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 David Annandale about his latest Horus Heresy Primarchs novel Vulkan: Lord of Drakes, which is available to order in limited edition hardback format right now!
As usual, let’s get straight to the questions and David’s answers.
Track of Words: What’s the elevator pitch summary for Vulkan: Lord of Drakes?
David Annandale: This is the origin story of the Salamanders. They are yet to be called by that name, and are currently two separate Legions – Nocturnean and Terran – who have never met. The time has come for Vulkan to reveal himself to the Terrans and unify the Legion, and this moment comes as the Terrans are on the verge of being wiped out by orks.
ToW: Without spoiling anything, who are the main characters and what do we need to know about them?
DA: Vulkan, obviously, is the main focus, as he steps into his role of primarch. With him on Nocturne is Rhy’tan, the Ignax who will have a crucial role in times to come in spreading Vulkan’s teachings, and the events he is about to witness will be a turning point for him. On the Terran side, there is Lord Commander Vaughn, who is facing the real possibility that he is leading his Legion on its final battle. His first captain is Artellus Numeon, and he will have a crucial role to play in the attempt to hold back extinction a bit longer.
ToW: Where and when is it set?
DA: We are very much in the era of the Great Crusade. A number of the other primarchs have been found and are leading their Legions. Vulkan has been serving the Emperor for some time, but his identity is still a secret from most. The primary setting is the death world of Antaeum and its vicinity. This is the world where the gigantic ork fleet is besieging the XVIII Legion, whose warriors are waging a last-ditch attempt to hold back the orks and save the civilian populations of the Taras Division.
ToW: Is there anything that you’d recommend readers check out before reading this?
DA: Any Salamander story by Nick Kyme, of course, but perhaps more particularly his books about Vulkan during Horus Heresy.
ToW: Why this story? What made you want to write this in particular?
DA: When it came to choosing a story to tell about Vulkan, the tale of his unification of the Legion was a natural. We have the mortal peril of a Legion on the edge of extinction, and Vulkan’s dramatic arrival. There was so much drama in the story, it was almost begging to be looked at in novel-length.
ToW: How did you go about making sure this early-era Vulkan is recognisably the same character as his Heresy equivalent, but different enough to feel like he had room to grow and develop?
DA: The specific context of the story helped with that. The qualities that make Vulkan who he is are present, but this is a critical moment for him. He has a monumental task to take on, and he isn’t a god. There is bound to be some self-doubt and uncertainty, while at the same time he is a powerful leader.
ToW: What were your main influences when writing it? Did you draw upon any real-life experience to help you plan or write it?
DA: The biggest influence was The Horus Heresy Book Two: Massacre, which recounts this foundational event in the Salamanders’ history. Nick Kyme’s exemplary work on the Salamanders was obviously hugely important too.
ToW: How does the final product compare to your original concept? Has anything changed much from your first ideas?
DA: The final version is pretty much in line with the original concept, bearing in mind, of course, the editorial guidance from Nick Kyme and Lindsey Priestley, which helped greatly in making sure I had the essence of Vulkan and the Salamanders correct. One thing that developed a lot over the course of the writing is volcanoes, and just how much fun they can be in complicating things for both sides of the war.
ToW: How does this story compare to the rest of your work? Is it a familiar style, or a departure?
DA: As with Roboute Guilliman: Lord of Ultramar, this is a bit of a departure from the more horror-inflected and gothic novels some readers might be more used to from me. It’s moving toward a good thing, which is also perhaps a bit of a change. It is very much a battle novel, though, and while I may not be squashing billions of people between mountains in this one, there are plenty of large-scale set pieces.
ToW: Do you have plans to continue any aspects of this story, or is it a standalone piece?
DA: This is a standalone piece for me, and it was a real honour to get to tell this story of one of the most crucial events in the history of the Salamanders.
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Thanks as always to David for taking the time to answer these questions. Keep an eye out for a review of Vulkan: Lord of Drakes a little later in the year, once the standard hardback is available.
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.