I don't think the two views of Elves are mutually exclusive.
The 4th edition simply placed a different emphasis on what was described and
what was not. I think this was done partially to heighten the contrast
between the High Elves and the Dark Elves.
Personally I think that although the two peoples seem to be mirror images of
each other- they are essentially the same. They both have just decided to
emphasise certain facets of their characters- often in reaction to each
other. The split between the two factions polarised Elvish society by
forcing them to define themselves in opposition to each other, although they
have far more in common than they would admit.
I don't think it states anywhere in 4th edition or beyond that High Elves
are not interested in court intrigue. Given the nature of their society-
split between two courts – Phoenix King and Everqueen- and given the
semi-elective nature of the office of Phoenix King, it's hard to imagine
them not doing a lot of plotting.
Nor do I recall it stating anywhere in 4th edition that High
Elves were keen on work. Personally I see the High Elves as a fairly
conservative warrior-aristocracy although this begs the question of who
actually does the work in their society. I can see certain things being done
by sorcery but I suspect a class of thralls, servants or slaves must do
others. It's something that still needs to be talked about with the folk at the Studio before I write about it.
I see the Elves as being disdainful of other races-particularly dwarves- a
bit like the aristocratic class of the British and Russian Empires in the
19th century. They might be square jawed in the sense that heroes of
Victorian Empire were but that does not make them nice people. Given their
extremely long life spans, their physical beauty, the depths of their
scholarship and culture and the power of their magic, they can give lots of
good arguments to support their prejudices but they are still
prejudices.
I also see Elves as malicious and prone to intriguing. Again,
given their extremely long life spans, they have plenty of time for
vendettas and feuds. It fills up the time. If and when I ever
get round to doing the Tyrion and Teclis books, these ideas will almost
certainly be reflected in the text.
Gotrek acquired the axe in the Chaos wastes. The runes are
as yet undeciphered but they appear to be pretty powerful and to have
something to do with smiting Chaos. They also seem to have some protective
function.
He acquired it in Karag Eight Peaks. For more
details see The Dark Beneath The World in Trollslayer.
I am not at liberty to divulge this information at the present moment.
However all will be revealed in the fullness of time-certainly about the Axe
anyway.
Malakai currently thinks the airship is his best creation
although doubtless, like all demented creators his next creation will
always be his best.
He feels a little guilty about the steamship that sank taking its entire crew
with it. He's not too proud of his first airship either.
Snorri ran the spikes into his head when he was drunk. He
has forgotten exactly why at this moment, although he might remember some
day. Snorri is not as ignorant as he acts, he is more ignorant.
The Empire is a big place. Gotrek and Felix are currently
wanted in Altdorf for their part in the Window Tax riots and doubtless as
word gets out they will be wanted in others. However, the pair move around
a lot, have been to lots of places outside the Empire, and are not the
easiest of folk to track down. It would be a pretty determined witch
hunter who would follow them into the Chaos wastes for example, and that
is assuming he could track an airship. That’s not to say that this will
not cause the pair of them trouble in future ...
Possibly. Right now I am concentrating on the novels but there's always the possibility of some short stories.
Like everybody else, yes. A fair number of these
things appear in the first three books.
As Ragnar becomes more experienced and more deadly, his
chances of taking out a Chaos Champion increase. Bear in mind that during
the period of most of these stories he is still a relatively young warrior.
His best days are ahead of him.
Most of these things happened in Ragnar’s Claw.
Certainly I seem to recall a Space Hulk and a teleporter. Just because
Space Wolves dislike things doesn’t mean they won’t do them when the
mission demands it.
Not in the foreseeable (or should that be Farseeable future)
but anything is possible in the long run.
Too horrible for words, most likely! I don’t know of any
plans to do a cover featuring Snorri but that does not mean one will not
happen.
The possibility of doing stories featuring a number of the
characters from the series has been discussed but as yet nothing has come
of it. I have toyed with doing more stories featuring a squad of slayers
but it sounded like a bad cop show (Slayer Squad).
GW had initially planned for 10 but I can see the series
exceeding that simply because we are now at book 7 and I still have plenty
of ideas for tales before Gotrek meets his well-deserved doom. On the
other hand, if GW put their foot down and say 10’s your lot, Bill, 10 it
will have to be. In an ideal world I would say 12 books but who can tell?
I am sure he will. He was most likely doing it in
Vampireslayer as well, I just forgot to describe it?
A bit cryptic this one! I assume you mean titles for
upcoming Gotrek and Felix books. Licheslayer is a likely one. Kinslayer
is another. Elfslayer would make Gotrek happy. And of course, there is
the ever popular Snotlingslayer-just kidding.
The Grey Seer will return as soon as he can. He actually put in
a brief appearance in Vampireslayer but was edited out for reasons of space-
and the fact he was not doing very much. Some day I would like to do a novel or
at very least a novella featuring the Grey Seer most likely set in Skavenblight
Regarding the similarities between the characters in the Inferno
story and the Space Wolf novels, there is a simple explanation. 'In the Belly
of the Beast' was written as colour text for Advanced Space Crusade
and promptly vanished into hyperspace. As far as I knew the files were lost.
When I wrote Space Wolf I never expected to see "Beast" in
print and cheerfully re-used all the names and some of the characters from the
story because they were good Space Wolf names and characters. Then somebody
found the "beast" file and the story was reprinted in Inferno without
anybody telling me until it was done. The way Blood Claws and Scouts have been
portrayed and interact has indeed been changed from the way it was when
"Beast" was first written. These things happen
We might, but it will be far in the future. We’re more
likely to see a team up/confrontation/ slaughterfest with Kharn and Zarghan
Ironfist from Farseer.
No idea! Actually I must have had one once but it was a very
long time ago and I have forgotten. A few weeks I would imagine.
This is a very convoluted tale. Many years ago during the
first run of GW books- about 1990 I think-there were plans to do a big
shared world type anthology something like Thieves World featuring many of
the Warhammer characters of the day with lots of stories by different
writers. This was discussed with lots of the writers but nothing ever came
of it. I think Kim Newman/Jack Yeovil was foreshadowing the original
anthology discussed. The idea stuck in my mind so I decided to do it myself
in Beastslayer. Funny how these things work out.
Not in the foreseeable future, no. I once had the cunning
plan of doing a novel like Space Wolf for each of the four big chapters.
Then I realised that this way lay madness.
Yes. The next Ragnar book is set at least partially on
Earth and should introduce a whole new set of support characters and
adversaries. There may even be some overlap with the Farseer series.
No plans for it at the moment. Its one of those things I
will need to sit down and discuss with the 40K team the next time I am
in Nottingham.
Certainly Felix suspects that there is a pattern to
events if you read the passages he writes. Whether he is correct or
not, only time will tell.
They might. Felix has family there. Of course there is
the little matter of being wanted by the law. Will they meet the
Emperor? Its certainly possible.
Yes. Most likely in fairly distressing circumstances.
I would like them to visit Ulthuan, the Land of the Dead,
Naggaroth and Lustria, not necessarily in that order. I also have a sneaking
fondness for Tilea. Given the chance I would like to send them to Araby and
Cathay, but those are long shots.
Nope, not that I have heard of but that does not mean there
will be none. I too am quite fond of sorcery meets super-science and have been
since the good old days of Hawkmoon and Karl Edward Wagner’s Kane novels.
Like ourselves, Dwarves are individuals. Their culture may
bring many social pressures to bear on them, but each of them can choose how
they react to this in their own way. Also, much as dwarves would hate to admit
this, I suspect a few of them must be cowards.
Given the fact Ragnar lost his Spear, I hate to think what
Leman might have to say to Ragnar but yes, I think there is some possibility of
something like this happening.
Certainly in the case of Berek Thunderfist I am. I most likely
will show it in considerable detail. In the case of Strybjorn, well, it’s a
common enough name…
Once again, no immediate plans but I don’t rule it out. I
like the Dark Angels as a Chapter-indeed my old epic army were Dark Angels-so
it would be nice to get to grips with them.
Usually about 3-5000 words, with a detailed outline,
descriptions of any major new characters, settings and plot devices. This is
what the BL makes its approval decisions on. Usually during the course of
writing the book though, I deviate quite considerably from these. No plan
ever survives contact with the enemy and all that.
Not often but it does happen. What is more common is coming
up with a cool idea or links between characters as I write and then having
to go back and foreshadow them.
I never used to think so, but actually, at the moment, the
answer is yes. Strangely I found as soon as I started working on Farseer,
lots of ideas for Ragnar came to me. Why this should be, I do not know.
Certainly at the moment I can easily envision a trilogy about the quest for
the Spear of Russ which is actually further ahead than I tend to plan with
Gotrek and Felix.
Not really but its one of those things you cant help but
notice anyway. On one side of my thumb, the book gets thicker, the other
thinner.
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