They've been hinting at a return of Vulkan in the Salamanders series, but I thought it was just a prophecy or something like that. I've enjoyed that series, but I've enjoyed most 40k Black Library books (read about 30 so far).
Antigonos/Warseer:
Primarch books are going to be out as limited edition novellas. Nick Kyme will write one about Vulkan when his legion finds him, Aaron Bowden about Lorgar and what he saw in the Eye of Terror and Gav Thorpe something about Corax (still really early to tell what). Something I forgot to mention: Vulkan's novel will be available in the next Gamesday as pre-release and next November from BL's site.
Now THESE books will be excellent!
Some of the authors chosen, well... OK, I guess.
REALLY looking forward to the one on Corax, though I hope most of these are more about the Primarch's 'early days' rather than the "What Lorgar saw" variety...
InquisitorMack wrote:They've been hinting at a return of Vulkan in the Salamanders series, but I thought it was just a prophecy or something like that. I've enjoyed that series, but I've enjoyed most 40k Black Library books (read about 30 so far).
I think that's all that will come to - hints and nothing more.
I don't think GW is quite to the point where a Primarch is going to return to the 'Current' timeline.
InquisitorMack wrote:They've been hinting at a return of Vulkan in the Salamanders series, but I thought it was just a prophecy or something like that. I've enjoyed that series, but I've enjoyed most 40k Black Library books (read about 30 so far).
I think that's all that will come to - hints and nothing more.
I don't think GW is quite to the point where a Primarch is going to return to the 'Current' timeline.
Seconded. The timeline/events are going to change that dramatically within the 40K universe IMHO.
I've just started the second Salamanders book (both being a bit 'meh' so far) and I'm sitting here thinking about the talk of Nocturne being destroyed and I just don't see it happening due to the radical change in fluff it'd cause...
Primarch novel series? Will we expect 18 books then? Would they really be needed? Couldn't they simply include that kind of info/stories etc in the Horus Heresy novels?
Yeah, but there's really two "post-Isstvan" events that can be explored.
1) Corax rebuilding the Raven Guard, finding the genetic data within Deliverance.
2) Corax leading the rebuilt Raven Guard into battle, with the genetic monstrosities coming about from his tampering with clone tech.
I'd like a lot more about the "Golden Age" of the Imperium of Man, when the Crusade had just started, there was still Hope For A Better Future, and the Primarchs were just starting out.
BrookM wrote:Again, Gav is doing a RGHH novel and a short story that ties into both the novel and audio drama.
Yes, but you can almost be certain that "Deliverance Lost" won't be focused exclusively on Corax.
It's nice that he's finally doing a Raven Guard novel though.
Alpharius wrote:I'd like a lot more about the "Golden Age" of the Imperium of Man, when the Crusade had just started, there was still Hope For A Better Future, and the Primarchs were just starting out.
A book a Primarch?
Sure, why not!
We tried 'a book a Primarch'.
We got Fulgrim.
Never again...
Honestly, the "Golden Age of the Imperium of Man" seems to have been kinda boring. Plus...that's when 'Descent of Angels' began.
I happen to like the first DAHH novel a lot. Those [redacted] tend to forget that the fall of that legion goes a bit deeper than just Luther being a bit jealous. But no, they hate it for not being about space marines but instead about the roots of the legion.
Alpharius wrote:"Finally doing a Raven Guard Book"?
Since when has Gav been the Raven Guard guy?
...Really?
And, really?
Holding up the DAHH books as any kind of example is a bad way to start that discussion.
Only if you're someone who hated them. Many people actually liked them for what they are: an in-depth look at how and why the Fall of Caliban happened.
They, to be precise, should have been published earlier or made it known that it was 'out of continuity' with "Descent of Angels" though.
Learning more about the Primarchs?
I'm guessing that would sell more than a few books.
What more is there really to learn about the Primarchs though? We know quite a bit about the majority of them. The few we don't know much about could easily be fleshed out in a single novel compiling short stories imo.
What to learn? Why who the heck they were before their father found them again of course. They were all shaped and in some cases, mentally scarred by events only glimpsed and hinted at. Stuff like Angron's talk to Khârn, more of that please.
Pyroriffic just posted a link on her Twitter feed to The Bolthole and lo and behold...
Horus Heresy four novellas compilation titled "The Primarchs" featuring tales by Nick Kyme (Ferrus Manus), Rob Sanders (Alpharius/Omegon), Gav Thorpe (The Lion), Graham McNeill (Fulgrim)
Also:
A Space Marines Battles book featuring four linked novellas surrounding the Eye of Terror Containment Fleet called "Architect of Fate"
Sounds like I am NOT going to be happy with the Alpharius/Omegon tale then...
Still, there's always hope, as I never thought I'd enjoy Mr. Swallow's work, after the first few Blood Angel books, but his HH stuff has been pretty good.
Here's hoping!
Also, I'm more than OK with a series of short story collections about the Primarchs - that should turn out nicely indeed!
Kanluwen wrote:Yeah, Sanders can be a bit of a chore.
Gav doing "The Lion" makes me all kinds of happy though.
Me too! I'm kind of surprised though, as apparently despite it's popularity with fans, Angels of Darkness I think caused some eye-rolling in BL. Will be interesting to see whether or not the Lion turns out to be a bit evil, I can already feel the fatwah pronouncements from DA fans brewing once more
The Lion is more an opportunist than an outright evil character, as has been discussed in Angels of Darkness and shown at the end of the second HHDA novel.
BrookM wrote:. Sorry, don't like Rob's stuff. Still need to finish Redemption Corps but I doubt I ever will.
His Iron Warriors short story in "Age of Darkness" -- was also in Hammer and Bolter IIRC -- is superb however.
BL Live was, in short, a blast.
Several other bits of good news, we'll start off with words from Mr. Thorpe himelf
A Whole Heap of Stuff
This weekend just past was Black Library Live! 2011, and I had a great time. BL Live! is a very rewarding day for me. Most importantly, it is always nice to spend time chatting with fans and signing books. This year I was in three seminars and had two signing sessions, so it was a busy event, but that’s the way I like it.
Dark Angels Fun
First order of the day was the Space Marines Battles seminar, alongside fellow authors Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Chris Wraight, Nick Kyme, Andy Hoare and Rob Sanders, talking about the series. It was cool to hear how the other guys had approached the series, and I think it showed that even under the umbrella of Space Marine Battles, there are lots of different ways to present humanity’s finest defenders.
Not only did the questions and discussion show that there are an awful lot of battles that could be covered, but there are also many ways that those stories could be told. In particular, one question was, “Which historical battle would you not want to write about?”. This prompted some interesting debate amongst the authors, and the consensus emerged that perhaps some of the events from Warhammer 40,000 were just too big to fit into one novel. I highlighted the famous Battle for Macragge against the Tyranids as one that I would be wary of tackling, due not only to the amount of stuff already written about it in various places, but also the massive expectation that the readers would have.
As is the way of things, after the seminar I started thinking about all the different ways I would actually go about writing that battle… One of the best things about the series is the challenge of taking established events and portraying them in a new and exciting way for readers – something I have been learning a lot about with Time of Legends, Purging of Kadillus and now the Horus Heresy.
Caledor was available on the day.
After a bit of a break for a coffee, I was whisked back to the main seminar area for the Time of Legends discussion, with New-York-Times-Bestselling-Author-and-David-Gemmell-Legend-Award-Winner Graham McNeill, and series editor (and soon-to-be series author) Nick Kyme. The main upshot of the seminar was that the opening three arcs of the series – Sigmar, The Sundering and Nagash – were coming to an end, and we would be starting out on the next set of stories. As a transition, the Age of Legends anthology will include stories that tie in to the opening arcs as well as tales that pre-empt the next three trilogies. It was a little later on that I found out that editor Christian Dunn wanted me to write a story for this. It wasn’t the only commission I found out about on the day, as I will explain later…
In summary, the next sagas to be covered will be The War of Vengeance, the Black Plague and the Wars of the Vampire Counts. The War of Vengeance, between the Elves and Dwarfs (also known as the War of the Beard), had been something I had raised with Nick in previous meetings, but he had already nabbed this one for himself, along with Chris Wraight. I’m sure the two of them will do a fine job. The machinations of the Skaven during the Black Plague will be splendidly handled by CL Werner. For those of you who can’t work it out, that means I will be tackling the Vampires and all things associated. To say I was pleased by the very positive response prompted by this news would be an understatement. Since the subject was covered previously by Steve Saville in the Von Carsteins trilogy, I know I will have my work cut out making sure this lives up to expectation, but it’s a challenge I am really looking forward to.
The latest HH anthology.
Lunch and a signing session then whisked me away, until the Horus Heresy seminar. Unsurprisingly, the seminar area was standing room only, and it was with a little trepidation that I took my place on the sofas next to Dan Abnett, Jim Swallow, with re-appearances by Rob, Graham and Aaron. Along with many other pre-releases, Age of Darkness was available on the day, which contains my short story Face of Treachery. It was a bit tricky talking about the novel on which I am currently working – Deliverance Lost - without giving away some of the surprise of the story, since it is in effect a prologue for the novel. Cover artist Neil Roberts also had the Deliverance Lost artwork with him, which I hope BL will be showing off in the not-too-distant future, as it is fantastic.
In some respects we all had to be a little bit vague when discussing what we were up to and what stories were coming next. This phase of the heresy is called the Age of Darkness for a reason, and covers all sorts of exciting events that haven’t before been revealed – as well as a couple of the major engagements already described in the background. The series is at a very interesting stage. The majority of the existing history has been covered and we are now moving into uncharted territory. Up to this point, much of the appeal for readers has been finding out the whos and whys behind events they already know, but now that we will be introducing totally new battles, plots and encounters, the emphasis will be shifting, and there are a lot of shocks and surprises in store. This makes it very difficult to discuss an individual volume without spoiling those yet to come.
Also announced was The Primarchs, another anthology, this time of four novella-length pieces. Commissioning by the seat of his pants as ever, Christian again informed me shortly before the seminar that he would like me to contribute. I said yes. The subject is one that a lot of folks have been asking me about, and so I am happy to say that I will be writing a novella based on the Primarch of the Dark Angels, the Lion. I have no idea yet what he’ll be up to, but I will endeavour to get at least a handful of revelations in there, and perhaps even an appearance from Astelan…
As has become common at this sort of event, I had as much fun with the editors and authors as I did with the fans; talking about past, current and future projects. I met lots of folks who deserve a shout-out, some of them who I have met before and others I have not. Hello to all of the Boltholers with their lovely T-shirts, it was great to meet you chaps and chapesses. I was very happy to have a chat with RedS8n, Black Library aficionado on many a forum, as well as lots of other folks who I am sure deserve to be mentioned by name.
Jokes about Christian’s ambush commissioning aside, it was also good to talk to the BL editors and sales guys about stuff, and though I have a proper scheduling meeting to arrange, I can summarise a big list o’ stuff what I will be working on in the coming months and years…
Currently writing: Deliverance Lost for the Horus Heresy.
Coming soon (to my schedule if not the shelves) in no particular order: A Dark Angels novel (possibly the first of a new series); Path of the Outcast; an Eldar-themed short story for the Games Day chapbook; a Vampire Wars trilogy; a Dark Angels audiobook (again, probably the first of several); a story about a space marine tea party; a novella on Lion El’Johnson; a trilogy on the Wars of the Vampire Counts and a Vampire-related short story for the Age of Legends book. I think that covers everything so far…
And of course, I will have to find time to fit in Crown of the Conqueror for Angry Robot too! As a freelance writer, there is no such thing as too busy.
His short story in the HH collection fits in -- very neatly it must be said -- in and around Raven's Flight and the other published RG stuff. It also very nicely "frontloads" ( I believe is the term) for his RG novel.
.... Mr. Aplharius will be very happy with this IMO.
Chris Wraight seems happy too...
Well, that was BL Live 2011. I’ve mentioned a few times before that it’s my favourite of the various BL events, and this year was no exception. The more I get immersed into writing, the more I’m convinced that such shindigs are pretty much essential for boosting occasionally-flagging morale/energy. It’s such a buzz to talk to informed, enthusiastic readers about the books. While it’s obviously lovely to hear nice things about what you’ve written (and thanks to all those who popped over to do that), it can also be fascinating to hear constructive criticism too – the fact that someone’s interested enough in what you do to come and chat about it never ceases to be gratifying.
Anyway, the first thing to convey is huge thanks to the BL and GW staff. The day was organised wonderfully, and the authors were looked after spectacularly well – definitely not something to be taken for granted. I liked the slighter bigger format for this year’s event – still small enough to allow proper conversations, but with a nice buzz throughout the day.
Ooh...
As it turned, out, the nicest surprise for me was a real, physical copy of Battle of the Fang. I hadn’t expected these to be ready yet (the official release isn’t until June), so to get my hands on one was a bit of a shock. It looks lovely – my doodled maps have been turned into proper artwork, and there’s some cool Space Wolf livery running throughout. Some copies were available to buy, but I’m told these sold out fairly quickly. It was great to sign so many of these, and I hope everyone who got hold of a copy enjoys the read. Staggeringly, there was a review online by 6.30pm of the day of release! Thanks to Simo429 on Bolter and Chainsword for that astonishingly quick turnaround!
Aah...
Also good to catch up with some familiar faces. I’m now the very proud owner of a pair of DakkaDakka dice, which are sitting on my desk in front of me as I type – thanks to Mike Sault for those, and excellent to catch up, as ever. And I have fond, if fleeting, memories of some very nice cookie fragments and a chunk of chocolate brownie. Though in the whirl of everything going on I may have misremembered, I think these originated from Graeme Lyons and Tim Kenyon respectively.
A good day was made complete by Matt, who had solved the code in Sword of Vengeance and had brought a handwritten copy of the deciphered letter to prove it. Many congratulations – this was the first time I’d actually seen irrefutable evidence of anyone cracking it – I must admit, I’m somewhat relieved to find that it is crackable…
So, now I’m back in front of the screen, re-energised and gearing up for more writing. I’m in the middle of revising a WHF novella at the moment, after which it’s the next Warhammer Heroes novel. After that, it all gets a bit hazier, but there’s every chance of delving further back into the Warhammer World past, which will be very cool indeed. Talking of Fantasy, there’s a very comprehensive review of Sword of Vengeance over at Heresy Online – thanks to increaso for posting that.
Phew. Think that’s everything. Again, many thanks to everyone who came over to talk, and for making the day so enjoyable. Here’s to 2012…
He has a really good short story in "Age of Darkness", that had me cooing and purring with delight.
Typically though, Mr. Dembski Bowden skips in at the last moment and steals that title/award. His NL and DA tale is frickin' awesome.
... the line about "steam" is golden.
On the day itself I got :
Age of Darkness
Blood Reaver
Caledor
Victories of the Space Marines
Blood Forged
Fall of Damnos
Battle of the Fang
The Brettonian Omnibus -- god I'm weak and the limited edition chapter book -- the Czevak novel seems promising indeed.
Dan Abnett writing about Calth, C. L. Werner writing about the Skaven and the Black Plague ?
.... more work from Sarah Cawkwell ?
All in all it was a fine day indeed. Lots of other little snippets and ideas talked about and gossiped about.
More to follow as/when ( if...) I've caught up with a few more odds and sods.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
AgeOfEgos wrote:
I really wish they would write something on Guilliman.
First short story in "Age of Darkness" is about him/the Ultramarines.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Ironhide wrote:
Kroothawk wrote:Wasn't there an upcoming hardcover including art and a novelization of Gav Thorpe's audiobook Aenarion? Can't find it anywhere.
And wow, Andy Hoare looks creepy in his portrait photo:
More good news for WFB fans, we will be seeing a Luthor Huss Warhammer heroes novel, which is a good chocie IMO for that series.
Coming from further leftfield, Bl will also be releasing 2 -- one 40K one WFB -- adventure game books -- a bit like the old Fighting Fantasy/Choose your own adventure style books -- but with a somewhat mroe detailed and involving system.
Apparently.
Still no ETA, alas, for the 3rd in the "Scourge the..."/DH series of books.
Mr. King, apparently, has no desire at all to write short stories, he's all about the novels. In fact despite the first of his Tyrion/Teclis novels not being released yet, he has in fact written and handed in all 3 !
reds8n wrote: More good news for WFB fans, we will be seeing a Luthor Huss Warhammer heroes novel, which is a good chocie IMO for that series.
Here's hoping it's another origins story, like Wulfrik. I found Huss an interesting character, especially his origins and how he went about preaching his brand of religion.
Coming from further leftfield, Bl will also be releasing 2 -- one 40K one WFB -- adventure game books -- a bit like the old Fighting Fantasy/Choose your own adventure style books -- but with a somewhat mroe detailed and involving system.
Adventure game books? They better not be like those crappy hero books they had years ago with Kal Jerico and Leonatus.
Apparently.
Still no ETA, alas, for the 3rd in the "Scourge the..."/DH series of books.
You and me both, Cain needs to sod off already, if I want format writing I'll watch TV instead. Maybe an odd question, but Sandy isn't one of their A-listers now is he?
Mr. King, apparently, has no desire at all to write short stories, he's all about the novels. In fact despite the first of his Tyrion/Teclis novels not being released yet, he has in fact written and handed in all 3 !
Continuing Black Library Live week here on the blog, we have a piece of Horus Heresy artwork which was first seen by fans attending the event in Warhammer World on Saturday.
This incredible vista by Neil Roberts will feature on the cover of Deliverance Lost by Gav Thorpe which will be available next year. It focuses on the Raven Guard with links to the storylines in the audio drama Raven’s Flight and the short story “The Face of Treachery” from Age of Darkness.
This is the first picture of Corax that has ever been used in any Games Workshop publication and was based upon a sketch by the mighty John Blanche himself. Neil’s attention to detail is astounding, as always. We particularly love the amazing cityscape behind him. Just be careful not to look at for too long – we wouldn’t want you getting dizzy!
Nice indeed !
Forgot to mention earlier : we will be seeing some more Ragnar/Space Wolf books too -- not by any of the previous authors either -- we will, apparently, be very happy when we see who is doing them.
Unfortunately, we are not currently looking for Horus Heresy or Time of Legends submissions
Some of the BL guys and gals kindly offered up the following advice about submitting :
GRAHAM McNEILL
My rule is to see whether you can say: “but why don’t they just…” when reading back through your work. If you can do that, then there is a problem and you need to rewrite it. How annoying is it to read a book where you think, “but why don’t they just do *insert obvious course of action here*, and then everything would be okay?” That is part of what makes a book weak and it is something you need to avoid.
NICK KYME
Don't be precious about your work; get other people to read your writing and don't be upset if they don't like it. Don't be offended if they criticise or give you feedback, take it on board instead. Being a writer isn't glamorous, it's bloody hard work and anyone who has any illusions about it otherwise will be sorely disappointed. It's tough, but if it's what you want to do you'll do it anyway.
NIK VINCENT
People often ask about ideas, and how we generate them. We think there are probably two strands to answering this general query. The first is that a premise is not an idea. You might have a brainwave, but test that it works by applying the principle of 'what if', so that you have a fully formed idea before you embark on that story. The second is that you should trust your ideas. Don't dismiss an idea as silly before you've given it a chance to grow. Good writers don't have more ideas than everyone else, they simply trust the ideas they have.
JAMES SWALLOW
All too often, I talk to aspiring writers about how they have great ideas for stories that they start writing, but then abandon for others. If you do this, you're not a writer; you're a dabbler. Finish what you start, and learn from it. Even if the work isn't good, when you've done it, you've completed it and it will inform the next thing you write.
SARAH CAWKWELL
Never over complicate your ideas in a submission. Be definite about what happens, not vague and ambiguous. Never be afraid of being over confident. 'I can' beats 'I might' every time.
DAN ABNETT
If you’re submitting to a company, or entering a competition, or taking advantage of a submissions window....follow the rules. If they publish guidelines, follow them precisely. Don’t think you know better, or assume the rules don’t apply to you. If a publisher encounters a writer who can’t follow basic instruction, they’re not going to want to work with them. I know it sounds mind-numbingly obvious, but it’s amazing how often this mistake is made. I recently read a very good Warhammer story by someone who was wondering why they hadn’t placed in a competition. They were asking if I could tell what was wrong. The main problem seemed to me that they had entered a Warhammer story in a Warhammer 40,000 competition...
So Gav is writing a trilogy on the Vampire Counts Wars? Didn't they already do this (not that I'm complaining, I read the first few pages of one of them and the writing was like bad fanfic)?
Thanks Red for the update of BL live. Seems like a lot of good stuff to come, excited haha. Have you managed to have a flick through the Bretonnian book yet? Was disappointed when they cut it back to novellas.
Gadge
Oh forgot to say the cover art looks good, but the face reminds me of a dark haired He-man haha.
I'm personally not too sure about that cover, the 'things' coming off Corax's back look a bit wrong to me. Needless to say, the rest of it's nice, but I'm not too sure about that aspect of it.
However, as some of you know, I too am a BIG Corax fan, so I wholeheartedly look forward to this book. I will have to keep a close eye on this thread and BL over the coming months...
Cheers Red!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Gawd though, it seems like I'm gonna have a long time to wait until there's a new BL novel that I'm interested in;
Blood Reaver and Age of Darkness(?) in May, then I'll have to wait until September for Path of the Seer and then even more waiting until December for Gildar Rift and another HH novel. Could be a long year, but hopefully well worth it. Hopefully this means, I can get some work done in the meantime though...
"Blood Reaver and Age of Darkness" -- both really good BTW
You'll also want, nay, need "Battle of the Fang" as well. Especially once you've read Mr. Wraight's tale in "Age of Darkness", it's groovier than the Fonz.
[/hopes people still know who that is]
Can't recall if I said it here or not : but there's also a sequel to "Helion Rain" ( another audio book) coming out as well. Good times to be a RG fan.
reds8n wrote: You'll also want, nay, need "Battle of the Fang" as well. Especially once you've read Mr. Wraight's tale in "Age of Darkness", it's groovier than the Fonz.
[/hopes people still know who that is]
Oh come on Red, what do you think I am? A Space Wolf player or something?!
*I do know who the Fonz is, despite not seeing happy days. Also, which is his short story in age ala darkness?
.. what do they teach in schools these days ! Think of some of the minor jokes you're not getting in "Family Guy"and "Arrested Development".
Next thing you'll be telling me you never saw the spinoff cartoon when the Fonz, Ralph Mouth, Pudsey and Richie go travelling in time with an alien callled "Cupcake" and a dog called Mr. Cool...
.... guess you had to be there.
I can't say too much as it'll spoilt it, but Mr. Wraight's tale (mainly) concerns the Thousand Sons.
IIRC (and the weekend is a hazy memory), the follow up to Helion Rain features the Raven Guard and the Brazen Minotaurs working their way through a labyrinthe.
Pyroriffic wrote:IIRC (and the weekend is a hazy memory), the follow up to Helion Rain features the Raven Guard and the Brazen Minotaurs working their way through a labyrinthe.
Green and blue are the colors of life (water and earth). Makes sense he would avoid them. Speaking of which, isn't it about time for another Blanche art or sketch book?
Hey was just on Anthony Reynolds blog and saw this.
"Writing the Necrons was fun, though I’d say I probably enjoyed writing about the Dark Eldar in Dark Disciple more. I can’t wait to see what Andy Chambers does with them (you know he’s writing a Dark Eldar novel, yeah?)"
Hey was just on Anthony Reynolds blog and saw this.
"Writing the Necrons was fun, though I’d say I probably enjoyed writing about the Dark Eldar in Dark Disciple more. I can’t wait to see what Andy Chambers does with them (you know he’s writing a Dark Eldar novel, yeah?)"
Hey was just on Anthony Reynolds blog and saw this.
"Writing the Necrons was fun, though I’d say I probably enjoyed writing about the Dark Eldar in Dark Disciple more. I can’t wait to see what Andy Chambers does with them (you know he’s writing a Dark Eldar novel, yeah?)"
Have a read of his blog, he mentions it twice, 1st as I quoted above and the 2nd time as below;
"Thanks for the compliments, I’m pleased you liked the books. No plans to write more Dark Eldar at the moment, though I’d definitely be keen to. And as I said above, I’m looking forward to seeing what Mr Chambers does with them. It’s been too long since he’s had a hand in anything 40K related."
Not sure why he would say this if it wasnt true, I couldnt detect any sarcasm in his blog like he was making a joke or that. Have a read and get back to me with what you think.
Well I just finished "Blood Gorgons". Well i cant say that is it was bad, I also cant say it was great either. It seems to me lately that everything goes wrong for the story hero until the lat 20 pages then everything goes right and they win. Yes I know you want the hero to win in the end, but dont you want to see some stuff go right for them in the middle also?
I know that I was lamenting the brevy of Empire centric books 3 or 4 pages ago, but I gotta say that I am thoroughly enjoying Robert Earls "Broken Honour". It may be because about 1/4 of it so far(I'm half way through) is from the Beastmen perspective, which is pretty cool for me since I'm a Beastmen fanatic! The Empire characters are pretty cool too, so far.
Not sure if its spoilerish, I'll put the tags on it anyway, but my favorite part is :
Spoiler:
The Beastmen leader flies into a rage upon seeing chariots in his warherd because they are unnatural manufactured constructions, kills the beastmen that made them, then immediately regrets it and tells the chariot crews to take care of them as he'll be using them in the next battle because they are such useful tools.
I think little things like this, written from the beastmens perspective, really hammers home how chaotic and hateful they are of anything involving order or construction.
Gadge wrote:So can anyone confirm if Andy Chambers is back working for GW (well for BL anyway).
Yes.
Finished "Battle of the Fang" last night, and it was GREAT. Like as good as your favourite HH novel level of good.
Cool action scenes, characters you cared about and ...
Spoiler:
We get to see Magnus... unleashed, and learn about such things as the Wolf Brothers and are even teased about the whereabouts of a certain Mr. Russ.
I especially liked the way the Mr. Wraight took the existing continuity and then built and added to it, without disregarding any of what we know, and still constructed a kick ass story.
Stands head and sholders above the rest in the series and is easily up there with amongst the best 40k novels.
Automatically Appended Next Post: And in actual BL related news :
At Salute, in London April the 16th, there’ll be a big Black Library presence on the day – according to the Salute website, Nick Kyme, Andy Hoare, Gav Thorpe and Aaron Dembski-Bowden and Chris Wraight will all be there.. presumably with some ncie early copies of books available -- sucha s the winificent "Battle of the Fang".
They're all really sound to chat to in general and well worth speaking to if you get the chance.
reds8n wrote:Finished "Battle of the Fang" last night, and it was GREAT. Like as good as your favourite HH novel level of good.
Cool action scenes, characters you cared about and ...
Spoiler:
We get to see Magnus... unleashed, and learn about such things as the Wolf Brothers and are even teased about the whereabouts of a certain Mr. Russ.
I especially liked the way the Mr. Wraight took the existing continuity and then built and added to it, without disregarding any of what we know, and still constructed a kick ass story.
Stands head and sholders above the rest in the series and is easily up there with amongst the best 40k novels.
This, Red, is GREAT to hear. Seriously, I love the Space Wolves and their fluff and would rather it wasn't butchered and abused etc. so this is great to hear, particularly as you're saying it's as good as the HH novels and better than the rest of the series.
Awesome about battle of the fang. Bookdepository.com or .co.uk will be getting an order shortly.
And I agree with the sentiment regarding Blood Gorgons - trying to break the narrative mould by having lots of bad stuff happen means that the resolution takes place in about 5 pages, of which 3 is pretty average stuff.
What I don't get is where on earth this series is going. They had something very nice set up in book 1 with the continuation of the war, the mass chaos invasion, the guy stuck on the chaos ship, all of that, and yet we've had Vietnam War in spaaaaaaaaccccceeee, and now a book where every third line contains a reference to Traitor Space Marines or Chaos Space Marines and what they are like and what they do before they eat breakfast and how they like to betray each other? I guess it could be part of some massive arc, but most of it seems to be pushing character development wrapped around a stringy story. Ah well, I'll continue to buy it, and it will continue to go into the 'not read again for a while' section of the bookshelf.
I thought Blood Gorgons was pretty cool, I liked all the crazy background to the chapter. Very distinct and it was interesting to see the interplay and rivalry between renegade marine chapters, and I think it was good to see...err.... "recruitment" by those of faith too.
reds8n wrote: I thought Blood Gorgons was pretty cool, I liked all the crazy background to the chapter. Very distinct and it was interesting to see the interplay and rivalry between renegade marine chapters, and I think it was good to see...err.... "recruitment" by those of faith too.
YMMV of course.
Dont get me wrong I didnt not like the read. It was interesting.
Spoiler:
I would like to know how they rid their Battle Barge of the nurgle rot.
I just think a number of the books lately havent really pushed the envelope plot wise. Meet Hero, Something tragic happens to Hero, Hero vows revenge/get justice. Basicly nothing goes right for Hero until the last chapter. Hero wins in the end.
I understand that this is the basic plot line to .. well almost every book ever writen actually. I guess I cant really describe what Im looking for.. ( <-- Not a good writer am I ). Just feels to me to cookie cutter/stamped out books.
Give me a HH Scars novel already! Seriously, people have issue with almost any legion------but I've never heard anyone say "Man I hate White Scars and Khan". Come on Black Library!
Alpharius wrote:Need some help on the WFB side of things here...
I have Reiksguard, Sword of Vengeance and Sword of Justice.
I also enjoyed the "Sigmar" series...
Should I also pick up: Warrior Priest, Grimblades, Call to Arms, Broken Honour and Iron Company?
Thanks!
Iron Company is okay, Warrior Priest is good, but I'd skip Grimblades and Call to Arms. Broken Honour I haven't read yet, but I really like the authors previous work, so well worth a shot.
I'm currently slogging through the latest White Scars novel. It's heaps better than the previous, and it's refreshing to see the Tau kicking some ass, but it's just really boring so far....
Lint wrote:I'm currently slogging through the latest White Scars novel. It's heaps better than the previous, and it's refreshing to see the Tau kicking some ass, but it's just really boring so far....
it doesn't get much better unfortunately. that book has too many inconsistencies for my tastes (like why a sergeant is the crusade council marine liason instead of a captain) and i preferred the hunt for voldorius more (even with the letdown boss battle at the end).
Lint wrote:I'm currently slogging through the latest White Scars novel. It's heaps better than the previous, and it's refreshing to see the Tau kicking some ass, but it's just really boring so far....
it doesn't get much better unfortunately. that book has too many inconsistencies for my tastes (like why a sergeant is the crusade council marine liason instead of a captain) and i preferred the hunt for voldorius more (even with the letdown boss battle at the end).
Ugh - that is NOT good news, as I thought THE HUNT FOR VOLDORIUS was hella-bad.
And that is even with TWO of my favorite legions being in there!
just a general question, is first heretic still the latest HH book, and what is the next book in the series slated to be about... and when is it going to be released?
Technically Prospero Burns is the latest HH-book since it released in May 2011 (First Heretic @ November 2010)? Next one is The Outcast Dead slated for release* in November this year. Unless you count Age of Darkness that's a collection of novellas, to be released in May.
I might've missed something posted earlier in this thread (it's getting quite big) though. I just looked through Black Librarys Coming Soon page.
* Isn't that quite a long break between books in the HH-series?
You most definately do need to count "Age of Darkness" and devout it ASAP.
Spoiler:
The Lion vs Night Haunter, little glimpse of Guilliman and the Ultramarines, find out where Qruze has been/been up to... lots and lots of good stuff.
"Deliverance Lost", Mr. Thorpe's eagerly anticipated RG Horus Heresy novel is after that IIRC. This follows on from his audio book and his short story in the above short story collection....
reds8n wrote: You most definately do need to count "Age of Darkness" and devout it ASAP.
Spoiler:
The Lion vs Night Haunter, little glimpse of Guilliman and the Ultramarines, find out where Qruze has been/been up to... lots and lots of good stuff.
"Deliverance Lost", Mr. Thorpe's eagerly anticipated RG Horus Heresy novel is after that IIRC. This follows on from his audio book and his short story in the above short story collection....
.... which changes everything !
.. well... has some surprises in it anyway.
Spoiler:
Lion vs. Night Haunter!?! Hold on, gotta go change my pants...
Happy Birthday blacklibrary.com
Believe it or not, it’s been a whole year since we launched our new-look website (the beautiful arrangement of binary you see before you). To celebrate we’re holding a competition. Every time you spend £50/$75/€60 here on blacklibrary.com over the next month, you’ll be entered into a prize draw. If you place several orders for that amount, you’ll be entered multiple times and increase your chance of winning. Huzzah!
But what’s the prize? I hear you cry. Why, dinner with Dan Abnett. Yup, the author of Gaunt’s Ghosts, and the Eisenhorn trilogy will join you for an evening of good food, fine wine, and great conversation*.
To win you’ll also need to email us the answer to the following question:
What is the name of the Commissar that leads Dan Abnett’s famous Imperial Guard regiment, the Tanith First?
So, in summary – spend over £50/$75/€60 on blacklibrary.com between today and the 28th April, answer a simple question, and you could win dinner with Dan. If you happen to be a particular fan of legal mumbo-jumbo then you can find the full terms and conditions here.
Good Luck.
Still full of post-Black Library Live cake, we're celebrating with lollies.
*Black Library can neither confirm nor deny Dan’s linguistic abilities.
.. true to form I bought my BL Live ticket last week and bought every new release upto and including June's already... I guess I could preorder some stuff or get some of the P.O.D. books perhaps.
Man, dinner with Dan would be AWESOME. Nice update Red, I won't be placing such an order, but it would be great if you were to win.
I really like the character the BL shows in these posts, it's light-hearted humour adds a personal touch IMHO which makes me like them a whole lot more...
2.To enter the draw you must spend over £50/$75/€60 on the Website, as part of a single transaction, and correctly answer the question posted at www.blacklibrary.com/birthdaycompetition
and
5.The winner will be invited to an evening with Dan Abnett and a member of the Black Library team at a time and place to be agreed (within 12 months, subject to Dan Abnett’s availability, and at a location to be decided by Games Workshop). Games Workshop will provide the winner with appropriate transport and accommodation (maximum of two nights), and food and drink for the evening. Entrants are responsible for their own travel documents, including the relevant passport and/or visa.
Now I guess it's not impossible that BL will stump up for you to fly to the Uk, but I'd imagine it's far more likely that sometime when Mr. Abnett is over the poind they'll pay for you to meet up with him somewhere.
Whoever wins PLEASE ask him for details on 'what comes next' for the Alpha Legion - in other words, hints on what is in the sequel we know he want to write!
Product Description HE'D DO ANYTHING TO GET A STORY. When journalist Lex Falk gets himself chipped into the brain of a combat soldier, he thinks he has the ultimate scoop - a report from the forbidden front line of a distant planetary war, live to the living rooms of Earth. When the soldier is killed, however, Lex has to take over the body and somehow get himself back to safety once more... broadcasting all the way.
Jeeze does A-D-B ever take off that hat?? I cant wait for this. So far (to me) most of the HH series have just been expanding on known fluff (Witch is great!). So Brand New Fluff is awesome!
Civilian Reader did a nice little interview with Mr. Long
An Interview with Nathan Long
The Gotrek & Felix series has long been one of Black Library’s most popular (indeed, it’s the longest running), and is certainly one of my favourite fantasy series, having read it since the short stories appeared in the early Warhammer anthologies – Wolf Riders (1989), Ignorant Armies (1989), and Red Thirst (1990). Created by William King, the characters were taken over (and expanded) by Nathan Long, who has now written five increasingly-strong additions to the series. With his next novel, Bloodforged being published in June, featuring Ulrika the vampire (one-time flame of Felix), Nathan was kind enough to answer a few questions about the series, writing, and working in the Warhammer shared universe.
Your second Ulrika novel, Bloodforged, will be published this June. What can we expect from this novel?
Er, just one second...
Before I get started, I’d like to thank Stefan and Civilian Reader for the opportunity to do this interview. I read CR’s reviews all the time, and the site has always given my books – and tie-in books in general – a fair shake, and I appreciate that. For those of us who write tie-ins, quality reviews are few and far between. A lot of reviewers don’t count our books as “real fiction,” whatever that means, and so ignore us. Finding a place like this that reviews without prejudice is therefore a great blessing. Cheers, Stefan! Keep up the good work!
Okay, now what was the question again? Ah, yes. What can you expect from Bloodforged.
Well, I broadened Ulrika’s horizons a bit in this one. Bloodborn took place almost entirely in Nuln. In Bloodforged, she gets out and sees the world, traveling across the Empire and Kislev to Praag. Also, though the plot is mostly about Ulrika fighting Chaos cultists, the theme concerns her trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her eternal life, and how she deals with the conflict between her morality and her nature.
[CR Review of Bloodborn]
How did you find taking this character from the Gotrek & Felix series and letting her strike out on her own (as it were)?
I’ve really enjoyed it. Bill King created a great character in Ulrika, and set up a fantastic conflict for her: “What does a hero do when she becomes a monster?” I just took that question and ran with it.
I have done my best to craft stories that force Ulrika to face that question on every page. Sometimes she doesn’t get it right. Sometimes her best intentions ruin everything. It’s exciting to me to discover how she’s going to deal with the next conflict and what her ultimate decision will be. Hopefully the readers will think so too.
[CR Review for Elfslayer, Shamanslayer, Zombieslayer]
You took over writing the Gotrek & Felix series from its creator, William King. The three latest installments in the series have gone deeper than some previous volumes, and I think it would be safe to say that you’ve definitely made the series your own. What was it like, taking on these characters, and have you been pleased with the fan reaction?
It was terrifying, but fun as well. Gotrek and Felix are great characters, with well-defined personalities and quirks, so I had a blast writing them and coming up with scenarios that would highlight those quirks. At the same time, the pressure to get it right and live up to the reputation of the original novels was very stressful, and there were a fair few fans who were not pleased to see me take over the series. Nor did I always get it right.
Since those first steps, however, I hope I’ve found my footing, and a lot of people seem to like what I’m doing with the books and the characters these days. That is very gratifying.
Where do you see Gotrek and Felix going next?
Well, I’m still discussing that with my editors at the moment. I think I made it pretty clear at the end of Zombieslayer where they will be heading next, but what they meet along the way? That hasn’t been decided yet. Check back with me this time next year. [I think I might hold you to that… – CR]
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Yikes. That’s a broad question. I pull inspiration from everywhere – from old books, from TV and movies, from current events, from friends. I don’t usually base my characters on any one specific person, but you will see reflections of recent political turmoil, gags from old kung-fu movies, locations from fantasy paintings, props from books on life in the middle ages, etc. It really does come from everywhere, then I strain it through the sieve that is my brain and it dribbles on the page.
What drew you to fantasy in the first place?
I’ve always loved it, but I think the start was my mom reading the Narnia books to my brother and me when we were kids. She read the whole series to us while we sat beside her on the couch in pajamas, looking at the pictures.
After that I sought out every book I could find with a knight or a dragon or a wizard on the cover. I read the Lord of the Rings when I was twelve, and after that started digging through the Conan stories and the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books. I’ve been hooked ever since.
What’s it like writing within the established Warhammer setting? Do you have much freedom to adapt the world as you like, or are you sometimes reigned in?
The Warhammer world is pretty much set, and I have to abide by the rules, but I actually like that. One of the biggest chores a fantasy author faces is world building. The great thing about writing Warhammer fiction is that I don’t have to do any of that. I can just open an army book and look it up! And if it’s something truly obscure, I can ask my editors and they’ll find out.
I am allowed to invent a little town here and there if I need one, or a duke or a count, but mostly all that stuff has been done for me, and rather than finding it limiting, I find it comforting, and I enjoy fitting my stories into the existing world. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle – very satisfying once you’ve made the last piece fit.
The Ulrika series focuses on the undead and, by extension, necromancy, which also featured in recent Gotrek & Felix novels. What do you think of the increase in popularity of supernatural/undead fiction today? Any particular stand-out authors or titles, and what about them do you admire?
I’m afraid you’re not going to get a very good answer out of me on this. I haven’t read any of the recent zombie or vampire stuff, so I don’t have an opinion on it, and I’ve only seen a few of the movies/TV shows. I really enjoyed Let the Right One In, which was a Swedish vampire movie that came out a couple years back, and I liked what I saw of Walking Dead, the American zombie TV show, but other than that, I’m afraid I’ve been a bit lax in doing my undead homework.
Some of that has been deliberate, however. I have actually been afraid to read any of that stuff while writing Ulrika, for fear of being too heavily influenced or, on the other hand, second-guessing myself and trying too hard not to do what has been done before. Instead, I’ve stayed away from it all together.
What’s your opinion about the fantasy genre and community today?
This will be another unsatisfactory answer, I’m afraid. I don’t really read all that much of it. When I read, I tend to read older books – fantasy novels from the ’60s and ’70s – and even older adventure novels – swashbucklers from the ’20s, historical fiction, etc.
The last contemporary fantasy novels I’ve read were The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, which I half-liked, and the two Locke Lamora books [The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch], the first which I loved, and the second which I liked. That’s it, however. I don’t read as much as I should. Strangely, that seems to be the curse of being a full time writer. When you’re done writing for the day, you often just want to watch something, not read something.
When did you realise you wanted to be an author, and what was your first foray into writing? Do you still look back on it fondly?
From the time I first started reading kids books, I thought about writing them. For a while I had other ideas. In high school I wanted to be an actor or a rock singer, but I came back to writing in college and decided to be a screen writer.
As to the second part of the question, I’m not sure how to answer. Do you mean the first story I completed? My first paid writing? My first attempt to make it a career?
I guess the short answer is, I look back on all of them fondly. I wrote my first complete fantasy story when I was twelve or so. It was terrible, but I was proud anyway because it was finished. It was something I could show people. It wasn’t just some half-done scribbles in the back of a school notebook, which is what I had been doing up to then. It was even typed!
My first paid writing was a story in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine. It was my first interaction with an editor, and that was thrilling. To get feedback from a professional, and to be treated like a professional? Amazing. The fifty bucks was just a bonus.
My first attempt to make a career out of writing was when I moved to Hollywood to be a screenwriter. I have to say, that was as painful as it was thrilling, and there were a lot of lean and directionless years, but I don’t regret it. Screenwriting taught me structure and pacing, and how to reveal character through action, and those skills have stood me in good stead now that I’ve made the transition to novel writing.
What projects do you have in the pipeline?
I just this week got started on a new novel for Black Library. They haven’t announced it yet, so I can’t say what it is, but I will tell you that it’s in the Warhammer Heroes line, and it isn’t about an Empire hero.
Last month I turned in the final draft of the third Ulrika book, Bloodsworn (which should be out in June of 2012) and I’m really pleased with it. I think it’s a good conclusion to the series – as well as a good set up for another.
I am also getting ready to work on the Gotrek & Felix anthology that Christian Dunn announced at BL Live. I’ll be writing a story for it, and helping to choose and edit the other entries.
Besides Black Library stuff, I have a lot of personal projects I’m having fun with. I’m working on a comic book with a friend, writing a few screenplays, and I’m still trying to find some time to get started on an original (non-Warhammer) novel as well. Yeah, well, someday...
What are you reading at the moment (fiction/non-fiction)?
I am reading a swashbuckling tale of pirates and desert islands entitled Black Bartlemy’s Treasure by Jeffery Farnol. It was written in 1920.
1hadhq wrote:Nice They're expanding on Horus plans soon?
A friend of mine has repeatedly said that he's waiting for the scene in a HH book where the Monty Python 'God' cartoon comes out and says "Get on with it!" as so many books end on a variation of "...And then the Heresy started, but we'll get to that some other day."
It's worse than history class in some southern US states, where it seems like you never have time to cover the end of the Civil War.
Now I'm going to have to try and pick up the inevitably overpriced rare limited edition!
Argh!
They're not really "rare limited editions". I mean, look at "The Bloody-Handed God". That was a 'rare, limited edition' and they didn't even sell out before they pulled it.
For the benefit of our Spanish members/speakers ( well... alright, readers then smarty pants !) Mr. McNeill has done an interview for a spanish site which you can get ....
It was from Black Library.
'Twas the Black Library Live! Chapbook featuring "Necessary Evil" by Rob Sanders and "Deathmasque" by Graham McNeill.
"Necessary Evil" is the first piece by Rob Sanders that I actually didn't find stupid. It was definitely an interesting piece with a very big surprise found by Czevak on the world of Perdition's Reach.
"Deathmasque" was quite frankly...an interesting piece. I can't really say anything about it without spoiling--but I will say it's got me highly pumped for "Sons of Ellyrion".
HUGE SPOILER. SERIOUSLY. THIS WILL RUIN THE SHORT STORY FOR YOU. I'M MAKING THIS AS BIG OF A SPOILER WARNING AS POSSIBLE SIMPLY SO THE SPOILER DOESN'T ACTUALLY BLEED THROUGH INTO THE THREAD PREVIEW
Spoiler:
He's racing Ahriman to an artifact, the "Bacillum Formidonis", a Dreadsceptre which was the name given to an accursed Crozius Arcanum carried by the Word Bearer Apostle, Rhadamanthys.
Ahriman seeks the artifact because like the Spear of Longinus, it's reputed to give the army marching with it an air of invincibility. It was at one point recovered by the Fire Claws Chapter, then lost to the Warp.
Czevak seeks the artifact to destroy it, ensuring that Ahriman cannot use the artifact and gain entry to the Black Library and the knowledge he seeks.
He ends up on a Daemon World called "Nereus" and finds a colony called "Perdition's Landing", with the Atlas Infernal having shown him the route he'd need to take to find the artifact.
As he flees the colony in the midst of the Thousand Sons' assault, he gets his first glimpse of the offspring of the colonists living in Perdition's Landing, protected by their Curator, and the horrible threat they potentially represent to the Imperium.
Genestealer Hybrids, grown in the Warp and iimbued with its powers.
I can't really say much more than that. Thanks for the info Kan, I thoroughly approve of the suitable spoiler too for those that may want to read it. Cheers man, much appreciated!
From Mr. Long's blog (permission kindly granted to repost)
Bloodforged Contest!
To celebrate the upcoming release of the second Ulrika book, Bloodforged, I have decided to hold a double contest. Here’s how it works. I am looking for the best Ulrika artwork and best Ulrika miniature conversion, and I will be giving out cool prizes to the winners and runners up in both categories.
Both art and miniatures should represent Ulrika, armed and dangerous, as described in Bloodborn or Bloodforged and shown on the covers. There should be no nudity or excessive violence (this is a family show) but the rest is at your discretion.
The contest will run from now until Monday, May 30th 2011, and I will announce the winners a week later on Monday, June 6th, which is right between the US and UK Bloodforged release dates.
I reserve the right to post all entries, whether winners or losers, on my blog, but make no guarantees that I will show any of them. Enter at your own risk.
Here are the details for each contest:
Art Contest
The medium can be anything you want, pen, pencil, paint, digital, even sculpture or photography. It can be a pin-up, portrait, action scene, comic story, etc. Whatever you want, as long as it features Ulrika. Please DO NOT send original works. Send jpgs of the work to my gmail address and make sure they’re not too big. 700×450 pixels is about right. The decision of the judges (me) is final.
Miniature Contest
The medium is a standard 28mm miniature figure, converted and painted to look like Ulrika. If you want to go nuts and make a diorama, be my guest, but a single figure will be fine. As with the art contest, DO NOT send the actual miniatures. Send jpgs of the finished pieces to my gmail address and make sure they’re not too big. 700×450 pixels is about right. The decision of the judges (me) is final.
Prizes
Prizes for both contests are as follows:
First Prize is a signed copy of Bloodforged PLUS a print of the Bloodforged cover art signed by me and the artist, Winona Nelson.
Two runners up will each receive a signed copy of Bloodforged.
There you go. Any questions, send an e-mail. Good luck and get started. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
I enjoyed it immensely and am glad that, finally, I can discuss it with other people.
Sort of knew the ending was coming, but the pay off was worth it, and there were a few twists I didn't see.
Plus.. Welsh accented engineer in the 40K setting = win in my book.
let's keep discussion of said disc here as spoiler free as possible, and people can start up a thread in 40 background if they want to discuss it further.
When some mysterious stranger, obviously intelligent and most likely drop dead sexy too, asked about the story, the reply was:
Rob Sanders wrote:Re: Alpharius March 10
Hi Alpharius (the World’s Biggest Alpha Legion fan)
In terms of the Alpharius /Omegon novella, there’s not that much I can tell you. Sworn Black Library secrecy (the Alpha Legion kind, of course) prevents me from divulging such details this early on. The information you have was hot off the press – off Christian’s lips in fact – and I had the glorious facts only an hour or two before you.
In the interest of putting your mind at rest - that the Alpha Legion is in good hands – I can tell you several of my intentions.
Whatever I do with the Alpha Legion, I will ensure that the Black Library maestro Dan Abnett is consulted. I’m playing in his sandbox here to a certain extent and I am eager that a textual unity exists in the handling of the Legion/Primarch(s) between authors. This is all the more important because I intend to get into some new fluff territory with the Alphas. They are a Legion associated with secrecy and it only seems appropriate that the reader get some seriously juicy new stuff. Of course, this all depends on Black Library sanctioning such material.
In summary:
I intend to build on the excellent character / narrative foundation introduced in ‘Legion’.
I intend to give the reader something special and new to justify a HH Alpha Legion outing.
I intend to do justice to a Legion that I love also.
Hope that helps, Alpharius. Sorry I can’t give you more. In the meantime, you could check out The Long Games at Carcharias in 'Victories of the Space Marines'. I've got a feeling you might like it.
Cheers
Rob
So, consulting Dan Abnett is a good thing!
And no idea about The Long Games at Carcharias story in VICTORIES OF THE SPACE MARINES, but I guess I'm going to go pick that up now!
Necroagogo wrote:So, what's the feelings on 'Garro: Legion of One'? How did people feel about the dun-dun-duuuh ending?
Toby's voice characterisations become ever more irritating but he can still narrate a ggod exposition
I bought Flight of the Eisenstein this month and saved the audio drama until after I finished the book. I'm really glad I did as there was a lot of it that has more meaning if you know what happened before. As much as I love it it is also my main criticism of the audio drama. Most of the BL audio dramas are one offs that are easy to get into without much prior knowledge but Legion of One pivots on having knowledge of the Horus Heresy books for the real impact to be felt.
I felt that this drama was over produced, the sound effects got in the way a bit much and they've updated the little into/outro bit of music as there's a lady singing on it now. I'm sure it'll grow on me like Aenarion did. I was slightly saddened to hear that this was the last recruit. I'd have liked to hear more of the stories of people Garro recruited, particularly the other marine in Legion of One. I hope BL keep this series up, it would be excellent to have an audio series centred around a single character.
Having said all that I'd like to hear more Fantasy adventures from BL, much as I love me some Space Marines I'd like some Old World mayhem to change things up a bit.
Hardback would be a bad idea, as it would stop being a million selling series then, I know I skip on buying hardbacks because of their pricing, regardless of the author.
Whatever, I'm excited for this - and the optimism for Alpha Legion sounds good too, although after this comment by: you "obviously intelligent and most likely drop dead sexy" I might take this with a pinch of salt.
I really look forward to whatever HH news this is though! Definitely my favourite novel series atm. I wonder if the Red could be Blood Angels. Possibly versus Khorne (both red, recent blood angels releases?
Finally finished Savage Scars, which was okay, had a good deal of Tau slaughter and fit in well with the established background of the Damocles Crusade. I do hope we'll be getting more Arcadius novels, as there are still some unresolved matters to tend to.
BrookM wrote:Finally finished Savage Scars, which was okay, had a good deal of Tau slaughter and fit in well with the established background of the Damocles Crusade. I do hope we'll be getting more Arcadius novels, as there are still some unresolved matters to tend to.
Promethean Sun will be on sale from 9am (UK local time) tomorrow.
odds on the servers crashing at 9:01 then ?
..only 3000 copies eh ? Best be swift *readies debit card*
Automatically Appended Next Post:
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE TRAILER! Before the Heresy set the galaxy aflame, the Legions of the Emperor conquered the galaxy during the two hundred years of the Great Crusade. In this all-new limited edition novella, Vulkan of the Salamanders, Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands, and Mortarion of the Death Guard work together to free a feral backwater world from the tyranny of the ancient eldar. BL author Nick Kyme turns his expertise on the Salamanders Space Marines to the Horus Heresy series, in the first hardback novella available only from the BlackLibrary.com website. Strictly limited to just 3000 copies worldwide, pre-orders begin on Friday April 15th - don't miss out! Original artwork by Neil Roberts. Thanks to Relic Entertainment and THQ.
Yes, I will still try and buy it, but why the feth in such low numbers? Those ebay donkey-caves are bound to swoop in and buy up a whole load just for their own stinking profits.
That's not actually a bad idea, they just need to sort out the store pages a bit more. Now if only they would bring back certain massive omnibus books in this format. Let the Galaxy Burn anyone?
Some good news from Mr. Wraight concerning First Founding Chapters and iconic Warhammer heroes
Which First Founding Chapter gets the least love? It used to be the White Scars, possibly, but now they’ve got their very own novel, Savage Scars, by the very talented Andy Hoare. And although the Imperial Fists don’t seem to get a huge amount of attention, there’s recently been Chris Roberson’s Sons of Dorn. The Salamanders, Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Ultramarines, Dark Angels and Raven Guard have all had books recently, whether standalone or as part of the Space Marine Battle/Horus Heresy range.
So who’s missing? That’s right: the poor old Iron Hands. These guys haven’t had a book written about them for a long time (2004, as far as I can see, with Jonathan Green’s Iron Hands). On the surface, I can see why this is. The Sons of Ferrus aren’t obviously appealing. They don’t talk a lot, they kill plenty of people on their own side, they have this weird body-hate thing going on, and their paint scheme is, frankly, dull.
But scratch the surface, and there’s plenty to like. The more I read about them, the more I warm to them. Psychologically, they’re about the most interesting of all the First Founding Chapters. The trauma of the Heresy, combined with long-term gene-seed issues, has made them very odd bunnies indeed. And what’s more, they choose to be the way they are, believing that any lessening of commitment to their extreme ideas of flesh-removal and bionic augmentation is somehow weakness.
So they’re rather tragic, flawed heroes, just like Space Marines ought to be. In addition, they have access to all sorts of crazy Adeptus Mechanicus toys, and they spend their shore-leave in gigantic moving fortresses, churning their way across the grim plains of Medusa while sawing more bits of themselves off. They may not be the most flamboyant warriors in the Imperium, but they’re properly scary guys. If you see what they’re prepared to do to themselves, it doesn’t take much imagination to guess what they do to people they really don’t like.
So Iron Hands are great. I liked them so much that I bought the company wrote a story about them, and it’s out in next month’s Hammer and Bolter. If you know any Iron Hands players who are feeling a bit neglected, I hope that this cheers them up a bit. And, the fates willing, I’ll be writing more about them in the future too.
As for other stuff, I’m currently up to my armpits in Luthor Huss. He’s another interesting chap, psychologically speaking – the more I write about him, the more that’s becoming obvious. Aside from the pleasure of telling his particular story, it’s nice to be back in the Empire. There’s something comforting about all that grime, horror and superstition. This latest book will be a little different from the ‘Swords’ books: Huss works and lives on the margins of the Empire, and the forgotten, pox-ridden masses are his concern. Expect to see a slightly darker story this time around, as there are some very creepy things lurking under the branches in the Drakwald, some very creepy things indeed…
Finally, don’t forget Salute this weekend. I’ll be there, along with Aaron Dembski-Bowden and James Swallow. So that’s a chance to chat about the awesome Blood Reaver, the magnificent Hammer and Anvil, and of course Battle of the Fang. I’ll be around from about 10am (possibly slightly later, depending on trains) until about 3pm. See you there!
having devoured his recent "Swords..." novels and Battle of the Fang as well, I cannot recommend them highly enough. If one is attending Salute this weekend then it's well worth making the effort to grab either or both, with the latter being unavailable for a while still otherwise.
Promethean Sun will be on sale from 9am (UK local time) tomorrow.
odds on the servers crashing at 9:01 then ?
..only 3000 copies eh ? Best be swift *readies debit card*
It would be typically GW if the 3000 limit applies to the hardback copies, and there will be a softback copy later... hopefully, because I am a fan of both the Salamanders & Nick Kyme's writing about them.
Not being able to get this because it is only availably online for a couple of days (probably) would be disappointing. Why would they limit it like that in the first place
Promethean Sun will be on sale from 9am (UK local time) tomorrow.
odds on the servers crashing at 9:01 then ?
..only 3000 copies eh ? Best be swift *readies debit card*
It would be typically GW if the 3000 limit applies to the hardback copies, and there will be a softback copy later... hopefully, because I am a fan of both the Salamanders & Nick Kyme's writing about them.
When they do these limited runs, there's only one copy type available.
They don't, however, produce 'limited runs' of things like the hardback copies of the Gaunt's Ghost novels.
Not being able to get this because it is only available online for a couple of days (probably) would be disappointing. Why would they limit it like that in the first place
Because they're meant to be 'something special'. They usually don't connect directly to the story in any meaningful fashion where you're screwed if you miss it.
And I doubt it will "only be available online for a couple of days". They pulled the Dark Elf novella from sale before they ran out.
Alpharius wrote:I hope you're right Kan, because as a Pre-Heresy fan, I really want a copy of this...
I'll be trying to buy it tomorrow morning, as soon as I wake up!
You might get lucky then and the website crashes at 3am our time(which is when they should be opening) and Black Library IT doesn't get it running until you wake up?
Maybe you should send them an email and see if you can give them your details to preorder it today?
Kanluwen wrote:Because they're meant to be 'something special'. They usually don't connect directly to the story in any meaningful fashion where you're screwed if you miss it.
And I doubt it will "only be available online for a couple of days". They pulled the Dark Elf novella from sale before they ran out.
I understand what their intention is, but it remains a rather sub-optimal way to go about.
Making it available without limit = more people happy & more $$$ for Black Library. Everybody wins. Alternatively making 3000 "limited" copies with a special feature and unlimited copies without, or only selling it for x period of time would be better options also.
It sounds like it will only take an hour or less before they sell out then? In that case I'm not sure I'll even bother trying to get the book ordered through my local GW (right about after they open up). If they are making it that hard then F them and their book.
And why would they pull an item before they run out
Kanluwen wrote:Because they're meant to be 'something special'. They usually don't connect directly to the story in any meaningful fashion where you're screwed if you miss it.
And I doubt it will "only be available online for a couple of days". They pulled the Dark Elf novella from sale before they ran out.
I understand what their intention is, but it remains a rather sub-optimal way to go about.
Making it available without limit = more people happy & more $$$ for Black Library. Everybody wins. Alternatively making 3000 "limited" copies with a special feature and unlimited copies without, or only selling it for x period of time would be better options also.
Making 3000 "limited" copies that they sell for 5-6 months is just about right in terms of how long they last.
In some cases, they last far shorter, in some far longer. There's no real predictability.
It sounds like it will only take an hour or less before they sell out then? In that case I'm not sure I'll even bother trying to get the book ordered through my local GW (right about after they open up). If they are making it that hard then F them and their book.
I don't know about "an hour or less before they sell out".
The BL Live! 2011 Chapbook is limited to 750 copies and has been up for a month or so.
It hasn't sold out yet, and it includes a tie-in story to Graham McNeill's pretty heavily anticipated High Elf novel and the absurdly anticipated book about Inquisitor Czevak.
And why would they pull an item before they run out
Because it was a "limited run". It might get put back up for sale on the website, but more likely they'll change it so that it will be available at Games Days where you can flip through it and make your decision there if you want it or not.
.. I suspect that this will sell ve quickly indeed.
Whilst we won't see it again in this format -- hardback, signed and numbered, I would not be at all surprised if, some time in the future, we do get the tale reprinted in some fashion or other, say in an anthology or the like.
I think i've ordered one as i've got a confirmation screen, but I haven't got a confirmation e-mail and it doesn't show up in my order history on Black Library.. Argh.
No confirmation e-mail still, so I phoned them (PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC) and they said it should be fine as long as i've got the confirmation number and to call back in the afternoon if i've not heard anything. Did get the promo e-mail though, phew!
Just got my confirmation and official announcement mail as well. I'm sure this is well worth reading, just need to think of a way to explain it to the other half.
Don't think they've given an exact date, but past experience with these has seen them pushed out the door sharpish, so maybe in a week or so I think/hope.
This lavish, A5 hardback novella wrapped in faux salamander skin features an exclusive story that will not be printed anywhere else for at least two years. Only three thousand copies of this collectors’ edition novella will ever be printed – order your copy early to avoid disappointment.
Can I wait?
Answer - unknown!
Argh!
That's a lot of money though, for a novella...
Update!
NO PURCHASE for me.
Seriously?
$50 for the book, and $36 for shipping?
WTF?
NO WAY it costs that much to send a freakin' pamphlet to me here in the USA from the UK.
Is this some sort of new Royal Wedding Tax for the colonies?
Unless some kind soul in the UK could buy this for me and then mail it to me for a reasonable charge, this is a no go for me - and that makes me a Sad Panda!
Due the massive demand for this title we have temporarily removed it from sale to ensure that we have enough stock to satisfy all existing orders. We will repost any remaining stock at 12.00 UK local time on Monday 18 April.
So I get an email from Black Library today about a book that goes on sale today, Promethean Sun, yet when I click on the email to check it out it takes me to a Black Library sales page that shows two key things:
1) The book is $50 US. No way would I pay that for a novella. 2) The book is already no longer being offered. It may or may not be offered again early next week. If I had wanted it, sending me an advert for a book that is not available was not genius.
Fail! Spectacular Fail! Well, for me anyway. Clearly some people had no problem with the $50 price tag if it's already possibly sold out.
At $86 ea. for US buyers, I imagine there's a lot of EU demand. $36 for shipping is a little too much extra profit taking for me to stomach. Here's hoping the 2 years from now, I'll be able to pick up the paperback!
If I had been able to try to buy it and see that shipping was an additional $36, then this definitely would have been double-spectacular fail! $86 for one small novella. Err, no thanks.
BrassScorpion wrote:So I get an email from Black Library today about a book that goes on sale today, Promethean Sun, yet when I click on the email to check it out it takes me to a Black Library sales page that shows two key things:
1) The book is $50 US. No way would I pay that for a novella.
2) The book is already no longer being offered. It may or may not be offered again early next week. If I had wanted it, sending me an advert for a book that is not available was not genius.
You should check your email's timestamp. 4:26AM EST for me.
It went up for sale at 9am in the UK.
Fail! Spectacular Fail! Well, for me anyway. Clearly some people had no problem with the $50 price tag if it's already possibly sold out.
It's not "already possibly sold out".
They put a freeze on sales to ensure that "all orders can be filled".
The remaining stock goes up for sale on Monday, in the afternoon(meaning: not 9am UK time).
....I can't resist limited edition books....especially with the Death Guard AND Iron Hands. She Who Must Not Be Named is in for a surprise missing lump in our bank account.
You should check your email's timestamp. 4:26AM EST for me.
I saw that. Does everyone sit at their computer at 4:30 AM? I doubt it. Does everyone check their email every waking moment of the day. No to that too.
It's not "already possibly sold out". They put a freeze on sales to ensure that "all orders can be filled". The remaining stock goes up for sale on Monday, in the afternoon(meaning: not 9am UK time).
Man, you just never give up, do you? I read that too, it's a nice way of saying "we're not sure if we sold more than we're printing and we need to justify the numbers before we sell any more" which does indeed mean they may have already sold out or nearly so.
You know, it's possible to sum things up without writing a novel or repeating every detail verbatim, well, it is for some of us. Bye-ee.
You should check your email's timestamp. 4:26AM EST for me.
I saw that. Does everyone sit at their computer at 4:30 AM? I doubt it. Does everyone check their email every waking moment of the day. No to that too.
I'm not even sure what point you're trying to make here other than "How dare they use the UK time rather than the US time!".
It's not "already possibly sold out".
They put a freeze on sales to ensure that "all orders can be filled".
The remaining stock goes up for sale on Monday, in the afternoon(meaning: not 9am UK time).
Man, you just never give up, do you?
Not when people are doing knee-jerk reactions that make no real sense, no.
I read that too, it's a nice way of saying "we're not sure if we sold more than we're printing and we need to justify the numbers before we sell any more" which does indeed mean they may have already sold out or nearly so.
When they closed down sales, the stock was at 1806. That's far from "already sold out or nearly so".
You know, it's possible to sum things up without writing a novel or repeating every detail verbatim, well, it is for some of us. Bye-ee.
If what I wrote is what you consider a "novel", I don't know what to tell you.
I wrote three lines of text replying to your "Fail! Spectacular Fail!" crap.
Alpharius wrote:Anyone have any idea why the shipping is so expensive to the US?
I think they switched carriers, but I'm not 100% sure. The US Customs standards changed, and we get hit with an arseload of extra charges on ordering. My Live 2011 Chapbook got hit with a $20 customs charge, even though it was marked properly and everything simply because of its weight.
Alpharius wrote:Anyone have any idea why the shipping is so expensive to the US?
The limited edition hardback novellas all come with express shipping as a standard, regardless of country. I was forced to pay a whopping €24 in shipping. This is the main reason I never got to buy the Bloody Handed, which I really, really wanted, but the shipping was just too much for me at the time. Not that the high shipping of this novel is an excuse, I just had to grit my teeth and push through.
As a result of this and a slight disagreement with the other half I am now pissing blood. And sleeping on the couch.
Due to the rarity of this item orders containing Promethean Sun will only be shipped via express UPS delivery.
Yeah, right.
More likely, 'Due to the rarity of this item and our ability to take advantage of the 'collectible' nature of it, plus our ability to leverage our agreement with the shipping carrier, we've decided to gouge you and maximize our profits!"
And yes, I am bitter that I really can't justify paying $86 of a novella of what is my favorite setting in all of GW's works, and I'm extra bitter knowing that I won't really be able to justify buying the next one either!
It is a real bastard move and anyone who says otherwise is one as well. I do hope pay day this Wednesday is good, otherwise I'm in bit of a pickle with milady.
In better news, got two parcels just now: Garro LEGION OF ONE, Fall of Damnos, Age of Darkness, Caledor and Blood Reaver.
Already listening to Garro (his new voice type is horrible QQ) while cleaning, I'll start on Age later tonight. Any story in particular I should start with?
.. in the Mr. Wraight penned story.. the real reason why youknowwho goes to youknowwhere. Plus I thought that story in general was awesome.
I'm also most intrigued by the Little Horus tale and some of the comments made by the Lion with regards to at least one of his brothers. Given some of the accusations made against him/his legion in some books, this struck me as most delicious and yet also making a good degree of sense.
reds8n wrote:.. in the Mr. Wraight penned story.. the real reason why youknowwho goes to youknowwhere. Plus I thought that story in general was awesome.
I'm also most intrigued by the Little Horus tale and some of the comments made by the Lion with regards to at least one of his brothers. Given some of the accusations made against him/his legion in some books, this struck me as most delicious and yet also making a good degree of sense.
Spoiler:
Ahh, Rebirth? Yeah it was a good read----Little Horus was my favorite though. He was a completely undeveloped character in the earlier series---it was good to see some of his motivations/what he was like.
Garro----while I had some misgivings----I was elated to confirm that Loken was indeed back! Plus they're done recruiting now----so they can move on to actually fighting some chaos (Which was my problem with LOO....the enemy action sequences were lack luster).
reds8n wrote:.. in the Mr. Wraight penned story.. the real reason why youknowwho goes to youknowwhere. Plus I thought that story in general was awesome.
I'm also most intrigued by the Little Horus tale and some of the comments made by the Lion with regards to at least one of his brothers. Given some of the accusations made against him/his legion in some books, this struck me as most delicious and yet also making a good degree of sense.
Spoiler:
Ahh, Rebirth? Yeah it was a good read----Little Horus was my favorite though. He was a completely undeveloped character in the earlier series---it was good to see some of his motivations/what he was like.
Garro----while I had some misgivings----I was elated to confirm that Loken was indeed back! Plus they're done recruiting now----so they can move on to actually fighting some chaos (Which was my problem with LOO....the enemy action sequences were lack luster).
So...
Spoiler:
Do you think this is guilt plaguing Little Horus or is it perhaps the initial signs or glimmerings of daemonic possession perhaps ?
Do you think this is guilt plaguing Little Horus or is it perhaps the initial signs or glimmerings of daemonic possession perhaps ?
Spoiler:
I think it was just setting up for future Sons of Horus conflict----the last time we saw Little Horus he was killing Torgaddon and showing extreme guilt----and he still harbors that. I imagine Little Horus is going to turn from the Sons sometime in the future---and perhaps play a large part in helping Terra defend itself...
From the BL blog and the pen alright, keyboard of Mr. Kyme
Staring at the sun
Burn baby, burn! BL have let me get my hands on the blog today to extol the fiery virtues of Promethean Sun. If you’re one of the lucky few (well, 3,000 actually) who’ve managed to order a copy then you’re in for a fat slice of Salamanders Legionary action.
This is the first story to feature Vulkan in a prominent role (the prominent role, to be exact) and as well as the shooty-death-kill you might well expect, there are also deeper thematic overtones that hopefully enrich the primarch’s character.
Set during the latter years of the Great Crusade, it’s not utterly essential to the ongoing continuity but does set up characters and scenarios I intend to play out in later works. Not least of which is my Ferrus Manus novella (title tbc right now) for The Primarchs. Not heard about this collection yet? Shame on you – call yourself a fan . It’s an anthology of four novellas, each of which feature a primarch and are set during various points of the Horus Heresy era (including Great Crusade).
For some reason, I keep getting the guys who were slaughtered at Isstvan V but hey-ho. Ferrus Manus (and Mortarion, as it happens) both make appearances in Promethean Sun. The Gorgon is most prominent and my Primarchs novella is set during the same combat action and shows what Ferrus got up as Vulkan and co were slogging it through the jungle beating seven shades of shinola out of eldar Exodites riding dinosaurs.
Promethean Sun is really a character piece that explores what it’s like to be Vulkan. It’s a story that straddles two important periods of his life, namely his time on Nocturne when he met the Outlander (and a few years before when he rallied the people against the dark eldar – basically, some of the material as related in the ‘Promethean Opus’ from the established background) and the ‘now’ of the Great Crusade, and how those two periods interact and inform Vulkan’s character.
Speaking of characters, this story is the first time that we meet the Pyre Guard, the seven elite warriors that form the primarch’s honour guard. They were mentioned briefly in the short story ‘Forgotten Sons’, which is in Age of Darkness, but get much more air time (and names) here. I plan on coming back to these heroes of the Legion later.
Those who follow my Warhammer 40,000 Salamander novels will recognise a particular face (Gravius) and another character, Heka’tan, from the aforementioned short is also in the novella.
Through the writing of the piece, I wanted to very loosely connect some dots between the Tome of Fire trilogy and what I’m doing for the Horus Heresy Salamanders. I think that continuity is important – even continuity that extends across ten thousand years – and Promethean Sun was a great opportunity to start to tie projects together with some narrative connective tissue.
It’s weird, as I’m sort of writing the Salamanders on two planes of chronology now; one ‘current’, the other ‘formative’. Rest assured, fans of everything will be rewarded with little Easter eggs of crossover.
My intention with Promethean Sun was to write a story that enriches the background, the character of a hitherto unexplored Legion and their primarch couched within the context of an exciting, dramatic story not to present countless ‘revelations’ that would only be accessible to a small minority – that would just be unfair. That said, there is set-up in here for later stories you won’t find anywhere else and those little bits of crossover I just mentioned.
I say in my personal blog that this is part one of a much longer Horus Heresy saga involving Vulkan and the Salamanders. I have some pretty strong ideas about where I’d like to take the character and what happens to them after the Dropsite Massacre. There are some projects that are in the ‘works’ but at a very, very early stage that will answer this question and throw some light onto this mystery but you’ll have to wait for that.
For now, all I can really say is enjoy Promethean Sun. It’s just the first step on a fiery road. All will be revealed in due course...
- Nick
and BL add a little note on the bottom..
Promethean Sun update
Promethean Sun has been tremendously popular, as you’ll have seen if you’ve visited the site while it’s been on sale. In fact, it’s been so popular that it’s highlighted an issue in the way that the website operates. The immense quantities of Promethean Sun all going through the system at once have actually broken the counter that shows available stock.
This is why we had to remove the product from sale on Friday and are now reviewing all orders & stock level daily – to ensure that everyone who has placed an order will get a copy.
Now that we’re aware of the issue, we’ll be able to fix it for the next limited edition product. With Promethean Sun, we can only apologise for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience.
Now for the good news – there are still some copies of Promethean Sun available to buy. If you’ve been unable to get a copy so far, this is your chance!
Working my way through Age of Darkness now, so far I'm finding Rules of Engagement not that special, though I did enjoy the simplicity of Liar's Due. Right now I'm reading the Salamanders story by messer Ky'me.
BrookM wrote:Working my way through Age of Darkness now, so far I'm finding Rules of Engagement not that special, though I did enjoy the simplicity of Liar's Due. Right now I'm reading the Salamanders story by messer Ky'me.
I see what you did there - and I laughed!
The only way to make it even funnier is if you hit someone's pauldron at the same time!
No pauldron being hit this time round, well except for one in a flashback. It was an okay story with a bit of a cheesy ending and many manly tears amidst explosions.
Now the Last Remembrencer, really enjoyed that one. I got to see another character earlier established in the series make a return.
BrookM wrote:
Now the Last Remembrencer, really enjoyed that one. I got to see another character earlier established in the series make a return.
I enjoyed that one as well.
..which leads me nicely to...
nice little interview from the BL site..
Interview with a Remembrancer, part one
John French is relatively new to the Black Library stable, but he’s already made quite an impact with his short stories ‘Hunted’ and ‘The Last Remembrancer’.
Recently, we summoned him to the darkest depths of the Black Library offices, where he was subjected to a thorough grilling.
BL -What was it like getting published in an anthology?
John - It was awesome! I started reading Black Library books and Inferno! back when it started up – about 15 years ago or however long it was –and I’ve always wanted to be published by Black Library. The pure cheekiness of getting my first printed story to be a Horus Heresy one was just the icing on the cake.
BL – How did you wangle that?
John –By being cheeky! Christian [Dunn] was talking about the work he was doing compiling Age of Darkness and he made an off-hand comment about remembrancers and that sparked off ideas in my head, which cooked around for a week or so.
The next time I spoke to him I said, ‘If you ever let me do a Horus Heresy story I’ve got a title for it, it’ll be called “The Last Remembrancer”’. And he went, ‘You can have that. If we ever let you do it, you can have that title.’ And then the idea kept on going round in my head, this idea of the last remembrancer. What would have happened for this kind of organisation which makes no sense in Warhammer 40,000? This idea of having artists go round and look at things, in that sort of very liberal enlightenment type idea, makes no sense in Warhammer 40,000, so there must have been a point where that disappeared, where the pressures of the Horus Heresy and the demands of having your own side turn on you meant that that just couldn’t be tolerated any more and couldn’t continue to work.
That idea just kept going round and round in my head, who would be involved and how I would get that across. And so I had an idea about how that could happen. I was having another discussion with Christian and I said, ‘I thought a little bit more about that story that you’re never going to let me write and this is what it’ll be’. And he went, ‘Why don’t you write it? No promises that it will get out there but why don’t you give it a go and we’ll see how it turns out.’ Hopefully, it turned out pretty well because it went in the book!
BL – Did you then just write the story straight off after that conversation, or did you write a synopsis?
John – I didn’t write a synopsis for it actually. It’s one of the few stories I didn’t write a synopsis for. I did write another version of it which will never see the light of day, which I suppose was a kind of working synopsis, me figuring out the ideas on the page. And then my wife read that - she reads all of my stuff first - and said, ‘You might want to rewrite it because of all of these problems.’ So I rewrote it and that was pretty much the story that went in the Age of Darkness.
BL – You’ve already had something published already in Hammer and Bolter...
John – ‘Hunted’. It’s in issue four.
BL – Was ‘Hunted’ written after ‘The Last Remembrancer’?
John – No, it was written before. It was the first thing I did. I suppose it was my proving story for Black Library, to show that I could get words down in the right order and not use expletives.
BL – Was that the same, did you just write it straight off the bat?
John – No, that was much more involved. That was 2 outlines, then 4 drafts, I think. I hadn’t really settled on what I wanted to do or what kind of stories BL wanted from me, so that was me pretty much figuring that out. So that was why it took so long. I went through several versions of synopsis, outline and then drafts to get that in, but I think it turned out pretty well in the end.
The interview will conclude tomorrow with John’s thoughts on storytelling, the Warhammer 40,000 universe and some tantalising hints about his future projects.
‘Hunted’ is available in Hammer and Bolter issue 4, available now. ‘The Last Remembrancer’ will appear in Hammer and Bolter issue 7, available on Friday 21st April, in both prose and audio formats.
‘The Last Remembrancer’ also appears in Age of Darkness, available on Friday 21st April as a mass market paperback, an eBook and an unabridged audiobook.
All of the stories from Age of Darkness, including stories by Gav Thorpe, James Swallow and Nick Kyme, will be available for download as individual eBooks and audiobooks.
M'kay, finished a few more. Rebirth felt like an intro to a bigger story which I believe is the case as messer Wraigth is tackling the Thousand Sons in the future yes?
Spoiler:
All in all a fun twist, but the whole "I can heal you" thing is kinda wasted on the dragon because we all know how he turns out
Face of Treachery was okay, did like the ending, which will hopefully be explained teased at in Gav's upcoming Deliverance Lost.
Spoiler:
I am Alpharius indeed really caught my interest, I am particularly interested to see if this is a continuation from Dan's Legion stuff
Little Horus was well, fine.
Spoiler:
If the ending is something of a tie in to Garro: LOO, someone is about to get scared gakless.
All I'm left with now are the Iron Warriors and Dark Angels, really looking forward to AD-B's story.
After that, Caledor. I'd rather dig into Blood Reaver but le sigh, obligations.
edit.
About Garro LOO:
Spoiler:
Is there a short story about how Garro recruited the friendly World Eater? I feel like I'm missing half the story.
BL – What sort of stories do you like telling, what are the ones that interest you?
John – I like two things. I like character driven stories; things about people under pressure and how they react to the situations around them and to other people. I like it when you have varying perceptions of the same thing. I think it’s generally true that a character doesn’t see the same world as a reader does. They have a particular reaction to it. So you might objectively say ‘Oh, it’s a Bloodthirster.’ If you know the 40k universe, it’s a Bloodthirster piling down a road towards a unit of Imperial Guardsmen. The Imperial Guardsmen in that unit will have no idea of what’s going on. They’ll just see this thing that’s kind of a bestial construct and their senses will be overwhelmed. And it will be one of the most terrifying, most bizarre experiences ever. That view as opposed to the view of ‘Oh it’s a Bloodthirster,’ is what really interests me.
I also like clever stories. I like stories with twists in them or that have a point. That’s what interests me. I’m probably better at the clever stuff than I am at the character stuff, but it interests me to try and put it in. And I like dialogue; I love dialogue, which is a giveaway for ‘The Last Remembrancer’, because it’s essentially three men in a room, talking.
BL – What have you got planned next?
John – I’m doing a novella called ‘Fateweaver’, which is a Space Marine Battles novella, part of the Architect of Fate arc, which is four linked novellas all based around the containment of a series of daemonic and Chaos Space Marine incursions around the Eye of Terror.
Mine is based on an astropathic relay station being defended from a daemonic attack by a tiny force of White Consuls, and funnily enough does involve Fateweaver, of the two-headed bird fame, in quite a large role. I suppose, really it’s a story about siege but it’s also a story about what Space Marines are and what they’re for and, I suppose, it’s also an awful lot about the bleakness of the 40K universe.
In contrast to something like the Horus Heresy, at the time they don’t realise it but Space Marines believe that they’re fighting for a great future for this expanding boundary of the Imperium. Warhammer 40,000 is much more about humanity being on the back foot, there’s a good chance that it won’t survive for even maybe a few more decades by the end of the 41st millennium. So it’s much more a ‘What price is survival?’ story with Space Marines being at the forefront of that.
BL – Do you think that view of it being bleak informs the sorts of stories you write?
John –My wife jokes that I should put a funny bit with a dog in every story. I keep explaining that I can’t and that they won’t have happy endings and that I can’t get a nice joke in there. I think bleak stories are what the setting is about. There are fragments of humanity, there is room for the odd bit of humour but it’s a bleak, grim setting.
BL – Do you think stories set in the 41st Millennium are bleaker than those set in the Horus Heresy era?
John – I think it’s how you look at it. With Warhammer 40,000 you are already into this place where mankind knows that it’s on the brink of extinction. They are one rogue alpha psyker or major daemonic incursion away from death. They know that they’re there. Heresy stories are just as bleak, but the early ones, where they don’t realise that they’re stood on this precipice – they are very bleak. In fact, they’re more bleak because they don’t realise what’s just about to happen to them. So all the optimism is false; it’s the last great party on the eve of destruction. It’s that naivety. They still have hope and that hope, we know, is going to be quite swiftly broken.
BL – And on that cheery note, what advice would you give to anyone wanting to start writing for Black Library?
John – It’s all the old favourites. Write an awful lot. Spend time in front of the keyboard trying to get stories down. A lot of it though, I think, is get people to give you properly harsh feedback on what you write, and listen to it. You don’t necessarily have to act on it, but be open to it. But I think the most important thing for me was figuring out what I was good at writing and how that fitted into Black Library stories. So figuring out what stories you enjoy telling, what you’re good at.
BL – Anything else you want to add?
John – Hi mum!
BL – Thanks, John.
‘Hunted’ is available in Hammer and Bolter issue 4, available now. ‘The Last Remembrancer’ will appear in Hammer and Bolter issue 7, available on Friday 22nd April, in both prose and audio formats.
‘The Last Remembrancer’ also appears in Age of Darkness, available on Friday 22nd April as a mass market paperback, an eBook and an unabridged audiobook.
All of the stories from Age of Darkness, including stories by Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Aaron Dembski-Bowden, will be available for download as individual eBooks and audiobooks.
Could it be that the ones considered to be loyal were found to be conspiring against the emperor but managed to convince the emperor the other primarchs were corrupt and a fight ensued where the emperor took the side of the ones he believed to be loyal even though they weren't.
Hope this makes sense and yes i know it is far fetched and its story line has as many holes as a tennis racket does
AD-B's story does tie in nicely with the first one to some degree. But best of all, an explanation is given as to what the first legion was up to during the Heresy, while the mystery is gone it does make me happier that now I know.
Very much looking for to getting a peak at Age of Darkness tomorrow via H&B #7; "The Last Remembrancer" certainly sounds like a fun ride.
Pulled the trigger on Promethean Sun (got excited for a moment as the currency converter almost missed I miss in dollars... almost got it for $39 instead of $86... stupid checkout correcting everything).
The price is extremely steep, but they've really gone all out (Faux-Salamander skin wrapping? C'mon Salanders fans, that's hot ;P) on the production. Figure it'll be a good test to see if its worth ordering the remainder of the series now or waiting the 2+ years for a reprint.
Anyone else having problems downloading ebooks? Age of Darkness came through ok but I can't download Blood Reaver or Caledor, and the mobi version of Hammer and Bolter Issue 7 is also not working.
Working my way through Caledor now, halfway through. Good stuff so far, I'm a bit lost on the time progression from time to time and when certain events happen in previous novels, but other than that, fun. The dragons and their glimpses into the past are most interesting.
Well, they play a part in the story, next to all those bitching elves and their constant bitching about this and that. They are seen as the WMD's of the old world, in fact, when the good elves discover that the evil elves also WMD's things escalate even further.
I like it, but I've got a feeling I'm still going to like the novel Malekith more.
Something like that, there is the slumber, which can turn into a permanent eternal rest. But you can't blame them, they've been around since before the arrival of the Old Ones.
BrookM wrote: The dragons and their glimpses into the past are most interesting.
Indeed.
I "spoke" to Mr. Thorpe, briefly, about a certain flashback/recollection a dragon has about certain events. Very cool.
But, as of BL Live, they have no plans, indeed they doubt they'd even ever get permission, to write stories set in/about that era of the setting.
That said it was once viewed as unlikely we'd ever get to read the full story of the HH so....maybe one day.
Finished the Brettonian Omnibus. I like Mr. Reynolds' writing, dig some of the stuff he threw into the pot in his Word Bearers books, and was looking forward to seeing what sort of send off Calard of Garramont would actually get.
And, overall, I was very happy indeed. Thought the ending was very nicely balanced and is exactly the sort of thing that could no doubt be the start of X threads/arguments in warhammer boards across the web.
Also read and enjoyed "Broken Honour". which was cracking.
Gawd damnit; how come you guys have them already?! I've ordered Battle of the Fang (by recommendation of Red) and Age of Darkness and so far I've got nothing...
I just attempted to download a hammer and bolter issue on my Xoom, and everything went fine till the actual download. The site said that the dl would start, but it never did.
I emailed bl, but with no response yet to see if there are issues with honeycomb tablets.
Alpharius wrote:So, consulting Dan Abnett is a good thing!And no idea about The Long Games at Carcharias story in VICTORIES OF THE SPACE MARINES, but I guess I'm going to go pick that up now!
Great story IMHO. I also liked the CL Werner outing ' Black Dawn' This is how Space Marines should be potrayed all the time. Elite killing machines that get the job done.
Massive Spoilers ahead.... You was worned
The Long Games at Carcharias has a cammo in it by
Spoiler:
Lord Valdivoss of the BlackLegion, who has reptile skin patterens on his blue/green armour.... and they play a Alpha Legion type game with them. Basically taking control of the recrutes to the Crimson Consul's chapter and turning them againsted the rest of the chapter after a few hundred years. A Long Long Long game. I rather enjoyed it.
The Long Games at Carcharias made the book worth it imho. It's a cool story about
Spoiler:
The Alpha Legion running a centuries long game on a SM chapter and not only destroy said chapter, but also steal all of their geneseed. It has a really cool "I am Alpharius" moment which is a nice nod to Dan's legion in a story where there's really no redeeming qualities of the bad guys. But they totally kick ass anyway.
Anyway, I do wish GW/BL/etc. would decide just what the Alpha Legion are, and then, maybe, let us know?!?
Personally I'd rather they left it to our speculation. I can't say I'm entirely confident in whatever direction GW may take them, but I'd rather they left their real motives in the dark as it's one of the things that makes them so (rightfully) popular IMHO.
I definitely agree with the latter point there Alphy, although I'm not too sure how much they should be vague and mysterious. However, I would like them to not really interact with other Legions (unless it's in a really manipulative way, which'd be awesome IMHO) as I believe the Alpha Legion doesn't have a particular alliance as they failed in their goal of winning the HH and are now trying to do whatever to benefit the galaxy, which IMHO means death to humanity and as a continuation of that, Chaos.
Nonetheless, kind of like yourself, I'd much prefer to only here of the Alpha Legions actions rather than their relationship with other forces, which to me at least would keep the mystery to their motivations...
There's nothing about them in Age of Darkness is there?
Just Dave wrote:There's nothing about them in Age of Darkness is there?
Spoiler:
Faces of Treachery has a few "I am Alpharius" moments, although it mainly a prequel to the HH Raven Guard Audio book.
I think the mystery of the Alpha Legion should remain that way, if nothing just to curb the nerd rage that would erupt if they were revealed to be loyal/Chaos/other.
Just Dave wrote:I definitely agree with the latter point there Alphy, although I'm not too sure how much they should be vague and mysterious. However, I would like them to not really interact with other Legions (unless it's in a really manipulative way, which'd be awesome IMHO) as I believe the Alpha Legion doesn't have a particular alliance as they failed in their goal of winning the HH and are now trying to do whatever to benefit the galaxy, which IMHO means death to humanity and as a continuation of that, Chaos.
Nonetheless, kind of like yourself, I'd much prefer to only here of the Alpha Legions actions rather than their relationship with other forces, which to me at least would keep the mystery to their motivations...
There's nothing about them in Age of Darkness is there?
I don't think they are out to 'destroy humanity'.
I don't believe that they are 10% on board with the Cabal.
I don't think that their plans for saving Humanity necessarily jibe with those of the Imperium.
Yes, I think they have been able to see the 'bigger picture' that has yet to be revealed to the reader!
Some element of mystery surrounding this, or perhaps them occupying the area of 'grey' inbetween the dogma and order of the Imperium and the simple 'evil' of chaos, I think (and hope) is where the background will end up. If it does turn out that Alpharius is rocking backwards and forwards on a chair, stroking a white cat will cackling evily, I will be bitterly disappointed that's for sure.
Pacific wrote:Yes, I think they have been able to see the 'bigger picture' that has yet to be revealed to the reader!
Some element of mystery surrounding this, or perhaps them occupying the area of 'grey' inbetween the dogma and order of the Imperium and the simple 'evil' of chaos, I think (and hope) is where the background will end up. If it does turn out that Alpharius is rocking backwards and forwards on a chair, stroking a white cat will cackling evily, I will be bitterly disappointed that's for sure.
That's pretty much my hope too!
This was buoyed by Dan's portrayal of them, sort of, in LEGION, but this has NOT been carried through in appearances since then - especially in THE HUNT FOR VOLDORIUS, where they were in full on Mustache Twirling Mode there, and it sounds as if they are much better off in VICTORIES either...
It is almost as if the writers post-LEGION didn't get the memo?
I completely agree. In my mind they are out for nobody but themselves and I fear for any outcome that has them as puppets to the Imperium, Chaos or the Cabal. The Alpha Legion don't do masters.
I'd devour a good novel that revealed all about the Alpha Legion's origins and motivations, but I don't have much confidence that it would live up to the ideas introduced in Legion. I'd be happy if the Alpha Legion retained a degree of ambiguity, but this should be carried forward into the present timeline. I haven't read The Hunt for Voldorius, but the Alpha Legion character in Long Games at Carcharias couldn't have twirled his mustache more furiously if he'd tried. If you have hopes for the legion of Alpharius beyond being two dimensional Black Legion vassals I'd advise you to steer well clear of this book.
Going through Blood Reaver right now and even though I can guess at the ending due to the short story from Fear the Alien, I am liking what these bastards are planning right under the nose of Huron Blackheart. Ballsy.
Alpharius wrote:
I don't think they are out to 'destroy humanity'.
I don't believe that they are 10% on board with the Cabal.
I don't think that their plans for saving Humanity necessarily jibe with those of the Imperium.
Er, that is all.
My personal interpretation...
Spoiler:
...is that at the end of Legion they were given two choices and took option 3. They don't really come off as 'trusting' of anyone, especially not a bunch of aliens with a nifty device to replay memories. Sure, they might accept that some of what Alpharius was shown was probably true, but that doesn't mean they see the situation as clearly as "Win the Heresy, see mankind die for the good or the galaxy" vs. "Humanity can survive, but only by succumbing to madness and chaos." They're going for he unspoken big win option of (eventually) defeating chaos, the crappy aspects of the imperium, and anyone else that annoys them.
The Alpha Legion tried to follow the Cabal's plan, but following their defeat (which had better be explained, maybe the Dark Angels were meant to turn to Chaos) and the death of Alpharius/Omegon/randomer pretending to be Alpharius/Omegon, they couldn't really apologise and make up, could they? Or maybe the Emperor was corrupted by Chaos like LEGION hints at and the Imperium is inherently evil, so they are trying to destroy both that and Chaos simultaneously, leaving a fragment of humanity left to rebuild itself.
It is almost as if the writers post-LEGION didn't get the memo?
Absolutely, makes you wonder if somehow they hadn't read that book?
And to think of the massive, 20 page plus discussions it generated on forums around the net! All for nowt
Sad, but possibly true!
Balance wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
I don't think they are out to 'destroy humanity'.
I don't believe that they are 10% on board with the Cabal.
I don't think that their plans for saving Humanity necessarily jibe with those of the Imperium.
Er, that is all.
My personal interpretation...
Spoiler:
...is that at the end of Legion they were given two choices and took option 3. They don't really come off as 'trusting' of anyone, especially not a bunch of aliens with a nifty device to replay memories. Sure, they might accept that some of what Alpharius was shown was probably true, but that doesn't mean they see the situation as clearly as "Win the Heresy, see mankind die for the good or the galaxy" vs. "Humanity can survive, but only by succumbing to madness and chaos." They're going for he unspoken big win option of (eventually) defeating chaos, the crappy aspects of the imperium, and anyone else that annoys them.
Or not, as the case may be.
That's what I've been saying all along!
I really do think that was their intention, but you know, the 'too clever by half' thing may have got them in the end!
Or not, as they are still fighting the good fight!
A few more books hit the pre order stage and there's 5 or so more books added to the ebook range.
Battle of the Fang is imminently released, I grabbed a copy a while back and was pretty much blown away by it, it's up there with the best of the HH books IMO. The author had the following to say on the BL site
One of the strangest aspects of being a writer is the long gap between signing off on a manuscript and seeing the book actually appear on sale. Right now, I’m in the middle of penning a story about Luthor Huss set in the Old World, but the novel of mine that’s getting the most attention is one I finished in the middle of last year: Battle of the Fang. Although this doesn’t officially go on sale until June, there have been copies doing the rounds since March, when a few hundred visitors to Black Library Live 2011 got hold of the first batch. Since then, a few more have been sighted at places like Adepticon and Salute, so they’re slowly getting out into the wild, and it seems like as good a time as any to look back at how it got put together.
When I was asked to pitch for this project, I started by listing a few objectives:
1. The book would explore the workings of the Fang in detail. We’d learn about its layout, its defensive capabilities and its varied defenders. In addition to the Space Marines, there would be mortal characters. The Fang is truly vast, and as such it has thousands of mortal inhabitants, each of them capable warriors in their own right and part of Fenris’s rich culture of warfare. There would also be a detailed map of the interior, one around which the tactics of the battle would revolve closely.
2. The workings of a whole Great Company would be shown. The story of the siege of Fenris is an epic one, and I wanted to depict (almost) all troop-types of the Chapter in action. As a result, we would get to see Wolf Lords, Rune Priests, Wolf Priests, Iron Priests, Wolf Guard and Blood Claws all doing their stuff. Each kind of warrior performs a very different function in the Space Wolf military structure, and I wanted to reflect that in the way the characters responded to the siege. In addition to that, a certain very famous Venerable Dreadnought plays a central role.
3. The Thousand Sons would be taken just as seriously. Although the book is firmly about the Space Wolves, and is told from their point of view, I wanted the antagonists to be fleshed-out characters with their own motivation and rationale. The Thousand Sons are absolutely deadly fighters, albeit with a very different style of warfare to the Wolves. Just as in the case of the Fang’s defenders, we would get to see Sorcerers, Rubric Marines and Spireguard in combat, plus a few more esoteric units – and, of course, the small matter of a daemon primarch.
4. The story would be linked to the greater 40K continuity, and not just be a random battle. I aimed to pitch the novel firmly within the narrative established by Graham McNeill and Dan Abnett in their Horus Heresy books. Everything that happens in Battle of the Fang refers back to the events on Prospero, over a thousand years previously in the timeline. Both armies look back to that encounter with bitterness: the Thousand Sons because of their sense of betrayal, the Wolves because they didn’t finish the job.
5. There would be more at stake than the survival of the Fang as a fortress. Although that’s obviously the main story, I wanted to explore other strands of Space Wolf lore too. There are plenty of mysteries surrounding the origins and nature of the Wolves of Fenris, and Battle of the Fang aims to shed some light on some of them.
So those were the key ideas I started with, after which came the long (and hugely pleasurable) job of devising characters and plotting out the story. For all that, the book ended up being very difficult to write. Every Space Marine Battles project has the hard task of being faithful to established passages of background lore scattered across various publications, while also being a proper book-length story. That balance gave me some thorny puzzles, mostly concerning the timing of certain events and the roles of a couple of key characters. After many late nights at the keyboard, I finally ended up with a draft that made sense (to me, at least).
The result, I hope, is a book that tells the story of one of the galaxy’s most iconic sieges with all the depth and complexity that it deserves. When it goes on sale in June, you’ll have the chance to make your own mind up. I really hope that fans like what I did with the story – it was both a challenge and a privilege to write it.
In the meantime, here’s a tiny snippet of the action to leave with you, courtesy of Harek Ironhelm:
As the bands of metal that held Ironhelm back were withdrawn, the Great Wolf thundered down the ramp and on to the soil of Gangava. The night sky was the colour of old blood, striated with the dark tracks of his Chapter’s vehicles plummeting into range. There were buildings all around him, huge black spires of iron that jutted upwards, linked with bridges and mass transit tubes. Spotter lights whirled, trying valiantly to give the defensive gunners something to aim at, and there were wailing klaxons somewhere far off. Already the broken hammering of heavy weapons fire had broken out close to his position, echoing from the precipitous flanks of the structures around him.
Ironhelm breathed deeply, enjoying the familiar sounds and aromas of war as they filtered through his helm. Kill-urge was already pumping around his system, priming him for the extreme and sustained violence to come.
‘So we come to it at last, brothers,’ he growled, hefting his frostblade and thumbing the energy field into life. ‘Let the killing begin.’
If you enjoyed Soul Hunter you will enjoy Blood Reaver, let's just say they cranked up the nasty scheming bastard level by a few notches, paired with a satisfying end to the second part of the trilogy(?).
That was COOL. Really nice snippet there and I love ADB's tongue-in-cheek review (and some of his slightly controversial opinions on GW's ethos) and it was a good review of the Eldar, my favourite race, which I'm going to quote in my sig. I really must check his blog more often.
Although, I'm reluctant about a potential defence of the squats...
We do strive to assist our work blocked brethren when possible, but it's been there for a while now so..
and, on a related not. Some of you may have seen the rather dashing piece of Fist Claw art on their authors' blog. There's some concept artwork up there too.
We do strive to assist our work blocked brethren when possible, but it's been there for a while now so..
and, on a related not. Some of you may have seen the rather dashing piece of Fist Claw art on their authors' blog. There's some concept artwork up there too.
Thank you for the link Red, the 'bug' I got from the 'other Fourm that shall not be named' for some reasion keeps deleting his weblog that I have saved.
That is a AMAZING piece of artwork. I suggest everyone who loves the books takes a lookie see at it. It was also nice to see that 'Loken' made it home after 22 days MIA. I am also lucky to be owned by our feline overlords two cats so I know the feeling. One hates the service at her 'hotel' here and very much likes to bitch and complain about it at every oppertunity to 'her humans'. The other one is a little older and just likes to use us as 'human thrones'.
I can't wait to get my hands on Blood Reaver. Why is it that anything this man writes sells like hotcakes? I bet he could write out the phone book and people would buy it. Thank you Aaron for sharing your 'vision' of 30k and 40k with us.
It has a small cast of characters and keeps it simple, that does it for me. No need to keep track of a whole lot of names. Plus they all have their cute little quirks that set them apart: One is polite, one is a loony, one is angry, one is sarcastic and one is a leader. Granted, a bit simplified, but I like it that way. Sure there are other Claws out there, but they aren't important, except for the claw made up of crazy birds of prey, they are funny. I also find myself caring for the traitors, which is something new, seeing as I'm a pathetically loyal to the Corpse God person, but I like them.
having nothing better to do .. err... being a busy chap Mr. Demski-Bowden has also done an interview relating to his books, which you can watch on his blog .
Some slight spoilers there so.. etc etc.
Oh and some slightly bad language. Nothing too bad though, worry not.
..."mini Dan Abnett"... man, I'm going to remember that one for the future.
reds8n wrote:having nothing better to do .. err... being a busy chap Mr. Demski-Bowden has also done an interview relating to his books, which you can watch on his blog .
Some slight spoilers there so.. etc etc.
Oh and some slightly bad language. Nothing too bad though, worry not.
..."mini Dan Abnett"... man, I'm going to remember that one for the future.
The first copies of Promethean Sun, the first Horus Heresy novella, is back from the printers. We’re ridiculously excited by the sample copies and wanted to share our excitement with you.
We talked in previous blog posts about the unique faux-Salamander hide binding on this gorgeous hardback tome, and we’re delighted at how it turned out. As you can see above, it looks absolutely brilliant, and the gold title box works superbly stamped on the dark green cover.
Speaking of stamping, have you ever wondered how 3,000 books get individually numbered?
We bet that Nick Kyme, the book’s author, wishes he could have stamped his signature on every copy rather than individually signing each one. By the time he was finished, he couldn’t feel his hand any more...how we laughed (when he wasn’t looking).
And here is the finished product. Promethean Sun will be shipping over the next couple of weeks, so it won’t be long until you have it in your eager hands. In the meantime, why not check out “Forgotten Sons”, Nick’s short story in Age of Darkness, featuring a character who also appears in Promethean Sun.
Age of Darkness is available as an eBook or audiobook as well as a mass-market paperback, and the eBook and audiobook of “Forgotten Sons” is also available individually.
You may remember that in the days following Promethean Sun’s launch, our systems went a little haywire as they tried to cope with the demand. Well, now that the stock-servitors have been rebooted, we have found that of the 3,000 copies of Promethean Sun that have been printed, we have 400 remaining.
These copies will not be made available through the website, but will instead be sold at events and shows in the near future, giving people who might not have been able to purchase through the website one last chance at getting this fantastic volume.
We will announce which events, and how many copies will be available at them, on Monday. See you then.
Good news for those not blessed to live in the land of eternal weather and tea. Perhaps.
I wonder if "The Aurelian" will sell as quickly as/when that one comes out ?
Certainly looks nice anyway, looking forwards to getting my grubby mitts on my copy.
Green isn't an author fondly remembered, though I did like his first Armageddon novel. Never did get to read the second one. However, he is not Goto or Soulban bad.
The read armour, his motto being the Blood Ravens war cry, and the Blood Ravens preponderance for psykers..... and their constant thirst for knowledge...... Thousand Son successors maybe???
Could explain them not knowing their past and where they came from.... to stop them going the same way as the 1000 sons and their folly..... plus if other loyalist chapters knew their stock.... they may become outcast because of it.
It doesn't really bring us closer to knowing how they were founded though.
Spoiler:
Unless the lone survivor happened to be carrying a very large stash of gene seed along with him. And even then this doesn't explain why they were welcomed into the loyalist fold. You have to doubt that even the likes of Garro would be given permission to found a Death Guard sucessor chapter using Mortarion's gene seed.
And as has been debunked multiple multiple times: there's no other similarities between the Thousand Sons and Blood Ravens. Two of the Thousand Sons cults were named for bird types. The Raptora and Corvidae.
That doesn't mean that the Thousand Sons are responsible for the Raptor Chapter, now does it?
True, was just putting a thought out there. Blood Ravens having the Thousand Sun prehersy colours, the link with the last survivor being a raven, and the quote at the end of the story being 'knowledge is power', which is a Blood Raven phrase. Could it be possible that the thousand son becomes a grey knight?
All chapters submit geneseed for testing, i do not know if that is a result of the heresy, or a practice which began at the outset of the astartes creation. This could be used to create a new chapter. Also it is possible that he underwent great trials to prove his genes are pure enough to be used. The main stumbling block is that the blood ravens appear several millenia after the heresy.. However the 1000 son geneseed could have been used and replicated in gene vats during this time to make it viable.
There is also a hint in rebirth that his ship was part of a fleet, could they have been troops Magnus felt were disloyal to him? Could they also aid in the creation of another chapter if found pure enough?
This may all have debunked or be a bit Goto-ish, but i am just curious to know where this story may lead.
Traitor Geneseed was locked away in a vault only the Emperor can open.
So...that's not it.
The Blood Ravens colors also aren't the same as the Thousand Sons.
Thousand Sons used a darker red closer to the Word Bearers, Blood Ravens use a color closer to the Red Hunters or Blood Angels(which they're also not related to by any measure).
Best guess is they're an Imperial Fists Successor. The whole 'many psyker' thing is because they actively sought out to recruit psykers.
Kanluwen wrote:Traitor Geneseed was locked away in a vault only the Emperor can open.
So...that's not it.
The Blood Ravens colors also aren't the same as the Thousand Sons.
Thousand Sons used a darker red closer to the Word Bearers, Blood Ravens use a color closer to the Red Hunters or Blood Angels(which they're also not related to by any measure).
Best guess is they're an Imperial Fists Successor. The whole 'many psyker' thing is because they actively sought out to recruit psykers.
Actually, the theory hasn't been debunked at all. Some people just don't like it because' "it would never happen."
However, the Black Library, through the Dawn of War series, beat you over the head with evidence for the Thousand Sons origin. It's almost overwhelming. And then A Thousand Sons caps it all off. I don't blame you if you've decided not to read the Dawn of War stuff, but you'd be incredibly hard pressed come away with any other conclusion if you did. And Imperial Fists are definitely right out for reasons explained below. Basically, whether you like it or not, the Black Library, and therefore GW, have decided the Blood Ravens are decended from the Thousand Sons.
Here is the trail of evidence:
Spoiler:
As a general recap from the White Dwarf articles: - Blood Ravens have a very high number of Librarians
- Blood Ravens are continually thirsting for knowledge, to the point that it's come many times to the Inquisition's notice
- Blood Ravens don't know their Primarch, just their Father Librarian
- Their history has been purposefully obscured
- One squad/company disappeared into the Eye of Terror, led by their Librarian, in search of knowledge
Revealed in Ascension - Blood Ravens in the far, lost past built a recruiting world outpost on top of an earlier marine outpost for some reason
- This earlier marine outpost was built during the time of the Heresy. It was built by marines in Red Armor (Thousand Sons, Blood Angels, or Word Bearers).
- These marines were able to work with the Eldar to set magic and psychic wards to lock a Necron force in Psychic Stasis (I think this eliminates Blood Angels and Word Bearers)
- These Heresy Era marines were tasked by the Eldar with guarding this galaxy wide threat, but they mysteriously left abandoned the planet and it was never recorded again in Imperial records until the Blood Ravens took it back over
- Finally, the Eldar still remember working with the Red Heresy Era marines, and mistake the Blood Ravens as being one and the same
Revealed in the Tempest - The Blood Ravens can field entire squads of Librarians and even have a secret inner circle of Librarians sort of like the DA Deathwing, who hold knowledge not spread throughout the rest of the Chapter
- The Blood Ravens resent the Imperial Fists, and even have a secret tome written about the un-founding, explaining how those Founding chapters aren't necessarily all they're cracked up to be
- The Blood Ravens Father Librarian Vidya was known to Arhiman of the Thousand Sons
- Arhiman hints that the Blood Ravens Librarians' bear the same color as the T-Sons as more than a coincidence, it's based on the Rubric of Arhiman
- Ahriman is intimately familiar with the details of the founding of the Blood Ravens, but doesn't explain how
- Ahriman of the Thousand Sons, the Eldar and the Harlequins, and the Blood Ravens of old and their Father Librarian are all very linked in the ancient times
This is what we knew before the HH Novel.
A Thousand Sons 1) The Corvidae (Ahriman belongs to this Cult) are obviously named for Ravens, but additionally, its members actually have Ravens' Heads emblazoned on their shoulder pads. They are also the Guardians of the great Library.
2) The Possessed Remembrancer glimpes the future"...the lost sons and a Raven of Blood. They cry out for Salvation and Knowledge but it is denied?..."
3) Before the Wolves arrive for the seige, 4 Thousand Sons battle barges and their attendant Squadrons of strike cruisers are sent off in different directions so they cannot interfere in the Seige, with special sealed orders. We never learn the the orders, or who was on them.
It's a lot more than a Raven name and red armor. I haven't read the short story collection yet, but I think at this point the Black Library has made it very clear where the origins of the Blood Ravens lie.
I, like pretty much all of the Black Library authors at this point, ignore the Dawn of War novels.
C.S. Goto is a hack and was making crap up as he was going along. Towards the end, it seemed like he was trying to slip in as much as he could just to irk 40k fans.
Want to know another Legion that has a high number of Librarians and a thirst for knowledge?
The Dark Angels.
What do the Dark Angels have? The Ravenwing.
MIND BLOWN.
Part of the problem is that people think that "high numbers of psykers"="high numbers of librarians".
Not every psyker is Librarian grade. Just because an individual is somewhat psychically aware doesn't mean that they're actually able to use it, and the Blood Ravens have further been elaborated as actually having recruited from a psychically charged world at one point. That's what led to them having a large amount of Librarians at one point.
Prospero was far from unique in being a 'world of psykers'. The issue is that worlds like that rarely end well.
Furthermore:
If the Blood Ravens were part of the Thousand Sons, then they wouldn't exist right now. They'd have been affected by the Rubric of Ahriman and would be nothing more than animated suits of armor.
And that quote has really been blown out of proportion. It could be related to anything, not just "Thousand Sons=Blood Ravens!".
Kanluwen wrote:I, like pretty much all of the Black Library authors at this point, ignore the Dawn of War novels.
C.S. Goto is a hack and was making crap up as he was going along. Towards the end, it seemed like he was trying to slip in as much as he could just to irk 40k fans.
Want to know another Legion that has a high number of Librarians and a thirst for knowledge?
The Dark Angels.
What do the Dark Angels have? The Ravenwing.
MIND BLOWN.
Part of the problem is that people think that "high numbers of psykers"="high numbers of librarians".
Not every psyker is Librarian grade. Just because an individual is somewhat psychically aware doesn't mean that they're actually able to use it, and the Blood Ravens have further been elaborated as actually having recruited from a psychically charged world at one point. That's what led to them having a large amount of Librarians at one point.
Prospero was far from unique in being a 'world of psykers'. The issue is that worlds like that rarely end well.
Furthermore:
If the Blood Ravens were part of the Thousand Sons, then they wouldn't exist right now. They'd have been affected by the Rubric of Ahriman and would be nothing more than animated suits of armor.
And that quote has really been blown out of proportion. It could be related to anything, not just "Thousand Sons=Blood Ravens!".
Well, just because you ignore the Dawn of War novels, doesn't mean they weren't produced, edited, and vetted through the Black Library. If all you take out of those novels is that Goto was trying to say the Blood Ravens were decended from the Thousand Sons, then it's a huge stretch to say that the references in A Thousand Sons are mere coincidence. In fact, the three major points of evidence (see previous post for spoilers) in A Thousand Sons were all written in for a reason. None of them advanced the story being told. None of them were key to the novel. All of them were written in for a different reason, as the "aha" moments we find in all the HH novels.
You could take them as meaningless if A Thousand Sons stood alone, but given the storyline entire trilogy of Dawn of War novels, and given that the BL Authors at least know of what has come before, it's very hard to believe they were just dropped in the story for no apparent reason.
They are the reason for the current vetting of novels.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I should also point out that the author of "A Thousand Sons" dropped the hints purposefully and made a huge note that "Prophecies about something aren't always told to someone just because they're involved".
You've still to refute the whole "If they were related to the Thousand Sons, why are they not spirits trapped in armor" bit though.
The Blood Ravens colors also aren't the same as the Thousand Sons.
Best guess is they're an Imperial Fists Successor. The whole 'many psyker' thing is because they actively sought out to recruit psykers.
Hint: Age of Darkness / Rebirth
The Sgt that fled was a T-Son and he wasn't in the same realm as the T-sons who were affected by the rubric.
Maybe he wasn't the only one to survive......
