First up, are you Mike Lee?
Hmmm what about these reasons.
1 They are about the same Legion
2 There’re main topics are about the same events that shaped the legion.
3 They both cover three pivotal Dark Angels characters in both books (The Lion, Luther and Astellan).
4 Most importantly, simple continuity, by your argument it would seem that you would find it perfectly reasonable for an author to come in and write a book about the Ultramarines and portray them as chaos worshiping berserkers who fought for Horus. Or how about a book about the loyal Angron defeating Horus. Doesn’t’ matter, its written by a different author so anything goes.
The point I was trying to make is this. I don’t mind if the continuity is changed, however it must be changed for the better and for the good of the intellectual property as a whole. It’s been changed in the past and I agree with most of the changes. For example The Einstein story has changed dramatically from the original portrayal. A change I understand and appreciate. However to allow any author to come in and write whatever they want within very loose boarders, I feel, cheapens the IP considerably. It should not be beyond the ability of a good author to incorporate past history so that it fits their story.
I believe that Mike Lee’s attempt at Fallen Angles fell short on many many levels. His change in the history from AOD was FUNDAMENTAL not mearly ‘not fitting in perfectly’. This was not minor tinkering. This was a completely different portrayal of the monumental events that shaped the Dark Angels and goes directly to the core of who they are. If the story by Mike Lee had been great and it portrayed the fall in a more interesting way to that suggested in AOD then I would have accepted this quite happily. However Mike created a story with characters so bland and boring that I struggled not to fall asleep (Sergeant Kohl was blander than a meal of boiled rice topped with plain pasta and his squad members had less individual personality than a bunch of star wars battle droids). His new improved story of the fall consisted of Luther dabbling with chaos because of his own pride and jealously, amongst other things. Well that’s thoroughly original. Compared to works such as Legion, it’s just hopeless.
You quote ADB, someone who I respect enormously as an author. He’s also stated (and I hope he corrects me if I’m wrong) that he researches a topic thoroughly before writing about it. He's stated in the past that he reads what other authors have written and all the material GW can provide him with on the topic.
The post you have quoted is about his upcoming book The First Heretic (which I can’t wait for) and its discrepancies from Dark Creed. He states that his idea for TFH was presented and Ok’d by Black Library before Dark Creed was even released. The blame has to lie at Black Library’s door for any discrepancies. In any event I doubt the differences are as fundamental and I bet ADB story is better and more interesting than that which has gone before.
Gav Thrope set the scene magnificently in AOD and I just get the impression that Mike Lee didn’t even bother to read it! If he had how can his portrayal of Astellan be so poor? If he was going to use him in such a dreadful way (reaver worms anyone?) then why on earth use him at all?
It’s not about 2 percent who are paranoid about grievous transgressions because of evil maliciousiounes. Its about what people are willing to part with their hard earned for. I buy a book because I want to be entertained when I read it and I expect effort from the author who writes it.
With Fallen Angels I felt I got neither.
In the end the proof is in the pudding. I don’t believe that Fallen Angels was received critically well at all, although I do accept that some people enjoyed it. I have no idea what Gav Thorpe thought of it but I can speculate in my mind. I don’t know what the sales were compared to other HH books, but I bet this, Mike Lee will never again write another HH novel.
