Across the constellation of speculative fiction stories, Warhammer’s iconic Horus Heresy needs little introduction. Counting more than 70 books written over 15 years, the epic series helped licensed fiction’s polestar break into the mainstream. A glance at the authors that made the massive project a reality reads like a roll call of contemporary sci-fi’s best: Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Guy Haley.
Yet even among such exalted company, Gav Thorpe is a legend. With the Horus Heresy book series ending with “The End and the Death Vol. III,” it seemed like the perfect time to speak to Thorpe about his work on the landmark project. Thankfully, he was more than happy to oblige.
“A sense of relief,” the New York Times best-selling author said with a laugh when asked how he feels about the end of the Horus Heresy. “And of course, pride to have been part of such a great project. In terms of scope, it was absolutely massive. Nothing like it had been done before. There’s definitely a great sense of pride to have worked with so many amazing authors on a once in a lifetime endeavor.”
Thorpe would come into the project midway through its first batch of novels, starting with the short story, “Raven’s Flight”, in 2010. His novel, “Deliverance Lost,” followed shortly after.
Speaking about his first forays into the series, Thorpe said, “It was a major responsibility. To join at that stage, I just didn’t want to drop the ball and ensure I handed it off in the best way possible.”
Thorpe, a David Gemmell Award winner, was not new to writing epic tales when he joined the Heresy team. He’d already penned a number of acclaimed titles such as “Path of the Warrior” and the “Sundering” trilogy. His ability, even back then, to make the supernatural and superhuman relatable to readers made him standout. That talent for humanizing the inhuman would be taken to 11 in the Heresy and luckily for sci-fi fans, Thorpe was up to the challenge.
In his epic career, Thorpe has brought a long list of iconic characters to life including the Ravenlord Corvus Corax. Photo Credit: Black Library
“Unlike 40k, the Heresy was a blank canvas that we could fill however we wanted. It was also different in that while it was its own setting, it would tell one continuous narrative from beginning to end,” he said.
Longtime readers can appreciate his growth in that time. Over 40 novels on from the publication of “13th Legion,” he’s proud to continue learning as an author.
“I’ve become more adept at layering. Before, a lot of my work was told from a single perspective but working on something like the Heresy helped me expand to writing from multiple perspectives. A story of this scope can’t really be told from a single point of view,” said Thorpe.
Since the publication of “Horus Rising,” military sci-fi has not been the same. Nor has the author, a fact proven by his favorite characters and moments from the project. Each one shows a world of difference from the fatalism of Colonel Schaeffer and the blasted fields of Kadillus.
“On one hand I really enjoyed writing Navar Hef. He’s a microcosm for the Raven Guard really and a victim of the Heresy. Like so many, he thinks his dreams have a come true but has a tragic end,” Thorpe said.
Fans of the series have been enthralled by its massive cast, emotional highs, dramatic lows, and massive intergalactic battles. Surprisingly, his other favorite character is a certain mysterious villain the author says was great fun to explore.
“At the other end of the spectrum is Luther. He starts as a proud figure and develops into a mostly unaware villain. He later realizes what he’s doing but does it anyway. One thing that makes him unique, however, is that he is just about the only character in Warhammer to be seduced by chaos but steps back right at the edge.”
In terms of specific moments, the Heresy is full of memorable ones for the author. Top of the list for Thorpe is a heart-wrenching audio drama.
“’Honour the Dead’ was certainly a highlight for me. It was a turning point for the legions, where the line between what they were and what they would become in 40,000 is drawn. It’s where they realized things would never be the same and that the best they could do was honor the fallen.”
In “The Wolftime” Thorpe takes readers to the legendary planet Ferris. Photo Credit: Black Library
Work across multiple mediums has seen earned the British author plenty of plaudits. Key to that success was approaching each format differently.
“In some ways short stories are a lot easier because I can focus on one idea from beginning to end. Yes, there’s room for different characters but in terms of theme or story conceit you really want to focus on one and carry it through to the end. Novels on the other hand require side plots as there is more space to maneuver,” said Thorpe about the many mediums he works in.
It should be noted that every writer’s process and path to success is different, a fact Thorpe is quick to acknowledge. Still, there’s much we can learn by trying different approaches that have worked for others.
Thorpe said on the topic, “One thing that helps me is to keep in mind the ending. It doesn’t have to be a twist or involve a major revelation, but it does help me see where I want my readers to end up. Then I work my way back from that. Knowing the end in advance can help me navigate my way to it.”
Reading and dissecting is another way writers can improve. Thorpe recommends writers ask themselves why they like a particular piece of writing and explore ways to emulate it in their own voice.
Characterization is key. The veteran author has a number of techniques he uses to break his characters down and better understand their personalities.
Thorpe said, “It helps to write them in a completely different setting to better understand their psychology. Maybe have them at a funeral and see what they will do. Those sorts of exercises can help get in their heads and better understand how they would approach different situations.”
While worldbuilding is great, many speculative writers prioritize it to the detriment of their story and its various elements. In Thorpe’s opinion, characters and story cannot take a backseat to the setting.
In his “Path” books, Thorpe explores the culture of an alien Aeldari. They remain a favorite with fans. Photo Credit: Black Library
“What readers want from science fiction has changed since the 50s and 60s, where the ‘science’ was really prominent and stories were more like vehicles for concepts. These days more is expected and it’s not enough to world-build or just explore ideas,” said Thorpe.
A poll on his official website further illustrated this point to the veteran author. Asked what was more important to them between characters, plot, and setting, his readers were evenly split between the first two.
“It may sound strange given that a lot of the tie-in work I do is set in these very recognizable worlds. But it shows that even in a setting as distinct as Warhammer, character and story are still very important for readers.”
No matter how different from modern man they are, Thorpe advises writers to keep their characters relatable. After all, he explains, authors are humans writing for human readers.
“You always want to leave space for readers to understand the characters. They don’t have to agree with what they’re doing but at the very least they have to understand where they are coming from,” he said.
That’s one thing his readers can always count on no matter who Thorpe is writing about. While it remains to be seen where he’ll take his loyal fanbase next, it’s certainly going to be a wonderful ride.
Ismael David Mujahid, Executive Editor
(Featured Image from Black Library)