(This is the first in a wave of transferring some of my personal writings into blog posts!)
(Also, this is somewhat rant-ish, and is a lot of personal opinion, so reader beware!)
Sometimes I wonder why I read so much about Warhammer, or Game of Thrones, other random fiction novels, where the stories are interesting, but predictable, and unnecessarily laden with action to keep the reader’s attention. I wonder why it is that this series is the only one that manages to repeatedly pique my interest, to reset my brain and get me questioning some of the more deep topics that come up in life. Such thoughts are more fitting for a person going through a serious crisis; normally, people frown upon unnecessarily deep conversation; but I find myself drawn to it, like a gossamer thread floating through the air that, once seen, is impossible to ignore. Undoubtedly this is something that has made the series so incredibly popular; certain books within the Horus Heresy series, (like Legion, Fulgrim, or A Thousand Sons), contain very thinly veiled allusions to these topics, and those tend to be the more popular ones.
Personally, philosophical texts never seem to hold my attention for very long; being based purely in the theoretical, I can never seem to take something seriously unless it is given within an example, some sort of demonstration to help solidify the thoughts at hand. The same is true for any scholarly pursuit, art, music, mathematical, or otherwise: demonstration and practice trumps all theoretical discussion in my mind.
So, then, it would make sense that the reason fiction novels draw my interest is their framing of existential questions in situations where they perfectly apply to the matter at hand. I sit here, writing this, due to reading a novel that brought up yet another topic that means much to me:
‘I do not believe in predestination,’ said Atharva. ‘By gaining knowledge of the future, we inherit the ability to change it, and I will not allow the future to pass me by and know that I had a chance to shape it.’
The reason I find myself so irresistibly drawn to certain fiction novels is due to their ability to present a metaphysical question in a situation where it is entirely appropriate, where you can read the question, accept it as an appropriate piece of dialogue, and move on, without even noticing how such a question could easily be the keynote of an extremely serious discussion in the future.
In the quote above, the plot buildup has come to a point where someone has to face the guilt of a personal event that has been plaguing them for several years, to the point of robbing them of their normal ability to function; said person then becomes host to an extremely important vision of the future, but one that cannot be discovered or unearthed without them overcoming said guilt. The question itself is not the focus of the plot; it’s a line in a greater discussion that concerns the fate of the person themselves, but nevertheless it stands on its own as a testament to the will of the individual speaking. That last line: “I will not allow the future to pass me by and know that I had a chance to shape it”, tells you all you need to know about the determination of the character behind it; he is one that will not go down without a fight if there is even a glimmer of a chance that his fate can be changed.
In writing characters and novels, it is easy and effortless to choose caricatures and tropes to fit the plot elements and movements that embody the story you are trying to tell. What shows a greater hand are the presence of characters that possess true moral definition; characters whose presence and actions are defined not by the whims of the author’s grand plans, but whose ambitions and beliefs serve the role they are meant to play in a story perfectly. Such characters are naturally flawed, but it is those flaws that allow the reader to connect with them, and enjoy the story to a greater degree. When a skilled writer can expertly weave several people of vastly different lifestyles and mindsets on a path together, the resulting story gives readers entertainment along with possible insight into their own life values and goals. These types of characters, ones with definitions and backstories, hopes and dreams, are the ones that become legendary; some may even come to define tropes in the future. Perhaps it is a common theme between 40k readers, that the ambitions and stories of “space marine” type characters are naturally entertaining; and it just so happens that the books happen to be well written that keeps people returning.
Personally, I know now, from reading so many novels, that being around people with fiery determination and ambition excites me beyond anything else, that being helpless to change my fate is one of my deepest fears, and that existential conversation is something very dear to me, and any person I find who shares my interest for it on a similar level usually becomes a very good friend. And finally (above all things), that I have a deep, burning desire to discover more about myself, and temper my own spirit and will in the fires of events yet to come; to see what kind of person I will become.
