Ciaphas Cain novels - the comedy of 40K?

[Jmaximum]

So, I have been reading a lot of Cain lately, and it seems like he is the comedic relief character in the 40K universe.
But I am also intrigued/curious/? about the author's use of real world names and other cultural phrases: (I'm citing without the books in front of me, so bear with me): On Perlia, she names one of the plateaus Rite pat, as in Right Patterson Air field (the base is an air base in the book), and in the book where Cain crash lands on the ork invaded planet, one of his gunners shoots an ork war wagon, and Cain says to the guy "Good shot, but don't get cocky kid!" (a la Han Solo)".
Has anyone else noticed this trend?

[gwensdad]

These books are FILLED with references like that (never noticed the Rite Pat one, good catch)

Wait until things like "Chap with the wings, 5 rounds rapid" start popping up. If you don't mind spoilers check out the tvtropes page for Cain-I mean COMMISSAR CAIPHAS CAIN HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!!!!

Which still, for the "comedy" it can be dark at times...

[Jmaximum]

oh i missed the one with the guy with the wings. What was that about?

[Jmaximum]

Correction to my original post: i beleive the plaent with the trope city names is Periremunda. Another of the plateaus is named Konnandoil (ie Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
also, here's the link to the tropes page: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ShoutOut/CiaphasCain
my fave is Miyamoto de Bergerac as Cain's fencing instructor LOL

[Hotsauceman]

"I didnt Know that Was possible" Guard when viewing a Slaneesh murial
"It isnt, And if it was it would be against regulations" Cain.
But its the foot Notes and Jurgen i find the best.
But i cant wait for the next where he has a young commisar with him.

[Jmaximum]

on a brief side note away from my original intent of this thread: i like how anything to do with chaos does not automatically turn people it psychotic loonies like it used to in 2nd/3rd edition fluff.

[Hotsauceman]

on a brief side note away from my original intent of this thread: i like how anything to do with chaos does not automatically turn people it psychotic loonies like it used to in 2nd/3rd edition fluff.
IT would be impossible to fight them then.

[Jmaximum]

i agree, but in old fluff regualr guardsmen looking upon chaos demons would lose their minds... there was even a trilogy: Draco, Harelquin, Chaos Child, where an Imperial Fist Captain freaks out trying to fight against chaos, and the inquisitor with him goes to talk about how all space marines who came into contact with chaos were always mind wiped of the experience because it was too traumatic even for them. I thought that was a little overboard, because, as you said, then they would never know how to fight against chaos.

[tdogp]

Oh how much I love those books. The comedy is a nice pill to be able to swallow the grimdark with

[Shadow Walker]

I bought first CC omnibus and only one I liked there was first short story. The rest felt repetitive and because of that very boring. It felt as I would be reading same book instead 3 separate novels. I liked both main characters but Sandy is not author for me. It is still good that there is something more than usual grimdark from BL.

[Dragonlv8]

I absolutely love these books. The short story in the Omnibus about the Slannesh cult in that Mansion place is amazing, I had to put the book down due to laughter the first time I read it.

[FeralOni]

i re-read the Ciaphas Cain novels quite frequently, they make a nice change in between reading several HH or Tanith 1st novels in a row

[imperialsavant]

:D I really love all the Cain novels.
Apart from the stories themselves the footnotes from Amberly & the extracts from Jenit Sulla & others are just so clever.
It is also interesting that Caiphus himself does not recognise just how much he inspires others around him to be heroic & Amberly does.
More Cain!!!


Incidently I also enjoyed his 2 Inquisitor novels & the sexual tensions between two of the characters.:cool:

[theirkin]

sandy mitchell takes his cues from the harry flashman series, written by george macdonald fraser. one of the main gimmicks of that series is how flashman is always embroiled within momentous historical events, and throughout he peppers his books with cultural references that would be amusing to someone from the period he's writing about. i assume that mitchell, devoid of a historical audience to wink at in that kind of pretentious, meta way, instead chooses to do so through references to a modern reader.

all the same, i love it. it's awesome, even if he does need to shake up his formula already.

joe

[Primarch Scooter]

I find the references pretty funny myself. I've read all the Cain books and have enjoyed every one of them, as they all have good humor that seems to be uncommon in the grim darkness of the future.

[betacentauri]

i really loke this series the best. everything else is too grimdark for me -.-"

[plawolf]

I think Sandy made a good choice when he broke with the Valhallans in Cain's last stand and The Emperor's Finest as it was getting a little samey. This break was not only refreshing in itself, but also made it a refreshing return to form when Cain was again joined with his old Valhallan comrades in The Last Ditch.

The only tiny niggle I have with the series so far is that it gets a little predictable that Cain will emerge miraculously unscathed no matter the situation. And no, loosing a few fingers or getting a bump on the head does not really count in my view.

I think it would be a really good think for the series if during one of the stories, Cain is actually seriously injured for once.

[Bedroom General]

I love these books. I'm a fan of Harry Flashman, and this certainly continues the tradition. Sandy Mitchell's sense of humour "Sodallagain" as the name of a planet and "Eyor Dedonki" the philosopher, etc is a constant joy. Commissar Cain and Jurgen absolutely rock as a team. Special characters...Come on GW!
Btw, though the Cain stuff is brilliant, its still not as good as...
Storm of Iron
Should be a movie by Peter Jackson and David Cronenberg
I can dream can't I?

[dawfydd]

I wasn't sure about Cain at first (comedy? In my Grim/Dark!), but they've just been great. I always get a sense of Blackadder when reading them (never a bad thing...)

[Turner]

I love these books, and how it always seems to go back to genestealers. Problem in the sewers? Yeah ok I can see it being stealers. Planet being invaded by a hive fleet and now your running for your life through the streets? Well how about if genestealers pop out of the alley ways! Riding in a limo to the planet's capital and your attacked by the mob? No no, it's just genestealers, first gen, but genestealers none the less. Even the brothal houses are infested with genestealers! Can't a guy catch a break? Probably, but here's some genestealers!

[rebvamp13]

out of all the books i have read cain are the best they are funny and bloody at the same time

[Colonel Kreitz]

I absolutely love these books. The short story in the Omnibus about the Slannesh cult in that Mansion place is amazing, I had to put the book down due to laughter the first time I read it.

You see, that's the trouble with reading the individual books as they come out - you miss out on the cool asides and stories in the omnibus.

Anyway, Cain is great. I think the Ciaphus Cain stories and Confederacy of Dunces are the only books I have actually laughed out loud while reading.