Black Library News & Rumours Thread IV, in obligatory unwanted 3-D!

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**reds8n**

Actually WD is back in WH Smiths.. all the new format ones have been anyway.

In my branch it's normally by the other mini related magazines..

.. I appreciate that some people reading this are snorting in derision here but that's because they've never had to experience the sublimely ridiculous, possibly even Kabbalistic means, which WH Smiths use to decide where a magazine will go each month.

Last 4 issues of Fortean Times have all been placed on different shelves, the current issue -- for reasons that not even God himself could understand -- had been placed alongside "Chat", "Take-a-break" and the like.

.. err...

back on topic. It seems the range of BL books carried varies enormously from branch to branch. My WH Smiths has a full shelf but only of hardbacks or the large format omnibus editions...

.. which does tally with what BL have said here and there ..

.. The good branch ( for geek stuff) of the 2 Waterstones we have has a pretty large array of BL books, carries ( and sells according to local contact there

! ) more of those than they do Star Wars novels.

**Alpharius**

Pacific wrote:

I was really into this series before, and they've lost me. I'm not quite sure what their intent is, or the logic behind it, but I certainly can't see it.

Pretty much this!

And:

BobtheInquisitor wrote:

Also, I have to wonder at a ~~mentality~~ policy that would sabotage a system that generated numerous NYT Bestsellers. That kind of publicity and "prestige" is priceless. And BL just threw it all away! What the hell were they thinking?

...this too!

I'm sure the 'Big Names' will still make the list and generate the sales. But I find it hard to believe that they haven't sabotaged themselves somehow with this new inane policy.

**KamikazeCanuck**

I swear GW modelled themselves after The Imperium. The like a dozen different entities not working together under a crippling bureaucracy. To the point were even Forge World was jealously hording their molds like the Mechanicum.

**Alpharius**

Not a bad analogy, actually.

And as good an 'explanation' as we'll probably ever have on this whole baffling arrangement...

**KamikazeCanuck**

The Admistratum records has been described as having variety of incompatible media formats with lost, confused and contradictory information that can not be easly retrieved or obtained. I think we know what branch of GW they represent...

**Bloodwin**

You know it could just mean that they are not putting HH stuff on there because it is already over hyped, over subscribed and doing rather nicely as opposed to their regular 40k and Fantasy titles that seem to get bugger all coverage. Especially as the parent company sell figures for Warhammer Fantasy and 40k and NOT Heresy era models. I do feel that BL have an obligation to feed the core hobby with half decent fiction rather than neglect it because someone let them start their own spinoff IP. If you look at the BL stand in a GW Shop (if you still have one local in this time of purging) there are bugger all books about current armies being played unless you want something that's 10,000 years earlier and irrelevant to your codex.

**farmersboy**

Don't get me started! I used to buy every new HH novel the minute it was out, regardless of the author. Now I have to wait nine months after all the hype, and although I'm a collector of W40K novels, I'm starting to loose interest, and that's after 20 years of loyalty to the brand and product.

**KamikazeCanuck**

I think I'll still get them but just wait for the "old" format. The MMTPB I believe its called.

**Lint**

KamikazeCanuck wrote:
I think I'll still get them but just wait for the "old" format. The MMTPB I believe its called.

Yes, this. And also the fact that my entire HH collection of 20something books are all the same size, and while it's a bit anal, I can't stand the way it would look if all of a sudden my bookshelf looked like gothic crenelations.

**Yodhrin**

Lint wrote:
KamikazeCanuck wrote:
I think I'll still get them but just wait for the "old" format. The MMTPB I believe its called.

Yes, this. And also the fact that my entire HH collection of 20something books are all the same size, and while it's a bit anal, I can't stand the way it would look if all of a sudden my bookshelf looked like gothic crenelations.

Yep, I ordered Angel Exterminatus and Betrayer without realising they'd changed the format(I just thought they'd put the prices up again for no reason), now I'm bloody annoyed because my Horus Heresy shelf isn't uniform

**Just Dave**

Personally, particularly with spoilers and waning motivation, I might drop the HH series at the end of the year, then pick it all up again when's finished.

**kitch102**

You'll die first

**Just Dave**

kitch102 wrote:
You'll die first

I laughed. Then frowned. Then became scared of your implications.

**farmersboy**

By the time it gets to the Horus/Emp face off nobody will care, and I'll be retired...

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

You're safe

(the Horus Herasy, a series that will NEVER end)

**themonk**

farmersboy wrote:
Don't get me started! I used to buy every new HH novel the minute it was out, regardless of the author. Now I have to wait nine months after all the hype, and although I'm a collector of W40K novels, I'm starting to loose interest, and that's after 20 years of loyalty to the brand and product.

I'm with you all. It seems that the HH brand is diluted and aimless right now. There's just been some short stories and a smattering of audio dramas. Everything else is just re-packaging. I need to see purpose and direction and not just an obvious grab for sales. It all speaks of a lack of good management.

**KamikazeCanuck**

Just Dave wrote:
kitch102 wrote:
You'll die first

I laughed. Then frowned. Then became scared of your implications.

Me too.

**reds8n**

OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
You're safe

(the Horus Herasy, a series that will NEVER end)

At the last few events they've reckoned we're about half way through, so the series should therefore run to about 50 novels.

.. Plus audio books, at least 1 graphic novel -- one would assume if it sells well there'll be others...

.. ... we're gonna need a bigger bookcase.

**farmersboy**

reds8n wrote:

.. ... we're gonna need a bigger bookcase.

Bookcase? I need my own library...

**Just Dave**

AD-B's Facebook seems to suggest that authors aren't allowed to reveal to us much information either:

"I've asked if I can show [the Talon of Horus cover] soon, as my 5,000 Likes gift, but I can't guarantee anything. There's been a policy change in what we're allowed to post - which is why you guys don't see me posting extracts on here or my blog, anymore. IP legality stuff, just the nature of the game. Nothing juicy or Evil Empire-ish."

**Compel**

Arguably, that is evil Empire-ish!

**Harriticus**

GW stasi have made BL information classified too now eh.

**1hadhq**

So thread IV is the last of the News and Rumors threads related to BL ?

Hey BL, if I cannot find out you guy finally stopped doing audio dramas and micro-nano-mini-stories and there is a real book that is not hard covered , those bookstores got shelves filled with affordable content and some good stuff too so I may not miss you.

**KamikazeCanuck**

There's still to s of stuff that happened after the Horus Heresy so they shouldn't fear ending it.

**Pacific**

Just Dave wrote:
AD-B's Facebook seems to suggest that authors aren't allowed to reveal to us much information either:

"I've asked if I can show [the Talon of Horus cover] soon, as my 5,000 Likes gift, but I can't guarantee anything. There's been a policy change in what we're allowed to post - which is why you guys don't see me posting extracts on here or my blog, anymore. IP legality stuff, just the nature of the game. Nothing juicy or Evil Empire-ish."

Am I the only person who would like to see ADB do some non BL stuff?

Dan Abnett has already done some quite nice work outside of it (Embedded was very enjoyable, would thoroughly recommend it) and of the rest of the farm I think ADB definitely has a literary ability that would stand up well on its own merits, within the wider literary circles.

And, of all of the BL writers he would seem to me the least likely to want to be told to shut up and go back into the box, or go along with the almost hilarious amount of self-importance that seems to have spread to the BL studios recently. Will be interesting to see what happens in the future.

**Just Dave**

He's doing a book about the Romans, or the formation of Rome, I think...

**d-usa**

kronk wrote:
I want that Lords of Mars book. Mechanicum + Black Templars? Yay!

Did you read Priests of Mars?

**ithilmere**

I'll start by saying that I'm usually the last to complain about pricing or marketing strategies from GW - my view is if you don't want to pay or wait you're welcome not to.

I have to say that the whole BL thing is really getting to me though. I've been an avid fan and follower of the series since it started and continue to enjoy the novels as and when they're released.

My issue is that you now have standard softback, hardback, novella, special edition novella, audio books and digital only editions. If you had the choice of media that'd be one thing but the policy is essentially that if you want to get all stories you have to buy into BL's multi format policy.

Frankly I have no interest whatsoever in audio dramas, I point blank refuse to pay £30 for a limited edition novella; I'd also rather not buy large format soft cover editions as they simply don't fit in my book shelves. I'm not 100% averse to digital media but would always prefer the pleasure of reading a physical book.

I appreciate that some of the audio only, hardback and large format books will be coming out in standard soft cover format in due course and I'm perfectly happy to wait - no problem.

What I really object to are the limited edition novellas - low print run, short stories with a tiny bit of extra artwork made extortionate by their exclusivity. I just feel like the most loyal followers of the series are being rinsed out by BL and I heartily object to this.

I love delving into the history of the heresy I also like to follow all the little details that round out the universe. I can't believe that I now have to either buy products I don't want or trawl through forums to ensure I get everything now though.

**gianlucafiorentini123**

I was looking on Amazon and Nightbringer (The first UM book) is up for preorder, and it's listed as a Black Library Classic. Is this the first or have they already been doing this?

**gianlucafiorentini123**

New cover.