Let's Talk...Gaunt's Ghosts with Dan Abnett

Join Dan and I to chat through First & Only, Ghostmaker and Necropolis!
PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and if you'd like to support or join the Mira Manga Book Club you can hit me up on Patreon! / miramanga
A HUGE THANKS to Dan for his enthusiastic contributions, insights
Thanks to the UBER talented @LuisHumanoide for the epic music that features in this theme song. His musicianship is mind blowing, so many great compositions for you to explore so please sub and support him, and check out his Spotify too! open.spotify.com/artist/5a62v...
Thanks to @marsdenrhodri for helping straighten out my vocals and mix up the track!
My tee is by the talented Martin McCoy - you can get it here: www.etsy.com/shop/MartinMcCoyArt
Martin and I both work on 28mag and you can read that here: 28-mag.com/Join Dan and I to chat through First & Only, Ghostmaker and Necropolis!
Check out my merch here: my-store-e48cfb.creator-sprin...

[@ThePlebicide]

Is Mira becoming Dan's Remembrancer?

[@lysander1]

genius

[@stevekearns6173]

It seems so.

[@iandoddsblah]

😮

[@6dragondaddy913]

What happens if he falls to chaos?

[@Retrosicotte]

@@6dragondaddy913 If!?

[@WarlordBaconhammer]

sometimes I dream about dry skulls in a dusty valley with the tops sawn off.

[@prageon6035]

The character death Dan hints at was a wake up call for me, it was extremely shocking and made me realize no one is safe. Sure as sure.

[@archibaldgaylord-focker8586]

Him and joffrey baratheon hold a special place in my heart of most vile characters.

[@ElAhrem]

I literally can't hear 'sure as sure' because of the books - I've literally asked people not to say it as it's so painful!

[@kylesparks1826]

Lijah Fething Cuu.

[@rincewindsback2118]

Never heard this until the books but damn its nasty to hear@@ElAhrem

[@Fireflash83]

Cuu......allways hoped larks finally took him out but sure as sure he got his due 😂

[@hulejul9748]

Dan looking exactly what I imagine Sinderman to look like

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

Gaunt’s Ghosts I think is the most impactful 40k series, because it’s so grounded and has a realism that is almost impossible to get when you’re reading about primarchs and space marines

[@voxcasttonowhereofficial]

He's so wholesome, and thank you for doing these interviews, Mira They're really informative and enjoyable 😊

[@miramanga]

I am pretty obsessed with his endless invention and creativity..!!! He’s ace

[@neofulcrum5013]

His book Traitor General inspired me to write a novel too

[@deathwatch962]

Dan is royalty in the 40k pantheon and an absolute sweetheart

[@BentJacket]

I love that hes lost no passion, hes so into it. Big respect mira, thanks for the vid.

[@miramanga]

It’s my absolute pleasure!

[@DaSkwire]

It's very telling of Dan's writing that I thought I knew which beloved character death they were talking about AND THEN REMEMBERED ANOTHER 😢

[@matthiasoc7141]

Dan talking about soldiers enjoying his books reminds me that Sir Terry used to have cops telling him all the time that every station has a Nobby and a Colon.

[@miramanga]

Love this! Have been thinking about doing some videos on my favourite Discworlds!

[@stuarttempleton43]

@@miramanga You should - Guards Guards and the Nightwatch series was probably Sir T's best work. Everyone should have a pet swamp dragon.

[@NotAllBooksSmellNice]

I like the idea of Dan going back to earlier in the timeline to write more complex stories with characters we fell in love with, but who are no longer with us. I miss so many great characters we lost throughput the series, and would love to see Dan revisit them with the skill hes developed over all these years. He's always evolving as an author, and i think theres so much room for stories. Also great episode!

[@donkeysunited]

One benefit of allowing the Tanith numbers to grow by merging other groups in, is that it lets Dan kill off loads of Ghosts without us wondering why they haven't run out yet.

[@yojon4905]

Your singing intros are on a primarch tier of talent lol

[@asatyrus928]

The obvious person to play Gaunt is XVIII Legion Centurion Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd). Change my mind.

[@ericwilliams2889]

I absolutely love the Gaunt's Ghosts series! They were the first books in the 40k series I read, and they will have a very special place in my heart. If I have nothing new to read, I will reread the series or listen to them on Audible while on the road.

[@ElAhrem]

I know everyone talks about [REDACTED]'s death as the most tragic moment in any of the ghost novels, but the scene in Sabbat Martyr with MkVenner and Gol Kolea in the pool made me cry like a child. 'Make him better!' - I don't think I've ever been hit that hard by a scene in a book before.

[@miramanga]

I CANT READ THESE COMMENTS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE POPPING SPOILERS FROM 4 BOOKS AHEAD! Don't do it humie friends!

[@ElAhrem]

@@miramanga Don't worry Mira - it's not quite what you think... but still stock up on the Kleenex because unless you're a diagnosed psychopath, you will cry!

[@doransshield9176]

I got hooked on Gaunt's Ghosts on a rainy bus ride home in the winter of 2016... It was First and Only and every page turn the writing seemed so magical, he has a special way of writing that is apparent in so many of his other novels. I hope he brings back Mkvenner

[@kylelewis4685]

Necropolis and Legion are my 2 favorite novels from Black Library. Dan is the king of 40K

[@jonbaxter2254]

Finished Eisenhorn about 3 minutes ago. What a ride. I love this world he has done, so sci-fi but grounded and believable. The descriptions of the day to day life are amazing, really puts you into the shoes of someone in the 41st.

[@miramanga]

I finished The Flight of the Eisenstein a few weeks ago - and *spoilers!* > > > > > > > > Witnessed the birth of the Inquisition! Very cool!

[@pat0652]

Titanicus is one he needs to revisit in some ways... for a novel that had giant stompy robots wheeling around a planet like battleships, a lot of the combat and characters had a grounded sense of believability.

[@Retrosicotte]

Read the Urdesh novels, Snake and the Serpent. Might be some names turn up!

[@paullittle835]

I really liked the Skitarii in that! Wish they were that interesting & cool in game!

[@Wilipeidia]

@@paullittle835 The Skitarii in game are so disappointing compared to those in Titanicus. I had such feral terrifying beasts and what we actually get are just imperial guardsmen but with mechanicus masks. . .

[@paullittle835]

@@Wilipeidia I like the Skitarii minis as an option, their steampunk aesthetic is pretty interesting, but the bestial strutting cyborg gladiators in Titanicus are amazing tho.

[@mattshriner4897]

Just read Urdesh, looking forward to more of the Legio. Would love more of the Phantine XX too.

[@royw-g3120]

Every character has their own little fanbase. Well I am a comissar Hark fan. Really felt it improved the books when he came in and made Gaunt question some of his methods.

[@adapax77]

Never knew Vox Caster was an Abnett original! 😃 very cool 😎

[@paullittle835]

There are SO many

[@chrishughes8102]

I was late to the party with Gaunts Ghosts but they rapidly became one of my favourites, listen to them on Audible and Toby Longworth does a fabulous job of narrating them. This is a great insight from Mr Abnett, thanks Mira!

[@THEslimmy89]

Very similar to experience myself. Hard agree on quality of the narration.

[@Dagenham_Swish]

Also late to the Gaunt's Ghosts party, and wholeheartedly agree that Toby Longworth does an amazing job on them.

[@pmk5516]

Dan hands down my fav GW author

[@mymumsoldmetothefarsighten4597]

The great thing about Mira is that she has approached the 40k literature seen with fearless enthusiasm, I love the chats with the authors. I'm really enjoying that her path into the Black Library is very similar to my own, Horus Heresy, Eisenhorn and Gaunt's Ghosts. I do like that you're quite far into 'The Danverse' but also an absolute mile away from, in my opinion, Dan's best book, Saturnine - which is, casually, book 59 in the Horus Heresy.

[@Bombless]

I've picked up Gaunt's Ghosts a few months back, currently going through book 8... The number of times I ended up shaking my fist at the sky while mentally screaming "DAMN YOU ABNEEEEEEEEEETTTTTT!".... Love these interviews, keep them coming!

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

‘DHAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!’

[@andimoon231]

Absolutely wonderful interview with my favourite author and my favourite run of books. Thank you Mira and Dan Abnett. My best to you both.

[@jacobkosh]

Dan seems like just a chill, cool dude to hang out with and I'd say something mean to a newborn baby to spend a day hanging out and talking about movies, books, video games, or whatever else with him. I think that easygoing, pleasant nature comes through in his writing, where he creates characters you just...really like spending time with.

[@IM-xs3uv]

Didn't enjoy reading First & Only and although Ghostmaker was a good way to get to know the characters, I didn't enjoy it either. But then I read Necropolis! Oh man I love the Ghosts now. Dan is absolutely right about getting to know the characters and needing to know what happens next to them.

[@miramanga]

EVERYONE LOVES NECROPOLIS!

[@Retrosicotte]

Dan is so relentlessly passionate about his writing, you can just hear it. I've written a large series too, and I absolutely recognise when someone has that vibing eagerness about their own worldbuilding. You can't make it without that,and this man has it in SPADES. And Mira, I love your questions, like the ones about "decompressing" from writing emotional/draining moments, stuff like that are questions I've never heard asked before. Wonderful interview from you both!

[@damianleach8132]

I just re-read the entire series, having originally read them when they came out, over the span of over 20 years. The action and the plotting were as good as I remember, but they have an emotional resonance now that I didn't experience at the time. Best encapsulated in one relatively minor character's arc: Piet Gutes. A solid veteran tired of life and missing his lost daughter and grandchild who died with Tanith. Brilliant series.

[@happyharibo1330]

Mira, bloody brilliant interview. It was great being around online in real time for it! Even if it WAS only the final 20mins

[@UPTAUT]

My brother, who is a massive collector of the 40k books, got me to read The Founding. Few books have drawn me in so deep. First and only forever.

[@Fireflash83]

Iv been calling my phone and handsfree set a vox unit or caster since read the 1st book all those years sgo .. and yes i love and dread them in equal love . Dan is a true legend for 40k 🤟😎and may your wirds be remebered for eoins to come . The emperor protects ✊

[@erikjames3361]

❤❤❤❤ I freaking love this series sooooo much!!!! More than any other author I’ve encountered Mr. Abnett shows us the humanity of the folk just trying to live in the Imperium. Both in this series and of course the venerable Eisenhorn Trilogy and the stories which grew from it (Ravenour, etc.) thank you to Mr. Abnett for immersing me in this wildly fatalistic yet oddly hopeful and occasionally beautiful universe. And thank you so much to Mira for picking this man’s brain as I’m certain so many of us have longed to do ❤ big ups and naturally I am freshly subscribed 🙏

[@MijMike]

Such a lovely pair of human beings.

[@famillebeaulieu-luangkham2923]

Next reading advice here : read the fourth tome of Gaunt's Ghosts THEN read Double Eagle and take it as a little "pause" from the Ghosts, but I bet it'll become one of your very favorite books !! Always nice to see you chat with the true Master of the Universe ;)

[@towmotornoises]

I love how just super jazzed Dan is about everything

[@Exiled_Rouge]

Just found the channel a few days ago. I love the enthusiasm, the types of questions the authors are asked, and the songs! Really terrific content.

[@thanatoastiii6341]

I love these videos- Dan is easily my all time favorite author. Good to know there are other Gaunt/Rawne shippers in the 40k fandom👍

[@TVs_Brent]

I think youre just friends with dan now and im here for it

[@Xygenscenic]

This was an absolute delight to watch! What a great interview. I'm SO relieved he keeps a list of his characters--I've always wondered how he keeps 'em all straight... Bless.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Oh dear. Dan looks like me. Somehow I assumed he was an elf and never aged.

[@conanlucas6183]

Dan abnett is my biggest inspiration for writing. now I need to find out how to publish books lol. tha you for this I love the insight

[@DAMIENDICE]

This was so good! I would absolutely love it if you'd interview/talk with Chris Wraight one day

[@krumphau]

Maybe my favorite book series - and definitely my favorite that's more than three long. I also have been slowly casting the Ghosts in my head over the years! Not going to give the full list(it's extensive), but it started with Larkin flashing into my head as Liam Neeson and just kept going. Fassbender is my Gaunt :) And if anyone seeing this ever watched Space: Above and Beyond, James Morrison(McQueen) is my Mkoll.

[@aleksanderwegowski2945]

Today I finished reading Anarch and I can't wait for the next books!

[@NeverQuiteAlex]

Brilliant interview; I have that Sabbat Worlds Crusade tome, and it is astonishing.

[@ThirdCydonian]

Gaunt’s Ghosts were my first deep dive in the 40k universe and I’ve been hooked ever since. Most of my favorite Heresy novels are written by him as well. He created one of my favorite human characters in Prospero Burns, the academic Kasper Hawser. Some people don’t like that a lot of the book is from his perspective and narration, but I found him very relatable having worked in the historical field myself. I also loved what he did with Legion, not only with the portrayal of my favorite Astartes legion but also the “Gaunt’s Ghosts of the Heresy” feel that you get with the soldiers of the Geno Five-Two Chiliad. Dan knows how to write the humanity into his characters and that makes the action parts of the story all the better as you start to genuinely care for what happens to them.

[@jameshollins5659]

Amazing interview! Love Dan hes amazing!!

[@chrisboyne5791]

Yass! DAN AND MIRA

[@dennistivel7594]

This is such a great interview! Thank you! Dan is such a jewel in this world. I hope he lives a long life and writes far into the future. LOL!

[@paullittle835]

@46:47 Dan's casual inventiveness as a writer is unrivalled. I remember in one of his Durham Red strips he references in passing a personal cloaking device, the Turing Shroud. Another writer would make that pun central to a whole story, Dan leaves morsels like that to fall by the wayside all the time!

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Let's goo!!! Thank you for the awesome interview.

[@mindcogs]

great interview Mira!

[@tarn1135]

Absolutely love Gaunt’s Ghosts. Currently listening to Salvation’s Reach (having read and listened all the way through maybe 20 times) wish GW would hurry up with the last 2 books so I could Listen/read to them again. Hope to get more Gaunt’s Ghosts stories after Anarch also.

[@markmullan73]

That intro. Liked and subscribed immediately!

[@tban4122]

I always thought of Varl as Clint Eastwood playing Kelly from Kelly's hero's

[@Quijanos1]

Gaunts Ghosts is fantastic! Well, done interview. Great to hear from Dan! Keep writing my friend!

[@lindgrenjonas]

I absolutely adore the conversations with Dan Abnett. I 'met' him through the non-warhammer novel 'embedded', which I liked, and am blown away by the treasure trove that resides in the black library. Thank you for this, as well as the book club conversations with Ian. It really beings out more perspectives on my previously read books!

[@HereticalKitsune]

Was is so fascinating about the Ghosts is that every book might be just another war story, but they all explore different types of war, urban warfare, trench, forests, jungles, deserts, fantastical labyrinthian castles, defense, offense, D-Dayesque, small unit engagement, large scale war, "magic" and religion, soooo much. Also realistic moments and tactics from across the centuries! Having served myself and read some stories when I served I could see how much research has been put into them.

[@JohnDeinosor]

Loved this! Such a good interview. The Gaunts Ghosts novels are my favourite 40k novels for over 20 years now. The Sabbat worlds has been the head canon setting for my 40k hobbying for years now, wether my it makes sense to my opponents or not. The intro theme is fantastic and both your enthusiasm for the process and writing is a joy to watch.

[@danielstockley5631]

I'd dabbled in warhammer as a kid in the 90s but only started reading the books recently. I'd heard Gaunts Ghosts trilogy was a good place to start. I've read the first 2 and I'm not disappointed, looking forward to Necropolis.

[@ads316]

I loved this discussion and can’t wait to hear you guys discuss things qty books in!

[@RedemptiveChief]

I am 10 audiobooks into the Guants ghosts series and I have never not powered through them in 2/3 days.

[@Malephas]

I’ve started Gaunt’s Ghosts this year and it has been one helluva ride. Only in Death is my personal favorite and I swear the ending made me cry. I had to put the book down and just bawl my eyes out. Never have I felt that in a book and I have DA to thank for that. Wonderful interview! Thank you for this, Mira!

[@miramanga]

You’re so welcome 😊🙏

[@badcarlos551]

Abnett's a legend!

[@ponge8720]

By far the best books in all of 40k!

[@skywalkeruk84]

This is amazing - reading the series at the same rate as Mira. So to hear Dan talk about them too is such a treat - thank you MM and AI and of course DA!!!! ❤❤❤

[@mus_cetiner]

What a great show, I genuily enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@Benjambles]

Rawne, Brostin and Curth are my top 3 ghosts - not necessarily in that order all the time. They all had great character arcs so far, and I can't wait to see how the series wraps up! I've read the Sabbat Worlds Crusades book too many times, flick through it all the time or reference.

[@davetaylor9966]

Another fantastic interview! And the intro song is spectacular!

[@SpartanMikey]

33:00 Lijah fething Cuu! Bastard. Additional: We need more of these videos with Dan as you work through the series because, once you’ve caught up, you will no doubt ask some of the questions that have been plaguing the rest of us for years!

[@derekmcmanus8615]

I read and loved Gaunts Ghosts right from the Inferno days and yes I am ex miltary and I love seeing someone new being introduced with none other than the author as a benevolent guide!

[@callantime8360]

that into song ! 30 seconds in and im hype

[@richk2690]

Necropolis and later on traitor general are my favorite’s in the series.,,,……so far.

[@IainStewart1972]

I always think of Larking being played by a young Jim Broadbent

[@asbjrnnielsen5313]

Thank you so much for this interview and for your work in bringing sci fi to the masses. Just great interviews :)

[@rogue0909]

Double Eagle is a ton of fun! Great read.

[@OK-hl6qd]

this intro is unbelievable!! wow!

[@randomacademypilot]

I really like these interviews (and the songs, obviously). The enthusiasm both of you show is very enjoyable.

[@Subcomandante73]

It helps if you understand that the GG stories are a prequal to Dad's Army.

[@miramanga]

🤣

[@robbie__uk]

Another Fantastic interview, well done Mira and thankyou Dan 😊 Now you have to read the rest of the books, because Dan says so. Definitely worth it in my opinion 😊 Epic intro and outro as usual, I love your content ❤

[@stormneedstroopers24]

Great interview, as always! looking forward to see more interviews with Dan, Graham and other back library authors.

[@kiltedcossack]

I am only five minutes in and it is not fair to comment yet, but, just, dang! Mira, Dan, Ibram! Most honest respect! Now I'm going to go watch the rest. (Plus a Mira intro song!)

[@thordallimdecaladai922]

Lovely video as usual !!!

[@jinofthesheep]

Love these engagements!

[@dasmichel1268]

Your Intro is epic! 💪🏻🙌🏻

[@miramanga]

Yay! Thank you!

[@dasmichel1268]

@@miramanga Reminds me a bit of the „Ricky Baker Happy Birthday Song“ … 😅 You should look that up… 👍🏻

[@heinenchristoph1294]

This was wonderful! Gaunts ghosts are one of my favorite Book series to read and i can not wait for the next books to be released, reread them a few times already. Its amazing to see your enthusiasm and even that of dan Abnett, for those books. Lovely! Looking forward to the next interview :)

[@Life-Glug]

Thank you for another great interview with Dan the man. I think i might have read more of his books than any other author. My favourite in the GG series is Traitor General.

[@Candicrafting2023]

This was awesome, so good to hear Dan's enthusiasm and love for the characters! Gaunt and Eisenhorn were my first introduction to the Black Library.

[@Madhattersinjeans]

You're in for a treat with this series of books, the characters really do change a lot over time. And yes the death Dan mentions in this is F***ing awful to read, as in you just feel terrible anger and frustration while reading it. There's a lot of moments that make you want to rage after reading them in this series now I think about it. But it's a well written series despite that.

[@noops9220]

Jokey hand signals is a tradition in warhammer… the twin tailed comet is a fist with pointer and little fingers extended… 🤘

[@thibaultl1956]

This is an adorable interview

[@LackofForesightGaming]

Loving watching these! Thank you so much for bringing these to us!

[@bastodon]

Aaaah give it!

[@stuarttempleton43]

Really interesting interview - thanks Mira. Dan is such a good writer and his passion for his work shows. I've yet to read one of his books that I didn't enjoy - if you move out of the 40K universe, he wrote a really good stand alone SCI-FI book called Embedded which is well worth look.

[@batjutsu]

Fab interview, thank you both 😍

[@threeohm]

Great interview. I've been working my way through the GG series and was taking a break before the next push, but you got me to buy the rest of the books for my Kindle!