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Well I don't think its so much a slap as poking fun at another author;

'Come on men! Do you want to live forever?' the noncom in charge of the squad must have been on something, I thought. Nobody spoke like that outside badly written combat novels'.

I wonder who he's having a dig at...

A hint: 'Men of Tanith! Do you want to live forever?'

That, and about a million other reasons, are why I am so thoroughly enjoying the Cain books. That and the fact I already loved Flashman.

Its a comon phrase http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-_c6V0U-4k

Good try, but a bit of a miss there.

"Do you want to live forever!?" is a quote from Daniel Daly

I know its common, but I can't help thinking that the 'badly written combat novels' makes it a dig at abnett more than anything else, also given the setting and the almost juxtaposition of gaunt and cain if you look at them side by side

Also bob, I'm digging through my room for starship troopers right now, all because of you...dammit I'm meant to be working on my uni stuff (and procrastinating on dakka)

It's too common a phrase to be a dig at Abnett.

motyak wrote:I know its common, but I can't help thinking that the 'badly written combat novels' makes it a dig at abnett more than anything else, also given the setting and the almost juxtaposition of gaunt and cain if you look at them side by side

Also bob, I'm digging through my room for starship troopers right now, all because of you...dammit I'm meant to be working on my uni stuff (and procrastinating on dakka)

My Uni's on strike, so I can watch SST as much as I want.

Chowderhead wrote:Good try, but a bit of a miss there.

"Do you want to live forever!?" is a quote from Daniel Daly

Yep. The quote comes from a US Marine officer in WW1.

It's been co-opted by so many countless movies that people just assume they've seen the "original" one, lol.

I think it is a safe bet to assume that nothing ever written in 40K is an original idea, heh.

If anything I'd think it was a dig at verhovens starship troopers movie.....

I'm with the OP, while it's a common enough phrase (and the answer BTW is 'yes, yes I would') the fact that it's used so often by Abnet makes it likely Sandy Mitchell is taking a shot at his rival.

What "rival"?

Mitchell is like a kindergartner compared to Abnett.

Why does this even have to be a dig? I don't think the BL writers sit around angsting over one another like that. Sheesh.

I think it is, given the noteriety of the Gaunt series, a reference to the Gaunt's Ghosts novels. That said, it is probably more playful irreverence than anything else. A nod to an author who is important in working within the setting. This isn't something unique at all. Heck, there's other examples within BL!

In the Enforcer trilogy, the protagonist is fighting a psyker who gets in her head and fills it with a fantasy of her disarming her opponents and sending them down in defeat in a very Matrix-esque fashion. She shakes off the vision as ridiculous fantasy, the kind of day dream that a fresh recruit has after seeing one-too-many Commisar Cain propaganda posters.

I don't think any ill-will is intended by this sort of thing. Not everything is a middle-school lunch room where all things boil down to a "Oh no you di-in't" moment.

Ok, dig was the wrong word, more like if everyone was in the classroom, he flicked a paperwasp at him or something. Not an attack, just a friendly ribbing

Sounds like a less successful author taking a dig at a very successful one.
Abnett alone probably outsells the rest of BL put together, and there's a reason for that.

DrimGark wrote:I don't think any ill-will is intended by this sort of thing. Not everything is a middle-school lunch room where all things boil down to a "Oh no you di-in't" moment.

+1. BTW, I was just looking at The Enforcer omnibus today pondering whether or not I should get it. How is it?

Kanluwen wrote:What "rival"?

Mitchell is like a kindergartner compared to Abnett.

Yeah, not so much. Mitchells in-universe consistency and characterisations are superior to Abnett

Kaldor wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:What "rival"?

Mitchell is like a kindergartner compared to Abnett.

Yeah, not so much. Mitchells in-universe consistency and characterisations are superior to Abnett

You make some of the greatest jokes!

They are good in different ways. One has the violence, grimness, and what not of 40k down, the other has a slightly lighter side downpat. One isn't better than the other (beyond what you personally prefer), they are both good.

Bookwrack wrote:

DrimGark wrote:I don't think any ill-will is intended by this sort of thing. Not everything is a middle-school lunch room where all things boil down to a "Oh no you di-in't" moment.

+1. BTW, I was just looking at The Enforcer omnibus today pondering whether or not I should get it. How is it?

I enjoyed it. It is definitely a change of pace from the standard BL fare. The Adeptus Arbites don't usually get starring roles, and it gives a pretty in-depth look at some of its inner workings. While there certainly is action, they are defined more by a heightened level of intrigue. They're worth the read, if only to step away from every world being overrun by all out face punching war for a little bit.

The Eisenhorn trilogy is also good for a step away from the all out war, and I think it is a must read.