Thursday 2nd of February, 2012

THE HIGH LORDS OF TERRA CONVENE

Today there’s something big going on in the Black Library office. The authors of the Horus Heresy have convened for a top secret meeting that will determine the fate of millions.

Over the past few days, you have been posting your questions on our Facebook page; here’s what they had to say.



How hard is it, as authors, reigning in artistic licence when bringing to life something that has been rigidly laid down in Warhammer 40,000 lore since its inception?

Graham McNeill: Part of the fun is that it’s not that rigid.

Dan Abnett: There is a lot of material to draw on and it’s about respecting that while trying to find the angle that you want to approach it from.

Graham McNeill: There are established events like Calth and Prospero that people know a bit about, but we can add in things that you didn’t know, so that you come away knowing more than you did before.

There have been hints at how the Grey Knights were founded, any chance of a full story into how the Inquisition was established and the great secret behind the ‘I’?

James Swallow: I was deliberately subtle with this, perhaps too subtle, as everyone seems to miss it. Malcador’s symbol was an eye, and that is what Garro wears on his shoulder. I was playing around with the fact that it is impossible to tell the difference between ‘eye’ and ‘I’ when you are listening to an audio drama. I was interested in exploring the concept of things twisting and changing over time.

As for the Grey Knights, Garro and the Knights Errant are the root of the chapter, but there is a long way to go before they become what we now know. I like to think that Codex: Grey Knights contains the very end of their creation myth, while the Garro series explores the very beginning.

How much does fan interaction help or hinder your own writing process?

James Swallow: I like talking to fans, because I am a fan of so many things myself, so I can really relate to their excitement and enthusiasm. I regularly drop into my local Games Workshop Hobby Centre and chatting to the staff and customers there can reinvigorate my passion and enthusiasm for my writing.

What, of all the things written, both by yourself or others, have you found to be the most heart-rending or soul searching of events or characters within the Heresy?

Graham McNeill: I definitely had a lump in my throat when Torgaddon died.

Gav Thorpe: Corax’s single tear in Raven’s Flight as he realises the galaxy has changed and doesn’t know where he fits in it anymore.

Dan Abnett: I don’t have a specific event, but I love the fact that, before he falls, Horus Lupercal is such a likeable character. It makes it much more tragic when he does turn.

James Swallow: I really liked the moment in Flight of the Eisenstein when the planet is virus bombed and Temeter nobly sacrifices himself.

Do you find it difficult to write scenes for the Primarchs because of their powerful stature in the Warhammer 40,000 universe?

Dan Abnett: I actually find it easier than writing dialogue for Space Marines. Primarchs are superhuman, but Space Marines seem to straddle both worlds. I suppose writing about superheroes for so long helps a bit.

James Swallow: You have to remember to be epic, but not all the time. You have to be able to give them depth.

Will you ever do a book from the Emperor’s point of view?

Dan Abnett: We have been tempted, but we don’t think it would work. The Emperor exists in both the warp and reality simultaneously… how do you even approach writing that?

Gav Thorpe: Throughout the series, you see many facets of the Emperor, but you never truly know what he thinks. If we did try, it might ruin the mystery behind him.

James Swallow: He’s a truly alien character, beyond trans-human.

Can the last line in the last Heresy book be “I was there the day the Emperor killed Horus”?

Dan, Gav, Graham, James: Maybe *laughs*

Thanks guys, I’ll let you get back to work now.

The latest Horus Heresy book, Know No Fear, is available now, and in June we will continue this epic saga with The Primarchs, an anthology of four novellas, each dealing with one (or in one case, two) of the Emperor’s sons.

Finally, join us tomorrow on the blog where we will spend some time with the sons of Fenris as we slip the leash and unleash Lone Wolves on the world.

, and in June we will continue this epic saga with The Primarchs, an anthology of four novellas, each dealing with one (or in one case, two) of the Emperor’s sons.

reds8n wrote: After a while threads become a bit unwieldy and most of that threadn was so last year anyway.

This rather imposing chap will be gracing the front cover of Nick Kyme’s Tome of Fire anthology, a collection of stories featuring characters you may recognise from the Salamanders trilogy.

Tome of Fire is on sale in December and is sure to be a hot favourite for Christmas (do you get it? ‘HOT favourite’ because he’s on fire- sometimes I even amaze myself), but those of you lucky enough to come to the Black Library Weekender will be able to get your hands on a copy early. If you’re really lucky, Nick might even sign it for you. Tickets for the Weekender go on sale at 20:00 GMT on Friday the Tenth, that’s only four days away.
For more information, check out the Black Library Weekender event page.

Just Dave wrote:Whoops. I meant far right.

I see Kyme, Abnett (<3), Thorpe, McNiell, Swallow and...?

jah-joshua wrote:finished the Know No Fear ebook a week ago...
what a great read...

@Alpharius: the BL app for the ipad has had the novel up for 8 days already...

cheers
jah

Eisenhorn wrote:

Just Dave wrote:Whoops. I meant far right.

I see Kyme, Abnett (<3), Thorpe, McNiell, Swallow and...?

Thats Laurie Goulding aka Shroudfilm

lords2001 wrote: Most of which is Dragonball Z stuff.

Alpharius wrote:I'm no Luddite (clearly!) but I do admit to enjoying actual books vs. electronic versions - especially at the 'no price break for a clearly cheaper to produce product' price point...

There also maybe some behind the scenes contract stipulations about offering digital products less than the physical (as in a big name book chain might not carry the products if they do).

Lashing out withan armoured boot, the Lion sent the hound-like beast tumbling down the corridor. Taking half a dozen strides, the primarch brought both of his swords down across its back as it tried to right itself, carving it into three pieces that spattered into gore across the decking.

He stopped for a moment to assess the situation. The flight of stairs down to the main core chamber was only fifty metres ahead, and the passageway was free of enemies. He could hear his company fighting behind him, the retort of bolters echoing up from the stairwell he had just left. Though he knew his little brothers were in a dire situation, he had to focus on his objective: regaining control of the core so that the warp engines and Geller field could be engaged.

The comm buzzed as he stepped forwards, and he heard Corswain’s voice. The seneschal sounded strained, as if speaking through gritted teeth.

‘My liege, the way is clear to the warp core. You must come at once. There is something else here, something we cannot destroy.’ The comm-link hissed for a few seconds. ‘It… It wants to speak with you.’

1) there will be word bearers in novel.

2) the Red Angel will be explored.

3) Amit, founder of the flesh tearers, plays an important role in novel. as well as other successor characters.

4) the story will cross many worlds in the Signus cluster besides Signus Prime

5) Roldoron will also play a major role.

6) The BA libarians will have plenty to do in the novel.