Black Library News & Rumours Thread IV, in obligatory unwanted 3-D!

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**cincydooley**

Don't get me wrong. I think the HH books as a whole are about a half step above what the BL used to do. Their overall quality since about 2010 has continued to rise though.

I mean, I don't think any things truly been BAD since sons of dorn.

**Verses**

Manchu wrote:
I like high level synopsis. I'm not reading to find out what happens. Rather I'm reading for enjoyment of the act of reading. I like a book to be vivid but more importantly to have interesting ideas. So I prefer reviews that pay attention to theme in addition to plot and characterization. For example, here's a review I wrote for Dead Men Walking:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/334837.page

If that was in part a reference to thread I put up in background about Unremembered Empire, sorry about that. Have only just gotten a copy of the book myself, and I was more looking to get some early discussion about some of the bigger turns and their consequences on the whole of the heresy than anything.

**jah-joshua**

just downloaded The Unremembered Empire...
man, i hope this new tangent is good...
it will be interesting to see the responses start coming in next week, after enough people have had a chance to read it...

i'd crack this baby open right now, but there are waves today, the tide is dropping, the sun is shining, and there are some cuties out in the lineup...
time to close the shop and go surf

...

cheers
jah

**Manchu**

It's a hard life but someone has to do it.

**Rayvon**

Sounds like a hard life !!!

**Alfndrate**

jah-joshua wrote:
just downloaded The Unremembered Empire...
man, i hope this new tangent is good...
it will be interesting to see the responses start coming in next week, after enough people have had a chance to read it...

i'd crack this baby open right now, but there are waves today, the tide is dropping, the sun is shining, and there are some cuties out in the lineup...
time to close the shop and go surf...

cheers
jah

Truly he is the man we need, but not the man we deserve!

Enjoy the waves, can't wait to hear what you think about the book.

**Compel**

I've picked up the audio books for Unremembered and Vulkan. Should I start with Vulkan first, or are they pretty independent?

**cincydooley**

I think they're pretty independent. You could probably go and do whatever you want with either first. Are you caught up on all the HH books in general?

**Compel**

Only one I've missed so far is Angel Exterminatus. I should get round to reading that after Brotherhood of the Storm

**cincydooley**

Compel wrote:
Only one I've missed so far is Angel Exterminatus. I should get round to reading that after Brotherhood of the Storm

I would actually read Angel Exterminatus before Unremembered Empire. I get the impression theyr'e related. I'll let you know more this weekend as I get into the book!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh wait. Scratch that. Angel Exterminatus is the Iron Warriors one. I'm thinking of Fear to Tread. Disregard! Disregard!

**Verses**

Just finished reading Unremembered Empire. You'll want to go for Vulkan Lives first, it lends a LOT of context and explanation. Unremembered Empire is tying up that and a lot of other threads. Also, it's fantastic...Gulliman here is an amazing character.

Just to clarify - definitely read Vulkan Lives, Know No Fear, Fear To Tread and potentially a few short stories, although only Prince of Crows is absolutely needed out of the short stories, I think.

**Alfndrate**

cincydooley wrote:
Compel wrote:
Only one I've missed so far is Angel Exterminatus. I should get round to reading that after Brotherhood of the Storm

I would actually read Angel Exterminatus before Unremembered Empire. I get the impression theyr'e related. I'll let you know more this weekend as I get into the book!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh wait. Scratch that. Angel Exterminatus is the Iron Warriors one. I'm thinking of Fear to Tread. Disregard! Disregard!

I would honestly read at least Know No Fear, Fear to Tread, Betrayer to catch up to the Ultras and BA stuff in Unremembered Empire and then read Angel Exterminatus before reading Vulkan Lives, but read Vulkan Lives before Unremembered Empire as some of the things in Vulkan Lives get finished in UE

**cincydooley**

Did you read it already too, Alf?

**Verses**

After some reflection, I think it stands out as my favourite HH book so far, you know. It's brilliantly written, has some great dark humour in it, manages to have a narrow focus that reflects bigger events and has some awesome characters.

Also a Primarch with a mother is a nice touch.

**Alfndrate**

cincydooley wrote:
Did you read it already too, Alf?

Nope, I'm tearing through my Dresden Files books atm, I just saw some unfortunate spoilers in 40k Background. I should be back on the HH bus in a week or two and I'll be reading Vulkan Lives (I just don't want to read anymore early HH stuff D

**Begel Dverl**

Alfndrate wrote:
Sort of...

<Kan Spam>
</Kan Spam>

Spoiler:

From what I gathered, John Grammaticus gives his perpetual abilities over to Vulkan (who is one already) and Vulkan climbs into a coffin that says, "The Unbound Flame" which is one of the 9 Artifacts of Vulkan.

Wait... so

Spoiler:

**Compel**

I think the name of the book gives that second spoiler away...

**Alfndrate**

Compel wrote:I think the name of the book gives that second spoiler away...

To be fair, the title of Vulkan Lives has to do with the aftermath of the Drop Site Massacre, the point in my spoilers is from Unremembered Empire, which takes place after the events of Vulkan Lives.

**Manchu**

It's funny that BL published a book called "Vulkan Lives" ...

...
...
...
...

Spoiler:

**Verses**

Manchu wrote:
It's funny that BL published a book called "Vulkan Lives" ...

...
...
...
...

Spoiler:

... and then killed Vulkan in the very next book, according to early reviews of Unremembered Empire.

Gonna go ahead and say...

Spoiler:

Also, the artwork in this book is amazing. The following is very possibly a spoiler from the book - please only check it at your own risk.

That being said...Beautiful.

Spoiler:

**reds8n**

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/exciting-news-about-the-black-library-weekender.html

Welcome to a week of blogs dedicated to making sure that you know everything there is to know about the Black Library Weekender, the premium date in our events calendar.

If you’ve never heard of the Weekender before, this event is now in its second year and comprises two packed days of seminars, book signings, exclusive titles and merchandise and an unprecedented level of access to the authors, allowing you to ask those questions you’ve always wanted to know the answers to.

Today we’re focussing on two specific products that will be available for the first time at this event.

Those that attended last year’s Weekender may be able to guess what the first title is. That’s right, a special first edition of Macragge’s Honour will be available to buy. This is the first Horus Heresy graphic novel, which follows the story of Marius Gage and Kor Phaeron’s epic space battle that commences in Know No Fear. Written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Neil Roberts, this collector’s edition piece features a unique cover and is limited to just 350 copies worldwide. Macragge’s Honour will be available on the sales stand for £85.00.

There will also be exclusive, A3 art prints of each page of the graphic novel. These ultra-rare prints will be signed by both Dan Abnett and Neil Roberts and each will be marked as a limited run of one. Yes, you read that correctly, we will only print one of each so any that you buy will be truly unique.

Continuing the Horus Heresy theme, our other big reveal for today is Visions of Heresy. This mammoth tome, split into two volumes, presented in a hard slip-case, covers the entire story of the Horus Heresy, with new material added by Alan Merrett, the author of Horus Heresy: Collected Visions. We’ve also included all of Neil Roberts’s stunning artwork from the series so far. This book is a must have for all Horus Heresy fans. Visions of Heresy will be available on the sales stand for £150.00.

Tickets are still available for the Black Library Weekender, but are selling fast. Don’t miss out, order yours today.

Before we go, we’ve got another little treat for all you Dan Abnett fans. Today’s Digital Mondays tale lets you read a bit of a curio from the Black Library archive. Vermilion Level, originally published in Inferno! magazine was an original idea for a short story that was later incorporated into the novel First and Only. This download gives you a glimpse at a world that might have been.

Not too keen on the graphic novel cover artwork TBH...

.. still even if I was going to the event in question I wouldn't pay £85 for a graphic novel anyway ...
.. well.... maybe if it was one of those swanky complete "Zenith" reprints but that's a whole other thread.

To my eyes that reads that the collected HH visions is only/always going to be that price..?

Which -- if that is the case-- is a wee bit too steep for my pockets I fear, which is a shame as I'd otherwise been looking forwards to this rerelease a fair bit.

I've asked form some clarification, we'll see what's what I guess.

In other news "Aurellian" will soon be getting a reprint in the same format/method that "Promethean Sun" had, so if you missed out before then it'll soon be your chance again.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

GW Fulchester (made up place just in case you wondered) commened

Games Workshop: Fulchester

As you all know, we very rarely produce books, audios or tea-towels relating to the Horus Heresy, as that would spoil the mystery.

That's why we are offering hardcore fans the chance to buy a Graphic Novel detailing a very minor battle in this galaxy spanning battle for the entirely reasonable sum of £85, which we're sure you'd agree is a reasonable price for a comic book.

**Manchu**

Honestly, feth Black Library.

**reds8n**

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/wnt/blog.jsp?pid=11300002

There will be a host of exclusive products available on the day, including the Black Library Weekender anthology, two Limited Edition Novellas, the first Horus Heresy graphic novel, Macragge's Honour (seen above), and an exclusive edition of the much-anticipated Visions of Heresy. We caught a glimpse of it the other day and it is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive products ever released by the Black Library.

sounds to me then that there will indeed be a more reasonably priced version of the visions collection as/when. Phew !

**BrookM**

£85?! £85! What the flipping feth are they thinking?!

**Wolfstan**

£150, it just takes your breath away

**cincydooley**

Just finished unremembered. Review in process.

Good book. Abnett is certainly on his game. A. It shorter than expected.

Any info on the physical size or page length of the graphic novels?

**Pacific**

Think I paid about £15 for the original collected visions books (although it was a while ago now!)

I guess the moment something like this doesn't sell in sufficient quantities, and bounces off the 'ceiling' as it were, then perhaps we might see a return to sane pricing.

**Azreal13**

I guess the silver lining is that my copy of Collected Visions just went up in price!

**cincydooley**

I think when I got mine it was around $50USD?

By the looks of these books, I want to believe they're the same size as the FW heresy books so that you can line them up all together.....