Monday, December 17, 2007

It's official: A Massacre in Marienburg

Publishing imprint Black Library has spilled the beans, so I can now confirm that my 19th novel will be A Massacre In Marienburg, due out December 2008. It's my second Warhammer tome, following on from A Murder In Marienburg published earlier this year. I can't give away too many plot details, but it's safe to say the survivors from the first book return in a story that puts the war back in Warhammer. The book's title might give you a hint about what happens next.

I finished the first draft on Friday, and I'm pleased with the results. But writing the climax of a novel while performing five nights in pantomime? Not so clever. I was absolutely drained by the end of the week. Happily, typing THE END on Friday gave renwed vigour and the last two nights of the show were a blast. Lots of positive comments about the show, and a crackerjack script by Nicholas Pegg. The fact we put the show together in six weeks makes the achievement all the more remarkable, a tribute to the hard work of the cast and crew - especially wardrobe mistress Denise.

Spent yesterday decompressing from the stresses of recent weeks while watching the third and [sob] final season of Veronica Mars on DVD. It's always a strange sensation when a show ends. You've devoted so much time and energy to the production, it's absence leaves a whole in your life for a while. But plans are already afoot for the next show, most probably a musical hitting the stage next May.

This week I've got various bits and bobs of work to achieve, along with Christmas preparations to tackle. But by Wednesday I'll be letting the tightly wound spring in my psyche wind down a little. I've been going peddle to the metal since this time last year, with just one week off in June to recuperate. Looking forward to a meaningful rest, and giving the creative well refill with ideas over the break.

5 comments:

AndyDecker said...

The 3rd season of Veronica Mars - which is currently airing in Germany - is a good example why some concepts just don´t have the legs for the american 7 season or more treatment. (Which also seems on the way out, but that is another topic).

The overall arc was weak, and while I liked the approach of "let´s make Veronica more of a bitch" which I thought was in character - she always was a tremendously unhappy person, which of course was the charm of the show -, after a while it got boring. The episodes I saw so far were seriously lacking in the fun department.

And the revamped theme was awful.

Anonymous said...

I still like "Monkeys in Marienburg" better.

Cerdic said...

I know this is some 12 years later, but are you planning on writing the third book in the series? it really is a shame we never hear more from Kurt

DAVID BISHOP said...

Hi Cerdic.

Games Workshop holds all the rights, so it's their decision whether the third book in the series ever gets commissioned. After 12 years, I think you can safely assume there won't be any more adventures for Kurt and company.

I was less enamoured of the second book, having been told to put more war into my Warhammer. Me, I was very happy writing police procedurals set in the Warhammer universe.

Having been told to put more Warhammer into book 2, sales were disappointing for that volume. That may be coincidence, of course...

Cerdic said...

Thanks for responding.

That is a great shame, it was very atmospheric and a lot better than some of the drivel they commission these days, speaking honestly many of their new books are almost childishly written. In parts you could almost forget it was a fantasy drama and not a renaissance story.

I didnt really see much wrong with the second book, i do prefer the background detail over the combat, not that the war was badly written-indeed you did it well and kept it interesting, although the ending was a bit arbitrary hence why i really wanted to find out if there was a satisfying conclusion to that. Assuming there wont be another one, would it be possible to ask what you had envisioned happening to conclude the storyline of Kurt+(surviving) friends?

I had assumed kurt would either be released as soon as the government resumed its course and the chief of police would either be ousted or run himself into trouble quickly, or that the chaos caused by the Skaven would lead to his release and reinstatement despite the best efforts of the police chief. These are just my assumptions and i am curious as to how close or far off of the mark i might have been.