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

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Alpharius**

ThirdUltra wrote:

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there, before the hate-train steams in.....

Well said, and that mirrors my thoughts on that meeting too!

And really, the Ultras were manipulated out of most of the Horus Heresy for... reasons on which I'm fuzzy!

I think it was because:

1) They were the largest legion
2) They were extremely loyal, and there was no way they were going to be swayed
3) Roboute Guilliman's abilities were such that they, combined with his legion, would have virtually guaranteed a Loyalist victory

So by virtue of all this, the Ultramarines were the largest Legion left at the end, and basically got to write the rules thereafter...

**BrookM**

The Ultras played a large part post-Heresy according to GW, putting out fires everywhere so to say, because yes they were sent away because they were the largest and one of the most loyal legions, especially due to the nature of their Primarch.

**ThirdUltra**

I think it was because:

1) They were the largest legion
2) They were extremely loyal, and there was no way they were going to be swayed
3) Roboute Guilliman's abilities were such that they, combined with his legion, would have virtually guaranteed a Loyalist victory

So by virtue of all this, the Ultramarines were the largest Legion left at the end, and basically got to write the rules thereafter...

Well said and that's pretty much my interpretation as well.

Great minds think alike....?

**Simonbarsinistr**

The heresy has a great number of books left before it's been told, but this conversation has got me wondering if the series is going to go on after the battle on Terra and cover the retreating traitors and regrouping loyalists. And will the do series on other major events like the age of apostasy and what not?

**BrookM**

There was talk by Dan and Graham about doing post-Heresy novels featuring some big names. But it'll be some time until we finally get there though.

**reds8n**

Knights of Bretonnia
Our main instruction to cover artist Clint Langley was: 'Make sure he looks nails-hard'. Nicely done, Clint. This fella looks like he ate twelve puppies for breakfast* and sharpened his sword on his face. Knights of Bretonnia is an omnibus edition of Anthony Reynolds' Bretonnian novels, including two new novellas and a short story. It goes on sale next April.

This has been a very good series, I think all of Reynolds' books ahve been good reads, I'm only really annoyed that we're not getting a full third book in the series to finish it off, just these new short ones.

**BrookM**

*No puppies were harmed in the making of this cover.

Now that's a relief.

**Alpharius**

Simonbarsinistr wrote:The heresy has a great number of books left before it's been told, but this conversation has got me wondering if the series is going to go on after the battle on Terra and cover the retreating traitors and regrouping loyalists. And will the do series on other major events like the age of apostasy and what not?

BrookM wrote:There was talk by Dan and Graham about doing post-Heresy novels featuring some big names. But it'll be some time until we finally get there though.

I'm pretty sure I read something somewhere (That sure sounds definite, eh?!?) that would absolutely be doing books set in "The Scouring", detailing the push of the Traitorous Scum into the Eye of Terror.

I'd like to say it would be nice to see the Loyalists take some names, but I'm sure it will be all about how the remaining loyal Primarchs end up biting it and/or disappearing - all written by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, of course.

**Lord of battles**

The sneaky bastards, look what i found on the site!

Black Library
Frequently asked questions - ebooks and audio Downloads

When are Black Library eBooks going to be available?

October!

Does that mean you will stop printing books at some point?

Absolutely not - we will continue to produce printed paper books alongside eBooks.

Will all books be available as eBooks?

We are looking at both our forthcoming releases and backlist to decide how best to make them available, nothing is set in stone at present.

In which formats will eBooks be available?

We will most probably produce our eBooks in Mobi (the Kindle format), ePub (most other eReaders such as the Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook) at the very least. We are still looking into this; more info to come.

Where will I be able to buy digital products?

As with our release schedule, we have not yet confirmed the outlets through which our digital range will be available. As soon as the range is launched, it will be available to buy from this website. More outlets will be confirmed later.

How do I find out more?

Keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Twitter feed and make sure you visit us at UK Games Day for a sneak preview.

This is awesome! Now I Really Really want an ipod touch!

**BrookM**

Old news, posted a page or so back.

**Alpharius**

True, but did it have the pretty picture too?

**Kanluwen**

So long as I can use it with my Aria, I'm all cool with it.

**Simonbarsinistr**

Definately becoming tempted to get the ipad.

**fullheadofhair**

Simonbarsinistr wrote:Definately becoming tempted to get the ipad.

why would this be a deciding factor. The iPad is not a eReader - it doesn't use the same methodology that allows you to read a Nook for 8-10 hrs straight with no eye strain. The iPad is a horrible thing for lots of reading. The Kindle, Nook and Sony do a good job of mimicing paper - they are ideal for reading. Anyone who tells you different hasn't used both or has been drinking at the Apple fountain to long.

Good news about moving to electronic though.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, here is a thought - how about releasing all the back issues of their story magazine, Inferno, to the electronic format. That would have my purchase.

Heck, here is another though - why not start it up again on electronic. I would subscrive.

**Simonbarsinistr**

Definately agree that bringing back inferno and all the old graphic novels would be good, and making new content would be awesome.

I want to get an ipad already, so the e books are just one more reason. I'd never buy a device just for books, but the Internet and ease of my itouch (that I'm writing this on right now) makes me want the bigger version to replace an aging laptop.

**fullheadofhair**

Simonbarsinistr wrote:Definately agree that bringing back inferno and all the old graphic novels would be good, and making new content would be awesome.

I want to get an ipad already, so the e books are just one more reason. I'd never buy a device just for books, but the Internet and ease of my itouch (that I'm writing this on right now) makes me want the bigger version to replace an aging laptop.

I never thought I would buy an eReader just to read books. However, the Nook is spectacular and it really makes for ease of reading. You can actually sit with it for hours and read without a hint of eye strain. You just cannot do it with the iPad - I tried.

I will email about Inferno. Got to start that ball rolling,

**reds8n**

fullheadofhair wrote:

Heck, here is another though - why not start it up again on electronic. I would subscrive.

..

..what an interesting idea. I hope someone hammers home this point to them.

Bloodforged cover art
Those of you with oddly pointy teeth have probably already noticed how fangtastic the cover of Nathan Long's Bloodborn novel is. Well, if you thought that was tasty, take a peek at this. It's the cover art for the second Ulrika the Vampire novel, Bloodforged. The series artist is called Winona Nelson, and by the looks of this piece, she's really starting to get her teeth into the character. The book's not released until next summer, so there's plenty of time to find a nice silk-lined coffin to read it in.

The first in this series was great, well worth picking up.

**Lord of battles**

New covers!

First we have blood Reaver the new Night Lords novel

And Caledor the end of the Sundering trilogy

**pixelpusher**

Seriously, I want to talk to whomever is doing "graphic design" over at Black Library. Checking if AV / VA is kerned properly is one of the first things you do when using any typeface. I know it's a "minor detail", but it's not like it's the only newbie mistake they've done. >_<

**Alpharius**

Huh!

But, it isn't like some rabid fan of baby stapling is going to care!!!

**Generalstoner**

Really looking forward to the Caledor book. The Sundering series so far has been excellent.

**Specs**

Lord of battles wrote:
As with our release schedule, we have not yet confirmed the outlets through which our digital range will be available. As soon as the range is launched, it will be available to buy from this website. More outlets will be confirmed later.

I actually e-mailed them a couple weeks ago to ask if the audio books were going to be available through audible. They're exact reply:

Black Library wrote:I am afraid that at present we do not have any plans to release our
audio dramas via audible.

I don't know if "not yet confirmed" means there's still hope for audible. Since I have an audible subscription and use it to manage all my audiobooks I'd hate to be forced to buy it from somewhere else. I've come to terms with audible's DRM, I'm not going to go anywhere near another company's.

**Kroothawk**

Look who showed up at GenCon

**Ruckdog**

pixelpusher wrote:Seriously, I want to talk to whomever is doing "graphic design" over at Black Library. Checking if AV / VA is kerned properly is one of the first things you do when using any typeface. I know it's a "minor detail", but it's not like it's the only newbie mistake they've done. >_<

Here is a link if, like me, you had no earthly idea what Pixelpusher was talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerning

**warboss**

Ruckdog wrote:Here is a link if, like me, you had no earthly idea what Pixelpusher was talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerning

nope, you're not the only one. thanks for the link! and, yeah,

OMG! the kerning is all wrong!!!!

**Just Dave**

Well other than the obvious and utterly horrific problem of the 'kerning' I think the cover looks really nice. A bit of an odd pose by the main guy, but otherwise it looks good.

Finally good Nemesis yesterday, seems quite good so far, a few flaws here and there but nothing as bad as that Kerning...

However, Black Library have changed their symbol?

**Lord of battles**

yes they have

**pixelpusher**

Hey, kerning is serious stuff!

I was actually reading Helsreach earlier today, and they make so many blatant mistakes in the text, which in turn just makes it harder to read.
The A/V issue in the cover was just such a good proof of Black Librarys inability to typograph a book properly. Which is weird since they're actually making... books. And it's such basic stuff. The devil is in the details!!!

(Ok, I admit, I'm not only a 40K nerd. I take my job way too seriously as well.)

I lol'd. Thanks

**Terminus**

BrookM wrote:There was talk by Dan and Graham about doing post-Heresy novels featuring some big names. But it'll be some time until we finally get there though.

Who knows, maybe 20 years from now the books will catch up to the present and they will finally advance the plot!

**fullheadofhair**

and more importantly who in God's name keeps allow Gav Thorpe near a type writer! I have only ever managed to getthrough one of his books - the rest remind me of reading stories written by school kids. Harsh, yes but so painful to read. The annoying thing is I really want to enjoy them because the subject matter is quite good and I hope it will be as good as his Dark Angel one.