Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.
In this instalment I spoke to Gav Thorpe about his latest 40k novel – Ashes of Prospero, the second book in the new Space Marine Conquests series. It’s available to order as of tomorrow, in paperback or ebook.
Over to Gav.
Track of Words: What’s the elevator pitch summary for Ashes of Prospero?
Gav Thorpe: Nordic saga meets Jason and the Argonauts as a company of Space Wolves head into the unknown on a quest for their lost brothers.
ToW: Without spoiling anything, who are the main characters and what do we need to know about them?
GT: The first character is Njal Stormcaller. He is the High Rune Priest of the Space Wolves and it’s his actions that precipitate the need to return to the portal maze of Tizca on Prospero. He is accompanied by Arjac Rockfist, champion of the Great Wolf, and the company is joined by the ever-entertaining Lukas the Trickster.
ToW: Where and when is it set?
GT: After the Cicatrix Maledictum has split the galaxy, and the return of Roboute Guilliman. But Magnus’s attack on Fenris is still fresh in the memories of the Space Wolves.
ToW: How did you find tackling the Space Wolves’ reactions to the introduction of Primaris Marines?
GT: To be honest, I mostly dodged the issue. This book isn’t about that, but I cover it in passing because it would have been odd not to mention it at all. But the alternative would have derailed the plot to examine this new and disruptive addition to the Chapter.
ToW: Is there anything that you’d recommend readers check out before reading this?
GT: It should stand alone, but its follows on from events in my Horus Heresy audio drama The Thirteenth Wolf.
ToW: Why this story? What made you want to write this in particular?
GT: I was asked to write a title for Space Marine Conquests and was given free rein to choose a chapter expect the Blood Angels (because of Guy Haley’s brilliant Devastation of Baal). Having had some passing experience with the Space Wolves in recent Horus Heresy work – in Weregeld, for example – I thought it would be a cool challenge to tackle them in the 41st millennium. The story from Thirteenth Wolf suggested some interesting dynamics that could be set up and that was the start of it.
ToW: What were your main influences when writing it? Did you draw upon any real-life experience to help you plan or write it?
GT: It’s very much in the vein of an old saga, with a crew of a longship setting off on adventure without knowing what lies beyond the horizon.
ToW: How does the final product compare to your original concept? Has anything changed much from your first ideas?
GT: The roles of Lukas and Arjac grew in the telling and the book greatly benefits from that. It makes it feel more like a group of warriors going on this voyage with their own goals rather than the journey of a single character driving everything.
ToW: How does this story compare to the rest of your work? Is it a familiar style, or a departure?
GT: With its multi-viewpoint narrative it’s certainly more like my recent work with Ghost Warrior and Legacy of Caliban rather than the single character focus of Path of the Warrior.
ToW: Do you have plans to continue any aspects of this story, or is it a standalone piece?
GT: It’s just a one-off.
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Thanks once again to Gav for taking the time to answer these questions. Keep an eye out for a review of Ashes of Prospero very soon! If you fancy taking a look at some other Rapid Fire interviews, just click here.
If you’ve got any questions, comments or other thoughts please do let me know in the comments below, on Facebook or Twitter, or by emailing me at michael@trackofwords.com.