Dan Abnett

answers the Usual Questions

Dan Abnett

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

Very much. With the novels especially, it's fascinating and rewarding to discover what characters and plot threads rurally engage the readers (as opposed to the elements I think are "key"). One of the major series for Warhammer 40K has been steered in places by my response to readers interests, developing secondary characters that I thought were simply interesting but which readers had taken to their hearts.

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

With the Military SF I write, I'm amazed how many of the readers are military or veterans. They have shared some great, often moving, stories and insights with me which have helped me build authenticity.

I remember especially the story of a tank crew who were hull down and under fire for a long period, and who divided the one book they had (one of mine) into four sections so the whole crew could read it as a kind of 'relay race' to keep their spirits up when they could do nothing else but sit tight. They presented me with the pennant from their tank.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

Many many many... but writers such as Ray Bradbury, Lovecraft, Borges, Jack Vance and Alan Moore are people I return to for comfort and inspiration.

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

I was once in a lift with Kevin Bacon, so I guess that makes me one degree from everyone. If I was stuck in a lift, I guess I'd like to be stuck there with an elevator repair man, or Superman. In a spaceship? With someone who knew how a spaceship worked.

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

There is a particular internet troll... actually, leave me in the lift with him for a while. A spaceship? That giant spider-thing with the single glowing eye from Space 1999.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

Pen and notebook.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

To get all of these ideas out of my head and onto the page.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

As my wife Nik often says, the point of the writer is the reader... so the response and feedback of readers.

submitted by Dan Abnett

24 September 2014

For other answers to The Usual Questions Click here

Just the facts:
Born: Burham, Kent, United Kingdom. 1965.
Resides: Maidstone, Kent.
Bibliography/Awards:
Comics: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians 3000, The New Deadwardians, Wild's End, Dark Ages, Nova, Legion of Superheroes, Infinite Crisis, Masters of the Universe, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, Iron Man, 2000AD (Sinister Dexter, Kingdom, Grey Area, Lawless, Durham Red etc), Star Trek ,Knights of Pendragon, Lords of Misrule etc
Novels: The Gaunt's Ghosts series, The Inquisitor series (Eisenhorn, Ravenor, Bequin), Horus Heresy, Titanicus, Double Eagle and others (all Black Libraray) Fiefdom (with Nik Vincent), Embedded, Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero, Rocket Raccoon and Groot: Steal the Galaxy!, Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By and the Book of Martha, Extinction Event (Primeval), Border Princes (Torchwood), Dragon Frontier etc
Games: Alien: Isolation, Shadow of Mordor, Guardians of the Galaxy: The Universal WEapon, Dreadnought etc

Web site:
www.danabnett.com
Facebook is Dan Abnett and Dan Abnett Primary Clone
Twitter is @Vincentabnett

For posts about Melbourne events, places, news, reviews, giveaways, see our Facebook Page:

www.festivale.info
ISSN 1328-8008