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2012/07/17 18:14:03
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
On the blog today, read an extract from one of the most anticipated books in Black Library’s history: Pariah, book one in the Bequin trilogy. This series will see two of Black Library’s most popular characters go head to head, Ravenor versus Eisenhorn.
In case you weren’t already excited about this book, here’s a teaser:
Spoiler:
This, I think, will be my life story, and it will start here. You will not learn much from me, or you will learn everything. I have not yet decided which.
I know one thing, and that is that my life has too many stories within it. It is made out of stories, like a rope is wound from smaller strands, or a mosaic is made of little coloured tiles. I am made of stories. I must leave many of them out, otherwise the one that matters will not make a bit of sense. Some day, if I am alive, I might be persuaded to tell some of the stories I have omitted. But they are lies and fabulations and, anyway, I do not expect to live.
My family’s name was Bequin, and this is the name I have always used when I am being myself. I was given to understand that proof of this heritage could be found in a marshland cemetery, for my family was a marshland family, but I never thought to check this, or visit the gravestone. This, I realise, makes me seem foolishly trusting. I am not. Besides, if I had seized, one day, upon the notion of taking a holloway down to Toilgate and entering the marsh beyond, I am sure that a gravestone would have been waiting for me in the waterlogged plot when I arrived, flecked with the lichen of ages though it had not stood there the previous sunset.
It is said that I am very like my mother. That I was raised an orphan means that I cannot corroborate this either.
My status as an orphan explains my situation. I was a ward of the city from a very young age, brought to the Scholam Orbus on Highgate Hill and raised there, and then transferred on my twelfth birthday to the Maze Undue, whose rambling accommodations adjoined the scholam. This was due to my selection as a promising candidate. Most of the scholam’s wards left the school and went down to the city when they turned twelve and were legally old enough to work. Promising candidates, one or two every few years, were transferred to the Maze Undue. I had, therefore, lived all of the life I could remember there on the hill, in one leaky, drafty building, or the other backing onto it.
My name is Beta Bequin. The forename is an affectionate contraction of my full name, Alizebeth, and not an uncial label.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/19 07:45:16
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
Hi Graham, welcome to Canada! Are you looking forward to the Expo?
Very much so! The few times I've been over to Canada I've had the best time, the warmest welcomes and the most enthusiastic, passionate and loyal fans. Travelling to overseas events is a fantastic reminder that the love of entertaining, thought-provoking books is a universal thing. It's great to know that the readers in Alberta are looking forward to the Expo as much as we are.
How did you get into writing for the Black Library?
I was working in an Architect’s Office in Glasgow doing Health & Safety CDM work, which is the most thankless and dull work that you’d never wish on your worst enemy. I remember thinking; “I cannot do this for the rest of my life, it will destroy me.” That lunchtime I bought a copy of White Dwarf and there was an advert for the job of staff writer. I applied, and was lucky enough to get it.
Mostly I did background fluff for Imperial Guard or Space Marine chapters. I did a few short stories along the way that the Black Library liked enough to buy. The then editor at Black Library, Marc Gascoigne, approached me about writing for a new range of space marine novels, focusing on the core Chapters. The rest, as they say, is history.
If you had carte blanche to write any story whatsoever in the Warhammer and 40k systems, what would you write about?
I think we more or less do have carte blanche, but I think the most interesting stories are the ones we haven't invented yet. But if I had to choose one that's in the background, then I think I'd like to write The Battle for Macragge.
How did it feel to become a New York Times bestselling author?
I was actually heading into Black Library Towers on another matter, and as I pulled up in front of the office I saw loads of people outside and at reception, waved, didn’t think much of it. As master of obliviousness, it didn’t really register that no one was at their desks in the office, beyond thinking it was a little bit odd and wondering "where is everyone?"
Christian Dunn took me to one of the rooms at the back, where everyone was gathered with cake and party poppers. There was a big cheer as they told me that A Thousand Sons had hit the NYT best seller lists. They’d even mocked up a poster of the cover “New York Times Bestselling author” written on it. That was the biggest achievement of my writing career so far!
What armies do you play?
I have Empire, Tau, Necron (old skool), 4th Company Ultramarines and Rohan armies, though the demands of small children mean I don't get to play them nearly as often as I'd like.
Which do you love more, Warhammer or 40k?
As far as the chance to do absolutely anything with the background, I think I prefer to write 40k, but read Warhammer as it appeals more to my dark, gritty, get your hands dirty side.
If you were going to fall to a Chaos god, who would manage to corrupt you?
Probably Slaanesh for a while, but I suspect us mere mortals might get in too deep with the Dark Prince soon and wish we'd chosen something less painful or chafing. Tzeentch would be fun, getting to scheme and manipulate foolish mortals, but even that might tire after a while. Then it'd be fun, now and again, to engage the Khornate side and really vent on traffic wardens and their ilk. Can't say Nurgle's ever appealed...
Do you ever miss the heady world of working in an architect’s office?
Folk sometimes ask if I'd ever go back to architecture/building surveying, and I tell them there's an axe ready for anyone who tries to make me.
Thank you Graham for taking the time to talk to us. If you'd like the opportunity to meet him you can purchase event tickets here
and one with Mr. Thorpe too..
So how did they manage to convince you to come to Canada for the Black Library Expo?
It was very difficult. I was asked, and shown some pictures of where we would be. Very difficult.
How did you get into writing for Back Library?
I worked in the GW design studio when Black Library was started. Sitting just a couple of desks away from the man commissioning for Inferno! magazine meant I was able to get in on the ground floor and I haven't looked back.
How did it feel to see your work in print for the first time?
Fantastic. I still get a thrill when I get a sample of a novel, short story or audio these days. I suppose the big one was when 13th Legion was published, but it's still exciting to see a book with my name on the front when I go into bookshops.
What are you working on now?
Secret stuff for the Horus Heresy right now (though maybe it won't be secret by the time of the Expo...). I have just completed Ravenwing, the first book in a new Dark Angels trilogy, and I'm lining up a dwarfs-related warhammer project too.
Who is your favourite character from your own works? What about from the rest of the Warhammer and 40k universes?
Really hard to choose one. I have a soft spot for that ol' psychopath, Kage, but I had immense fun writing Malekith and Morathi for The Sundering. As for elsewhere, I really like Sanguinius' story in the Horus Heresy, a classical heroic tragedy.
If you had to choose a Primarch to be the best man at your wedding, who would you pick and why?
Lorgar. He's the best orator of them all, you know that would be a speech to remember!
The chaos gods decide to sit down and play poker. Who leaves broke, who wins the pot, and who had six aces hidden up his sleeve the whole time?
Khorne would lose, 'cos you know he can't have a very good poker face. Nurgle would probably win, because he plays the long game better than anybody else. Tzeentch would have the hidden aces, because quite frankly he could conjure them up easily enough but the victory is in the endless game not the winning.
Thank you Gav for taking the time to talk to us. If you'd like the opportunity to meet him you can purchase event tickets here
Read "The Crimson Fist" and "Prince of Crows" from the "Shadows..." collection and enjoyed them both very.. with the former ( narrowly) edging ahead as my favourite of the two. Which is nice.
Just shy of 300 pages into "Fear to Tread" ( it's just over 500 pages long) and am very impressed indeed. Mr. Swallow's best HH book yet IMO.
Some great little touches and ideas....
Spoiler:
.. man you won't believe what the ***** ****** are doing or what the ******** ***** did to all their ******
And does a fine job of capturing the scale and unfolding horror of the trap the BA find themselves in.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/07/19 09:18:57
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/19 09:35:19
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/20 10:00:59
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
Some great moments and a fair few "...ooohhhhh!..." moments too.
..moving onto 2013, as we read'em faster than BL can produce them..
Horus Heresy: Betrayer by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Spoiler:
The Shadow Crusade has begun. While the Ultramarines reel from Kor Phaeron’s surprise attack on Calth, Lorgar leads the rest of the Word Bearers deep into the realm of Ultramar. Their unlikely allies, Angron and the World Eaters, seem blind to the true goals of the mission, preferring instead to ravage each new civilisation they come across – but where Lorgar might once have chastised his wayward brother, now he seems only to encourage the frenzied bloodletting. Worlds will burn, Legions will clash and a primarch will fall... and the fate of the entire galaxy hangs in the balance.
Deathwatch by Steve Parker
Spoiler:
Gathered from the many Chapters of the Space Marines, the Deathwatch are elite, charged with defending the Imperium of Man from aliens. Six Space Marines, strangers from different worlds, make up Talon Squad. On a distant world, a new terror has emerged, a murderous shadow that stalks the dark, and only the Deathwatch can stop it. Under the direction of a mysterious Inquisitor Lord, they must cleanse this planet or die in the attempt.
Space Marines Battles: The Death of Antagonis by David Annandale
Spoiler:
The Black Dragons fall upon the world of Antagonis, summoned to combat the plague of undeath that has engulfed the planet. Allying themselves with Inquisitor Werner Lettinger and a force of Sisters of Battle, the Black Dragons endeavour to save the souls of the Imperial citizens who have succumbed to the contagion. But there is more than a mere infection at play – the dread forces of Chaos lie behind the outbreak, and the Black Dragons stand in the way of the Dark Gods’ victory.
Baneblade by Guy Haley
Spoiler:
By the blessing of the Omnissiah was the Mars Triumphant born – from the forges of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the mighty Baneblade super-heavy battle tank comes to bring death and destruction to the foes of the Imperium. As part of the Paragonian 7th Company, Honoured Lieutenant Marken Cortein Lo Bannick commands the venerable war machine in a bitter war against the orks in the Kalidar system. As the campaign grinds on it begins to take its toll upon his crew, and old clan prejudices from the regiment’s home world arise once more. In a war which cannot be won by force of arms alone, such division may prove to be their undoing.
Path of the Incubus by Andy Chambers
Spoiler:
The eternal city of Commorragh has been cast into turmoil by the Dysjunction, a cataclysmic disturbance in the very fabric of its existence. As the streets are inundated with horrors from beyond the veil the supreme overlord, Asdrubael Vect, battles to keep his enemies in check and maintain his stranglehold over the riven city. Kabal turns upon kabal, archon against archon as the fires of hell are unleashed. Redemption for Commorragh rests in the hands of a disgraced incubus warrior wrongly accused of triggering the Dysjunction itself. His efforts to reclaim his lost honour could save the city or damn it forever – assuming it can survive the daemonic invasion and the archons’ deadly battles for supremacy.
Blood of Asaheim by Chris Wraight
Spoiler:
There is friction amongst the ranks of the Space Wolves Chapter, as the proud Space Marines enter into an uneasy alliance with the devout Sisters of Battle on a war-torn Ecclesiarchy world.
Firecaste by Peter Fehervari
Spoiler:
In the jungles of the Dolorosa Coil, a coalition of alien tau and human deserters have waged war upon the Imperium for countless years. Fresh Imperial Guard forces from the Arkhan Confederates are sent in to break the stalemate and annihilate the xenos. But greater forces are at work, and the Confederates soon find themselves broken and scattered. As they fight a desperate guerrilla war, their only hope may lie in the hands of a disgraced commissar, hell-bent on revenge.
Time of Legends: Blighted Empire by C.L Werner
Spoiler:
The Black Plague spreads across the Empire, followed by a tide of monsters from legend: the skaven. In Altdorf, Emperor Boris’s troops valiantly hold off the ratmen while the corrupt Emperor escapes to safety. In Middenheim, Graf Gunthar and his son Mandred defend their city against a horde of the vile invaders. And in Sylvania, the skaven find more than they had expected in the form of the necromancer Vanhal and his army of the dead... an army that gets larger as the plague worsens.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/23 14:03:56
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
Another ADB Word Bearers novel? Sign me up! (So long as it isn't that preorder/hardback/limited copies nonsense)
Does Prince of Crows have an expected release date? Having just recently finished his NL trilogy I eagerly await any other NL material from Mr. ADB. If the portrayal of the NL in the short story 'Savage Weapons' is anything to go by, Pre-Heresy NL books should be epic.
Summer has arrived at last!
What better way to enjoy the sun than relaxing with a good book?
Every day this week we’ll be bringing you an exclusive read, starting today with a brand new Horus Heresy novella.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/23 14:14:53
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
Explains a bit about his latest NL tale and has a few excerpts from it, well worth a look/read.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/26 09:28:22
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
"But I write slowly, so hold your freaking horses on that score." I do love Aaron's way with words. Either way, I've ordered Shadows of Treachery (and Fear to Tread) and can't wait.
"It is the great irony of the Legiones Astartes: engineered to kill to achieve a victory of peace that they can then be no part of." - Roboute Guilliman
"As I recall, your face was tortured. Imagine that - the Master of the Wolves, his ferocity twisted into grief. And yet you still carried out your duty. You always did what was asked of you. So loyal. So tenacious. Truly you were the attack dog of the Emperor. You took no pleasure in what you did. I knew that then, and I know it now. But all things change, my brother. I'm not the same as I was, and you're... well, let us not mention where you are now." - Magnus the Red, to a statue of Leman Russ
2012/07/26 10:38:34
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
"It is the great irony of the Legiones Astartes: engineered to kill to achieve a victory of peace that they can then be no part of." - Roboute Guilliman
"As I recall, your face was tortured. Imagine that - the Master of the Wolves, his ferocity twisted into grief. And yet you still carried out your duty. You always did what was asked of you. So loyal. So tenacious. Truly you were the attack dog of the Emperor. You took no pleasure in what you did. I knew that then, and I know it now. But all things change, my brother. I'm not the same as I was, and you're... well, let us not mention where you are now." - Magnus the Red, to a statue of Leman Russ
2012/07/26 11:05:30
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
He also says it like it is, he gives his view on things, swearing or no swearing and that's what I really like. As said before, he's my last best hope of remaining interested in 40k reading material for the time being.
Fatum Iustum Stultorum
Fiat justitia ruat caelum
2012/07/26 12:45:27
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
"It is the great irony of the Legiones Astartes: engineered to kill to achieve a victory of peace that they can then be no part of." - Roboute Guilliman
"As I recall, your face was tortured. Imagine that - the Master of the Wolves, his ferocity twisted into grief. And yet you still carried out your duty. You always did what was asked of you. So loyal. So tenacious. Truly you were the attack dog of the Emperor. You took no pleasure in what you did. I knew that then, and I know it now. But all things change, my brother. I'm not the same as I was, and you're... well, let us not mention where you are now." - Magnus the Red, to a statue of Leman Russ
2012/07/26 12:52:10
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
"The Unremembered Empire, which is a direct sequel to Know No Fear and takes the Ultramarines (the survivors) back to Macragge. Then again, Aaron’s (Dembski-Bowden) Betrayer is also a direct sequel to KNF, so KNF is a bit of a branching book. The interweaving is getting more complex and the pace is picking up."
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/26 12:53:34
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
"The Unremembered Empire, which is a direct sequel to Know No Fear and takes the Ultramarines (the survivors) back to Macragge. Then again, Aaron’s (Dembski-Bowden) Betrayer is also a direct sequel to KNF, so KNF is a bit of a branching book. The interweaving is getting more complex and the pace is picking up."
"It is the great irony of the Legiones Astartes: engineered to kill to achieve a victory of peace that they can then be no part of." - Roboute Guilliman
"As I recall, your face was tortured. Imagine that - the Master of the Wolves, his ferocity twisted into grief. And yet you still carried out your duty. You always did what was asked of you. So loyal. So tenacious. Truly you were the attack dog of the Emperor. You took no pleasure in what you did. I knew that then, and I know it now. But all things change, my brother. I'm not the same as I was, and you're... well, let us not mention where you are now." - Magnus the Red, to a statue of Leman Russ
2012/07/26 13:19:43
Subject: Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
AD-B wrote:For anyone who follows my Facebook messages: No, I didn’t put one of Katie’s thongs on my head and pretend to be Bane on the plane. I was, however, immensely tempted.
Fatum Iustum Stultorum
Fiat justitia ruat caelum
2012/07/27 11:50:08
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
He mentions that the other Night Lords story almost made it into 'The Primarchs'. Can't decide whether that would have been a good thing, in that there would actually have been a story that I would have enjoyed in the book, or if it would have made the others look even worse by comparison.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/07/27 11:50:21
That is a good book, Mamzel Cawkwell does not disappoint with a very nicely crafted tale about everyone's favourite half man, half machine all insane murderous genius warlord.
Mr. French also deleivers a very good Alpha Legion tale indeed.
The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king,
2012/07/27 18:12:58
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
reds8n wrote:
That is a good book, Mamzel Cawkwell does not disappoint with a very nicely crafted tale about everyone's favourite half man, half machine all insane murderous genius warlord.
...The Bionic Man, Steve Austin?
2012/07/27 19:00:13
Subject: Re:Black Library News & Rumours Thread III, that awkward third title.
Didn't see any dates for the new announcements so i thought i'd put these up. (from Amazon but they're usually close)
Spoiler:
The Death of Antagonis (Space Marine Battles) [Paperback]
RRP £9.99 (notice it's gone up by a quid)
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: The Black Library (13 Feb 2013)
Spoiler:
Angel Exterminatus (Horus Heresy) [Paperback]
RRP £7.99
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: The Black Library; Original edition (9 April 2013)
Spoiler:
Baneblade [Paperback]
£8.99 (another sneaky rise?)
Publisher: The Black Library (9 April 2013)
Spoiler:
Blood of Asaheim (Space Wolves) [Hardcover]
Hardcover: 320 pages (
Publisher: The Black Library (12 Mar 2013)
Language: English
Spoiler:
The Greater Good (Ciaphas Cain) [Hardcover]
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: The Black Library (9 Jan 2013)
Spoiler:
Path of the Incubus [Paperback
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: The Black Library (13 Feb 2013)
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/07/28 23:36:35
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