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My "other hobby" aside from Warhammer 40K is writing science fiction/fantasy. I've written one novel which I'll be self-publishing soon, and would like to try my hand at writing something I could submit to the Black Library. I've read about a dozen of their books which I recognize is only a fraction of the library. So I'm wondering what those better-read then I would like to see as this might give me some ideas. Something that hasn't been done, or that you'd like to see more of.

And please make suggestions Imperial-themed since I know the Imperial fluff best so anything I write would be written from Imperial/human POV. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!


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Oh, and Black Library is not accepting submissions for Horus Heresy era novels so that's why I'm asking for non-HH era suggestions. Thanks.

Write one about Straken, the manliest Catachan to ever live.

I would like to see a novel about the Praetorian IG regiments, or a novel about the Adeptus Mechanicus

Ok I thinking something about an non-known chapter like space bears something that isn't OMG my pramarch is awesome and I'm a awesome oringal legion so I'm the best allying with somebody to fight the enemy my example would be eldar or Tau? Just an idea but if a huge hive fleet or Ork waaagh is underway they are going to help each other XD (yes I do play orks )

Officio Assassinorum. Awesome concept that could make a great book yet virtually no BL representation. I mean wtf.

Maybe some stuff about the less covered chapters, like Iron Hands, to some extent Raven Guard and White Scars(there have been some WS books lately, but still).

I think that Explorator's voyage in uncharted/abandoned space or PDF's hard-won-victory-themed novel can be a novelty among usual BL stuff

Or bringing by RT of non-imperial but semi-civilized world into the fold (well, the only RT-themed series is basically 'bout Tau).

Or RT as AM agent seeking some archeotech (something that need low profile as Inqs won't like it) opposed by Dark Mechanicuses and (not one of 'dex-wielding) xenos With grumpy University-Professor-cum-padre-type Magus posing as humble RT ship's Tech-Priest

Well,anything that is not SM/IG/Inquisition based

I'd like to see a book about a chapter right at its founding. I think it'd be cool to watch a chapter go from 20 to 1000 marines.

I second the above, delving into the mechanics of a founding and the first actions of a new chapter would be fascinating.

Novels that focus on the Adeptus Arbites. A novel set during the Dark Age of Technology(for a mere fraction of what DAoT humanity is capable of check out the books that feature DAoT tech, the 40k rpg's and the fluff about the Blind King)

eviltrout wrote:I'd like to see a book about a chapter right at its founding. I think it'd be cool to watch a chapter go from 20 to 1000 marines.

I vote for Sable Swords, they interest me, and are 27th founding.

about sly marbo

or how krieg became the hell hole is it now

flota wrote:about sly marbo

or how krieg became the hell hole is it now

Well, Krieg is rather simple. "OH hey heritics on the surface of Krieg...we got nukes and are going to use them in 3,2,1..."


I would like to see some books set during the Age of Apostasy. See the Confederation of Light and how Sebation Thor became Ecclesiarch...(but not how his head was stolen by 'dem darn newcrons' shakes fist violently at them) how the Imperium was split at the time.

I would also like a full on sceries about Macharius, I know he's just Alexander the great...in space... but still could be some awsome stories in there. It would also have to deal with the Machariun Heresy where it took 100 space marine chapters 70 years to stablize the area after his death.

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:
I would also like a full on sceries about Macharius, I know he's just Alexander the great...in space... but still could be some awsome stories in there. It would also have to deal with the Machariun Heresy where it took 100 space marine chapters 70 years to stablize the area after his death.

Black Library are already doing this. They have a novel called Angel of Fire whose focus is on Macharius but I don't think that he's going to be the Main character.

Here's a pic:

Thanks for the suggestions. Definitely some good stuff here to get me started with some brainstorming.

Too mad the Macharian crusade idea's already been taken by one of the established BL authors, that was the idea that piqued my interest the most.

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote: Well, Krieg is rather simple. "OH hey heritics on the surface of Krieg...we got nukes and are going to use them in 3,2,1...

Well there is rather more to it than that. In the IA:SoVraks Part 1 it gives a brief overview of how Krieg descended into its 'current' state. Autocrats & High Autocrat got too greedy, decided the Ministorum was demanding too much in tithes and decided to turn their back on the Imperium. The rebels quickly took over most of the hive cities except for Ferrograd, which Colonel Jurten of the 83rd was in command of - he had diposed of the autocrats who ruled the hive in a military coup. Without any outside help coming to the planet, and with the of an Adeptus Mechanicus fellow, Jurten unlocked a secret weapons dump beneath the city & on the feast of the Emperors Ascendancy lobbed a load of lethal isotope filled rockets in to the atmosphere. Cue nuclear winter & 500 years of civil war. Thats it in brief and there's even more to it, such as the in-fighting between the Autocrat Councillors, the assaults on Hive Ferrograd, the egotistical debasement of the autocrats and so on.

It's a project I've been working on myself, albeit rather slowly due to distrations (such as Skyrim)

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:
I would also like a full on sceries about Macharius, I know he's just Alexander the great...in space... but still could be some awsome stories in there. It would also have to deal with the Machariun Heresy where it took 100 space marine chapters 70 years to stablize the area after his death.

Black Library are already doing this. They have a novel called Angel of Fire whose focus is on Macharius but I don't think that he's going to be the Main character.

Here's a pic:

They're writing a series about something that was blatantly ripped from Greek history?

Durza wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:
I would also like a full on sceries about Macharius, I know he's just Alexander the great...in space... but still could be some awsome stories in there. It would also have to deal with the Machariun Heresy where it took 100 space marine chapters 70 years to stablize the area after his death.

Black Library are already doing this. They have a novel called Angel of Fire whose focus is on Macharius but I don't think that he's going to be the Main character.

Here's a pic:
*Awesome book cover*

They're writing a series about something that was blatantly ripped from Greek history?

So? Does that make it any less cool?

I mean, have you read military science fiction at all? Those authors love taking old stories and battles then putting them in space, 40k is no different.

Stuff that focuses on the nonmilitary side of the imperium is rather fun. I always liked Gav Thorpe's Karis Cephalon short stories or the various Necromunda "hive" stories, as well as stuff like Eisenhorn. Some more stuff dealing with the Arbites wouldn't be bad either. Or maybe a different Rogue trader series.

I would suggest some Rogue Trader stuff
I freaking love Rogue Traders

I was so sure Angel of Fire was going to be a WHFB novel.

I'd like to see a Flesh Tearers novel.

How about a NON imperial themed one, just for variety

If we have to do an Imperial themed one how about some more novels about the Kriegs, or the Voyastarans (sp?) .

More gritty, bloody IG is good. Endless SM fanwank bad..




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Necromunda- setting ones would be cool too

Awesome setting, massively under-exploited ..

Ascalam wrote:
Necromunda- setting ones would be cool too

Awesome setting, massively under-exploited ..

Shh, don't give them any more ideas on how to get my pennies!

I'd love to see some more IG armor novels. Gunheads was great.

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:
I would also like a full on sceries about Macharius, I know he's just Alexander the great...in space... but still could be some awsome stories in there. It would also have to deal with the Machariun Heresy where it took 100 space marine chapters 70 years to stablize the area after his death.

Black Library are already doing this. They have a novel called Angel of Fire whose focus is on Macharius but I don't think that he's going to be the Main character.

Here's a pic:

Well atleast it's Bill King writing it. He's one of the best Gw author's ever. I just hope it's more earlier Gotrek and Felix then latter G&F.

Note: Sorry for posting the below aginag but I wan to add something to my post.

Novels that focus on the Adeptus Arbites. A novel set during the Dark Age of Technology(for a mere fraction of what DAoT humanity is capable of check out the books that feature DAoT tech, the 40k rpg's and the fluff about the Blind King)

I would love some Inquisition novels but focusing on the Inquisitors of the Calixis Sector or Inqusition operatives working in the Koronus Expanse *drool*

Frankenberry wrote:I'd love to see some more IG armor novels. Gunheads was great.

Gun heads was indeed great, but what other regiments could they use or where could the novel be based? I mean seeing as in Gunheads they were searching for Yarricks Baneblade, that made it have an awesome plot to follow, but stick another bunch of tanks going against some orks without a purpose like that is... well... an ordinary Black Library plot line. What other situations with the guardsmen have there been where tanks were the pivotal focus?

Marine_With_Heart wrote:

Frankenberry wrote:I'd love to see some more IG armor novels. Gunheads was great.

Gun heads was indeed great, but what other regiments could they use or where could the novel be based? I mean seeing as in Gunheads they were searching for Yarricks Baneblade, that made it have an awesome plot to follow, but stick another bunch of tanks going against some orks without a purpose like that is... well... an ordinary Black Library plot line. What other situations with the guardsmen have there been where tanks were the pivotal focus?

The Battle for Tallarn. Unfortunately, that would be a Horus Heresy book.

I know you said not to buuuuut,non-imperial-orks vs. Nids, or you could make it imperial with some distant world fighting a small waaagh when the nids show up and then go from there