Fantasy

Over the years I have written a number of fantasy novels, many of them set in the Warhammer World. Fantasy is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favourite genre to work in. I have loved it ever since I was a kid and first encountered the works of Robert E Howard, JRR Tolkien, Michael Moorcock and Ursula LeGuin.

Most of my fantasy works are in the sub-genre of Sword and Sorcery. Gotrek and Felix, in particular, are heavily influenced by such classics as Conan, Elric and Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Somebody somewhere on the Internet once described the G&F books as classic 30s pulp sword and sorcery only done with a sense of humour. That is pretty much my ideal review for the series. I like the swaggering, violent action of sword and sorcery but I tend to find myself taking the piss out of its cliches as well.

Recently I have veered into the epic fantasy genre with Tyrion and Teclis. Being enormously powerful High Elf Princes this pair tend to operate on a much higher plane than Gotrek and Felix. The dwarf and human are scruffy wandering adventurers in the classic S&S  mould. They lower the tone of any place where they show up. Tyrion and Teclis are different. They stand at the centre of things. They lead Elvish armies. They confront the mightiest of daemons and greatest of threats. They attend the courts of the mighty such as the Phoenix King and the Everqueen, places where they would not let Gotrek and Felix in even by the back door. The elves exist in a courtly world of beauty, art and high ideals. It all looks very glamourous and everyone tells everyone else how honourable, glorious, honest and well-behaved they are, but if you look closely you will see that this is no more the case than it is anywhere else in the Warhammer world. The books were enormous fun to write.

23 Replies to “Fantasy”

  1. I just preordered “Blood of Aenarion”. It’s about time that I get some new Warhammer Fantasy by their best author. Regarding Gotrek and Felix: the next book should be “The Return of the King” 😉

  2. I just finished Blood of Aenarion, what a great novel. I can’t wait on the sequel – too bad it takes another year for it to be released :).

    Is there an estimate on the hardcover release of Shadowblood? I can’t seem to find anything in the stores.

    1. Glad you liked Blood of Aenarion. It’s a book I am very proud of. I am afraid there won’t be any print releases of any of my ebooks for the foreseeable future, well, not until I master the dark art of Print on Demand anyway! Sorry about that.

  3. I really liked Blood of Aenarion! In the name of honesty, I liked the Gotrek and Felix books a bit better, but your work with Teclis back then was excellent, and it is improved now.

    When I read the BL entry for your upcoming book, Sword of Caledor, I immediately thought of Giantslayer, how Teclis had seen the structures of the Lizardmen before, neither confirming nor denying the existence of the Slann in Lustria, and I felt then that there was a very interesting story behind that adventure.

    Out of curiosity, will any characters from the Lizardmen 7th edition army book show up in Sword of Caledor?

  4. Mr. King,
    Just started Death’s Angels and I am enjoying it so far! Keep writing and thanks for your posting regarding preparing a manuscript for Kindle. Happy 2013!

    Tim

      1. Dear Mr. King,
        first of all, i want to let you know, how much I like your writings. I started at the age of fourteen to read Gotrek and Felix and know I´m still a big fan of your books, especially the Terrarch Cornicles.
        Now my question: I have to write an essay for university about the literary self-conception (I hope this is the right vocabulary :-)) of an author of my choice. I just wanted to ask, if there is a text or a kind of a manifest of yourself about this topic, which I could use for my essay. This should include your defintion of what is literature, what does it mean to you and how do you see your work.
        Thanks a lot in anticipation!!

        With kind regards

        Kevin

        1. Hey Kevin– thanks for the kind words. I’m afraid I can’t think of any place where what you are looking for might be found. Sorry about that.

  5. Mr King, your books are amazing. I first started reaading the Gotrek and Felix novels and was hooked.I also read and also completed the Tyrion and Teclis which was fantastic as well.

    Keep up the good work. 🙂

  6. I’m currently re-reading the books after the Gotrek and Felix DLC from Total Warhammer 2. I now hear Brian Blessed every time Gotrek speaks!
    He is by far one of my favourite dwarf characters in the setting next to Belegar!
    Dragonslayer and the original Trollslayer are still my favourite books you created. A big thank you 😀

    If I may ask, when you envision your characters speaking, what voices would you give the duo, Ulrika, Max, Thanquol and so on?

    Sincerely,

    Georg Veramme

    1. Hi Georg,

      Thanks for the kind words. For me, Gotrek always sounded like my grandfather, with the cliched Scottish accent. Felix always sounded like a posh UK actor. These days it would be somebody like Benedict Cumberbatch. Thanquol always used the voice I used for Skaven when playing WFRP and I never gave too much thought to the others. Sorry! I am very happy that Brian Blessed is doing Gotrek. One of my favourite actors.

  7. The Tyrion and Teclis trilogy was a surprising delight to read. Your work with Urian, in particular, was great. It was interesting to see how you developed the villain’s personalities in such a compassionate way.

  8. Hello! just finished Illidan, gulped it in 2 days! I was so impressed, ty vm! But I crave for continuation. Will Illidan survive? will he beat Legion? Please, I pray, continuation!

  9. Mr. King,
    I’m currently reading through the Gotrek and Felix series for the first time – I’ve been a fan of WHFB since the first Total War: Warhammer game released, but now I’m really trying to get into the good stuff!
    I just wanted to thank you for the incredible work that is Skavenslayer. Thanquol in the palace made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt, as a self-professed Skaven Despiser, this novel really warmed me to them. I’m eager to read more of the work you’ve done outside of Warhammer Fantasy – safe to say, I’m a fan.
    Before I go, have you read anything lately that you’ve enjoyed? I always love to hear what authors have been reading.
    Thank you again!

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