Gav Thorpe's Blog, page 38

Video Interview

Hopefully you were not out off by my appalling Russian in the trailer, and now here is the full interview in which I discuss life, writing, Eldar and Dark Angels.

And remember, if you want to chat in person I will be at the ScifiWeekender, along with fellow BL authors Graham McNeill, Guy Haley and lots of other interesting people: https://www.scifiweekender.com/

Oh, and I also witter on about names in this guest blog post over at Angels of Retribution:

New Interview Coming Soon

So, here’s a teaser for a video interview I recently did with Shawn, who is spreading the word and being a general hobby hero in Moscow.

Don’t worry, the only Russian I mangle is in the teaser; for the rest of the interview I mangle the English language instead.

Why Writing is Great

I love writing. I really do.

When I left Games Workshop a few years ago, I had a few sessions with an employment consultant. During one meeting early on she asked the question that so often pops up in interviews and appraisals – “Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?” It had always bamboozled me a little bit in the past because I was, frankly, doing what I wanted to be doing. On this particular occasion it struck me not to think of it as an abstract question but to actually visualise what I wanted to be doing.

And what I wanted to be doing, what I saw myself doing, was sitting in front of a keyboard. It was that moment, that clarity an oft-overused question brought, which settled me into the life of the freelancer.

I don’t have many memories from my childhood, so I can’t say that I was making up stories from the age of five or anything, but I do remember my first fantasy book. It was called Anazar’s Crystal. It was an epic, probably almost a thousand words long, all handwritten for English class, with Illustrations by the Author too.

It was a typical quest narrative, but I won’t say more than that because there was a kernel of an idea that I might come back to one day, when I’ve got the opportunity for an old-style heroic fantasy novel.

Up to and through my teens I continued to write (and design games), and I revisited Anazar’s Crystal, coming up with some neat concepts that, as I just mentioned, still have some merit. The writing itself was probably not all that great, but thankfully nothing remains of these early scribblings – including a pronunciation guide inspired by the Professor (and along with a fascination for languages came an unhealthy need to draw maps, lots of maps). However, my fixation on double-vowels continued into The Crown of the Blood…

All of which is to say that writing is something I’ve always done and, leaving aside the fortunes of chance that saw me employed at Games Workshop and hence writing for Black Library, I would still be writing for the sake of it.

I am not alone. There are thousands, possibly millions of people across the world that write because they want to, because they like it, because they need to get the thoughts and ideas out of their heads in some fashion.

Fan fiction is often disparaged, but anybody that takes the time in this age of instant gratification to string together a couple of hundred words or more deserves credit. To do so for the enjoyment of it, regardless of end result, should be rewarded not mocked. (Okay, maybe we could do with less slash fiction, but that’s where I draw the line.)

And some of it, quite a bit of it, is rather good. The fan writer of today is the published writer of tomorrow (or sometimes the published writer of yesterday, such are the whims of fate). While I sometimes remember to let free a nugget of my experience on these pages, no advice can ever beat ‘Just write.’ (This should be followed by ‘and bloody finish’ but that is a lot harder.) More and more these days publishers are trying to find the best ways to catch the talent, and though the good old slush pile still remains, being active in the community and writing stuff is becoming a surer route than it used to be. I will always support* folks that aspire to be published, whether through words of advice here or in person, or by supporting such forums and communities as I can.

One such effort has been the Shellcase Shorts. I’ve donated a few prizes over the last couple of years to hopefully reward those who have managed to not only start writing something, but have actually finished (see rule two, earlier). The latest winners have now been compiled into the Shellcase Shorts anthology and as a gesture of support – my tiny contribution compared to the efforts of others – I have written a foreword.

Go here and read these stories now, feel inspired, sing their praises (or provide a constructive critique if that’s your thing).

*A caveat nearly every writer will give you: for reasons of time and to avoid accusations of plagiarism I am unable to give feedback on specific works in progress, proposals or finished pieces. Sorry. Truth is, if a writer has time to read someone else’s work and edit it, chances are they’ll be using that time on their own stuff.

Dark Angle on the Dark Angels

Finally, the Dark Angels are big news. Okay, they’ve been pretty popular for many years, but with their inclusion in the most recent Warhammer 40,000 boxed Dark Vengeance set they’ve become the focus of a lot of attention. Also, Codex: Dark Angels has just hit the shelves, including lots of lovely background material both old and new.

 

More importantly, this week sees the release in e-format of my first Dark Angels novel, Angels of Darkness. This tale of Interogator-Chaplain Boreas and former Chapter Master Astelan is also available from Black Library as a print-on-demand product if you feel the need to have something to hold and put on the shelf.

To celebrate this, I have also written a new Dark Angels story, Battle Brothers, that ties in with Ravenwing, charting an episode in the life of Sergeant Cassiel that happens ‘off-screen’ in that novel.

With this in mind it seems like an ideal time to talk a little about how I see the Dark Angels, their character and their motivations. That’s a lot to cover in one go, so instead I’m going to break it down into a series of posts. This one was prompted by an email I received a while ago (apologies to the fan identified as ‘AVLMP’ for the delay!)

There’s been a question festering in my head, giving me its share of fanboy grief and forum trolling bilious discharges: Are the Dark Angels heartless scumbags who divert precious scant Imperial resources to play huntsman across the galaxy? [...] Lately they’ve been portrayed in a rather… alien way to what I imagined them to be though. Or maybe I’ve been nursing unreal expectations, I don’t know at this point. So, to rephrase the original question: do the Dark Angels (in their current iteration) ever engage in conflicts for the sake of the Imperium, or is the Imperium just a tool to utilize in the Hunt?

There is no short answer to this question, but the simplest answer is that for 99% of the time (and for 80%+ of the Chapter’s members) the Dark Angels are as much an Emperor-serving, xenos-slaying, mutant-loathing, witch-burning Chapter as the next one (or the Ultramarines). If you want an example of this, amongst many fine stories, you might like to try The Purging of Kadillus. However, for 1% of the time (and for 20% of their members) they have their own agenda: the hunt for the Fallen.

Doing the alien-smiting part of the job on Piscina IV.

The Fallen is the flaw of the Dark Angels, every bit as debilitating and shameful as the Red Thirst is for the Blood Angels. The different with the Dark Angels versus their brothers from Baal is that their taint is self-inflicted and spiritual rather than physical. A long, long time ago their leaders faced a choice and, for reasons that hopefully will be explored at some point when we’re done with the Horus Heresy they decided to keep a secret. A really big secret. And they lied.

The problem with lies and secrets is that the longer you keep them, the worse it becomes if they get out. Thus, on occasion those of the Dark Angels who understand the truth about the Chapter’s past have gone to extreme lengths to protect the sanctity of that secret. It is important to remember that the Inner Circle keep the truth of what happened at the end of the Heresy from the battle-brothers, and even the whole truth from the Ravenwing and Deathwing. It’s my view that no one individual knows entirely what happened after 10,000 years of mystery and ritual. The various roles within the Inner Circle exist to keep the secret, even from each other sometimes. Your regular Tactical Space Marine has no more clue about past events than anybody outside the Chapter and is a faithful, zealous servant of the Emperor.

Some people ask what is the big deal and point out that nearly all, if not all, of the legions had some members turn from the Emperor. The big deal is that the Dark Angels chose to hide that fact and from this decision has stemmed 10,000 years of paranoia, lies and manipulation. For the most part the leadership of the Chapter, and their successors, are concerned with the day-to-day violence and mayhem that is all part of the fun of being a Space Marine, but now and then an opportunity arises to catch one of the Fallen, and that’s when priorities get skewed.

Being a little more flexible with their priorities, whilst also purging heretics and aliens.

It is part and parcel of the Chapter’s leaders that they exist within this dichotomy, not fully understanding the true nature of their own treachery; they are unable to step outside the story they have created and see themselves for what they really are. To even question whether it is right to keep the Chapter’s secret is to invite heresy, and a Dark Angel is no more capable of that than an Ultramarine is of tossing away the Codex Astartes and saying ‘I think those Space wolves are on to a good idea’. It is literally unthinkable that the First Legion could be disloyal, because by their very nature they are the guardians of the truth and thus the arbiters of what constitutes loyalty.

That’s my approach, what do you think?

Next topic, coming soon: The Lion, what’s up with him?

Page Fright

If you’ve ever tried to write something – and I’m sure most readers of Mechamster have – you’ll know the feeling. You have an idea for a story,  perhaps more than an idea, a whole fleshed-out plan in your head. All you have to do is write. And yet, there’s something holding you back, something that stops you despoiling that pristine white page with your ill-found words.

Procrastination, I am thee. I have found all manner of things to do rather than actually start writing this story that has been on my mental to-do pile for the last few weeks. I’ve had ample opportunities to get it written, and it’s only going to be about 4,000 words so it’s not a massive task, but can I get started?

Some folks talk about writer’s block, but I am one of those that doesn’t really believe in such a thing. Not in the ‘the muse isn’t with me’ sort of way. No, when the words aren’t flowing, it’s usually because the subconscious is pulling the strings, trying to attract the attention of the conscious about a problem or flaw in the plan or writing.

The problem is, I think the problem my subconscious is giving me hell about is a simple one, and isn’t about a detail of plot or a nuance of character. No, it’s screaming at me ‘Is this the right story at all?’

For once, I need to ignore it. The simple reason is that this story is something different, outside my comfort zone. It’s not going to see the light of day for quite a while yet so I can’t go into details, but suffice it to say that it is not a bolters blazing, guts and glory tale that I am quite used to.

I’ve done what I usually tell people to do in this situation, taking my own advice. I’ve slept on it, letting the ideas lie fallow before coming back to them, and given the story plenty of time to percolate, distil, evaporate and come back as creative condensation spattering my thoughts, and still I can’t quite bring myself to commit to an opening line.

It’s a minor crisis of confidence, nothing more. I’ve had them before, and I’d be very surprised if this was the last.

So it is time to put into practice advice nugget number two. Just damn well write something. It can be edited, rewritten, ditched altogether, but having something on the page is always better than having nothing on the page.

Which is why I must now draw this little update to a close, open up that blank page, and write something.

“I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE.”

[But I'll be back soon, I promise]

Early Ravenwing Reviews

As I finish my preparations for Master of Sanctity, book two for the Legacy of Caliban, the pre-release reviews of book one, Ravenwing, are hitting the net.

Here’s what The Independent Characters had to say.

And nice things too over at The Founding Fields.

The vibe on forums and from those that picked up early copies at the BL Weekender has been very positive, and fits with how I felt when I finished writing the book. When writing about Space Marines there is a balance to be found between creating interesting characters and conflicts whilst remaining true to the spirit and nature of these post-human warriors. With the Ravenwing I’ve been able to look at the more independently minded members of the Dark Angels and I’m really happy with the result – a good blend of proper Space Marineness married to some genuinely different characters.

And for those that have mentioned it, yes a lot of the dialogue was influenced by the Spartacus TV series and their ilk; the blend of near-poetic and blunt adds a lovely cadence and character to these knights in space.

Ravenwing is available for pre-order and ebook download right now!

Christmas Offering

Today my short story for the Black Library advent becomes available. Never Forgive is a spin-off from the Sundering, detailing the fate of one of the characters passed over by the cataclysmic conclusion. Also, a not-so-subtle joke about a certain fantasy trope. Find it here:

http://www.blacklibrary.com/time-of-l...

New Sample Synopses

As someone was asking on facebook about Synopses, here’s some that are fairly recent that might help some folks.

First of all, for the short story The Ninth Book.

And a novella, Catechism of Hate.

And the last novel of The Sundering, Caledor.

Older ones can be found here, here and here.

 

Are Elves Gay?

I received some time ago a comment which stopped me in my tracks. I went back and forth on this, trying to work out my own thoughts on the subject, and to be honest I’m not sure I came to any solid conclusions other than ‘it’s not been presented that way before.’ Anyway, here’s a the comment and my reply.

 

First I wish to say, that I loved your books, especially Morathi was potrayed even better than I hoped. But I also hope I dont offend you if I say that there were lot of cliches, stereotypes and predictable events.

This brings me to my question. Basically I wish to know more about Elven homosexuality in wahrammer and censorship in GW/BL. Most fans get furious when I suggest I imagine Elves as pagans with very different view on sexuality.

I find it very curious that druchii who are often compared to Sparta and Rome, are according to most too ,,macho” pseudodarwinists to tolerate homosexuality, despite huge importance of homosexuality in both those warlike cultures. In case of extremelly hedonistic Druchii and sophisticated Asur this seems even more absurd.

Fans get even more angry when I suggest I imagine Malekith (and perhaps all Elves) as being quite bisexuall. Its not just that Malekith the Great reminds me so much of Alexander the Great and Gaius Julius Caesar (both bisexuall), it also seems natural to me that a mortal with such a long lifespan would surely experience some homoerotic affairs.

Am I wrong if I see GW as being similiar to Blizzard when it comes even to mere homoerotic references? On one hand GW is not afraid to sell completely naked harpies, witches in g-strings and daemonettes with six naked breasts as well as referencing to incestuous relationship between Malekith and Morathi and cross-breeding between different species, but is reluctant to make even slightest reference to existence of homosexuality.

I am not some childish gay person who demands to have such themes in every piece of art, its just that in warhammer fiction this phenomenon really lowers the potential for depth and credibility. It is especially obvious when it comes to any lore associated with Slaanesh and your description of athartists. Trying to bring such a natural feature (with huge importance on peoples behavior and fates) out of existence is like creating a world without gravity.

Otherwise I really like your work and I just hope I shall know thanks to you what to expect from GW in the years to come regarding this matter.

Sorry for taking so long to reply – I’ve been busy with travels and deadlines and didn’t want to rattle off something short and glib. You raise a very interesting point, and one that I’ve had to think about very carefully before replying.

Are there gay elves?

Yes, would be my overall reply, but though your examples from pagan cultures would make sense in the context of elven culture, I do not see their sexual society being as close to those you cite, simply from the few examples we have to look at. While the logic of what you say stands up, I simply don’t think this was what was intended when the early background of the elves was being written. The comparison with Athens and Sparta is a rough shorthand at best, particularly to highlight Nagarythe’s militarisation compared to a mainly citizen levy from other states; and also to present the political influence of Nagarythe and Caledor over the other, ostensibly independent, elven kingdoms. In other aspects – slavery most prominently – elven society is substantially different. There seems nothing to suggest that the distinction between adult, sexually active elven males and everything else – the basis for Greek sexuality at the basic level – exists within Ulthuan’s culture.

The only real background we have regarding elf sexual politics comes via the Everqueen. We know that the Phoenix King is required to sire the next Everqueen, but after this their relationship is purely formal (Aenarion notwithstanding). The only other relationship we have to compare is Prince Tyrion as the Everqueen’s consort, which suggests a more high medieval, courtly love than the culture of classical pagans. With that said, I don’t imagine there to be any particular stigma attached to homosexuality within elven society, and it may well be prevalent as you say.

A particular difficulty is that any special emphasis on homosexuality for Warhammer elves, as opposed to any other races, would feed into the juvenile view held by some that they wear dresses, are effeminate and, in a derogatory way, are gay. To include one homosexual elf in a story might smack of tokenism, while to explore it it more depth would be difficult within the scope of a Warhammer novel – just as exploring any other facets of sexual society is difficult given the guidelines for content that exist with Black Library. Creating the correct sort of context to explore these issues is tricky unless it is to be one of the main themes of a story, and cowardly though it may seem, it is not one I feel suitably skilled to present properly. Well, not until I’ve had a chance to think on it some more.

I’ll end by saying that I don’t think Black Library has any policy against portrayal of homosexuality any more than any other type of sexuality, but we all write from our own experiences and worldview and, as far as I know, as a bunch of straight authors we’ve simply stuck close to what we know.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to consider an answer to a question as involved as this, and it has made me think a lot about the assumptions I have made through my own writing. Thank you for that.

That Was The Weekender That Was

I must apologise first of all for the complete lack of photos in this post, as I was too busy to take any and forgot to appoint my various handlers to the role of guest photographer.

Pictures help to liven up a blog post.

With that said, there are lots of photos flooding the internet already so if you need a visual representation please refer to those.

Can we also assume that I have thanked the vast number of people who need to be thanked, including those whom I will inevitably forget, and that it’s safe to say all the authors, artists, BL staff and fans were incredible. Yes, all of you. Even Aaron.

Thank you.

A particular highlight for me was a joint-proposal put forward alongside the esteemed Bill King during the Pitch Factor event. To say that we were disappointed that the judges weren’t keen on ‘Karaz’ would be an understatement. Even with the musical conclusion. For those who would like to know more about a twenty-volume saga written by two Giants in the Field of Dwarfs concerning the machinations of Jorri, the most black-hearted dwarf who ever lived, and his noble and handsome brother Borri, as they wrangle over possession of the Ewingsson family brewery and their trademark brew ‘Black Gold’ following the mysterious disappearance of their father, Ewing Ewingsson, who may have been walled up in his own tomb by the dastardly Jorri, the most black-hearted dwarf who ever lived, and in turns features goblins, skaven, voluptuous priestesses of Valaya, skullduggery from many cousins and the Ewingsson family rune axe, involving Beards, Betrayal and Beer, then please feel free to drop one of us a line. All offers considered.

I also particularly enjoyed the Dark Angels seminar with Christian Dunn, talking in depth and exchanging views with fans of one of the most controversial Chapters in 40k. The format of the Weekender, with more time and panels for everyone, allows for a more detailed approach to these smaller subjects than might be possible at Black Library Live. Hopefully in the future we can pick on other topics; other races and factions or even individual series of books.

Lastly, Saturday night was a blast. Aside from the hi-jinks from Bill and I at Pitch Factor, I was also privileged to be included on one of the teams for the Universally Challenged panel quiz. Gutted that we didn’t win, but I believe there may have been a scoring malfunction at some point. However, congrats to the audience for their score. After the organised fun came the part that can only really happen at a Weekender-type event: drinks in the bar. It was a long night and an extra thanks goes to those who bought me drinks (even at hotel prices), so much so that I probably should apologise for my probably less-than-one-hundred-percent performance first thing on Sunday morning. It was just as well that I managed to drag myself to my bed at 3am and I am humbled by the constitution of those that continued. The informal discussions, debates and conversations around the scheduled seminars and signings were just as important as those on the programme.

The best Black Library event ever? Damn straight. Lets make 2013 even bigger and better.

Next Sighting

And a reminder that my next public engagement is at Sheffield Central Library, 1-4pm, 17th November; accompanying fellow Angry Robot authors and editors for a session on writing and getting into publishing.