Any other business?
by danabnett on Jan.30, 2010, under Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill
So, Saturday morning here in the UK, really early, still dark, crisp and cold. Don’t know what woke me. Maybe it was the giant-size Hollywood-style full moon lighting the edges of the cloud banks as it sets; more likely the telepathic tremors letting me know how popular our stint here at Babel Clash has been. Well, how gratifying is that?
It’s the last few days of our stay here, and I thought we’d be pretty relaxed about it and use the time to answer any (within reason!) questions you might have left, however idle they may be.
Let me start today by picking up on a few comments that appeared in the last couple of days alongside Graham’s fantastic posts (I agree with you, Philip!) about working on the Heresy.
Cor - you mention Loken. As far as I’m concerned, Loken’s not dead.
Richard - in 30K, there’s a sense of possibility, about an aspirational future for Mankind, however directed and controlled. In 40K, it’s everything Mankind can do just to hold on to what he’s got.
Cees - I think one of the things that all the Heresy authors have tried to look at is not WHAT happens but HOW and WHY. As you say, we know Caesar’s fate - the interest lies in finding out the surprises and secret twists that led to it. I was going to mention the movie Titanic then, as an example of something being remarkably successful even though we know what’s going to happen in the end, but if I do, the next thing you know it’ll be all Irish Jigs and life drawings, and I’ll be forced to send for the cheese police.
Jay - your idea actually made me stop and think for a moment. There is something very interesting about instruments ultimately resenting the inferior things that created them. However, Graham’s rebuttal was spot on - as was Big’s, in a completely different spirit. “Yeah, I know we said we were okay with the no-kids thing, but we’re really not…” made me laugh: it’s a mainstream, prime-time drama subplot meets shooty-death-kill in space. It’s Calista Flockhart in carapace armor. It’s Kristin Davis on a Golden Throne (with scatter cushions).
Frank - you know, of course, once you’ve fallen to Chaos, there’s nothing to say that Slaanesh can’t adjust your desires, tastes and… well, anatomy.
Graham’s blog yesterday talked specifically about the “Prospero Books” and how they came to be written (in the case of mine, STILL being written). Joking aside, the picture is surprisingly accurate. We’d enjoyed writing the first two books in the HH series so much, passing notions and characters back and forth, that we approached these with a more deliberate intent. Both of us assumed I’d be Magnus and he’d be Russ. I’ve never liked the Space Wolves much. Don’t get me wrong - they’re great in the game, just brilliant, but in terms of crafting fiction around them, they always seem to be too… well, vikings in space, really. Too on the nose. Too much what they appear to be in an SF context where that shouldn’t be realistic.
Anyway, that’s eventually why I thought I ought to write their side: it would be too easy to take the sorcerer-astartes and write inside my comfort zone. I realised I needed to face my demons and tackle the challenge. And I wanted to give Graham a proper creative choice, monkey knife fight in the car park or no monkey knife fight in the car park.
It was the right choice to make. I am a brother of wolves now, and I own an axe.
And I’m not kidding.
Philip mentioned yesterday the fact that it’s a shame my half of the pairing won’t be seen until next year. Graham’s half, A Thousand Sons, is indeed already out. My half, Prospero Burns, will be available for pre-order in the latter part of this year. It‘s had to be postponed in the schedule, and I can’t say how sorry I am about that. No matter how well you plan things, you can’t predict everything. Last autumn, while I was working on the book, I started to suffer seizures. Several months of CAT scans and MRIs finally revealed that I had developed epilepsy. Now I’m learning to live with the condition, which has involved making all sorts of changes in my lifestyle, not all of them unwelcome. Right now, I’m really getting back into the swing of things and building momentum in my work again. I’m not making light of epilepsy, but that eventual diagnosis came as a huge relief: the seizures could have been evidence of something a great deal more… how can I put it? A great deal more drastic. But, as you can imagine, Prospero Burns did get a little disrupted at the end of last year.
So I’d like to take this opportunity to say that I’m really sorry that Prospero Burns is late, and I’m also sorry about anything else that’s run over a little, and the convention appearances I’ve had to cancel, and I’m sorry to Graham that our working relationship on the Prospero books, though great fun and very productive, wasn’t QUITE what we were imagining.
I’ll try to make it worth waiting for.
Oh, and fyi - in terms of writing tips: monkey knife fights in car parks can be a very useful creative tool if used correctly.
Related posts:
- …997, 998, 999, A Thousand Sons. Yesterday I talked about the feel of how we approached writing stories set during the Horus Heresy, what made them different and how we made sure you knew you were reading one when you picked it up. Today I’m going to take a look at how they informed the...
- For your weekend reading pleasure… I just wanted to pop back tonight and get you all fired up for Graham McNeill, who’ll be manning the main blog here for the next couple of days. Expect Ultramarines, the origin of Graham’s Ultramarine fiction, writing nuts and bolts (should that be ‘bolters’?), and plenty of other cool...
- Ooooh, you’ll never guess what that Horus did the other day… Graham and I have been gossiping away like a couple of fishwives over the last couple of days about the general subject of whether it’s more difficult to write in your own world as opposed to a shared one or not. Digressions, well there have been many, but we thought...
- Somebody else’s blog, somebody else’s universe… Wow, this is a bit like checking into a fancy hotel. Will you look at this blog? It’s got decorative side motifs, for goodness sake! It’s not like being at home in your own blog. Everything’s so clean, and there are mints on the pillow… I’m Dan. Hello. Morgan and...
- Hi, I’m Dan, and I’ll be your God-Emperor of Mankind It was recently announced that the luminous Michael Moorcock would be writing a Doctor Who novel. In the press release, he said that this book was “not a tie-in”. Later, presumably after people had coughed quietly and politely behind him, he issued another statement correcting the (I’m sure quite genuine)...
January 30th, 2010 on 7:56 am
And I certainly felt completely “rebutted” by Mr McNeill! I guess I didn’t quite see it as a soap opera type (oh the no kids thing). Strangely it stemmed from the great Frank Herbert’s decision to have the Fish Speakers (in the God Emperor of Dune) being an army of all female warriors. The theory being that male warriors who have have no conquering left to do will ultimately turn upon the very citizens they were there to protect (I’m sure it is described far more eloquently by Frank Herbert). The reasoning being that the drive to reproduce in a species is ultimately fundamental and irrepressible. Whereas females of the species are far more likely to be protective of the society in which they live.
I just thought that majestic heroic beings who had been genetically engineered to defend the weaker human species could ultimately be twisted by the powers of chaos to resent the one thing they can never have. After all the Emperor had his progeny (primarchs) and the SMs were the grandsons. So the SMs have virtual immortality. They fight for brotherhoods and the greater good of mankind to conquer the galaxy and then…what? They hand it over and become a police force? No wars left to fight? No foe to vanquish? After a few centuries they are going to get pretty bored?
And let’s not pretend the SMs are completely uninterested in the concept of sex. In Graham’s Fulgrim there is a Slaneeshi orgy scene where it is clear to me the SMs are intrigued by the sexual behaviour of the humans but because it is an alien concept to them they resort the only thing they do understand, violence.
Anthropologists and biologists can clearly argue that the one driving force in any species is to reproduce itself and survive.
So…I just thought that over time, once their raison d’etre had been taken away, the SMs would/could “evolve” and start to want things that other mortal races take for granted. And that this deep rooted need within any species, no matter how well repressed or alien a concept, could be twisted and exploited by chaos.
I wouldn’t have expected that to have been executed in a prime TV soap stylee of course
However, all moot points because this is not the root cause chosen by GW and the various HH authors. I am not criticising the story that is there as it works very nicely thank you. I just wanted to put forward an additional (not alternative) notion.
Okay, I’ll get back in my box now and stick to reading rather than suggesting stuff
January 30th, 2010 on 9:48 am
The wait im sure will make prospero burns all the sweater and weve got thousand sons and nemesis to keep our HH tastebuds more than satisfied
January 30th, 2010 on 11:04 am
@ Sir Abnett: Life is what happens when you are busy planning everything else.
IMO: The suspension of waiting longer for Prospero Burns will only add to the intrigue of the entire HH series. In short it will be worth the wait!
@ Jay “Anthropologists and biologists can clearly argue that the one driving force in any species is to reproduce itself and survive”
Although i get your point: is that not why gene seed is so important? (Reference: Storm of Iron) Maybe this aspect of geneseed importance could be emphasized.
Hypothetically in the grim far future men (and women) can be engineered. Male and females could be farmed for reproduction. Women are obsolete as breeding as machines take over these roles. Sex will not be as important, but more of a hobby.
In addition “And let’s not pretend the SMs are completely uninterested in the concept of sex. In Graham’s Fulgrim there is a Slaneeshi orgy scene where it is clear to me the SMs are intrigued by the sexual behaviour of the humans but because it is an alien concept to them they resort the only thing they do understand, violence”
In their eyes violence = sex. They are machines bred for fighting.
BTW excellent blogs!
January 30th, 2010 on 11:40 am
These are Great Blogs aint they!
There is a difference between not being able to have sex because your new body wont allow it, and having mental conditioning to stop you from wanting it.
Which one is it.And besides if the Emperor took my Balls i would rebel to!
January 30th, 2010 on 1:04 pm
The way I see it guys (and this is by a long way to nerdiest thing I’ve ever posted so forgive me)the marines would still be physically capable and I imagine the Emperor’s children and any other slaneshi types get involved in some pretty perverse business whenever they get the chance but I see the loyal legions as like warrior monks who have their minds on other things…I know irl just because someone’s taken a vow of celibacy doesn’t mean they’ll stick to it but space marines are super human in every other aspect so why not restraint and keeping their mind on what they’re supposed to be on IE all the xenocide and crushing things under foot whilst shouting. Going back to what’s already been said about them resenting the inferior things that made them(us), could they not think human women are so inferior that they would be unattractive in general?
January 30th, 2010 on 2:38 pm
I really don’t care about waiting for books. I’ve been immunized by the 5 year (and counting) wait for George R.R. Martin’s ‘A Dance With Dragons’. He is an awesome writer whose work I strongly recommend to anyone but he is very, very SLOW.
In comparison, Graham and Dan positively churn out books at an amazing rate, which makes me very happy.
About the whole SM procreation thing. I imagine genetic, hormonal and hypnotic conditioning can pretty much eradicate such desires. In fact chemical castration is actually already pretty good at that.
January 30th, 2010 on 4:07 pm
Just to be clear:
1. I love the HH and W40k books pretty much as they are (depending on the author).
2. Without a doubt the SMs have been bred/genetically engineered to focus all their efforts into the perfection of warcraft. To be the perfect warriors, bonded by brotherhood and not distracted by petty things like emotional bonds based on sexual attraction that can undermine ones loyalty to your warrior brothers (a bit like the Samurai and Knights Templar).
3. Nature will always find a way! It is the very purpose of every species (be that plant, animal, viral) to procreate and make more of itself.
4. Therefore over time (maybe a looooong time) I was theorising that once the purpose for the SMs had gone, ie no more war or conquest, then at some point they might want to develop into a species of their own.
5. Whether this would ever come to pass is irrelevant because Chaos would be able to exploit every little chink in their mental armour.
So to be clear it isn’t about sex as a pleasure thing. It is about sex as a procreation thing. However, in humans sex is such a powerful motivator that operates at a primordial level that the SMs (who have been engineered from human neophytes with a range of new organs etc) could still tap into this need at a subconscious level.
Anyhow this is just my ramblings. People like Dan and Graham are far more talented than me in terms of writing fiction.
Nonetheless pleased to see that others have been intrigues/interested in the discussion.
On a different note - DAN - wish you all the best with the epilepsy. Hard as it is for a fanboi to be patient, I will wait with baited breath for Prospero Burns (and try my hardest not to read Thousand Sons until both books are in my hands - yeah right!)
As I said (JayStar) on your own blog. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed epilepsy was a gift of the Gods only bestowed on those who were exceptional. You share your illness with Alexander and Julius Ceaser (not sure if that will make you feel any better but hey…good company!)
Thanks to both Dan and Graham for the excellent blogs this last week or so.
January 30th, 2010 on 4:15 pm
Kromvolt - Geneseed! Quite right and true. In a way that does perhaps = continuance of the species. Hadn’t considered that.
Paul - “could they not think human women are so inferior that they would be unattractive in general?”
I guess they would need some 7ft warrior women 
January 30th, 2010 on 8:28 pm
Thanks to Dan and Graham for some really engaging posts over the last week or so. I’ve really enjoyed them a great deal and have been inspired by the enthusiasm for the 40K universe you have both so eloquently communicated.
Honestly Dan there’s no need to apologise for the delay, I said your health comes first and I meant it! I will happily wait a year rather than have you push yourself to the point that the epilepsy becomes more of problem than it already is.
I’m in the middle of a short story that’s going to involve a lone Wolf Scout and was hoping that your apparently unique take on the Space Wolves might give me some idea of how to write the character because all I’ve got at the moment is a rich helping of SciFi Cliches (with sprinkles). I might try emailing you on that front…
In the meanwhile I’ll take comfort in the imminent release of Graham’s masterpiece, A Thousand Sons. I love Mr. McNeill’s gritty and dark style and can’t wait to see his take on such a central part of the 40k mythos.
As for Mr. Abnett, take good care of yourself and I wait with baited breath for your next literary piece de resistance.
January 31st, 2010 on 3:25 pm
@Mr Abnett : I’ve been reading your blog (and your entries on Babel Clash) for quite some time, but never dared comment^^
First of all, I wish you the best with your health. Waiting is always hard for the fans, but we’re not monsters, we understand… And we know we won’t be disappointed !
Regarding the “Loken’s not dead” business… It does make me a happy fangirl, but… you didn’t write Loken’s “end”, so were you threatening Ben Counter to make the scene vague enough, or is it your conclusion after reading how it turned out ? And even if he is alive, does it really make a difference ? As far as we know, he has no way of leaving Istvaan III…
January 31st, 2010 on 5:34 pm
@marine - very well said! plus you’ve asked the question i was going to ask…
January 31st, 2010 on 6:28 pm
It’s Sunday night and since our stint here is almost at an end, I’d like to thank everyone for making this such fun. It’s been great chatting to you all - as that’s what I think this has been, a chat, a natter, a bit of a chinwag down the pub. A lot more informal than a personal author blog, and a lot more reactive. So for all of you who dropped by to push us into the Borders Book of Records, give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back.
And Jay, t’was a good point, and I apologise if you felt well and truly rebutted. But I think Kromvolt has hit the nail on the head with his talk of gene-seed. *That’s* the Astartes means of ensuring his genetic material gets passed on and achieving true immortality.
Anyway, I’m off to bed now, so I’ll hopefully see you tomorrow.
February 1st, 2010 on 12:51 am
To Mr. McNeil: Thanks for all the interesting reads!
Best of health to both Mr. Abnett and Mr. McNeil. The two of you and George R.R. Martin (who Cees mentioned above) make up my auto-preorder list and read author blogs.
PS: Please, please, please don’t go anywhere near Mr. Martin or you’ll catch his writer’s block. But by the God-Emperor is his work polished when he puts his stuff to press.
PPS: Legion and Mechanicum made Biology class interesting this semester, so, thanks a lot for that!
Dan
February 1st, 2010 on 9:05 am
Vikings in space, too on the norse. Heh.
April 6th, 2010 on 12:12 pm
good article, i will add my feeds.