Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.

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**Da Boss**

If you don't want a book spoiled, maybe don't read threads discussing new releases from it's publisher until you've read it.

Just a thought.

**Pacific**

I thought this was a thread for news about new releases though? Not necessarily just the content of those releases.

**KamikazeCanuck**

It's always a good idea to use Spoiler Tags.

**Liquidice281**

After listening to Butcher's Nails, all I have to say is that it was the best audio drama released so far. I do not understand the criticism of the voice actors, but the voices of angron, argel tal, and kharn were so amazing. The best thing is that from now on, I'll be able to imagine kharn's soviet russia voice when reading =D.

**Formosa**

Liquidice281 wrote:After listening to Butcher's Nails, all I have to say is that it was the best audio drama released so far. I do not understand the criticism of the voice actors, but the voices of angron, argel tal, and kharn were so amazing. The best thing is that from now on, I'll be able to imagine kharn's soviet russia voice when reading =D.

I totally agree

**Compel**

In other news, it seems that The Unkindness of Ravens has been a bit flat... The next day and there still appears to be copies for sale. I bought mine last night, about 3 hours after launch.

Are people waking up to the 30 pound price tag being rather high? (Although, I do have a soft spot for Raven Guard) or is it perhaps due to the name of the book being a bit err, pants and putting people off it?

**BrookM**

Could be that the author is not enough of a big name to warrant a mad rush. Or that the subject handled is not about the Horus Heresy.

**Alpharius**

BrookM wrote:Could be that the author is not enough of a big name to warrant a mad rush. Or that the subject handled is not about the Horus Heresy.

Those would get my votes for "Top 2 Reasons Why", combined with the price and probably BL's servers crashing again.

**BrookM**

Alpharius wrote:
BrookM wrote:Could be that the author is not enough of a big name to warrant a mad rush. Or that the subject handled is not about the Horus Heresy.

Those would get my votes for "Top 2 Reasons Why", combined with the price and probably BL's servers crashing again.

(un)Surprisingly enough, they held out this time round.

el edit.

Just you wait until Dan or Graham sells a limited edition.

**H.B.M.C.**

Alpharius wrote:I agree with you, but when BL can make $150,000 US in a few hours, and not have to share any with a distributor/middleman, well, those of us who refuse to pay $50+ for a novella will continue to be left out in the cold, I'm afraid...

I don't actually have a problem with them releasing these limited edition copies. My ire stems from the fact that outside of those copies the books are unavailable. They should be released as an eBook within a month or so. That way the people who want their special super-duper books get them, and those who care more about reading the story can still do so, just not in hard copy.

That seems like a perfectly reasonable compromise to me, and it would mean they make more money as they'd have another avenue of sale.

**Kanluwen**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Alpharius wrote:I agree with you, but when BL can make $150,000 US in a few hours, and not have to share any with a distributor/middleman, well, those of us who refuse to pay $50+ for a novella will continue to be left out in the cold, I'm afraid...

I don't actually have a problem with them releasing these limited edition copies. Mire ire stems from the fact that outside of those copies the books are unavailable. They should be released as an eBook within a month or so. That way the people who want their special super-duper books get them, and those who care more about reading the story can still do so, just not in hard copy.

That seems like a perfectly reasonable compromise to me, and it would mean they make more money as they'd have another avenue of sale.

Well...they're unavailable for two years. That's what BL has been telling us for awhile now, with The Iron Warriors Omnibus featuring the first of these "direct exclusives" published.

Is it annoying? Yeah. But I'm not particularly bothered unless they start doing plot-critical stuff for series in this format.

If they do that--there will be angry letters from me to them.

**H.B.M.C.**

But why wait two years? What's the point?

Put 'em up as an eBook within a month, and make more money. It's not that hard. Hell, they can put 'em up for sale in Australia first where we pay twice the price for eBooks for no fething reason - even MORE money for them!

I mean... don't they want our money? Sometimes it seems like they are pathologically afraid of being successful.

**Mr. Balloon Hands**

@BrookM. What is "donkey-cave" ??

I call my friends donkeys all the time when they do silly, dumb, stupid things. But a donkey-cave?? I mean dont get me wrong, i like it. Just need it in a sentence and maybe a definition if its not too much of a problem.

**Kanluwen**

I have no clue why they decided on two years. I guess the idea is to let those who buy the shiny things feel superior for a smug two years?

Discerning why BL/GW do anything is like trying to discern make-believe languages with no lexicon.

**H.B.M.C.**

Well a donkey is sometimes referred to as an "ass". You figure out the rest.

**Kanluwen**

Mr. Balloon Hands wrote:@BrookM. What is "donkey-cave" ??

I call my friends donkeys all the time when they do silly, dumb, stupid things. But a donkey-cave?? I mean dont get me wrong, i like it. Just need it in a sentence and maybe a definition if its not too much of a problem.

It's the word filter.

Think of a common insult used involving a donkey and its rear end.

Beaten to it by H.B.M.C., bah!

**H.B.M.C.**

Kanluwen wrote:I have no clue why they decided on two years. I guess the idea is to let those who buy the shiny things feel superior for a smug two years?

And BL to feel smug and superior whilst an avenue of revenue (see what I did there?) goes untapped. Yeah... that makes sense.

Kanluwen wrote:Discerning why BL/GW do anything is like trying to discern make-believe languages with no lexicon.

I must say that it is refreshing to hear you of all people saying that.

**Kanluwen**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:I have no clue why they decided on two years. I guess the idea is to let those who buy the shiny things feel superior for a smug two years?

And BL to feel smug and superior whilst an avenue of revenue (see what I did there?) goes untapped. Yeah... that makes sense.

One thing to note is that online sales is not necessarily all of their copies. They also maintain a stock of copies which they use for events, etc.

I look at these novellas the same way I do the White Dwarf "exclusive" model, personally. Something they do to encourage excitement about something which doesn't usually (in their mind) get people excited.

Kanluwen wrote:Discerning why BL/GW do anything is like trying to discern make-believe languages with no lexicon.

I must say that it is refreshing to hear you of all people saying that.

Shhh, don't tell them. They'll know.

But no. I can be fairly critical of them, I just choose not to voice my criticisms most of the time. There's enough hyperbolic vitriol spouted around that a well-reasoned criticism just gets lost in the noise.

**H.B.M.C.**

Kanluwen wrote:And BL to feel smug and superior whilst an avenue of revenue (see what I did there?) goes untapped. Yeah... that makes sense. One thing to note is that online sales is not necessarily all of their copies. They also maintain a stock of copies which they use for events, etc.

And?

Again, the choice is:

1. More money.
2. No money.

Surely a choice like this is academic.

Kanluwen wrote:I look at these novellas the same way I do the White Dwarf "exclusive" model, personally. Something they do to encourage excitement about something which doesn't usually (in their mind) get people excited.

When's the last time a WD model cost that much?

Kanluwen wrote:There's enough hyperbolic vitriol spouted around that a well-reasoned criticism just gets lost in the noise.

Uhh... thanks... I think?

**Mr. Balloon Hands**

Kanluwen wrote:
Mr. Balloon Hands wrote:@BrookM. What is "donkey-cave" ??

I call my friends donkeys all the time when they do silly, dumb, stupid things. But a donkey-cave?? I mean dont get me wrong, i like it. Just need it in a sentence and maybe a definition if its not too much of a problem.

It's the word filter.

Think of a common insult used involving a donkey and its rear end.

Beaten to it by H.B.M.C., bah!

hehehe, very clever.

**Kanluwen**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
H.B.M.C. wrote:And BL to feel smug and superior whilst an avenue of revenue (see what I did there?) goes untapped. Yeah... that makes sense.
One thing to note is that online sales is not necessarily all of their copies. They also maintain a stock of copies which they use for events, etc.

And?

Again, the choice is:

1. More money.
2. No money.

Surely a choice like this is academic.

I wasn't debating your statement, more adding to it.

Kanluwen wrote:I look at these novellas the same way I do the White Dwarf "exclusive" model, personally. Something they do to encourage excitement about something which doesn't usually (in their mind) get people excited.

When's the last time a WD model cost that much?

You have to buy a subscription to WD to be able to get the WD model.

I'd say that's going to cost you at least as much as the novellas.

Kanluwen wrote:There's enough hyperbolic vitriol spouted around that a well-reasoned criticism just gets lost in the noise.

Uhh... thanks... I think?

It wasn't aimed at just you, H.B.M.C.

That said, you do tend to alternate between the hyperbolic shenanigans and well-reasoned criticisms. I just wish you'd focus more on the latter.

**BrookM**

Does make me wonder when the next HH themed novella will be done and by whom, the latter in particular is what drives me into a purchase or not. Had I known the first HH novella would be so dull I'd given it a pass and waited until it became a regular release. The AD-B release however is well worth it IMHO.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
In other news, halfway through Void Stalker, just what the doctor ordered to get interested in the hobby again. Maybe after wrapping this titan up I can finally read Deliverance and Fear.

**Alpharius**

Go FEAR and then DELIVERANCE.

Also, limiting sales from Abnett and ADB seems rather... shortsighted.

These things generally sell out if the theme and author is popular enough.

And they could sell a lot of anything those two write...

**Ozymandias**

Don't do that! Read Deliverance first so that Fear doesn't ruin it for you by comparison!!

**Mr. Balloon Hands**

Read them in order. Or at least try. They are all good in their own light. I for one have not had a problem with any of the HH novels so far. I have skipped a few. Both the dark angels ones, Nemesis, and the Mechanicum one. I am sure another one or two. SO i am kinda eating my words huh?? Well unless i choose to never read those, then i have read them all in order.

The Novella Aurelian, by ADB, was top notch in my opinion. I only was able to snag a siliver edition but very stoked none the less.

Fair Tides,

**BrookM**

I have a feeling both Deliverance and Fear will suck even more after I'm done with Void Stalker.

**Mr. Balloon Hands**

Fear was awesome. I have just starter Void Stalker. Thought I would crank out one of the Novella's in archetect of fate before starting it. Pretty jazzed that everyone else is really jazzed on Void Stalker.

jazz hands

**BrookM**

I don't do ebooks, hate the feth out of those. I want dead trees in my hands, as the authors intended.

Don't facepalm the works of ADB you heretic. Use this one instead:

**Balance**

Alpharius wrote:
warboss wrote:
CalgarsPimpHand wrote:Way to ruin what was once a tragic story, by replacing desperation, hubris, failure, shame, and guilt, with "I'm perfect, Snidely Whiplash did it.

Does he actually know about the sabotage though?

Well...

Spoiler:

Yes, he certainly does, as he lead the interrogation of all of his remaining marines and ferrets out the Alpha Legion infiltrators and executes them.

Now, there is no guilt or remorse for Corax.

He didn't create any monsters - someone else did!

As noted, he actually did a BETTER job at creating marines than the Emperor himself!

So really, there should be no tormented trek to the Eye of Terror in his future.

Corax, like so many Black Library authors before him, can now claim that "The Alpha Legion did it!"

Spoiler:

**Mr. Balloon Hands**

BrookM wrote:I don't do ebooks, hate the feth out of those. I want dead trees in my hands, as the authors intended.

Don't facepalm the works of ADB you heretic. Use this one instead:

hahaha, not intending to face palm ADB, Face Palming my jazz hands comment.

I like your choice of jazz hands.

I dont do eBooks either. Look at enough screens.