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I just finished Fear To Tread. I rate it very much alongside Nemesis. It wasn't terrible, but the dialogue and characterisation just doesn't stand up to the big three Heresy writers, and there are some specific characters and some specific dialogue that rank down there with the worst I've come across in the series. Most of this occurred at the end of the book, and if my kindle had self-destructed two-thirds of the way in I would have been left with a much better impression, but the bad stuff at the end is unfortunately what sticks in my head.

SPOILERS! (in both senses of the word)

@Temujin

I have to agree. I actually couldn't finish it. No matter how much I like the heresy I couldn't pull through the last 50 pages. God did it disconnect toward the end....

yeah, i read The Emperor's gift in two days, and that was pacing myself...
i'm on day eight with Fear to Tread...
not exactly a page turner...

one good thing, we are getting closer to Terra in the timeline...
the traitors are revealed, and now we can get some White Scars action, which is the one big thing i'm waiting for...
should be fun...

too bad this Bland Angels book just cam out last week...
now we have to wait a while for the next step towards Terra...

time for some Priest of Mars, and then Wrath of Iron...

cheers
jah

Don't expect much from Priest of Mars.

It helps to lower expectations when dealing with stuff not written by AD-B or CL Werner.

@Brookm

I think that was part of the problem too. I'd just finished Emperors Gift and surged into Fear to Tread. When something like that happens I generally stop reading 40k books until another Abnett or ADB book comes out. And even Abnett is a maybe.

Oh yes, for me personally AD-B has set the new standard on how 40k should be written. I don't like all his stuff, but still, his is a breath of fresh air compared to the other authors.

Abnett's Know No Fear had a similar "gritty" feel to the ADB books I've read recently.

I still rate Abnett somewhat higher that ADB. They're both great authors.

Walls wrote:
Don't expect much from Priest of Mars.

Actually enjoyed that one quite a bit ... however, it does suffer from the usual end-of-book rush that tends to happen with BL books ...
I have to agree that Andrew does an excellent job - Emperors Gift is, in my opinion, the best BL book out there. I enjoy Dans and Grahams books just as much though.

in my opinion, Abnett can do no wrong...
he hasn't put out a bad book yet...

A D-B has the most visceral, exciting, writing style, and he just keeps polishing his skills...

i like Graham...
he's a great guy, and none of his books have put me off...
his HH stories have been great (i didn't feel that the timeline was as out of whack as others did in The Outcast Dead)...

there is a few steady authors, who's characters or writing style don't really grab me, but who aren't bad at all...
Werner, Wraight, Reynolds...
i know their stuff will be a good read...

then there are the others, who's books are so hit and miss it's like literary Russian Roulette...
is Gav's next book going to shoot me in the head???

i'm looking forward to see how Andy Chambers DE books pan out...
the short story was good...
i'll grad the first book next, but it's the Incubi novel should be really good...
i liked Gav's Path of the Warrior book, though i put down the follow up about the Seer...
i look forward to Andy's take on the Dark Eldar version of an Aspect Shrine...

good times...

cheers
jah


then there are the guys who drop some real stinkers...
best left forgotten...

 jah-joshua wrote:
in my opinion, Abnett can do no wrong...
he hasn't put out a bad book yet...

A D-B has the most visceral, exciting, writing style, and he just keeps polishing his skills...

i like Graham...
he's a great guy, and none of his books have put me off...
his HH stories have been great (i didn't feel that the timeline was as out of whack as others did in The Outcast Dead)...

there is a few steady authors, who's characters or writing style don't really grab me, but who aren't bad at all...
Werner, Wraight, Reynolds...
i know their stuff will be a good read...

then there are the others, who's books are so hit and miss it's like literary Russian Roulette...
is Gav's next book going to shoot me in the head???

i'm looking forward to see how Andy Chambers DE books pan out...
the short story was good...
i'll grad the first book next, but it's the Incubi novel should be really good...
i liked Gav's Path of the Warrior book, though i put down the follow up about the Seer...
i look forward to Andy's take on the Dark Eldar version of an Aspect Shrine...

good times...

cheers
jah


then there are the guys who drop some real stinkers...
best left forgotten...

I tend to agree, except on the Graham McNeill books... can anyone remember how ridiculously awful Fulgrim was?? The memories still make me shudder and my heart sinks every time one of his comes around... everything in Fulgrim was either indescribable, unimaginable, immeasurable, or some other excuse of a word that basically said the author didn't have the literary skill to describe the scene. I thought that was pretty poor, and then the rest of the story telling in general in that book wasn't great. It actually annoyed me to read it and I kept having to put it down in frustration, it was only the knowledge that better books by other authors came after it in the series made me push on with it. Other end of the scale for me is Abnett's Legion, this book made me giggle out loud with glee and drum my heels on the floor in excitement on several occasions, not just at the story but at how brilliantly it was written, an actual pleasure to read, I just wish it had been longer. I've just picked up Tales of Heresy so I'm quite a few books behind, and as such I've yet to read anything by A D-B so I'm looking forward to that as I've only heard rave reviews.

Still need to finish Path of the Seer, I found the main character a bit too annoying. Even more so than the main character of Path of the Warrior even and that guy was a big bitch IMHO.

I am somewhat dreading Pariah when I get my hands on it. Ravenor is hands one of my favourite reads of all time. Its sequels are to me a downward spiral and sadly nowhere near as great a trilogy as with Eisenhorn. Still waiting for Dan to get Interceptor City done damn it. I really enjoyed Double Eagle.

My big guilty pleasure though has got to be those stupid Cain novels. Formulaic as hell, almost all using the same big unveils and surprises and the main character is a massive witch with absolutely zero character progression. And despite all that, they're fun to read.

@brookm

I'll second that on the Cain books. They aren't well written to say the least but for some reason they are oddly entertaining. I always seem to pick them up even though I've got the pacing down pat....

I think the Cain books are very well written and hugely enjoyable. They are what they are, and I wouldn't want them to change.

I thought Fear to Tread doesn't come out until 8/25!

Am I misinformed?

Heybiff

Fear to Tread does seem to still be on the advanced order page...hehehehehe
it has been out as an ebook since the 10th (11 days into this slow book)...
anyone who has the dead tree version got it at a convention, where BL do pre-releases...

i like the Cain novels, as well...
revives a bit of the humor that made GW so cool 20 years ago...

i honestly don't think that there is a single BL novel that i wouldn't read again...
i just enjoy the universe that much...
there are, however, many books i wouldn't recommend to a friend...

@Nuclear Mekanik: i actually enjoyed Fulgrim, and think it was a step forward in Graham's writing...hahahaha
to each his own, and all that...

cheers
jah

jah-joshua wrote:...

You summed that up nicely and I agree with pretty much all of it!

BrookM wrote:Still need to finish Path of the Seer, I found the main character a bit too annoying. Even more so than the main character of Path of the Warrior even and that guy was a big bitch IMHO.

I am somewhat dreading Pariah when I get my hands on it. Ravenor is hands one of my favourite reads of all time. Its sequels are to me a downward spiral and sadly nowhere near as great a trilogy as with Eisenhorn. Still waiting for Dan to get Interceptor City done damn it. I really enjoyed Double Eagle.

My big guilty pleasure though has got to be those stupid Cain novels. Formulaic as hell, almost all using the same big unveils and surprises and the main character is a massive witch with absolutely zero character progression. And despite all that, they're fun to read.

Ha, Im glad Im not the only one that really dislikes all the whining going on in the seer book. Im hoping that the guy in the third book does turn out to be the most normal of the group. One can only hope.

I also agree on the Eisenhorn/Ravenor books. Eisenhorn is still my favorite series ... the Ravenor books are pretty good, but they pale in comparison.

And I just finished the most recent Cain book. Everytime I read one of those I try to look back thinking Ive already read it. It really is the exact same stuff all the time - still entertaining though.

The BL Weekender in November is drawing nearer, which is nice.

Alas not everyone is lucky enough to be so blessed as to live in this green and sceptred isle..

..
http://www.geeknationtours.com/index.php?pageid=31&tourid=29

might be able to help you out.

I "know" a few people who've used them before -- IIRC Major Tom went to Adepticon with them this year -- and they've all had good experiences.

 BrookM wrote:
It helps to lower expectations when dealing with stuff not written by AD-B or CL Werner.

Aha! Another one who rates CL Werner highly.

I find his stuff highly enjoyable, and amusing often too.

Abnett has a style of writing that is unique, and the deeper into individual characters he goes, the more it shines - so small groups such as those involved the Eiserhorn and Ravenor trilogies are good example. He also sets 'scene' very well - for example I can still very well picture the Carnovore from Ravenor book 1 just fine in my head, the atmosphere, and all the rest.

CL Werner has written some excellent series - Brunner, Mathias Thulman, Wulfrik, plus the skaven stuff - I've enjoyed it beginning to end, with the slight exception of temple of the serpent.

GMcN is very good, plus he signed my book of the outcast dead :p He comes at things from a ... organisational and interactive standpoint : he works best when showing how 'X' works with 'Y' or straightlaced bob works with unconventional joe or outcast fred. For example - showing the inter-relationships between the codex and Ventris, between him and his command structure in the 4th, between the iron warriors warbands in dead sky black sun, between those on the inside track in the Emperor's Children in Fulgrim and those on the outer etc. His best work seems to be with CSM though. More HH from him please.

To be honest, I find that ADB writes exceptional books that I want to read, but I also find that all his characters are the same variation of the one guy - the ... marginal outsider. Argal Tal, the one kinda nice word bearer who makes friends when nobody else does, and kinda hates his more conventional brothers. Talos .... ala THE SAME CHARACTER just with a different background. Hyperion ... the slight loner and unconventional thinker in an exceptionally straight up and down chapter. Grimaldus, the one guy who is least inspired and directed as the rest of his brothers. Plus they always have one brother they see as their sidekick or bestie, and one whom they detest or despise.

Now it is a good characterisation to show what the chapter/warband/organisation/whatever is like by comparing them to someone who stands outside of it, and the storylines are gripping, but maybe he should change it up a little?

Chris Wraight is someone whom I am praising widely - he is doing really well and I'm liking his stuff - battle of the fang was (until Legion of the Damned came out) one of the only 2 decent SMB books out there - and the best one at that. Sword of Justice/Vengeance were decent reads too. Wrath of Iron is a better read 2nd time around - you do get a feel for the Iron Hands. If he keeps on going on like this, I'll read more and more. Plus his Warhammer online tie in novel was actually rather fun.

Rob Sanders is someone whom I've been really, really liking for some reason - Atlas Infernal tickled my fancy for its unusual portrayal of an inquisitor - it was damned fine for portraying a radical inquisitor and the lengths you have to go to to survive with eldar and ahriman on your backside. And Legion of the Damned was fantastic - maybe in my top 3 40k books - for all that the 'LOTD' didn't turn up until later and people felt ripped off, I loved the Scourge and his chapter, and I really loved the portrayal of the Cholercaust - some of the best made up bad guys I've seen.

Richard Williams had a great book in Imperial Glory - captured the feel very well indeed of a regiment on its last legs before retirement from the field.

Sandy Mitchell is the odd man in 40k, you like it or you don't. Full stop. James Swallow is a 50/50 guy for me too. Hell, Fear to Tread was a 50/50 book - first half great, second half... rushed?

I'm really, really off Nick Kyme - nothing has properly impressed me from him. Fall of Damnos came closest, and only after the actual necron codex came out and we knew what the hell he was talking about. I'm off Gav Thorpe entirely now outside of.. eldar. Thats it, buddy. Same as Mike Lee. Ben counter is 30/70 now. Sarah Calkwell has been... average, sorry to say. Not impressed by The Gildar Rift. Ill see how Valkia runs.

Anyway, enough review from me.

Aye, I really enjoyed both Brunner the Bounty Hunter and the Witch Hunter series, along with Wulfrik. Now that was a great epic with a great taste of the (then) upcoming Chaos Dwarves by FW.

Liked his Skaven and Witchhunter series. But couldn't read Wulfrik to the end, because he made Chaos Dwarfs stupid crossbow fodder in a 60s trash movie kind of way and Wulfrik the Draigo of Fantasy.

From facebook/the new WD...


AFAIK Chris Wraight was supposed to be doing this, which is nice.

 reds8n wrote:
From facebook/the new WD...


AFAIK Chris Wraight was supposed to be doing this, which is nice.

I could swear I remember Abnett saying he was going to be doing white scars (although this must have been a LONG time ago now).

He said he wanted to do them. I think it was in one of the youtube interviews he puts out from time to time (there was a new one just the other day). I've never heard him say he was definitely doing them though. The guy has like a thousand projects on the go.

That looks to be either an audio or chapbook.
I belive Dan has the HH White Scars novel.
One of his newer blogs he is kind of describing the Work he has done,not exactly but that was the gist.
He mentions Ghosts,Iron Snakes,and then what raised my anntenne he says White Scars.
I think it might already be in the bag,or currently being written.

.. I think that's a(nother) limited edition novella, time will tell I guess.

.. meanwhile...

Midnight Feast


At midnight tonight we have a very special announcement going up on the website. You’ve guessed it, it’s +++ DELETED BY ORDER OF THE INQUISITION +++

Oh well, you’ll just have to wait until later.

Luckily that’s not the only awesome announcement we have for you. There are loads of new titles available to pre-order today, including Shadows of Treachery, a brand-new Horus Heresy anthology containing stories by Gav Thorpe and Graham McNeill and two novella-length tales from Aaron Dembski-Bowden and John French.

Continuing our treacherous theme for October’s releases, we have Treacheries of the Space Marines, a short story anthology featuring established authors and brand new talent which is the perfect way to discover the stars of the future.

For those of you who prefer to listen to your treachery, we have Perfection and Chosen of Khorne, two Chaos Space Marine audio dramas. Perfection, by Nick Kyme, is a murder mystery set in the midst of battle as two Chaos warbands clash with each other as well as the Imperial Guard. Chosen of Khorne by Anthony Reynolds sees Khârn the Betrayer knee-deep in gore in the fighting pits of the World Eaters. What more could any follower of the Blood God ask?

Don’t worry if you are more of a Warhammer fan, we’ve got some great pre-orders for you too. First off, we have Swords of The Emperor, Chris Wraight’s Schwarzhelm and Helborg duology, now available in an omnibus edition with the new short stories ‘Feast of Horrors’ and ‘Duty and Honour’. We also have the second of our enormous Time of Legends omnibuses, Gav Thorpe’s The Sundering.

Well, that should give you something to tide you over until midnight! You can also sign up to our newsletter to make sure you never miss out on a Black Library announcement again.

GIven the date and other GW releases I reckon this will be some form of tie in book for the 40k boxset.

... once again, time will tell one supposes.

..

With regards to the above...

Mr. Dunn has done a little FAQ with regards to these releases, spoilered as they do contain one or two little t'ings one might not know otherwise...

But the realities of pitched warfare rarely made it into the sagas. In all the stories he'd heard, especially those woeful diatribes from the remembrancers, battle was reduced to a handful of heroes going blade-to-blade in the sunlight, while their nameless lessers looked on in stupefied awe.

It took a great deal to make Kharn cringe, but war poetry never failed.

We mentioned yesterday that the current edition of The Ascension of Balthasar audio drama comes with a collectable sleeve that matches the cover of the new Dark Vengeance boxed game. Underneath that cover is a simply stunning Space Marine Battles cover by Jon Sullivan. Check it out:


Jon’s style really works for these covers, lending an air of anarchy and insanity to the battle scenes while still capturing an incredible amount of detail.

Take the Helbrute below. You’ll instantly recognise him as Mortis Metallikus from the boxed set, yet the drop pods and las-blasts really make it feel like he’s in the middle of a battle.


The second disc in this set contains exclusive digital content, including desktop wallpapers of this fantastic artwork. To adorn your computer screen (or smart phone or tablet) with this vision of vengeance, pre-order your copy of The Ascension of Balthasar today.
In other news, the office is feeling a bit empty today as half of the team have left to attend PAX in Seattle. Andy Smillie, author of Deathwolf and Reparation, will be there, signing copies of The Best of Hammer and Bolter: Volume One and Gotrek and Felix: The Anthology. If you are going along, make sure you check out the Black Library stand for all of our event exclusives and pre-release titles.

Wicked version of the Hellbrute there, Mr. Sullivan's art is gets more gorgeous with each release.