EisenHorn vs Inquisition Wars (was Dark Heresy/Warhammer 40K RPG)

What are some of Farrer's works?

Crossfire, Legacy and Blind in the "Shira Calpurnia" series and, I think, "Junktion" in the Necromunda novels. For my part I've only read the first two Calpurnia novels, but both rate exceedingly highly in my BLP list (easily aside the likes of Lord of the Night and Execution Hour in terms of simple enjoyment, with alot more going for them in terms of excellent writing).

I'd also add that Rennie's EH & Shadowpoint were *very* good too. As is Williams' Relentless.

I do believe Farrer's done a fair amount of short stories too, though I've read scarcely in terms of short story scifi, even within BLP stuff.

Xisor wrote:For my part I've only read the first two Calpurnia novels, but both rate exceedingly highly in my BLP list

Ditto. Just didn't come to think of them in my own list, for some reason.

I just read Relentless...a pretty solid read, but I would have preferred it was spaced out over a number of years, along the lines of the Count of Monte Cristo...

Overall I liked Relentless, but in the end the captain seemed to get his command back as much through luck of the timing of outside event as his own efforts. I would have much prefered a cold merciless revenge by steps. Kind of a lurking in the passages of the vessel and haunting his enemies nightmares kind of deal.

Yes, that was more what I had in mind as well...

...slowly plotting his revenge, taking his enemies out one by one and making them turn on one another...

...instead they all just turned on one another without any provokation...and it all happened too quickly.

Still, not a bad read.

Most of the 40K novels are mediocre works of fiction, but lets face it, we read them because we love the 40k universe and are thirsty for any additional knowledge.

Most of the novels are at least a decent read though...

BlkSabbath74 wrote:

... Most of the 40K novels are mediocre works of fiction, but lets face it, we read them because we love the 40k universe and are thirsty for any additional knowledge.

Most of the novels are at least a decent read though...

Amen.

Yeah, I mean, a mediocre novel in a Game Universe you love is alot more tolerable...

Yeah, I can read the Space Wolf novels because I like the Space Wolves, even though they are written for teenage boys...

I've always viewed 40k as kind of the 2000AD of the tabletop gaming world (although i dont feel that 200ad is as consistantly good now as it used to be) which is why im so completely dissapointed with much of the fiction they come out with. They could deliver a much higher level of storytelling but i can see why they dont (money).

Well, that...plus most top-level writers don't like to be caged in by an existing gaming universe.

So unfortunately, you're not going to get many of the truly talented writers to write Warhammer 40k novels. It's a trade-off.

The best you can hope for is a solid, decent novel which sticks to the fluff.

Add to that the target age of GW is early to mid teens as well further constrains the writing (its the same reason why most films released have ratings aimed at 15 year olds, its a rare one that doesnt)

Never mind the fact his writing is utterly superb, but some of the aspects of Ian M Banks' writing would never, ever make it into a GW novel, purely because they are waaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond that pg/15 cap.

Also, the subject matter is a bit limiting.

You have a bit more leeway with Inquisitors and Rogue Traders, but Guardsmen, Space Marines and the like are pretty limited in scope.

Doubt it pays well too.

Probably not...

I mean, when I crack open a 40K novel, I'm pretty much expecting something on the level of talented fan fiction...

Frankly for the most part I prefer Fanfic. Even if it is lacking a little in technical ability they usually make up for it with genuine enthusiasm and love for the subject matter.

With the contracted stuff it can be a little too 'writing by numbers' they just check the boxes

frootbat wrote:Frankly for the most part I prefer Fanfic. Even if it is lacking a little in technical ability they usually make up for it with genuine enthusiasm and love for the subject matter.

With the contracted stuff it can be a little too 'writing by numbers' they just check the boxes

More writing by the number so they sell more boxes...

Code13 wrote:
More writing by the number so they sell more boxes...

Yeah deffinitely I espeicially loath the books they bring out to coincide with new codex/army book releases. They really do just read like adversts with plot attached.

Scourge the Heretic?

Perfect point in case, as is the distinct lack of news on a follow up now that BL has ditched RPGs

frootbat wrote:

Code13 wrote:
More writing by the number so they sell more boxes...

Yeah deffinitely I espeicially loath the books they bring out to coincide with new codex/army book releases. They really do just read like adversts with plot attached.

Good call!!

I honestly feel like that was what went wrong with Ian Watson's Inquisition Wars. He set up tons of great stuff in the first and second novel, but the third one read like some sort of tour of the 40K universe, determined to showcase each and every army while simultaneously abandoning the plot. Also, his heart didn't seem to be in it anymore. I think that he was contractually obligated to finish, even though they were cramming it down his throat.

Likewise, in Eisenhorn, there was alot of stuff from Gav Thorpe's craptastic Inquisitor game that was shoe-horned in and didn't really fit the story. For instance, Eisenhorn didn't strike me as being either an Ordo Xenos OR an Amalathian. I think he was obligated to put alot of that in there, even though it didn't fit with the author's vision.

Those horrid Last Chancer novels were nothing BUT promos. The first was a promo for the Last Chancer boxed set, re-released (even though Gav totally ignored the models and the background); the second was a promo for the new Tau race, and the third was a promo for the Armageddon campaign.

Then there was Fire Warrior...

We could probably list them for hours.

I DID enjoy the Ragnar Blackmane Space Wolf novels though.

I mean, the writing is nothing spectacular, and they read like some of the more forgettable Conan novels, but despite that, they DO give a good story, a real sense of the Space Wolves, and some fun, if 2-d characters. I love Haegr and Torin.

Even though my rational mind notifies me that they are not great novels, the teenage boy in me still finds them (and many of the 40k novels) entertaining.

Nothing wrong with it though in its own context

Hell, I grew up reading Sven Hassel and Battle Action Comics

Same here...I grew up on Robert E. Howard and HP Lovecraft and Manly Wade Wellman, plus all those TSR Dungeons and Dragons novels.

There is nothing wrong with that type of fun, so long as you are expecting it.

I very rarely feel let down by a Warhammer novel. I know what I'm getting, and especially with the Omnibus collections, I always get at least my money's worth, and sometimes a pleasant suprise.

I am currently reading the Blood Ravens Omnibus, and am getting pretty much what I expected.

BTW, I once heard someone describe 40K as a cross between Call of Cthulhu and Cyberpunk.

I think that might be a better description of Dark Heresy...