three or four times, But i took weekdays of t make up for it. :D
Strangley ive been reconsidering working for a few hours on the wekends now to assist in my evil plan to Invade the UK. Somehow i think its not going to happen though.

Wheres plan B???

Anonymous said...

Dan: what sort of research did you do for Titanicus, anyways? I can only recall catching a couple of installments of the original strip, but I'm pretty sure there's no Real-World® equivalent to a 100-foot semi-self-aware bipedal killing machine with unfeasibly big guns. so do you just kind of extrapolate based on what you find out about commanding armoured vehicles and/or warships? or just make it up as you go along? enquiring minds with nothing better to think about want to know!

Anonymous said...

Dan,

First post for me; I've lurked for some time, brooding in the shadows until now.

First of all, may I congratulate you on Legion, a fantastic book with more surprises than you can shake a stick at! The idea of twin Primarchs was something I would never have considered and certainly gives weight to the claim that the Heresy series would be a must read, which it obviously was anyway.

Secondly, I’m currently fighting my way through Brothers of the Snake which I’m having difficulty getting into; for me your writing is at its best when you get to the real nitty-gritty of your stories and for me Brothers has too much of a short story feel about it. For me this means that the story lacks the depth which makes all of your other novels so great although to be fair I haven’t finished it yet. Maybe it’s just me but this one doesn’t feel the same as say a Ghosts or Eisenhorn novel.

Back to the Heresy (I should have ordered these points properly), the only thing which strikes me as missing so far is how the Word Bearers got caught up in their Chaos worship in the first place; Erebus has a big part to play in turning Horus but we don’t know what happened to the Word Bearers to set this whole mess in motion. Perhaps I’m jumping the gun and this will be covered in Battle for the Abyss; I hope so because I think this is a key point which has been overlooked to this point.

Lastly, a friend of mine in convinced there will be no more Ghost novels; I have continually argued otherwise, would you kindly end this dispute for the good of humanity?

Good luck with Titanicus!

Daniel

Pack_master said...

@ DannDann
No offense, but please use a big, fat "spoiler"-sign next time ;) Most long-time addicts here have absorbed Legion already, but don't forget it's a relatively new book, not everyone had the opportunity yet ;)

Welcome aboard, lad.

Dukeleto said...

The Fold of the Gaur? That's a potential name for a DA group and no mistake. I already made a DA group, but then I forgot the logon details (just like I forgot my Blogger logon details, I'm really bad at teh intertubes)

@Xhalax - retail is shit, leave it as soon as you can, it'll save your sanity, and there are SO many other jobs that pay more money for less work!

@Rory - yeah, the Pardus armoured were in Honour Guard and the Phantine air corps are from Guns of Tanith. Here's hoping they both crop up again. Hint hint...

@sredni - I imagine, not to preempt Dan, that Titan crew are a cross between tankers, and submarine crew.

@Danndann - most of Brothers of the Snake was originally published as short stories in Inferno magazine, years and years ago, when even a longstanding fan like me must admit Dan's 40K writing was a bit less polished than it is now. I found it a bit less an unadulterated joy than most of his other books. He still writes Astartes better than ANYONE else tho.

Dukeleto said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Pack - Dan is booked in for Games Day Germany. You may now dance.

Danndann - Dan did take a break from Gaunt and his chums, to regroup (as it were), but the next book is now planned and will be available some time in the spring, although I don't have a precise schedule yet.

Pack_master said...

WOOHOOOOO!

*jumps around chair*

Toymachine said...

Yes Dan!! Very Pleased!! :D

Anonymous said...

Before I begin I realise I didn't say hello to everyone when I posted earlier...so hello ;-)

Packmaster - Apologies I should have known better than that.

Dukeleto - Thats an interesting peice of information and explains a lot. Since my earlier post I have had a decent reading session so perhaps expressing my troubles has helped.

Nik - Thanks for that; engage "smug mode" he he.

the-seventh-son said...

cheers for that hint Nik, i'm already awaiting what happens to the Ghosts after Jago

As for the Horus Heresy books im rather far behind, having only just started Galaxy in Flames, however i doubt it shall be long until i have caught up seen as i read Horus Rising in a week and then False Gods in the week after...

is there any information as to when Dan will be down in the South East signing? What i wouldn't give to have my entire 'the lost arc' signed by him...

Xhalax said...

My job in reatail....I do my best to leave it quick....but life conspires against me and I find that I can't get free of it.

So not impressed.

How was everyone elses day?

Mine was all manner of awesome. Finished my sheep (pictures will come later), gave it to my friend for her birthday then we went to see Dancing on Ice.

We ended up being this far (measures it out with her fingers) for Torvill and Dean.....we LOVED it!

Anonymous said...

Hey Dan,

Just finished Legion. Loved it and congratulations for making the Alpha Legion cool.

When are we going to get an Iron Warriors or Blood Angels HH Book? I play Iron Warriors and my brother plays Blood Angels and we're feeling a little left out of the Heresy so far.

Keep up the good work and I can't wait for Titanicus.

Josh Offsie said...

Dan,
I just wanted to stop by and thank you for all of your brilliant work. I started building 40k models with my father when i was 8 and was always reading the little pamphlets they had in the stores giving short backstories on the different races. Then I happened upon First & Only (a few years later when it was first released stateside of course) . I fell in love with the Ghosts. Honestly, although i was only in my early teens at the time, when Bragg died I was pretty pissed and remained pissed every time I saw the books on my shelf until Cuu died. To me that shows some really powerful writing.
I've never had the chance to go to a Games Day in the States (baltimore being the nearest to me) or Europe, but I'll be in Nice, France studying in the fall, so I plan to hit up the UK where I have quite a few friends to crash with. Hopefully I can time it with an event and meet some of the minds behind the fiction that filled my head so many times.

With gratitude,
Josh Offsie

VirtualWolf said...

NCIS is excellent. I was never interested in CSI or any of the shows of that ilk, but the humour and interaction between the characters in NCIS is great fun.

Hrothgar said...

Dan,
Just wanted to say that I just finished Legion and it was the best of the series. So far. Thank you for an amazing read. I thought about writing something about the Alpha Legion for the Black Library contest and am now very glad I didn't attempt it.
I look forward to Titanicus and wish I was at Games Day Paris as well.

VirtualWolf said...

I was about to write exactly what david just said. :)

That was bloody awesome Dan. I couldn't put it down! I definitely agree it's the best of the series so far.

Al said...

@Josh - You might wanna put a big 'spoiler' there. I've only gotten as far as finishing 'The Saint' omnibus, so you kinda gave away a lot there... :(

Al said...

Well, I suppose I was hoping that Cuu died so... I forgive you lol

Al said...

- - Potential Spoiler! - -
(^I thought I'd take my own advice there)

Damnit! Now all I can think about is how Cuu is going to die...a bolt to the head by Gaunt?...Captured by Chaos?...Tainted by Chaos and turned into some big blob thing with tons of eyes and shit?...Am I close? No, don't tell me...lol =D

Hastatus said...

I've finally got around to reading Eisenhorn, and am finding it very good! I've only read the first two chapters, but the first person perspective is very interesting.

Also, when are you going to write another Horus Heresy book?

Rory said...

Al! cuus death is a beautiful scene in my eye, i cheered :D

Anonymous said...

Me too, and cried a little...

the-seventh-son said...

@ hastatus i know where your coming from, when i first read Eisenhorn i found it rather unsettling, but its the 1st person nature that i love about that book, the way it makes it so much more sinister as it unravels

@ rory when i read that line i breathed a sigh of relief, and then the last line tore a little bit of my heart away :( Dan sure knows how to pick them

Pack_master said...

Yeah, it's the detective thing about it that I love - that you only get the one version of the story.

I swear by the Emperor, I'm sure Dan has a special clamp to tear out hearts and the like. But we love and hate him for that, do we?

the-seventh-son said...

pack_master, thats a very good way to describe it,

i've almost finished Galaxy in Flames now, i think im becoming an addict, i've read the 1st 3 in the space of 2 weeks

gotta love a bit of 30k literature

Anonymous said...

I should imagine the clones are all adapted with various... implements for tort- i mean manip-

Sorry, I'm not getting this to sound right.

Ahem.


I should imagine that all of the clones are (shiney, happy people, who love everybody - sanity ed.) death.

Logarithm said...

Check out the Scandinavian Stalk Tank. Daemon powered coming soon.

HiWayRobry said...

Dan,

You say you're writing 'Guardians of the Galaxy'? Is that the Marvel version, with Vance Astro, Charlie-7, Martinex and my favorite enigmatic character (besides Gaunt and Eisenhorn, of course) Starhawk?!?! Tell me it isn't so! On second thought, please, please, please tell me it's so!!
Love your comics and especially your novels. Only problem: I hate hardback books and have to wait oh so long to buy your stuff in paperback.
Keep writing and I'll keep being entertained.
Peace

Bodjo said...

It's Dan again, yay!

Currently mowing my way through the Horus Heresy series...Horus Rising was excellent, and I have to say that Graham McNeill and Ben Counter outdid themselves by keeping up with you, Dan. False Gods and Galaxy In Flames were both great. Currently working on Fulgrim. Gosh, it's long.

Hope everything is well with everyone. The emperor protects and all that jazz. Have to remember to buy "The Founding" for my friend's graduation gift.

Anonymous said...

hiwayrobry - your wish just came true. Guardians of the Galaxy, is indeed in Dan and Andy's very capable hands.

Anonymous said...

highwayrobry - The question is... is it the same team? Dan's Guardian of the Galaxy, which launches in May, features a star studded line-up that includes Star-Lord, Quazar, Drax, Gamora, Adam Warlock and Rocket Racoon. Does it have any connection to the original team that bore the name? You'll have to read to find out, but Dan doesn't think you'll be disappointed.

Anonymous said...

Ah.So this is a blog! I've been wondering how to do it and I just figured it out. Anyway, styles are NOT middle class Dan no matter how much you want them to be. I had a style in my garden when I was a kid and we were certainly not middle class. We also picked rosemary until her mum stopped us. What would a hassar want with your jigger? Scissors perhaps, but a jigger?? Is he just playing tricks on you. If so, then he must have a sense of humour. Knock,knock! Hussar (pronounced a bit like who's there)Hussar. Hussar who? Hussar'ound the back of the house squeaking our gate. Sorry.Wont bother you again.J

Anonymous said...

Hey dan, just wanted to drop by (first timer) and thank you for your epic work on the Darkblade series. I've never read any warhammer literature before (40k or otherwise) and I absolutely DEVOURED the entire series in the span of a week!

I just have one question, are you planning to continue with Malus?

Thanks in advance! and Bravo Again.

HiWayRobry said...

nik,

Thanks for the clarification. Although I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed that the original team won't be around for the next iteration of GotG, I'm sure Dan (and Andy, of course) will make the new team a worthwhile read. I'm loving what they're doing with Nova (I was around in for his first series. Dang I'm old!) so I'm confident the team is in good hands. By the way, Rocket Raccoon is awesome.
Dan, when are you going to write a screenplay for a Gaunt's Ghost movie? I think Hollywood is finally ready for a kick-ass, authentic take on the WH40K universe.
Thanks for listening.
Peace.

Xhalax said...

Nik - How's the art classes going?

Hastatus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hastatus said...

Just thought I'd say I've now finished Xenos and Missing in action, and am half way through Malleus. However, I'll probably start reading more slowly come Monday, what with school and endless essays to keep me occupied...
I really like Eisenhorn though (both the series and the character). And Midas Betancore is a very cool character.

Hastatus said...

And now I've finished Malleus, the second short story and am several chapters into Hereticus. They're really good books!
I don't suppose you could tell us when the next Gaunt's Ghosts is going to come out?

Anonymous said...

Hastatus - There should be a new Gaunt's Ghost book in the spring. It will be called 'Blood Pact'! Huzzah! say I.

Al said...

I don't know if this has been asked or announced before, but are the books: Traitor General through to Only In Death going to be released as another omnibus?
I have The founding and The Saint (which are awesome) but I don't want to mess up my collection, also I'm a bit short on cash at the moment =D

Another omnibus would be nice. Ooh and a Ravenor omnibus!! since I cant find Ravenor Returned anywhere...every shop I go to has Ravenor and Ravenor Rogue..but not Ravenor Returned!! Arghh

:)

Rob Rath said...

Al-

We're in the same boat (grav-chair?) concerning Ravenor, my friend.

For years I searched bookstores but could only find Ravenor Returned and Ravenor Rogue. After several months of checking shelves, I started to swear that the book was cursed... thankfully when I picked up Legion a couple of weeks ago I finally found a copy of the fabled first volume. At long last, my search for Ravenor is over.

... of course, they had no copies of Ravenor Returned.

The curse continues.

Anonymous said...

wow, thats alot of comments to get through, poor clones!

Rory - I agree with you, the guys in Brighton GW seem to be getting more and more desperate to make me buy GW products, I went in for a white Dwarf a couple of weeks ago and one of them asked if I needed any paints.....I found this interesting as I haven't collected for a couple of years now, since....the book signing Dan did at Lakeside GW for Straight Silver, though I couldn't resist bringing in my extremely well thumbed earlier edition of Necropolis (My favorite)

Dan - Do you think you can do a book signing near Brighton soon? I love to get my later edition of 'Necropolis' signed as well as my second favorite 'Only in Death' Its only round the corner, you can come over for tea and biscuits if you like! (Custard creams and Hob nobs, no clones sorry, I'm a student, therefore skint)

*Little Spoiler* Could not believe that Soric came back, so mutilated and it was all so sad the way he was trying to warning them... Nice to hear Bragg being mentioned again though (Im alot like him but as the paintball version)

I always see shoggy in the books to have the eyes of the Johnny 5 in the film short circuit, is that at all similar to your image of him Dan?

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/07/Johnny_5.jpg

Working on the Horus Heresy set at the moment on 'False Gods' atm, I know I know, long way to go to get 'Legion" but hey! Ive wondered what the backing story to 40k was for 10 years nearly, im glad theres so many books about it, though I think the Dan should have wrote them all

:D

Just looking on Amazon and found that they already have Titanicus release date! 30th September! and they have cover art

Lot to get out, this is my first real comment to the blog, only found it a couple of weeks ago, good stuff!

Anonymous said...

Oh forgot to ask, is there any possible why to get my hands on the soundtrack released with "traitor General" by John Bergin? I'm just curious as to what it sounds like...

Anonymous said...

the link on my post doesn't work, try this one:

http://uk.gizmodo.com/johnny5.jpg

Anonymous said...

oh yea! I'm very much enjoying The Breeders right now, especially Cannonball,I heard it somewhere before but its good to put a name to a song

thanks again, I'll shut up now...

bye.

Allandaros said...

I'm going to second Mouz's question about the soundtrack - I listened to the excerpt from "No Miracles, Only Men" that is up at the BL website (?) and wanted more!

Well, BL is reissuing Tanith cap badg...WHAT?!?

"May 2008 : £10 : Out of stock"

NOOOOOOOO!!!

Anonymous said...

Me wants a cap badge...maybe if Dan comes over for that cup of tea I can pick him up and shake him to see if he has any on him....hmmmm....

I sound more like Bragg everyday, sacra anyone?

Hastatus said...

Nik - is that spring next year? And the title sounds good. Lots of chaos troops to kill!

Anonymous said...

hastatus - sorry about that, I wasn't very clear, was I? Dan is just finishing up on Titanicus, as we speak, which takes place in the same time frame as the Sabbat Crusades, and will be available in the autumn. 'Blood Pact' will be available next spring, and there will, no doubt, be a signing schedule to coincide with it's release. He hasn't written it yet, of course, but the plan is complete and it's all there in his head, so watch this space.

Anonymous said...

hiya my names andrew and im a huge fan of your work (well duh why else would i be here and you get it all the the time yahdy yahdy yadah stop rambling andrew), when i grow up (oh the cliché of it) i'd like to be a writer and at the moment im testing myslef by writing a novel. Its a warhammer 40k novel and i was wondering whether you would mind me adding a reference to general sturm in it. thanks alot for reading this (i love you!)

Gekko said...

Slightly random comment but for people who want a Tanith CapBadge just keep checking the BL site. It said they had sold out but when I checked the next day there were several for sale.

the-seventh-son said...

wow mouz, your like a clone yourself tap, tap, tap

rob i had a similar situation, i managed to get Ravenor fine but then it took me months to find Ravenor Returned, i ended up ordering it and buying Ravenor Rogue all in the same day, as well as Horus RIisng, and some Chaos bits, my wallet is still hurting from that...

hows everyone been?

Nik do you know when Titanicus will be hitting the shelves?

Anonymous said...

the-seventh-son - As I understand it, the release date for 'Titanicus' is scheduled for UK Games Day, and will be in the shops thereafter.

I hope that someone at BL can put me right if I've got this wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm on message.

Logarithm said...

@Al
The next GG omnibus is supposed to be coming out eventually. My guess would be around the time Blood Pact hits the shelves (may have to buy that one in hardback, hmm...) or soon thereafter. The BL site has the Titanicus release as October 8th (just in time for my Nameday). Coincidentally (or maybe not)Only in Death releases the same day. The info I have on UK Games Day says September 17th, so maybe we get Titanicus early?
Also for all you people scared of hotlinks, check out the stalk tank.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y

Anonymous said...

thanks seventh son!
(starts stenciling the number 1 onto his head)

Blood Pact.....hmm I thought one of the books might have been called that. I cant wait! (Hopping around room) But Horus Heresy series will have to do for now, do we know if Blood Pact will be the last of Gaunts ghosts?

Anonymous said...

Mouz - Dan will keep writing Ghost stories all the time he has material for them. I don't expect him to stop any time soon.

Anonymous said...

:D Good to know, thank you!

the-seventh-son said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
the-seventh-son said...

thats good to know indeed, except for my poor wallet is crying :(

i wonder if they find out tanith wasnt destroyed at the end

i think that would make a neat end book, they invade tanith and finally get the settling rights Gaunt always promised them

it would be a nice neat ending but somehow i doubt it shall happen, oh and i think Caff should come back from the dead!

Allandaros said...

@the-seventh-son:

At the risk of being labeled a psyker and heretic by the Inquisition, I will make two predictions:

a) Tanith's GONE. Gone, gone, gone.
b) So is Caff. Sorry. (Alternatively, Caff was severely wounded on Gereon, picked up by some Chaos forces, and turned to the Archenemy, causing heartbreak and angst when Criid blows him away. I somehow doubt this one.)

Al said...

Wait...Caff dies??

*cries inside*

Seriously though, if anyone's going to write about any main character dying can they please put a *spoiler* sign at the start of their post? Thx.

Al said...

lol sorry to seem like a miserable bastard but I already found out that Cuu was going to die and now Caff...

Also, the_seventh_son, I know your only speculating but would that actually be possible? I thought Tanith was completely vaporised? BOOM! Gone. Or did I misread that?

the-seventh-son said...

al sorry mate it was so long ago i didnt think

and you are right Tanith was destroyed, burnt if i may correct you, but we all know what Dan's like he pulls some mean suprises when he wants to

anyway whose to say Tanith is gone, maybe were on Tanith... that would be cool, but alas it is not so...

my personal favoruite though would be to see the ghosts convert to the Blood Pact, mwahahaha evil thoughts

Rory said...

Its either there going to find a New Planet Tanith, or the old one.

Or theres going to be a HUGE last stand with lots of Pew pew, and in the end all the ghosts die, but they will like, Save the day. and win the Crusade. :D

Logarithm said...

I also would love to see the Ghost's turn. I think I first got this idea when Gaunt is remembering the blood oath (he may even call it a pact, cannot remember) that he made with Slaydo at the start of his career. I think it was in the 4th or 5th book.

Rob Rath said...

I doubt Tanith is still out there, but hey, Douglas Adams pulled that one on us before, why not Dan? (I just got a very very WRONG image of Gaunt handing Milo a handful of pint glasses and telling him to drink up before they hitchhike onto the last Vogen ship off Tanith.)

I was thinking the other day as I finished Legion, (great book by the way, reminded me of Mario Puzo during certain bits) that Dan is one of the few writers I can think of who has actually gotten to blow up a planet. I mean, I aspire to write professionally too, but I also write historical fiction, a genre in which destroying planets is generally frowned upon.

Of course, not only does Dan get to blow up planets, he gets paid to blow up planets.

Golf clap for Dan!

Xhalax said...

Pictures as promised.

Behold my skill with a set of knitting needles!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/Xhalax2007/Picture001-1.jpg

And despite the probably mocking and my dodgy left eye (always thought it was my right that was off....but evidentally not)

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/Xhalax2007/Picture010.jpg

Xhalax said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Xhalax said...

Ok...you need to simply add .jpg to the end of the second link...because, for no apparent reason, even while trying again, it' still doesn't let me put all the other link on.

I hate the internet

Anonymous said...

*Spoiler*

(In other words: AL, don't read this!)

I wonder when Milo will return to the fold or if they meet up with the saint again, they finally win a world and when Gaunt and the Saint are standing on a hilltop looking or a landscape, all ghosts start crying again and she says something like, 'Gaunt, you wish to see such beauty again?' touches hes eyes and he can see! (shock, a miracle!)

I also think that Mkvenner is either on Gereon still or hes become apart of Gereon or something like a ghost of Gereon? Ever think we will see him again? Never found his body...or did they? cant remember.....back to the book for me!

Anonymous said...

I just reread that and I think I sound abit sarcastic...I don't mean to be, I just cant put down everything Id like to say about the books, theres too much!

Anonymous said...

yeah, you were.......

Anonymous said...

quiet you! and get back to my Uni coursework, the deadline is soon!

Anonymous said...

Xhalax - sooo cute.

Al said...

Wow even though there was a spoiler alert there, I was so tempted to read it lol

And nice sheep Xhalax =)

Uncle Truth said...

Hi Dan.

Just wanted to drop in having finished reading Double Eagle, (sob) and say...

Wow. I almost feel dizzy from all the dog fighting, looping and viffing that I did in my head, trying to picture those magnificent, acrobatic air battles. It was also awesome to see, (or visualise, you know what I mean) Le Guin in battle again, although I miss the Grey Venger.

What I really wanted to say was thanks for giving old Viltry a happy ending. If anyone deserved it, then it was poor Oskar!

In the meantime, just about to start the darkblade stuff and looking forward to it.

Call that a salute?

Tom

Uncle Truth said...

Sorry, just realised that I left a spoiler for anyone about to read double eagle! Sorry folks, my bad!

Tom

Uncle Truth said...

Hi Dan.

Just wanted to drop in having finished reading Double Eagle, (sob) and say...

Wow. I almost feel dizzy from all the dog fighting, looping and viffing that I did in my head, trying to picture those magnificent, acrobatic air battles. It was also awesome to see, (or visualise, you know what I mean) Le Guin in battle again, although I miss the Grey Venger.

What I really wanted to say was thanks for giving old Viltry a happy ending. If anyone deserved it, then it was poor Oskar!

In the meantime, just about to start the darkblade stuff and looking forward to it.

Call that a salute?

Tom

Uncle Truth said...

Hi Dan.

Just wanted to drop in having finished reading Double Eagle, (sob) and say...

Wow. I almost feel dizzy from all the dog fighting, looping and viffing that I did in my head, trying to picture those magnificent, acrobatic air battles. It was also awesome to see, (or visualise, you know what I mean) Le Guin in battle again, although I miss the Grey Venger.

What I really wanted to say was thanks for giving old Viltry a happy ending. If anyone deserved it, then it was poor Oskar!

In the meantime, just about to start the darkblade stuff and looking forward to it.

Call that a salute?

Tom

Uncle Truth said...

Hi Dan.

Just wanted to drop in having finished reading Double Eagle, (sob) and say...

Wow. I almost feel dizzy from all the dog fighting, looping and viffing that I did in my head, trying to picture those magnificent, acrobatic air battles. It was also awesome to see, (or visualise, you know what I mean) Le Guin in battle again, although I miss the Grey Venger.

What I really wanted to say was thanks for giving old Viltry a happy ending. If anyone deserved it, then it was poor Oskar!

In the meantime, just about to start the darkblade stuff and looking forward to it.

Call that a salute?

Tom

Rory said...

Double eagle is indeed Awsome, im giving reading alittle rest right now. With may being my final exam month, it kinda sucks. Wish me luck!


Dan, when you coming to scotland!


and Xhalax. that sheep is AWSOME! :D

Anonymous said...

Damn, can't remember by password grrr

Where's my knitted sheep dammit?

Who's the bearded bloke that you're about to terrorise in your photo bucket album?

Just 3/4 of the way through Only in Death Again, i swear i must have read these books in a trance as there have been multiple times where i have read them and went 'oh i don't remember that happening (or maybe it's me going senile?)

once i finish Only in Death i don't know where i'll go next reading as it's difficult to read other stuff having lived and breath Gaunt and Co for the last month solid

Liam

Xhalax said...

Thanks peeps

Anonymous said...

I was actually quite entranced first time round with 'only in death' but now I look at it and see through the illusions for what they are, and yet, its maybe even more tragic because you know the truth already.

Poor Soric.

Allandaros said...

@al: Argh. I'm very sorry to have spoilered the book for you. The book I was mentioning has been out for a while, unlike the newer ones like OiD or Legion, so I didn't even think of spoiler tags. :(

Al said...

No problem I'm over it =D