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

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**reds8n**

narked wrote:
Yup. How dare they release a cool, rather nice looking hardback several months early for those that want it...

I don't think they look that nice, YMMV of course.

They can, of course, do as they please. But judging from the reactions around the place I fear they might not be quite the successes they're hoping for.

I consider myself a pretty hardcore BL fanboy -- I've bought nearly all of the limited edition books, go to the events etc etc -- and I know a lot of other "addicts" and very few of them seem that bothered by this. I don't see why -- sales boost aside of course -- why they don't release the regular edition at the same time as the shiny collectors edition.

I hope it works out regardless though.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/angel-exterminatus.html

We know we promised you an interview with Andy Smillie today, but we just couldn’t wait to show you this:

The office has been positively buzzing since Angel Exterminatus arrived. Andy turned straight to the internal artwork. Mike pulled off the dust jacket to see the glorious printed-hardback cover. Christian, on the other hand, crawled into a corner and muttered something about his precious.

The rest of the editors were in such a good mood that we managed to prise this extra extract from them to share with you.

The crowd bayed at the sight of the leering smear of unlight and tortured spacetime in the heavens and Perturabo despised them for their easily bought wonder. They had no idea the danger it represented, the dreadful insidious canker that wormed its way into the heart. Like a wasting sickness of the soul, its appearance abraded all joy and all life from those who saw it, and Perturabo had seen it for a very long time indeed.

‘The great star maelstrom!’ cried Fulgrim, like a fiery preacher of a bygone age. ‘A wound ripped in the galaxy to imprison a godlike being by a race who would not accept that their time was at an end. This is where the greatest glory and the greatest shame of the eldar lies bound by chains that Asuryan decreed never be undone until the end of the universe itself. And so it has been from that day to this…’

Fulgrim paused, savouring the deliciousness of what he was about to say and letting the moment of anticipation build until Perturabo feared the audience might riot if he kept silent much longer.

‘But Asuryan is forgotten, his people broken by their own weaknesses, and we pay no heed to the decrees of a failed god. The way is open for those with the boldness to act.’
Fulgrim sheathed his sword, his eyes fevered, his skin sheened in perspiration.

His chest heaved with the effort of storytelling, as though he had played host to the spirit of Thalia herself. Perturabo saw through the fiction of his exhaustion, knowing his brother was playing to the crowd’s expectation and the grandeur of the amphitheatre.

‘While the Angel Exterminatus sleeps, we will storm Asuryan’s gaol and take for ourselves the weapons forged in ancient times!’ roared Fulgrim.

Perturabo saw the tiny puff of blood appear on Fulgrim’s skull a second before he heard the crack of the shot. Fulgrim’s black eyes rolled back into his skull.

‘No!’ cried Perturabo as his brother dropped to the flagstones of the arena, his ashen face masked with blood.

**BrookM**

Agreed, I'm also quite a fan and I will buy the Macharius trilogy and the Bequin trilogy in expensive edition first because I must. But doing this to the Horus Heresy now? Fan reaction has been less than favourable.

Well, at least it is a three-month delay with regards to the HH books, not a full twelve month delay as with the regular hardback to softback releases, see Dan, Graham, AD-B and Bill King as good examples of this practice.

**Temujin**

What about ebooks? Regular hardback books have gotten early ebook releases before, but of course the limited edition books were only ever available on dead trees. No amount of white knighting could justify holding back ebook releases for 3 months for all future Heresy titles, just like no amount of fancy paper or pretty reused pictures could justify paying more for the downgrade to dead tree format.

Edit: It appears ebooks will indeed be held back for 3 months - only the GBP20 dead tree version is listed. Like I'm gonna pay more than triple the usual price, plus deal with the hassle of delivery and all for an inferior product while they sit on the digital version and pretend they're spoiling us. They've lost me as a customer.

**BrookM**

IIRC the ebooks released alongside hardbacks are more expensive than regular ebook releases that BL does. Unless they changed this practice.

**Jomy**

Alpharius wrote:
Bad books that don't add anything to the story will now be skipped.

So you've stopped doing the certifiably insane stuff like eating glass, the unquestionably moronic stuff like peeing in your slippers, and are now cutting out the pretty Fing stupid stuff like spending time and money buying and reading horrible books? That's progress!

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh but you've been propping up this business model and that's bad for the rest of us.

These stupidly priced, super limited, omg so cool! "special" books are a joke, specifically targeted at the mentally unsound.

They'll sell really well. Have another yacht on us while you're slowly killing this IP Mr. Kirby.

/edit - most BL books aren't good :( Looking forward to Abnett's next one though, that last Ultramarines one didn't float my boat but hopefully the next Eisenhorn will stand up to the quality of the original trilogy.

**Alpharius**

Jomy wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
Bad books that don't add anything to the story will now be skipped.

So you've stopped doing the certifiably insane stuff like eating glass, the unquestionably moronic stuff like peeing in your slippers, and are now cutting out the pretty Fing stupid stuff like spending time and money buying and reading horrible books? That's progress!

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh but you've been propping up this business model and that's bad for the rest of us.

These stupidly priced, super limited, omg so cool! "special" books are a joke, specifically targeted at the mentally unsound.

They'll sell really well. Have another yacht on us while you're slowly killing this IP Mr. Kirby.

/edit - most BL books aren't good :( Looking forward to Abnett's next one though, that last Ultramarines one didn't float my boat but hopefully the next Eisenhorn will stand up to the quality of the original trilogy.

You might want to settle down a bit, and perhaps check out Rule 1.

If you've been paying attention (and I'm guessing you haven't), you'll note that I haven't bought a single BL 'special edition limited' book.

I was referencing skipping bad 'mainstream' HH paperbacks - like BATTLE FOR THE ABYSS.

Thanks!

**Jomy**

I'm settled. I'll admit my post wasn't written in the officially sanctioned style, I'll run my response by the thought police.

They said it's ok.

As far as paying attention goes, I read that you'll now be skipping the bad books. I think this is a good idea. I'm presuming your previous approach of buying and reading awful books wasn't satisfying? You've made the right choice.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
To be less flippant and hopefully steer our dialogue in a more positive direction, why you been reading the bad ones dude? Even if they come free, you don't consider this a waste of valuable time?

**Alpharius**

This is the HH man - a new paperback gets released, I buy it, and then I determine that it isn't that good - see: BATTLE FOR THE ABYSS.

Now, HH books will be in hardcover first with a 3 month delay for paperback - reviews will come out, bad books will be avoided.

Pretty simple.

But really, bloody hell - just what are you looking for here? I mean, other than attempts to come across as clever and pithy?

Take it to PMs, if you really must.

**BrookM**

Ah yes, we're supposed to know that a book is bad by its cover and the blurb on the back!

Back on topic, I can't help but notice that BL changed a thing or two about the Emperor's Might. IIRC the briefing for the book was that it would be about Astartes, Sororitas and the Imperial Guard, instead of a book dedicated to just the Emperor's faves.

**Jomy**

Alpharius wrote:
This is the HH man - a new paperback gets released, I buy it, and then I determine that it isn't that good - see: BATTLE FOR THE ABYSS.

Now, HH books will be in hardcover first with a 3 month delay for paperback - reviews will come out, bad books will be avoided.

Pretty simple.

But really, bloody hell - just what are you looking for here? I mean, other than attempts to come across as clever and pithy?

Take it to PMs, if you really must.

Oh come on, I try to keep my posts these days to a minimum, just the odd clever, pithy barb (anything else is an unjustifiable waste of time and effort right?) and now I find myself dragged into a discussion spanning multiple posts like it matters.

I'm not looking for anything, but the process that's lead up to this point looks something like this -

Regrettably, I clicked on this thread, skimmed a few posts, became mildly irritated by the state of affairs and BL and in society in general, read your post that seemed to indicate that you buy any old spase marine balls that BL pumps out into the world, thought to myself "This is why! This is how we get such bad product from BL and GW these days! People like Alpharius, just buying any old balls with a pic of a spase marine slapped on somewhere!", decided to let my frustration out in a manner that I thought, at the time, to be deliciously witty and subversive, and somehow we end up here. No need to chastise me further, I'm regretting it now.

**BrookM**

Maybe you should just leave before being reported again, eh old bean in the tin?

**Alpharius**

Jomy wrote:

Oh come on, I try to keep my posts these days to a minimum...

Sounds like a plan!

I mean, there's already enough misrepresentation and 'clever' editing on the Internet, right?

**Jomy**

Alpharius wrote:
Jomy wrote:

Oh come on, I try to keep my posts these days to a minimum...

Sounds like a plan!

I mean, there's already enough misrepresentation and 'clever' editing on the Internet, right?

What are you trying to say?

/ Are you suggesting that I've misrepresented you and your opinions through clever editing?

**kronk**

Take this crap to PMs for crying out loud!

I've had enough Jomy needs attention in the BL thread.

**Alpharius**

Agreed!

I'd suggest he maybe take up listening to Jazz, but then we all know that's for losers!

**Jomy**

You know I don't really believe that.

**Pilau Rice**

Looking at that artwork I think i'll be waiting for the 3 months now. Pretty pictures normally win me over but meh ...

I'm not sure about Shadows either, I think there are 2 stories in this that I haven't read fully, I say fully as I've already read parts of them from spoilers. Curse my inquisitive nature ...

**BrookM**

Shadows is mostly made up of audio drama transcripts sadly, two of which, the Dark King and Lightning Tower, I already possess in that limited edition chapbook BL did five years ago. I'm only getting it because of AD-B's contribution!

**hotsauceman1**

Probably the only pre-heresy book involving Khan, and it is only released when I am poor.
BOOOOO

**KamikazeCanuck**

BrookM wrote:
Shadows is mostly made up of audio drama transcripts sadly, two of which, the Dark King and Lightning Tower, I already possess in that limited edition chapbook BL did five years ago. I'm only getting it because of AD-B's contribution!

Really? I've been hoping for something like that but I too have listened to most of them. Some of my friends simply refuse to listen to the audiobooks so that will be good for them especially if they have the Garro stuff.

**BrookM**

KamikazeCanuck wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Shadows is mostly made up of audio drama transcripts sadly, two of which, the Dark King and Lightning Tower, I already possess in that limited edition chapbook BL did five years ago. I'm only getting it because of AD-B's contribution!

Really? I've been hoping for something like that but I too have listened to most of them. Some of my friends simply refuse to listen to the audiobooks so that will be good for them especially if they have the Garro stuff.

From what I remember it has the texts of Lightning Tower, the Dark King and Raven's Flight along with two novella length stories to make up for this.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Probably the only pre-heresy book involving Khan, and it is only released when I am poor.
BOOOOO

If it's of any comfort, these novellas don't really withhold anything shocking of import from the bigger picture.

**KamikazeCanuck**

BrookM wrote:
KamikazeCanuck wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Shadows is mostly made up of audio drama transcripts sadly, two of which, the Dark King and Lightning Tower, I already possess in that limited edition chapbook BL did five years ago. I'm only getting it because of AD-B's contribution!

Really? I've been hoping for something like that but I too have listened to most of them. Some of my friends simply refuse to listen to the audiobooks so that will be good for them especially if they have the Garro stuff.
From what I remember it has the texts of Lightning Tower, the Dark King and Raven's Flight along with two novella length stories to make up for this.

Dang. Well it's a good start. They'll probably do the entire Garro series as it's own book some day.

**BrookM**

KamikazeCanuck wrote:
BrookM wrote:
KamikazeCanuck wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Shadows is mostly made up of audio drama transcripts sadly, two of which, the Dark King and Lightning Tower, I already possess in that limited edition chapbook BL did five years ago. I'm only getting it because of AD-B's contribution!

Really? I've been hoping for something like that but I too have listened to most of them. Some of my friends simply refuse to listen to the audiobooks so that will be good for them especially if they have the Garro stuff.
From what I remember it has the texts of Lightning Tower, the Dark King and Raven's Flight along with two novella length stories to make up for this.

Dang. Well it's a good start. They'll probably do the entire Garro series as it's own book some day.

That you can count on and to be fair, is something I'd love to see.

**Just Dave**

Yeah, I'm not getting the hardbacks either.
The thing I dislike most about them is how hard spoilers will be to avoid.

**KamikazeCanuck**

Just Dave wrote:
Yeah, I'm not getting the hardbacks either.
The thing I dislike most about them is how hard spoilers will be to avoid.

True. Good point.

**hotsauceman1**

BrookM wrote:
KamikazeCanuck wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Shadows is mostly made up of audio drama transcripts sadly, two of which, the Dark King and Lightning Tower, I already possess in that limited edition chapbook BL did five years ago. I'm only getting it because of AD-B's contribution!

Really? I've been hoping for something like that but I too have listened to most of them. Some of my friends simply refuse to listen to the audiobooks so that will be good for them especially if they have the Garro stuff.
From what I remember it has the texts of Lightning Tower, the Dark King and Raven's Flight along with two novella length stories to make up for this.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Probably the only pre-heresy book involving Khan, and it is only released when I am poor.
BOOOOO
If it's of any comfort, these novellas don't really withhold anything shocking of import from the bigger picture.

Yeah, I just wish they would make a Digital copy for me to get oon my nook, I dont need any fancy book, Just Khan kicking butt.

**d-usa**

KamikazeCanuck wrote:
Just Dave wrote:
Yeah, I'm not getting the hardbacks either.
The thing I dislike most about them is how hard spoilers will be to avoid.

True. Good point.

I declare spoilers to be a ban-worthy offense.

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

d-usa wrote:
I declare spoilers to be a ban-worthy offense.

Horus loses the Heresy.

*zing!*

**KamikazeCanuck**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
d-usa wrote:
I declare spoilers to be a ban-worthy offense.

Horus loses the Heresy.

*zing!*

Damn you HBMC! *throws out stack of HH books*

**Bloodwin**

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Horus loses the Heresy.

Well at least you didn't tell them Sanguinius dies.