Black Library News & Rumours Thread II, aka Rise of the Bibliophile

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**Kanluwen**

The times where I've seen a timeline mentioned paints it as "two years".

They might be going a bit vague though so they don't mislead someone,even accidentally, if they do not have an "acceptable" anthology to publish it within.

**warboss**

Thanks. Good to know that I will at some point read those novellas/novels. I'm strictly a bookstore Black Library fan.

**Alpharius**

warboss wrote:Thanks. Good to know that I will at some point read those novellas/novels. I'm strictly a bookstore Black Library fan.

Same here!

And really, at prices approaching $75 for a novella, I can certainly afford to wait until it is far more attractively priced.

**reds8n**

THE GREAT BETRAY-ART

Black Library cover artist Jon Sullivan works at a frankly alarming rate. As well as the many covers he produces for the Space Marine Battles series, he also creates the majority of the stunning artwork for the Time of Legends novels like this brand new art for the first book in the War of Vengeance series, The Great Betrayal.

Dwarf versus elf in a duel to the death, with dragons flocking the skies… I do believe that Jon has redefined “epic” with this piece. My favourite details are on the dwarf’s helmet and beard. Let us know on Facebook what you like most about this art.

The Great Betrayal will be out in August 2012. If you want to read up on the events that come before the War of Vengeance, check out The Sundering series by Gav Thorpe, where the seeds are laid for the conflict between the dwarfs and the elves. And speaking of Gav, tomorrow’s blog will have an exclusive extract from Catechism of Hate, his new Warhammer 40,000 novella. See you then.

One last thing, some good news for our UK customers:
We’ve managed to wrangle a few extra days of free Christmas shipping. It was just a matter of sending Rogal Dorn down there motivate the post office staff, that guy’s a real taskmaster.
You now have until the 16th of December to take advantage of our free shipping offer and still get your books in time for Christmas.

Hell yes !

**Grarg**

I've just finished Outcast Dead, it was good. I won't go into much of a review as it's already been done, but......

Has anyone else found that the Legio Custodes are well, underwhelming in the HH novels? For the Emperor's bodyguards they seem rather.... lackluster.

Meh, maybe it's just me and I should drop my expectations i had before this series began...

Either way, 7/10 for the Outcast Dead for me.

**Alpharius**

I agree with you on the Custodes point, but then there's a lot of inconsistencies throughout the HH series, and really in everything BL.

Best to just trust in BL Editorial (or not!) and enjoy the ride!

**KamikazeCanuck**

I thought the Custodes were cool in Blood Games.

**Grarg**

Yah i know, in one book on Custodes ganks 4 marines in a blink of an eye, only to get ganked by the one he missed and in another, Custodes can deflect bullets but gets thoroughly beaten by a single unarmored and unarmed marine.

And who knows how many died in the attack on Prospero.......

I try to ignore it as much as i can, but it still gets to me at times

lol @ trusting the BL editorial staff, that's funny

**Kanluwen**

Alpharius wrote:I agree with you on the Custodes point, but then there's a lot of inconsistencies throughout the HH series, and really in everything BL.

Best to just trust in BL Editorial (or not!) and enjoy the ride!

There's really not much "inconsistency" when you're talking about the Custodes. Every time they've been brought down, it's by people working together and who are familiar with the Custodes. It's been noted, multiple times in the Horus Heresy novels no less, that the Custodes are not "soldiers". They are "warriors".

**BrookM**

Listening to Thorn and Talon right now, most enjoyable and of great quality, well worth a listen and oh yes, the actor voicing Eisenhorn is a perfect match for the job.

**Alpharius**

Kanluwen wrote:
Alpharius wrote:I agree with you on the Custodes point, but then there's a lot of inconsistencies throughout the HH series, and really in everything BL.

Best to just trust in BL Editorial (or not!) and enjoy the ride!

There's really not much "inconsistency" when you're talking about the Custodes. Every time they've been brought down, it's by people working together and who are familiar with the Custodes. It's been noted, multiple times in the Horus Heresy novels no less, that the Custodes are not "soldiers". They are "warriors".

...

BrookM wrote:Listening to Thorn and Talon right now, most enjoyable and of great quality, well worth a listen and oh yes, the actor voicing Eisenhorn is a perfect match for the job.

I might have to pick this up then, on your recommendation!

**skrulnik**

Alpharius wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Alpharius wrote:I agree with you on the Custodes point, but then there's a lot of inconsistencies throughout the HH series, and really in everything BL.

Best to just trust in BL Editorial (or not!) and enjoy the ride!

There's really not much "inconsistency" when you're talking about the Custodes. Every time they've been brought down, it's by people working together and who are familiar with the Custodes. It's been noted, multiple times in the Horus Heresy novels no less, that the Custodes are not "soldiers". They are "warriors".

...

BrookM wrote:Listening to Thorn and Talon right now, most enjoyable and of great quality, well worth a listen and oh yes, the actor voicing Eisenhorn is a perfect match for the job.

I might have to pick this up then, on your recommendation!

I think Kan is pointing to First Heretic, where they point out each Custodes fights at a high level, but as a single warrior, not a part of a unit, and that being their weakness.

**BrookM**

Just finished listening to the last story, the classic "Thorn Wishes Talon" and it really ups the ante for future audio dramas by BL. Having a voice cast made up of more than two actors works wonders. Buy it, buy it today!

**automatonsleuth**

BrookM wrote:Just finished listening to the last story, the classic "Thorn Wishes Talon" and it really ups the ante for future audio dramas by BL. Having a voice cast made up of more than two actors works wonders. Buy it, buy it today!

Words cannot describe how much I want to (First came across the Eisenhorn books in my local library at the tender age of nine, and have loved him ever since), but I fear that it shall have to be a post-Christmas purchase for me...

It may interest people (or not at all, but hey, whatever) to know that today's Black Library blog post (http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/Hate-the-Alien.html) contains an extract from the novella 'Catechisms of Hate', in which Ortan Cassius violently molests an innocent, terrified Lictor. Takes all sorts, I suppose.

**Kanluwen**

skrulnik wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Alpharius wrote:I agree with you on the Custodes point, but then there's a lot of inconsistencies throughout the HH series, and really in everything BL.

Best to just trust in BL Editorial (or not!) and enjoy the ride!

There's really not much "inconsistency" when you're talking about the Custodes. Every time they've been brought down, it's by people working together and who are familiar with the Custodes. It's been noted, multiple times in the Horus Heresy novels no less, that the Custodes are not "soldiers". They are "warriors".

...

BrookM wrote:Listening to Thorn and Talon right now, most enjoyable and of great quality, well worth a listen and oh yes, the actor voicing Eisenhorn is a perfect match for the job.

I might have to pick this up then, on your recommendation!

I think Kan is pointing to First Heretic, where they point out each Custodes fights at a high level, but as a single warrior, not a part of a unit, and that being their weakness.

Very much so.

Being an unstoppable demigod of war doesn't save you when you're facing a well-trained and disciplined foe who knows how you fight.

**TBD**

Yay, Deliverance Lost hit the store(s) early

**reds8n**

.. well... i might well be tempted..

What are you doing on the 3rd of November next year?

What are you doing on the 3rd of November next year?
The correct answer is attending the biggest Black Library’s event ever!

The Black Library Weekender will be the first of its kind, a two day extravaganza of an event. If you’re a Black Library fan (and good odds you are, since you’re reading this blog) you’ll want to be there. Join us for a full weekend of Black Library activities: over 20 hours of seminars and signings with more authors than any previous event, and from across the world. The Weekender will last from Saturday the 3rd to Sunday the 4th of November 2012.

The Venue will be the lavish Nottingham Belfry Hotel. This huge complex will play host to 700 Black Library fans for the full weekend, you’ll even be able to book a room at this four-star hotel at a preferential rate that would put budget B&Bs to shame.

There will be a huge range of Black Library products on sale, including:

• Limited edition novellas, exclusive to the Weekender
• Pre-release novels and audiobooks
• Two exclusive chapbooks
• Copies of the 2012 event exclusive signed art prints
• The full Direct Exclusive range

We’ll let you know more details as the event approaches. For now, just keep the weekend of the 3rd of November free and sign up to our newsletter to be the first find out when tickets go on sale.

In other news: you can now download all of January’s new releases as ebooks today,including Deliverance Lost, Age of Legend and the latest edition of Hammer and Bolter, our online monthly fiction magazine.

Hammer and Bolter Issue 15 features the third instalment in the serialised novel Gilead’s Curse by Nik Vincent and Dan Abnett, and the first in a two-part Flesh Tearers story by Andy Smillie. There’s also the short story Torment (also on sale separately today) and a Silver Skulls story by Sarah Cawkwell.

For you audio fans out there, Galaxy in Flames is now available as a six-hour abridged MP3, perfect for long drives or to listen to while you paint some Citadel miniatures.

Join us next week on the Blog to read an extract from a new Dan Abnett novel, see some awesome new artwork of a two-headed dragon and find out more about the upcoming Ultramarines novella Catechism of Hate.

Have good weekend.

**BrookM**

Dunno if anyone else is doing this, but here's the image so far:

**Begel Dverl**

Lets take a look...

I see a Mk 3 Guy behind, what looks to be, a turret emplacement.

The guys getting their arses kicked have caution stripes on their arms and shoulders. Iron Warriors?

Othere yellow guy (Imperial Fists?) looks like that Boarding Marine fello that FW issued no to long ago.

**BrookM**

All Imperial Fists carry boarding equipment and yes, they are fighting Iron Warriors. The big surprise would be who the warrior is lashing out with his chain sword, as the square with his face is saved until last.

**Just Dave**

I always thought it was Iron Warriors VS. Imperial Fists; which I think is really interesting considering their history, the amount of destruction occuring to the fleet(s) in the background and I don't recall any heresy-era stories of the IW VS. IF...
Cheers Brook!

**BrookM**

And here's an updated version with today's piece added in:

**Alpharius**

Just Dave wrote:I always thought it was Iron Warriors VS. Imperial Fists; which I think is really interesting considering their history, the amount of destruction occuring to the fleet(s) in the background and I don't recall any heresy-era stories of the IW VS. IF...
Cheers Brook!

Could be Post-Heresy "Scourging" or it could be something new that they made up and added in to explain it.

You know, like the Imperial Webway.

**BrookM**

Could be the opening phase of the invasion of Terra or the post-Heresy battle of the Iron Cage, an orbital prelude maybe.

**KamikazeCanuck**

I'd be pretty surprised if it was either of those. Seems like we're not that far along yet. Probably some previously unknown battle between them that'll make the Battle for the Palace extra grudge matchey.

**BrookM**

Between those two legions it has always been personal.

**KamikazeCanuck**

Weren't Dorn and Perturabo BFFs at one time?

**BrookM**

As far as I am aware, nope. Perturabo was the cold and distant one to every one of his brothers.

**KamikazeCanuck**

Makes sense considering the way things went. Most of the Rebels counted Horus as their closest brother.

**Lord of battles**

Im pretty certain the advent calender has to do with the seige of terra......
also OMG Imperial Fists with boss riot shields!