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 Dan Abnett about Anarch, the fifteenth novel in his epic, much-loved Gaunt’s Ghosts series. Anarch is available to order right now in hardback and ebook – so check out the interview and then go get hold of the novel!
Without further ado, let’s get straight to the questions and Dan’s answers.
Track of Words: What’s the elevator pitch summary for Anarch?
Dan Abnett: This is the climax of the fourth arc – The Victory – and the culmination of the battle for Urdesh (and the fight against the archenemy Magister, Sek). It’s not the last book in the series, but it’s a very major piece of punctuation, completing some story strands that have been running for years. A very ‘big’ book (incidentally, the longest novel I’ve written, but that’s not what I mean by big). Essential reading for any Ghosts fan.
ToW: Without spoiling anything, in amongst the ranks of the Ghosts are there any key characters for this particular story?
DA: I think just about EVERYONE gets a moment, and given the size of the cast, that’s saying something. Lots of intertwined stories – both in terms of action and emotion.
ToW: Where and when is it set?
DA: The forge world Urdesh, specifically the city of Eltath, the same setting as the last book (it picks up ‘five minutes later’ after the end of the previous volume). That’s the first time we’ve ‘stayed put’ between Gaunt novels.
ToW: If a fan wanted to refresh their memory before reading this, what you suggest they make sure they’ve read/re-read?
DA: Well, I’d say the previous three books – Blood Pact, Salvation’s Reach (now in paperback together as an omnibus) and The Warmaster, as this four novel arc is almost one huge novel spread into four volumes, unlike the previous arcs where novels were more self contained. But, as I said, it touches on some story threads that go all the way back through the series, to First and Only, to Necropolis…
Having said that, most of the key plot threads are explained along the way, one way or another, so a new reader won’t be lost. But I guess the fullest and deepest impact of the many story threads will work best if you’ve been reading what comes before.
ToW: If The Warmaster gave you the chance to take a closer look at High Command, did you have anything in mind to particularly explore in Anarch?
DA: Two things…what it’s like when you have that level of authority…and what the OTHER side is like. We get to see the enemy side of things a little more than usual.
ToW: How much research do you tend to do now for Gaunt’s Ghosts stories, given that you’ve written so many of them?
DA: So much. SOOOOOO much. Both real world military and historical stuff to try and get some authenticity, plus going back over the series in minute detail to make sure I keep things straight.
ToW: How does the final product compare to your original concept? Has anything changed much from your first ideas?
DA: I very proud of it. It’s the story I intended to write…except for one HUGE extra thing that I only thought of when writing it. That brought it all together.
ToW: How does this story compare to the rest of the Gaunt’s Ghosts series? Did you take it any different directions to usual?
DA: In some ways, but I have always tried to give each novel its own flavour (if only in the ‘mission type’…behind the lines, parachute drop, battlefield action etc). The real focus here is the character, the personal stories, and how they play out.
ToW: How do you feel now that The Victory arc is completed?
DA: Proud…and exhausted 🙂 These are characters I have lived with for a very long time, and it is fantastic (if gruelling!) to follow them through to an epic conclusion in this book.
ToW: Do you have more stories planned for the Ghosts, or for the Sabbat Worlds in general?
DA: I always said I’d write Ghosts stories until I had run out of ideas – I never want to keep going just to write more, with my heart not in it. There will be more (and more Sabbat Worlds). The end of the Victory arc ends off almost all of the threads I’d had running for years. The next book, when it comes, wil be a clean and fresh start…and, typically, as I was writing the last part of Anarch, new future ideas suddenly occurred to me spontaneously. I don’t know what the next book, or arc, will be precisely, but I now know where it’s going.
ToW: What can you tell us about what you’re working on next for Black Library?
DA: Another Sabbat project, plus the next of the Bequin books (Penitent), the long awaited second book of the third ‘Inquisitor trilogy’. That’s well underway, but I might have to pause it because my next big scheduled job is The Siege of Terra for the Horus Heresy. That will be very schedule-sensitive…and a very big deal indeed.
***
As always, I’d like to say a massive thanks to Dan for taking the time to answer these questions! You can check out my review of Anarch by clicking here.
Click here if you fancy taking a look at some other Rapid Fire interviews. If you’ve got any questions, comments or other thoughts please do let me know in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter.
I have only read First and Only and thought it was a bit underwhelming. But after reading the Eisenhorn trilogy. I was blow away on how good it was and seeing how much effort it goes into creating a Gaunt novel, i think i will start reading Ghostmaker soon.
Hey mate !
It can be a little hard to dive into such complex universe (the Abnet-verse is always more detailed than 40k in general), I know it was weird for me. “Firts and only” and “Ghostmaker” are a good entry, but after that… man, it’s just getting better and better ! The third book, “Necropolis”, is a favorite of many fan and, in my opinion, of the best description of a siege, both in past and futurstic eras.
After reading all the serie for the past 12 years, I really feel like I know every member of the regiment personnaly, and their losses and wins are mine. Abnett is unchallenged when it comes to write complex and realistics character.
Seriously, read them all, it will be one of your bets decision in life ! 😉
Common mistake, I didn’t think much of First and Only and Ghostmaker, but Necropolis is really where the series gets underway IMO, still one of the best books of all the 15 main stories.
In fact, I would recommend just skimming or reading summaries of the first two and then starting with Necropolis. And then perhaps come back to the first two books as the events in them are referenced quite a bit in all the remaining novels.
Necropolis had me hooked almost as much as the first book of Eisenhorn had me hooked. Sabbat Martyr is really good and it really peaks from Blood Pact onwards all the way to Anarch.
Please for the love of god just finish penitent… the inquisitor series is some of the finest work you’ve done and you really left me chomping at the bit when beta met cherubael.