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Anyone have any spoilers? it's called "Only in Death"...I heard they were only supposed to publish 9 novels in total. We are now at 11.

Yay! I don't mind more.


On a related note, GW is gradually releasing the classic novels in cheaper omnibus form - for those that don't mind giant paperbacks.

I heard that the Ghosts must fight against overwhelming odds and betrayal by their imperial allies but somehow manage to win in the end.

But I can't be sure.

Really?

Do you think that Gaunt will be tough, but fairer than the other officers?

Where did you read this spoiler? I welcome a new Ghosts novel. I have bought every 40k novel since they have started publishing, but the Tanith are still #1 of a small few that captured and still keep my imagination. The scale of most of the books and the huge amount of detail about the 41st millenium are breathtaking. Necropolis is stil my favourite of allTanith books. I even picked up thr Sabbat Worlds Crusade book a few monthes ago but was disappointed to find nearly no mention of the Ghosts.

The Tanith prove that not all guard are the hammer and anvil most make them out to be. That special ops stuff in Guns of Tanith was amazing. I also have read every SAS book I have been able to get my hands on up here in Canada. I don't know how you can top the last stand in Ghostmaker except for magnifying the scale. People can talk all they want about this army being better than another. When it comes to character fluff, and individuality the Guard are one of the best around. I only started my Catachan army after reading a few Tanith novels, its now a large dex Guard army.

The first will always have my imagination and heart captured (I say this with a Tanith dog tag on). I have no doubt the next novel will to the Armour of Contempt. Those of us who've read several of his novels know that he doesn't disappoint. As a small side note I think Gaunt will always be fair and honourable. This is a bit strange in the 40k universe, but he has a line will not cross. I think one of the reasons Hark was added was to add a more vanilla Commissar who does what is in the greater good even if he doesn't like it. Has anyone seen the Sharpe movies? I see a lot of paralells between him and his men and Gaunt and the Ghosts. I'm excited and glad the Ghost dynasty will continue and feth anyone who thinks otherwise!

Posted By WarsmithDave on 03/21/2007 5:29 PM
Where did you read this spoiler? 

  It's uncanny, isn't it?  It's almost like the Kid has a direct mind-link with Dan Abnett.

  Seriously, though, I was a bit disappointed with the one where Gaunt Battles the Buereaucracy.  Dan Abnett can write decent pulp, but Franz Kafka he ain't. 

  Venstock has a book called "Saint" listed for 8/07, but I suspect it's just an omnibus edition like "The Founding."

Yes. The Saint will be another collection of 3 books plus a short story.

I'm looking forward to it.

I agree with you about the effect. Whenever I read a GG book I get inspired to go and get more of my IG army painted.

Isn't this supposed t be the one where he dies? I heard rumours ages ago on the BL forum about a Gaunt book where he snufs it...

Not really sure though. But to be honest i've never been an abnett fan. Personally I don't really like BL books, or their super hero defeats the universe formula.

40K fiction has such greater potential to be truly dark, edgy mature sci fi. But they never pursue it.

the eisenhorn trilogy goes more in the "edgy and mature" direction than the other books, it is not at all about big battles or flawless heroes.

The Horus Heresy books are reputed to be more "adult", and the first book was pure scifi from top to bottom, with hardly a lick of "40k" flavor, for all that it included marines, superhumans and the warp.

Whether you like the superhero style of story, the fact is that a lot of 40k fluff or at least the stuff to do with the Imperium is just that. Every last stand is celebrated and every drop of blood spilled is worth it. I won't argue that this is the best way to present their stories, but I think they gear of a lot of the books to a younger crowd.

I own every 40k novel excepted as couple I didn't like after reading a chapter and a couple that are unavailable in Canada. There are a few that look at the 40k universe in a more mature and darker light. Lord of the Night, the Inquisition war trilogy, the Eisenhorn trilogy, the heresy books, 13th Legion, Pawns of Chaos, Storm of Iron, the Soul Drinker books and Fifteen Hours all look the the 40k universe in a more mature tone. I'm not saying these books are free of the David and Goliath mindset. But this is a central concept in much of GWs fluff, so get used to it.

I love reading nearly every 40k novel because I am a history buff. And for me the expansion of the universe and history of the game is as entertaining as gaming. Thats IMHO of course. The fact is that if the majority of the books were of the type you prefer they're would probably be less people reading them. Not everyone wants to focus on the darkness of 40k, though I'm not one of them. BL is a business like GW itself and anything it does has to have the bottom line ultimately in mind. At least they don't hike the prices on their books every year, its quite refreshing.

Posted By Pariah Press on 03/21/2007 10:12 PM

Posted By WarsmithDave on 03/21/2007 5:29 PM
Where did you read this spoiler? 

  It's uncanny, isn't it?  It's almost like the Kid has a direct mind-link with Dan Abnett.

 

I also hear a supporting character may die in the final pages.

OK, OK, all snarkiness aside I too read something like half the BL books before giving up on them.  And really enjoyed some.  Necropolis actually stands up to a rereading.  And if/when I have time again (retirement?)  I'll probably read some more.

I gave up on the GG books because they reached the point of negative returns, after several books where we are told the Ghosts are in grave danger but no one wiht a name ever dies it got silly.  Then named charaters started to die but only one a book and only at the end and usually fairly forgettable deaths.  But if Abnet is bringing it to an end good for him.

Posted By Kid_Kyoto on 03/22/2007 5:17 PM

I gave up on the GG books because they reached the point of negative returns, after several books where we are told the Ghosts are in grave danger but no one wiht a name ever dies it got silly. 

  It was pretty *fudge*ing silly from the get-go, IMO, but reasonably entertaining.  I was tempted to give up on Gaunt and his crew, but that would pretty much mean stopping reading any Warhammer books, and I enjoy some mental bubblegum now and then. 

i personally find them good, but i like the -][- books better to be honest. Gaunts books are great, but theres just something that pulls me into the eisenhorn/ravenor books more so than gaunt. the last 2 have been rather good though

Does anyone else think that Abnett isn't even writing these books anymore? He's churning out a lot of GW stuff on top of comics. Given it's all formulaic and repetitive, but still, I think that he's probably turned into a marketing name GW just slaps on books ghostwritten by someone else with a quick Abnett edit to make it read like his work.

Necropolis was the last one I enjoyed, too repetitive after that. First and Only is the best to my mind.
The first Heresy one, Horus Rising, was cracking stuff too, and I really want to read more. Too much of black library is Humans Vs Chaos to my mind. But hey.
I haven't read that much, but nothing with a small band of heroic space marines does it for me at all.
George R. R. Martin is so much betterer!