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

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**BrookM**

I liked it, even though it gave me nightmares something fierce.

**Harriticus**

So the "big announcement" was just more audio drama milking. Called it. I would love an actual Horus Heresy novel (not limited edition novella nonsense) that progresses the series.

**BrookM**

Well, to be fair, there have been plenty asking, nay, demanding transcripts of the audio dramas for quite some time now.

**Salacious Greed**

Manchu wrote:
So is Priests of Mars any good?

Ugh, unfortunately, No. And it was a hardcover too.

Too many story lines, not enough attention to any one facet.....wish there was a service where you could pay to have the book inserted in the authors rectum...

**Harriticus**

I just worry for the future of BL. It's what hooked me to 40k and the thing I'm most into (not the tabletop).

For the last 5-6 years its been a great medium for the expansion of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and has seen dramatic increases in quality and variety of books out there (Despite suffering from problems still). It was also cheap and easy way to be into 40k, unlike the tabletop.

However the last year has seen countless shenanigans we usually see from GW in the model market. Overly expensive and frivolous low-quality products marked as "limited edition" and justified as "premium".

It just seems like someone at GW looked over at BL, saw that they were behaving too cool, and decided to give them the screws that we see in their gaming field. Just as the 40k Hobby has gotten much worse over the last few years due to GW's policies, I fear BL might go the same way.

**Alpharius**

KamikazeCanuck wrote:
Mechanicum has been a very divisive book on the Dakka since it came out. You either love it or hate it it seems.

Too true!

**reds8n**

From the BL facebook page, via a nice chap on 'seer.

January will see the release of the 'trade' paperback (a larger format) and then the 'mass-market' paperback will be out 6 months later.

The book in question being the recent Angel Exterminatus.

..

assuming this is true, and other people say they also saw this it is somewhat..... vexing...... to say the least.

Still penny saved is a penny spent elsewhere I guess eh ?

.. anyway..

I've got the script book on order -- happy Xmas to me, from me, as I love me. Generally.

Anyone read any of the advent stories ?

**Just Dave**

Wait... So there's going to be 3 different releases of books now, and I have to wait 9 months after the 1st release/hardback to get the usual format?

If that's what you're saying, then damn.

**BrookM**

They're milking it for what it is worth, took them long enough I guess.

**reds8n**

Just Dave wrote:
Wait... So there's going to be 3 different releases of books now, and I have to wait 9 months after the 1st release/hardback to get the usual format?

If that's what you're saying, then damn.

Seemingly.

I'll stress I'm not 100% sure of this, but does seem likely.

Not sure if I can be bothered to wait 9 months for a release, part of the fun for me is getting the books as they come out and the discussion and ideas they generate.

.. On the plus side figure there'll be 2nd hand copies available long before then, might be cheaper in the long run.

EDIT :

Nice interview with Mr. McNeill : http://strangealliances.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/the-intriguing-world-of-graham-mcneill/

**narked**

They always said that was going to be the release format. Initial exclusive hardback release, 3 months later the "trade" format paperback (same physical size as the hardback iirc) and then 6 months further on the standard paperback.

**reds8n**

http://aarondembskibowden.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/hydras-and-wolves/

worth a read,a s ever.

People ask me, at least a dozen times a week, what armies I play. It’s one of the Top Ten questions I get, along with “When will you do more about Sevatar?” and “When is Betrayer released?”

I’ll answer those two now, so I have something to link to.

1. I don’t know. Soon by my standards, but not soon by publishing (or the public’s) standards. The second half of 2013 will likely be dedicated to writing my next Horus Heresy novel, but because of timelines and schedules, it’s looking to be more likely it won’t be a Night Lords novel. The Night Lords have had a lot written about them now, and there’s a risk of sustained violence to dead horses being done. They’ve been in several short stories and novellas, and have had more said about their primarch’s backstory in the series than anyone else, in Shadows of Treachery. So they’re not in any urgent need of attention. Since the gang have a habit of saying what their next book(s) are gonna be even a bajillion years ahead of schedule, I’ll throw you a bone in the same way. My next Horus Heresy novel is likely to be called The Master of Mankind. No points for guessing what that’ll be about. Even the title gives me goosebumps.

Don’t ask me if the Emperor is going to be a point-of-view character. I’m not an idiot.

oohh !

**BrookM**

Interesting!

**Just Dave**

Crud. If that's true about the paperback release thing, then that'd suck.

I've already 'quit' GW/the tabletop hobby due to their business practices and prices, and I'd hate to have to do the same with BL. They and Dakka are now my only links to 40k...

It's not necessarily unreasonable business-wise for BL, but it may not favour me as a customer. I'll have to see how it goes...

reds8n wrote:http://aarondembskibowden.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/hydras-and-wolves/

worth a read,a s ever.

People ask me, at least a dozen times a week, what armies I play. It’s one of the Top Ten questions I get, along with “When will you do more about Sevatar?” and “When is Betrayer released?”

I’ll answer those two now, so I have something to link to.

1. I don’t know. Soon by my standards, but not soon by publishing (or the public’s) standards. The second half of 2013 will likely be dedicated to writing my next Horus Heresy novel, but because of timelines and schedules, it’s looking to be more likely it won’t be a Night Lords novel. The Night Lords have had a lot written about them now, and there’s a risk of sustained violence to dead horses being done. They’ve been in several short stories and novellas, and have had more said about their primarch’s backstory in the series than anyone else, in Shadows of Treachery. So they’re not in any urgent need of attention. Since the gang have a habit of saying what their next book(s) are gonna be even a bajillion years ahead of schedule, I’ll throw you a bone in the same way. My next Horus Heresy novel is likely to be called The Master of Mankind. No points for guessing what that’ll be about. Even the title gives me goosebumps.

Don’t ask me if the Emperor is going to be a point-of-view character. I’m not an idiot.

oohh !

Ooohh!

**tinfoil**

Harriticus wrote:
I just worry for the future of BL. ...

For the last 5-6 years its been a great medium for the expansion of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and has seen dramatic increases in quality and variety of books out there (Despite suffering from problems still). It was also cheap and easy way to be into 40k, unlike the tabletop.

However the last year has seen countless shenanigans we usually see from GW in the model market. Overly expensive and frivolous low-quality products marked as "limited edition" and justified as "premium".

Quoted for truth. I'm not one to complain about each and every business decision GW or BL make. I love playing the game, and particularly love the narrative setting. And frankly I predict I will continue to be a fan and a customer for some time to come.

But trying to follow things in "the grim distance of the far future" via BL is becoming very frustrating. I have neither the disposable income nor the interest to acquire "limited edition" offerings that turn out to be things like novellas with fancy covers. Black Library is losing focus. And while it's not losing me as a customer yet, it is losing a perceptible degree of my interest as a fan.

I'll still buy any mass market paperback version of a novel that looks worthwhile (which in my case ends up being about half of them). And I suppose now I'll wait for them to come out in mass market paperback format, and still buy them when they do. I'm not pretending I'm so disillusioned that I'll stop being a customer. But there seem to be fewer and fewer of those offerings to buy.

BL is losing focus. It seems to be putting less and less energy into what I feel is still its core product. As a result, the larger narrative (from my experience as a customer) is starting to lose pace. And beginning to lose my interest. I used to feel vitally connected to the setting, the over-arcing story and so on. "Vitally connected" meaning, keenly interested in seeing what was going to happen "next" (or in the case of the Horus Heresy series, what happened "next" "back then"). Now I end up missing a lot of what comes out. And so find myself caring a little less about what's happening "next" in this setting.

Which is a real shame. They still have a fantastic setting. And they have some pretty good storytellers in their stable.

I just don't feel I'm getting as much story told as I used to.

**reds8n**

summary of what's coming HH wise...

note the timeline bit of the McNeill audio drama..

ETRAYER - Aaron Dembski-Bowden - Jan 2013
Angron and Lorgar smash up Ultramar. Not a sequel to Calth, so much as a parallel storyline. "Big unknown event" takes place during this novel.

MARK OF CALTH - ed. Laurie Goulding - Apr 2013
Anthology featuring stories from the Ultramar side of the war, for years after Calth. Confirmed are:

1) 'Calth That Was' (Graham McNeill) novella which links Remus Ventanus to the 40k Ultramarines continuity, along with Maloq Kartho before he becomes a daemon prince.
2) 'The Shards of Erebus' (Guy Haley) showing how Erebus learned to do his warp-travel thing, and where he got his athame dagger.
3) 'Unmarked' (Dan Abnett) following Oll Persson as he leaves Calth.
4) 'The Underworld War' (Aaron Dembski-Bowden) showing the expansion of the Gal Vorbak, and how they realise they've been left for dead by their Legion.
5) 'Athame' (John French) which is apparently a very "odd" story, following a particular knife. All we said was that it's not Erebus's knife.

Also confirmed are Rob Sanders, Anthony Reynolds and David Annandale.

HONOUR TO THE DEAD - Gav Thorpe - Apr 2013
Audio drama set during the invasion of Calth. Two Titan legions fight for control of a city, wiping out whole regiments of Army troopers and civilians almost by accident. Contains continuity links to "other new 40k projects".

KNOW NO FEAR - hardback collector's edition - Apr 2013

CENSURE - Nick Kyme - ???
Audio drama featuring Aeonid Thiel, set after the battle for Calth.

VISIONS OF HERESY - Alan Merrett etc - "mid-2013"
This is not so much a reissue of Collected Visions as a complete reworking. Loads of new artwork, all corrected background material and loads of new text from Alan himself. All of the Neil Roberts covers will be included, as well as new concept art and close-ups. This also covers almost all of the Horus Heresy novels so far, as opposed to just the old edition canon.

The format will be A5 hardback to match the HH series. It will be released simultaneously alongside a limited edition, which matches the larger Forgeworld books exactly.

VULKAN LIVES - Nick Kyme - ???
The clue is in the title! Although left for dead, Vulkan has survived Isstvan V, and this story explains where he has been and why he hasn't been found earlier.

UNREMEMBERED EMPIRE - Dan Abnett - ???
This is the "Imperium Secundus" that has been hinted at so far. Ultramar is fortified as a second Imperium, because Guilliman honestly believes that the Emperor is dead. Sanguinius is to be crowned as the new Emperor, which doesn't sit well with all present. There will be a "massive superhero style battle" which Dan never expected to see in the Heresy.

This is the first book in a wider arc, as part of the Age of Darkness.

MACRAGGE'S HONOUR - Dan Abnett/Neil Roberts - Nov 2013
Full colour, 100-page graphic novel, hardback to match the rest of the HH series perfectly. This will NOT be available in partwork, nor split into comics, and is being produced SOLELY by Black Library. It follows the naval duel mentioned in 'Know No Fear', between Marius Gage and Kor Phaeron.

This will be available in time-limited edition with extra content, as well as non-limited edition later.

VENGEFUL SPIRIT - Graham McNeill - ???
Novel.

WOLF HUNT - Graham McNeill - ???
Audio drama which explains the rather abrupt ending of 'The Outcast Dead', and the supposed timeline "error" which everyone thought they had spotted. Severian is hunted down by Nagasena in the Petitioner's City, as he tries to follow the original plan to escape Terra.

THE SIGILLITE - Chris Wraight - ???
Audio drama which hints at who Malcador actually is, and what his role is supposed to be in the Emperor's grand plans. Also laying the foundations for the Webway War.

CYBERNETICA - Rob Sanders - ???
Limited edition novella, which shows what is currently happening on Mars. Techno-heretics are released from imprisonment by loyalist forces fighting a rebellion war on the surface against Kelbor Hal.

UNNAMED CORAX NOVELLA - Gav Thorpe - ???
Literally, what Corax did after 'Deliverance Lost', attacking a forge world which had begun producing daemon engines. Also described is a "battle" between two floating cities which "broadside" each other for weeks while assault troops jump back and forth between them.

UNNAMED WHITE SCARS NOVEL - Chris Wraight - ???
Following on from 'Brotherhood of the Storm', Jaghatai Khan makes up his own mind what to do in the Horus Heresy after Chondax - it's not the answer everyone is expecting. Also links to 'Garro: Sword of Truth' and explains why there were traitor White Scars near Terra.

Two more anthologies have been announced, titled 'SHATTERED LEGIONS' and 'THE SILENT WAR'. Laurie Goulding is announced as editing both of them.

Also, it was announced there at Christmas there will be THREE Horus Heresy mini audio dramas released through the website. These will not be available physically available on CD for the foreseeable future.

**BrookM**

reds8n wrote:
Also, it was announced there at Christmas there will be THREE Horus Heresy mini audio dramas released through the website. These will not be available physically available on CD for the foreseeable future.

But no doubt, priced as full-blown products..

**Alpharius**

VISIONS OF HERESY - Alan Merrett etc - "mid-2013"
This is not so much a reissue of Collected Visions as a complete reworking. Loads of new artwork, all corrected background material and loads of new text from Alan himself. All of the Neil Roberts covers will be included, as well as new concept art and close-ups. This also covers almost all of the Horus Heresy novels so far, as opposed to just the old edition canon.

This could be really, really.... bad.

Also, BL is going full out in trying to milk the Heresy cow now - I guess we all knew it was coming, so we should have enjoyed the past few year's releases a bit more than we did!

**BrookM**

Retcons, retcons everywhere..

**Zweischneid**

BrookM wrote:
Retcons, retcons everywhere..

And? If not for retcons, Ultramarines would still send half-Eldar Librarians in Deostick hovertanks to fish for Giant Shrimp on the Desert Planet of Macragge while the Inquisiton was led by Sherlock Obiwan Clousseau.

**Alpharius**

While funny, I think you know what we were moaning about!

Anyone have any idea on the following BL short e-books:

Perihelion $2.99
Failure's Reward $1.25
The Quickening $1.25
Born To Us $1.25

I know BL did the whole 'advent calendar' thing last year, but weren't they all only a handful of pages?

Are these similarly short, for what is admittedly short money?

**narked**

Last year IIRC the advent calendar was just uncovering the cover art from Shadows of Treachery. The series of shorts they did were the "25 for 25" thing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well I've just grabbed The Quickening by Andy Smillie and sent it across to my Kindle. The legal notices at the end are longer than the story, so yeah, about the same length as the "25 for 25" stuff

**Harriticus**

I like how McNeil uses the term "bolter porn" in his interview. Someone has been reading the internets.

**Alpharius**

narked wrote:
Last year IIRC the advent calendar was just uncovering the cover art from Shadows of Treachery. The series of shorts they did were the "25 for 25" thing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well I've just grabbed The Quickening by Andy Smillie and sent it across to my Kindle. The legal notices at the end are longer than the story, so yeah, about the same length as the "25 for 25" stuff

How many pages of actual story then?

I might just keep to the 'heavy hitters' and such - Abnett and his Inquisition stuff for certain...

**Harriticus**

It's unfortunate that in all of BL's big HH plans, only Vulkan Lives seems like it will be relevant to the Horus Heresy series. Maybe Unremembered Empire if done correctly.

Now I'm sure Betrayer will be a fantastic read, just because of ADB's talents. That being said it's not a story worth telling in the first place.

**narked**

Alpharius wrote:
narked wrote:
Last year IIRC the advent calendar was just uncovering the cover art from Shadows of Treachery. The series of shorts they did were the "25 for 25" thing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well I've just grabbed The Quickening by Andy Smillie and sent it across to my Kindle. The legal notices at the end are longer than the story, so yeah, about the same length as the "25 for 25" stuff

How many pages of actual story then?

I might just keep to the 'heavy hitters' and such - Abnett and his Inquisition stuff for certain...

On my Kindle on the smallest font size it's about 5 pages.

**Alpharius**

5 pages?

I might give most of these a miss then.

Except maybe PERIHELION.

At $2.99 that should be at least 15 or so pages, right?

**KamikazeCanuck**

...what a deal.

**Kroothawk**

Harriticus wrote:
I like how McNeil uses the term "bolter porn" in his interview. Someone has been reading the internets.

Well, he wrote "Courage and Honour", so he should know what bolter porn is.
(Plot: A Tau force of antigrav vehicles, antigrav suits, antigrav drones and drop ships is stopped because they can't get over one bridge )

**Alpharius**

Hmmmm... What army does Kroothawk really like a lot again?