Nemesis is the thirteenth novel in the Horus Heresy series. For the Geekzine review click here.
What challenges did you face with your return to the Horus Heresy series with Nemesis? Obviously, there’s a big weight of expectation on any writer doing a Horus Heresy novel, because we’re talking about the crown jewels of the franchise here – but while you have to respect that, you can’t let it drag you down. The first challenge is to do justice to the Warhammer universe and the epic nature of the Heresy mythology. But I think the biggest challenge I had with Nemesis came from the nature of the story. It’s not a novel about Space Marines, like almost all the others; it takes a look at what life is like for ordinary people in the world of the unfolding galactic civil war, and at the same time it takes you to the corridors of power on Terra and beyond, as well as into the core narrative about the Officio Assassinorum.
What can you reveal about the upcoming Horus Heresy audio dramas, featuring Captain Garro? Not much, at this point! Oath of Moment is the first of two Garro stories, what I’ve nicknamed the “Knight Errant” series, set shortly after the events at the end of The Flight of the Eisenstein, where the good captain is given a secret mission by Malcador the Sigillite. The first story sees him sent to Calth, in the midst of the traitorous assault by the Word Bearers on the Ultramarines; and as for the second story Legion of One… I can’t say.
What is the allure of writing for the Horus Heresy series? Like I said above, the Horus Heresy is the crown jewels of the Warhammer universe. It’s the ur-myth, the foundation upon which the whole fictional world of 40K is based on, so having the opportunity to venture in there and tell stories is great, and for a writer to be invited to do that is a huge vote of confidence from the editorial team. But I think what I like the most about it is the way we get to take elements of established lore and do something new with them. We get to tell these epic stories, but in a way that reveals new dimensions to them, shining a light on things that have never be seen before.
What plans do you have for the Blood Angels series? I recently wrote Bloodline, a limited edition chapbook for the Games Day 2010 event, which ties in to the events of my last Blood Angels novel, Black Tide. Bloodline also lays some groundwork for what will be my next Horus Heresy novel, which will follow the events of the Battle for Signus, where the Blood Angels fought a massive army of daemonic creatures.
As for more Blood Angel stories in the 41st millennium, I still have a lot more tales to tell about Brother Rafen. I’m thinking about doing a flashback story to his younger years at some point…
Besides your work for the Black Library, what other writing plans do you have? Lots! I have a couple more tie-in novels due out in 2011 – the first is Icarus Effect, based on the videogame Deus Ex: Human Revolution (which I also worked on), and later in the year I have a Star Trek novel due called Cast No Shadow. I’ve also been working on a series of Stargate audio dramas, and developing an espionage thriller.
What continues to inspire you creatively as a writer? My mortgage. I’m kidding. Obviously, having bills to pay does concentrate your mind wonderfully on getting your backside in the chair and writing something; but the thrill of it is what keeps me doing this, instead of going out and getting a real job. Seeing my name on the cover of a book never gets old, and there’s something great about being able to tell stories of a living. It’s a limitless horizon.
Where do you write? I have an office in my house cluttered with books and stuff, and I do most of my work there. Sometimes I’ll write on the road with my little Asus Eee laptop, or in notepads.
What are you reading at the moment? The End Game, by Tod Goldberg, and a guidebook about some of the ruins in Rome, where I’ve just been on vacation.
And if you were a space marine, what chapter would you belong to and why? I have to show the love for the Boys in Red, the Blood Angels. They’re noble and heroic, they have plenty of bling and cool hardware; and the ladies love that dark and moody side…!
Andy Jamieson, Editor
Please note: This interview was originally conducted by email in October 2010.
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