Comments on: Not the end

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:29:22 +0000

“Nerd event horizon” is one of the best things I’ve heard in some time. I can just imagine being dragged irrevocably past the point of no return into a nerd-hole…full of all the things I do already (Whilst I scream, “My money’s on the Hulk, Dan!”)
Anyway, thanks you two it’s been a fine blog and it may be a tired point but I think everyone will agree that the things the pair of you write are not so much tie ins as they are the stuff that ties the whole 40K universe together. See you around.

By: Marine

Marine — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0000

@AmbroseKalifornia : I was telling myself the same thing a bit earlier ! Warhammer 40k is built with the novels written in its universe, so it doesn’t “belong” to someone in particular, but to the authors who made it real. (… as real as books can be, but you get my point ><)

By: AmbroseKalifornia

AmbroseKalifornia — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:32:29 +0000

Dan, this was great fun. You and Graham working off each other made this a better blog, I can’t wait until Borders invites the two of you back to pimp out the Ultramarines movie.

As for all this tie-in business: Warhammer 40,000 IS your universe. You might not have created it, but for me, and for others it was you that made it great. I’ve bought extra copies of “The Founding” that I keep around the house, just to give to people to get them into your work, and into that universe. Not to take anything away from anyone else, but YOU are the reason 40k books have their own special shelf in my home.

See you around the internets, Dan
-AK

By: morgan

morgan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:09:43 +0000

Adam, the idea of getting a video game writer to guest here is a great one. Let me see what we can do.

I’m also interested in finding editors and artists to participate. Maybe even some scriptwriters. I’m optimistic that 2010 will be full of good surprises and a diverse mix of guests.

Thanks for commenting,
Morgan

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:06:49 +0000

I’m going to create a universe and force people at sword point to write in it.

“No! You can’t kill Maladrient! he is the Keeper of the Veil of Tears, the mighty artifact of the Prophet Forderog, wielder of Arganoth, the sword of flame! ANY nub knows that!”

I would have commented more, but Mass Effect 2 has really been cutting into my everything-else time.

To the Babel Clash hosts - maybe it’d be fun to get a video game writer on here sometime? if they could make as interesting a case as Dan or Graham, it’d at least be a fun discussion.

By: Roderick

Roderick — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:39:33 +0000

I’ve just managed to get up to date with this bloggery in the nick of time - thanks to you both for them all, I have now also been bitten by the writing bug, so let’s see how things end up.
By way of contribution to the Astartes Breeding Programme discussion, I’m going to go way back in a nerdy timewarp to the 2nd Edition Codex Chaos, which states that many Fallen Angels chose to settle down and have families rather than go looking for trouble any more. And that’s more recent than Ian Watson’s Inquisition War series, which had a Squat teasing a Space Marine about having no goolies.
Something I picked up on from the first few HH books, which doubtless was intended by you fine gentlemen, was that The Emperor allowed the Primarchs to be taken and scattered. This to me implies that he knew what would happen, and it was all part of his Cylonesque Plan. I therefore theorise that he had thought in advance about what he would do with the Astartes at the end of the Great Crusade, and felt that the only thing that would allow mankind to resist the threats of the future was conflict… and sacrifice. Sacrificing himself to become a beacon of hope, and sacrificing his beloved sons and grandsons to Chaos (itself an incarnation of our own darkest feelings), and all the antisocial behaviour involved, was the only thing that could keep humanity united for another ten thousand years. The sheer scale of the Heresy and the absolutism of the threat of Chaos were the only ways to be sure mankind would not gently slide into its grasp, as the Eldar did. Is that, perhaps, how you intended it Messrs. Abnett and Mcneil?

I’m also now very interested in reading your Ultramarine novels, Graham, but I can’t resist a little teasing humour I found upon the webs on the subject of the mighty blues:

…

HISTORY OF THE ULTRAMARINES

Circa M29: The Unification Wars. The Emperor of Mankind unites Terra, and sets off to conquer the stars. The Ultramarines’ Primarch, Robute Guilliman, is conveniently located on the other side of the galaxy when this occurs.

012.M31-014.M31: The Horus Heresy. Half of all Space Marine chapters betray the Emperor and turn to Chaos. Terra is sieged by the traitors, most Astartes legions suffer major losses, the Blood Angels, Imperial Fists, and White Scars are forced to make a stand on Terra, while the Dark Angels lose their homeworld,the Salamanders, Iron Hands, and Raven Guard are nearly destroyed,and the Emperor is crippled. The Ultramarines are conveniently located on the other side of the galaxy when this occurs.

546.M32: ‘The Beheading’: The High Lords of Terra are all slain on the orders of Drakan Vangorich, Grand Master of the Officio Assassinorum. The rogue Master of Assassins is tracked down and slain by a Space Marine strikeforce drawn from the Imperial Fists, Halo Brethren and Sable Swords. Only a single Space Marine survives the campaign. The Ultramarines are conveniently located on the other side of the galaxy when this occurs.

843.M35: Distress call from Grendel’s World investigated. Planet discovered to have been attacked and all inhabitants slain by terror tactics of the Night Lords. The Ultramarines are conveniently located on the other side of the galaxy when this occurs.

723.M36: The 5th Black Crusade begins. Doombreed, a prince of Khorne declares war on the Adeptus Astartes. The Warhawks and the Venerators are lost. The Ultramarines are conveniently located on the other side of the galaxy when this occurs.

…

There’s lots more of that as well, but I’ve cut most of it out. I hope you take it as tongue-in-cheek, I’m still going to read your books and enjoy having my mind changed. I also love what you did in Mechanicum with the Dragon and the Emperor, and I feel that perhaps the influence of the Dragon upon the inhabitants of Mars was also part of his Plan?

Lastly, Dan, it doesn’t matter how long Prospero Burns takes, just make sure you look after yourself. I’m of the same mindset towards the Wolves as you were when you started out, so I know it’ll be a wonderful revelation whenever it comes, and all of us fans will wait with baited breath for however long it takes for the book to turn out in the shape you want it, with you still in the shape you should be.

Thanks again for the fabby blogs Gentlemen, I’m now going to try and write some more…

By: TimK

TimK — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:24:17 +0000

Likewise from me. Thanks Messers. A and McN for the mental nourishment and inspiration and I am now eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next trench of Heresy novels and despite my lack of love for the Ultras I’m thinking of starting the novels.

By: Cees

Cees — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:10:49 +0000

Thanks Dan. Thanks Graham. Thanks babelclash. As for the Nerd Event Horizon. I expect I’m about to dive over it head first with Lost tomorrow