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

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**Manchu**

Alpharius wrote:
The Emperor himself, in one of these books, states that he knows what he needs to do, but isn't sure of the outcome.

Given all that we've seen to date, there's no way he could have wanted this to happen...

Sure, not precisely at least. But my theory is more like, he gambled the Primarchs to distract the Ruinous Powers and buy time for building humanity's Webway. In that scenario, his idea would be: I've got to get this done before the Heresy can disrupt it/while the Heresy is still distracting from it. I'm not advocating that everything that happened was exactly "just as planned." But when you design genetic super warlords, you are taking a calculated risk no matter what. The question is, how much of the actual risk did the Emperor contemplate. And my answer is, he probably not only saw it coming but created the Primarchs in the first place to get the Ruinous Powers' attention and keep it on something other than what was really important to him.

**Compel**

That does sort of make sense, Manchu.

Plus, it sort of fits with 'The Sigillite' which pretty much puts to rest the concept that The Emperor really is a Bad Guy.

Spoiler:

**kronk**

Perhaps we'll get some nice internal-dialog with introspection on why he made some of the decisions he made towards the end of the series? That would be cool.

**Alpharius**

Or, if they could just make stories that made sense, and had internal and external balance, that would be nice too!

**Manchu**

I'd love to rebut that, Alph, but I haven't read a HH book (thanks BL

) in so long that your criticism will just have to stand.

When is Unremembered Empire due?

**Alpharius**

Well, I'm a good few books behind now too, since I'm waiting for the MMPBs now...

Anyway, some of this was probably inevitable when they decided to stretch this thing out to the 50+ books they've got planned currently...

**kronk**

I've been reading the HH books again, and am currently on Fulgrim. I'm picking up on lots of things that I either missed the first time, or didn't appreciate as much at the time. Like Mortarion fighting with his legion in Galaxy in Flames. Not nearly enough of him in the series so far.

And where the feth are Perturbo, Alpharius, and Khaan? I want to read about them (without purchasing an LE book).

**Compel**

Perturabo turns up quite prominently in 'The Crimson Fistt'in the Shadows of Treachery book.
Isn't he also on the cover of Angel Exterminatus?

There's plenty of Alpha Legion shenanigans in 'The Primarches'

**kronk**

I guess I'll have to read more of the compilations books. I haven't liked a lot of the short stories I've read so far.

**Alpharius**

Compel wrote:
Perturabo turns up quite prominently in 'The Crimson Fistt'in the Shadows of Treachery book.
Isn't he also on the cover of Angel Exterminatus?

There's plenty of Alpha Legion shenanigans in 'The Primarches'

And in LEGION, of course!

(And in DELIVERANCE LOST too!)

**kronk**

I liked Deliverance Lost, but not enough Alpha Legion.

I didn't like Legion because it has less Alpha Legion in it than Deliverance Lost. In fact, Legion is a misnomer. Rename it "Bunch of IG guys that run around the desert and accidentally bump into some Astartes right about the time we read the About the Author entry."

Need more.

**BrookM**

Legion was about as much about the Alpha Legion as Prospero Burns was about the sacking of Prospero..

**Alfndrate**

BrookM wrote:
Legion was about as much about the Alpha Legion as Prospero Burns was about the sacking of Prospero..

Wait... Next you'll be telling me that Betrayer is just about Angron having a bad hair day.

**Alpharius**

Be that as it may...it has the most Alpharius, maybe.

Plus John Grammaticus!

**kronk**

Alpharius wrote:
Be that as it may...it has the most Alpharius, maybe.

Plus John Grammaticus!

I like Oll Persson in Know no Fear better.

**Manchu**

Uh oh ... "There can be only one!"

**BrookM**

When is the next Lizzie Bequin novel coming out anyway?

**Alpharius**

Bah!

At least LEGION told us why the LEGION turned "traitor"...

...not!

Talk about the one book in the series that needs a proper sequel from Abnett!

**BrookM**

But probably won't, right? Wasn't Rob Sanders pegged as doing that?

**reds8n**

Perturabo -- and Fulgrim -- both feature quite prominently in "Angel Extarminatus".

In that book, with regards to the Emperor

Spoiler:

In other news Corax : Soulforge is out and arriving. Got my copy -- looks very nice but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

...

.. smells nice to .. don't judge me !

and there's already copies on e-bay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Corax-Soulforge-brand-new-limited-time-black-library-Horus-Heresy-novel-/140987057728?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item20d37bc640

not quite that good IMO.

**Pilau Rice**

reds8n wrote:

Spoiler:

given how swiftly they claimed it wasn't a mistake and quite how knowledgeable Mr. Goulding is about the chronology of the series, I'm willing to accept that it was a deliberate choice and not a mistake. Undertaken presumably to account for the Emperor's absence -- he's been busy for 2 years ( more or less) fighting to hold back the daemonic hordes -- and if the exact contents of the message weren't known or understood the sending of the wolves to annihilate the 1ksons makes much more sense.

Spoiler:

reds8n wrote:
In other news Corax : Soulforge is out and arriving. Got my copy -- looks very nice but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

As do I!

But already I have a niggle with the story so far.

Spoiler:

... .. it does have a smell, and it's soft, so soft, I like to stroke it

**jonolikespie**

reds8n wrote:

and there's already copies on e-bay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Corax-Soulforge-brand-new-limited-time-black-library-Horus-Heresy-novel-/140987057728?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item20d37bc640

not quite that good IMO.

They had to have meant £49.99 right?

Right?

**ruminator**

I was tempted, but the postage was a little high.

**KamikazeCanuck**

reds8n wrote:
Perturabo -- and Fulgrim -- both feature quite prominently in "Angel Extarminatus".

In that book, with regards to the Emperor

Spoiler:

space

space...

.. IIRC there's a seen where he is talking to Perturabo around the start of the great crusade/after Perturabo/all (?) the primarchs have been found. He reveals to him that his foresight/divination only takes him up to "now" and the future after that is unknown to him.

With regards to the timing error..

given how swiftly they claimed it wasn't a mistake and quite how knowledgeable Mr. Goulding is about the chronology of the series, I'm willing to accept that it was a deliberate choice and not a mistake. Undertaken presumably to account for the Emperor's absence -- he's been busy for 2 years ( more or less) fighting to hold back the daemonic hordes -- and if the exact contents of the message weren't known or understood the sending of the wolves to annihilate the 1ksons makes much more sense.

It's not the author's fault as such but as the series rolls on -- and especially now that we're very much in the phase were a lot of the legions are fighting -- the horror or impossibility of marine fratricide or traitorous primarchs happening is eroded by the inevitable little snippets we learn about other events -- wolves versus WE -- and the big ols elephant in the room of the missing 2 and their legions.

YMMV of course

In other news Corax : Soulforge is out and arriving. Got my copy -- looks very nice but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

... .. smells nice to .. don't judge me !

and there's already copies on e-bay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Corax-Soulforge-brand-new-limited-time-black-library-Horus-Heresy-novel-/140987057728?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item20d37bc640

not quite that good IMO.

I love that new book smell

**Alpharius**

I got mine today too - a really nice looking book!

**Pacific**

I wish they would just leave the events in Outcast Dead buried.. it was a fun book, but unless large sections of the book get re-written it is impossible to deflect the impression of events that it gives.

Personally it didn't bother me, and it was fun coming up with scenarios about how the events could take place.

You can imagine all the plebeians at the start walking around saying "Oi, you 'eard Horus might be on his way here?" (this should be a Monty Python sketch, with Terry Jones as a high-voiced peasant lady), meanwhile in a tower of glass and ivory Magnus has spent months creating the most powerful spell ever known to tell the Emperor what everyone in the galaxy already knows. Doh!

BrookM wrote:
Legion was about as much about the Alpha Legion as Prospero Burns was about the sacking of Prospero..

Yes, although I find it hard to be critical about either of them because they are both such cracking books!

Although as Alph says, hopefully Legion will get a sequel (in novel form, not some audio book or over-priced short story that will pass everyone by).

**Relapse**

Alpharius wrote:
At least the Warlord Titans are the right style in HONOUR TO THE DEAD...

I love that style of Titan. I was lucky enough to pick up 18 unnassembled in a package deal from Ebay a couple years ago for about 30 dollars.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

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.

That book about the assassins killed it for me, heh. Seriously, that was the most inept crew they could find, sent on the most dire mission. A good example of their incompetence was illustrated when the Eversor and Callidus were surprised by a panicked civilian in a store.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Clunker wrote:
Pardon good fellows~

Seems that BL has snuck yet ANOTHER Tau novel ebook onto their site.

"The Patient Hunter" by Joe Parrino.

I *just* grabbed it, so no reviews yet - but it seems to be 'from the Tau perspective', AND 'starring' a lone Riptide pilot against an entire AdMech *ARMORED BATTALION*.

This should be good!

That'll go right in along side the one where the lone Fire warrior roamed at will through a Maine strike cruiser, killing off the crew and taking hostages on the bridge.

**Manchu**

I just started Blood of Asaheim. I really like it, right off the bat. Will post more as/when.

**jah-joshua**

new stuff is up on iBooks...

Guy Haley is back again with Skarsnik...
Baneblade was good, so we'll see how he does with Fantasy...
i started it last night, and it is going good so far...
the story is told by a mad Empire poet who was a captive of Skarsnik...

C.L. Werner has a pair of Blighted Empire novels out, and the LE Soul Drinkers novella is up...

the Digital Monday short stories continue, with some new Grey Knight titles...

i haven't bought Headtaker yet, but Queek is definitely calling to me...
seems he's quite the arrogant little cheese eater, judging from the blurb...

@Manchu: how did you like Blood of Asaheim???
i enjoyed it...
it was interesting to see the relationships between the squad members, the rivalry, and the friendship...
the SoB friction was fun, too...

cheers
jah

**BrookM**

Started on Fist of Demetrius, first 40k novel in ages now.