Black library news and rumours (including Horus Heresy stuff)...

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**reds8n**

New eBooks & audio books; Cover-art revealed

It’s all go here in the Black Library office today. We’ve just eBooked: Bloodstorm, which is book two in the Darkblade series; Skaven Slayer, the second book in the Gotrek and Felix series; Gaunts Ghosts: Ghostmaker, the second book in Dan’s illustrious Imperial Guard series; and Tales of Heresy, the first Horus Heresy short story anthology.

Christian has just finished Hammer & Bolter issue 3, and Ragnar’s updated the ‘Coming Soon’ section to include all of the covers through to September 2011, including the cracking cover for Nagash Immortal.

As if that wasn't enough both Prospero Burns and God King have been given the star-treatment: now available as eBooks and full, unabridged audio books (that’s 16 hours a piece!).

Over the weekend we’ll be finalising what books we’re releasing in 2011 – check back then to find out.

**BrookM**

Gah, still too far off.

**Death By Monkeys**

Wow, so that's what Nagash is supposed to look like!

**Lord of battles**

As opposed to this:

**BrookM**

God King and Prospero Burns have both arrived. I'm going to go against popular trend and start with God King first.

**Kanluwen**

If it makes you feel better Brook, I'm refusing to read "A Thousand Sons" until I have "Prospero Burns" in my possession too.

**Alpharius**

There's no reason to do that!

Well, none that I can think of!

**Kanluwen**

Other than "Prospero Burns" isn't out in the states, you mean

**nels1031**

Kanluwen wrote:Other than "Prospero Burns" isn't out in the states, you mean

My local GW has them for sale as of today. Picking it up after I leave work today. Can't wait to tear it up!

**Kanluwen**

Yeah, the release schedule is absurd for it.

Borders/Barnes and Noble don't get it until the 28th.
Black Library started shipping it on December 6th.
My FLGS, who I asked about it on the 6th, can't get it until after January 6th or so.

This is one of the few times I actually want to have an "official" GW shop around

**Just Dave**

I'm not complain, being British it's nice to get something before the states.

**Lord of battles**

Latest:

Black Library wrote:Pre-order February's Releases; 2011 Titles Revealed

As promised on Friday, you can now find a full list of all the titles we’re releasing up until January 2012, in the Coming Soon section.

Here in the BL office we’ve been busy discussing the new the titles that we’re most looking forward to. Ragnar (our web guy) is a big fan of the Space Marine Battles series and can’t wait for Gildar Rift. Darius (our art guy) is itching to read The Red Duke and saying, ‘The Red Duke! Vampire knights, as written by BL’s master of the macabre, C L Werner. It’s gonna be more sinister than Béla Lugosi dressed as a clown, carrying lots of Victorian china dolls.’ Quite. Chris (our telesales guy) is most excited about Atlas Infernal, which introduces Inquisitor Czevak and features the mysterious Eldar Harlequins. ‘I can’t wait to find out more about them [Harlequins],’ said Chris. And Neil (our ‘everything else’ guy) is frothing about The Outcast Dead, ‘I can't wait for 'The Outcast Dead'! The fate of those Space Marines from the traitorous legions who chose to remain loyal is one of the most interesting facets of the heresy to me. I loved ‘Flight of the Eisenstein’ and ‘Garro: Oath of Moment’, so with a group of loyalists from the various traitor legions escaping from incarceration on Terra as its main characters this is set to be my new favourite Heresy book.’

What title are you most excited about? Post a comment and let us know.

Back in the now, things are pretty exciting too – you can now pre-order Purging of Callidus, Gav Thorpe’s tense Dark Angels novel; Chris Wraight’s Sword of Vengeance, the sequel to Sword of Justice; Thunder & Steel, a collection of Dan Abnett’s finest Warhammer novels (including Gilead’s Blood!); and George Mann’s first audio drama Helion Rain, check out this review.

Big stuff happening! I can't wait for The Outcast Dead!

**Kanluwen**

New artwork up:

Black Library wrote:This great bit of art from artist Slawomir Maniak will appear on the cover of the forthcoming audio drama Red & Black.

**warboss**

Kanluwen wrote:If it makes you feel better Brook, I'm refusing to read "A Thousand Sons" until I have "Prospero Burns" in my possession too.

: )

Spoiler:

my FLGS has prospero burns but the local big box stores don't usually get them until 2-3 weeks after the games store (same with emperor protects for deathwatch). it might be annoying seeing as how the games store is 25 miles further and i only get there once every week or two but i do applaud FFG/BL for releasing it that way to support the little guys.

**reds8n**

Darius insisted that we post this awesome piece of artwork from Stef Kopinski with everyone's favourite Colonel-commissar Ibram Gaunt!

The question is can you "Guess the Gaunt", which upcoming Ghosts novel will feature this striking pose?

**BrookM**

He's looking a bit unhealthy

**Kanluwen**

'Tis for "Salvation's Reach" coming October 2011.

**Death By Monkeys**

BrookM wrote:He's looking a bit unhealthy

Indeed. Am I mistaken or does it look like he's finally gotten himself a bit of the Tanith ink along the side of his face there?

**Balance**

Death By Monkeys wrote:
BrookM wrote:He's looking a bit unhealthy

Indeed. Am I mistaken or does it look like he's finally gotten himself a bit of the Tanith ink along the side of his face there?

I thought that was a scar.

**Lint**

I thought the ink was from the Gerunhivers?

**Death By Monkeys**

Balance wrote:I thought that was a scar.

I thought it was, too, at first. But looking more closely at it, I think it's a tattoo. Could be scarring, though, considering what he went through.

Lint wrote:I thought the ink was from the Gerunhivers?

The hivers might have had some, and considerable mention was made in the books about them getting some, but it was so that they could have tattoos to match the Tanith's woad-like markings.

**Lord of battles**

reds8n wrote:
Darius insisted that we post this awesome piece of artwork from Stef Kopinski with everyone's favourite Colonel-commissar Ibram Gaunt!

The question is can you "Guess the Gaunt", which upcoming Ghosts novel will feature this striking pose?

Pelvic Thrusting!

**Alpharius**

Death By Monkeys wrote:
Balance wrote:I thought that was a scar.

I thought it was, too, at first. But looking more closely at it, I think it's a tattoo. Could be scarring, though, considering what he went through.

Funny, because when I took a closer look at it, I thought it was a scar!

Given what we know of him, I don't think Gaunt would go and get a facial tattoo, no matter how close he feels to the Tanith!

**Kanluwen**

The Vervunhivers for the most part are untattoooed. The ones who have them mostly had them prior to the whole influx post-Necropolis.

The more recent influx of non-Tanith(the Belladon First Recon from "His Last Command") are professional military, through and through, and have very little tattooing(at least facially) in their ranks.

Anyways, it's definitely scarring. Notice that there's raised flesh to either side of it, casting a shadow in between. That doesn't happen with tattoos

**warboss**

BrookM wrote:He's looking a bit unhealthy

i dunno. he's still got less liver spots than your average scout-just-became-a-full-marine in the ultramarines movie. *zing*

**Lint**

Kanluwen wrote:The Vervunhivers for the most part are untattoooed.

I stand corrected on both fronts, thank you I was pretty sure it wasn't gerunhivers but I couldn't for my life recall the correct name

**overkill76**

Hi everyone,

Just some feedback after reading Prospero Burns. TBH, the book had several interesting revelations but nothing earth shattering.

Disappointly, most of the book is written from the standpoint of a very human "remembrancer". On the positive side, you get to feel his awe and surprise as he learns more & more about the culture and practices of the wolves. However, a large part of the book is devoted to his memories and experiences as a normal academic which was fairly boring (my point of view).

I finished the book in 2 sittings not because it was very good, but because I wanted to see where I could start reading about the more interesting characters and dialogue. Infuriatingly, Russ and the earth shaking Prospero related events are only found in the last quarter of the book. Those expecting hot SM vs SM action will be left wanting.

In summary:
- slow build-up (first 3/4 of the book)
- several somewhat interesting twists to established lore
- good finish

Overall score: 6.5/10

Additionally, those of us hankering for more Primarch vs Primarch action will not get what we desire.

[spoiler]Quite literally, the description goes like: "The description of the conflict between Primarchs can be found in other accounts. We focus our efforts on a side story that happened at around the same time instead."

**reds8n**

Todays news and update

Santa works in mysterious ways... Literally just through the door, before Nick’s last day in the office, is the first draft of Blood Reaver. Aaron’s been working like a booze-swilling, coffee-slurping, biscuit-eating hack to get this one finished before old Santy comes a-callin’. Truly the spirit of Christmas is alive and well. With matchsticks holding his eyelids open, Nick finished reading the manuscript a few hours ago and after issuing an emphatic two-thumbs up, we have this choice morsel of giftiness to offer. Enjoy – it’s the season of giving after all...

Bear in mind, these are Aaron’s pure, mad, undiluted thoughts about the Night Lords Legion; untouched by a copy editor or massaged by a proof reader. Insanity lies within.

A CRUCIFIED ANGEL
THE WARRIOR TURNED his helm over in his hands. Gauntleted fingertips stroked along the dents and scratches marring the midnight ceramite. The faceplate was painted white with an artisan’s care, in stylised mimicry of a human skull. One scarlet eye lens was ruined, cobwebbed by cracks. The other stared, dispassionate in deactivation, reflecting the darkening sky above.

He told himself that this wasn’t symbolic. His helm’s ruination didn’t reflect the damage done to his Legion. Even as he quenched the notion, he wondered from whence it came. The war had a proven and profane habit of fanning the embers of melancholy, but still. There were limits.

The warrior took a breath, seeing inhuman creatures dance and bleed behind his closed eyes. He’d been dreaming of the eldar lately, for months before setting foot on this desolate world. Thousands of them: spindly things with gaunt faces and hollow eyes, aboard a burning ship of black sails and false bone.

‘Soul Hunter,’ someone called. His brother’s voice, making the name somewhere between a joke and a title of respect.

The warrior replaced his helm. One eye lens flickered live, bathing the vista in the killing-red of his targeting vision. The other showed angry grey static and the distracting afterimages of visual input lag. It still echoed with a grainy and colourless view of the setting sun a few moments after he’d turned away from it.

‘What?’ the warrior asked.

‘The Angel is breaking.’

The warrior smiled as he drew the gladius sheathed at his shin. Fading sunlight flashed off the blade’s edge as the steel met cold air.

‘Glorious.’

**Manchu**

Interesting find there, red. I do hope A D-B will be unleashed on something non-HH and non-NL before the obligatory third Soul Hunter book.

@Kan: All this SoB artwork of a sudden is very heartwarming.

**reds8n**

reds8n wrote:And a nice competition too

New Horus Heresy Book – let the speculation begin.
Here's a look at Neil Roberts’ rough sketch of the cover for Graham McNeill’s forthcoming Horus Heresy title. If you're the first person to guess the title, we'll send you a signed copy of the book well before it's official release date. We might even thrown in a couple of extras. Post your answer by commenting on this post* or on our Facebook page.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Default.aspx

..hmm.. ideas then folks ? Looks to me like some scouts, some one in some old, old OLD armour.... and an Astropath.

from earlier in the month...

..seems this tome is entitled " The Outcast Dead" .... a title I will be amazed if anyone guessed. Due, apparently, around November next year, so should well be the UK GD special release.

..which is nice.