The galaxy has become yet more dangerous since the Great Rift tore across the stars. Its creeping evil has even reached the T’au Empire and their territories beyond the Startide Nexus.
In a blistering new novel, Commander Shadowsun is grappling with the haunted Fourth Sphere Expansion fleet when a massive Death Guard armada attacks. Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter is up for pre-order this weekend, so we hopped on the command-link drone and raised author Phil Kelly for a few probing questions.
Warhammer Community: For such an important figure in the T'au Empire, Shadowsun is relatively unexplored outside of her combat exploits. How did you approach her character?
Phil Kelly: That's a simple one. She's up against an enemy she has no idea how to defeat – the foulest, most malignant evil in all the galaxy. Oh, and did I mention the civil war between the forces under her command?
WarCom: After writing several novels and short stories about the T'au, what challenges did you face when setting up shop inside the mindset of Commander Shadowsun?
Phil: Commander Shadowsun has the practiced poise and confidence of a gold medallist, but it's lonely at the top. Slow to anger but slow to forgive, she only really has a close relationship with her drones, Oe-ken-yon and Oe-hei (an endearingly brave and faithful duo, or so it seems at first). Since her relationship with her old bond-mates broke down on Mount Kan'ji, she's pushed people away.
That isolationist, do-it-all-myself tendency comes back to bite her as the horrific 'friendly fire' massacres of the Fourth Sphere Expansion come to light, and all the while, a strange supernatural plague is spreading fast.
WarCom: While Shadowsun and her old friend Farsight often seem to be entirely opposites, are there any areas where you feel they're far more alike than different?
Phil: They definitely exemplify two aspects of the Fire Caste – Shadowsun's low but intense blue flame in contrast to Farsight's leaping inferno – but they both burn hot enough to change the galaxy. As the leaders on the bleeding edge of an ever-expanding empire, they are facing down the awful, gothic reality of the 41st Millennium more than any others. Naturally they are responding in their own different ways, but there are parallels. Shadowsun has to accept some bitter truths, learn to trust things she doesn't understand, and make a leap of faith by letting go of control. That is totally anathema to her.
WarCom: What aspects of the T'au Empire draw you towards writing about them?
Phil: Big stompy mechs. Well, that and the fact the usual dynamic of rationalism versus superstition is entirely reversed in 40k. That never gets old for me, seeing high-tech scientist types match wits with the gnarly, ancient horrors of the Empyrean. Also cutting-edge battlesuits fighting greater daemons is just a joy to write.
WarCom: Are there any characters you particularly enjoyed writing besides Shadowsun herself?
Phil: When it all comes apart and she's ravaged by her encounters with Team Nurgle, Shadowsun breaks protocol (gasp!) and makes some very weird allies of her own. Amongst them are the one-Kroot-army that is Opikh Tak, the prissy, fungus-like Charpactin A'haia, and an ursine Nicassar diplomat/combat powerhouse called Ven Tah Regah.
There is one other presence that makes an appearance in this book – one that the deluded souls of a budding new religion might say was simply divine (much to the chagrin of the traumatised Fourth Sphere)...
WarCom: Can you tell us anything about where Shadowsun might find herself following this adventure?
Phil: Absolutely not. The Ethereals would kill me.
Well… on that ominous note, all we have left to say is a big thankyou to Phil, and a reminder to join Shadowsun on her latest operation when The Patient Hunter goes up for pre-order this weekend. For the Greater Good!
