Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello my Dakka family, I've only just found out that one of my favourite authors on the planet is having a 40k novel released on the 3rd of February, according to Amazon, that is.

Yes, it will be called Days of Ascension and this is what it's about:

"On the forge world of Morod, the machines never stop working and the work never ends. The population toil in the mines and factoria to protect humanity from the monsters in the Void, while the Adeptus Mechanicus enjoy lives of palatial comfort."

"Genetor Gammat Triskellian seeks to end stagnant corruption. When he learns of a twisted congregation operating within the shadows, one which believes that the tech-priests are keeping the people from their true salvation -- a long-prophesied union with angels -- he sees in them and opportunity to bring down Morad's masters and reclaim the world in the name of progress"

"But sometimes, the only hope for real change lies in the coming of the monsters".

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my most favourite all-time authors. His book, the Arthur C Clark Award-winning (Best Book) Children of Time is literary perfection, and anyone who's read that book will know how much of a genius he is at this writing lark. So when I discovered he was writing a book set in the 40k universe, I couldn't quite believe my eyes.

Has anyone else read Children of Time, and what's your opinion of such a world-class science-fiction writer as he?

I haven’t read children of time, but Dogs of War was excellent. An odd premise well carried out.

Yeah I've read Children Of Time and the sequel, Children Of Ruin. This is definitely good news!

Are you his PR agent or something?

I haven’t read the Children of Time, but I did read Empire in Black and Gold, the first in his fantasy series with people in insect based factions. I didn’t much like it to be honest so never bothered with the rest of the series so can’t say I’m particularly enthused by this.

I am surprised that a successful science fiction/fantasy author is interested in writing in a corporate IP rather than doing their own thing. I was under the impression that this sort of thing (expanded universes, novelisations, larger IPs etc) were mostly done as work for hire and an established author getting involved seems unusual.

Aash wrote:
I haven’t read the Children of Time, but I did read Empire in Black and Gold, the first in his fantasy series with people in insect based factions. I didn’t much like it to be honest so never bothered with the rest of the series so can’t say I’m particularly enthused by this.

I am surprised that a successful science fiction/fantasy author is interested in writing in a corporate IP rather than doing their own thing. I was under the impression that this sort of thing (expanded universes, novelisations, larger IPs etc) were mostly done as work for hire and an established author getting involved seems unusual.

Maybe he is a fan of 40k ? That would be such an opportunity

Holy crap this is absolutely incredible news.

I enjoyed the Black & Gold series, but some of his sci-fi work is something else. I would say Children of Time is one of the best sci--fi novels I have ever read; I would put it up there with some of the best work by Arthur C Clarke, Greg Bear, Frank Herbert.

With that in mind, I am guessing he must really love the 40k universe and want to write something for it?
Unless BL have come up with some more generous T&Cs for getting an author of his calibre on board.

I know this is ultimately not the most important thing, but in terms of esteem from the sci-fi and fantasy novelist community, check out some of the awards the guy has...
https://www.sfadb.com/Adrian_Tchaikovsky

Thanks for the reccomendation, I will give this a look in February!

This is good news. I'm curently reading one of his, Bear Head, the sequel to Dogs of War, and it's pretty fantastic.

I remember reading a few books of his...something about and gold empire or something? A fantasy novel with like mantis people, ant people, things like that. I read them like...a decade or more ago and thinking they were pretty fun.

Just looked him up...Empire of Black and Gold. He has written a TON since then.

Seems like a solid pick up for Black Library!

His more recent Shards of Earth book definitely has some 40K vibes (and some non-40K vibes), moving away from the more "hardish sci-fi" of Children of Time, etc.. A somewhat Battle Sisters-style character/faction (but still different in some ways). A bit of Cthulu-style treat from "unspace", etc.. I can see it working well.

 Sim-Life wrote:
Are you his PR agent or something?

I'm not his agent, no, but I AM very, VERY excited about this. I've been avidly reading any book I could get my hands on since I was around 5 or 6 years old, and my only other passion is reading Black Library novels. So when I found out about the two -- Adrian Tchaikovsky and 40k -- It's hard NOT to get excited.

Tchaikovsky's genius is in his world-building. His award-winning (Best Book 2014) Arthur C Clark novel is a masterclass of pace and depth. If it sounds as though I'm hideously excited at Black Library welcoming Tchaikovsky into the fold, it's because I am.

Huh, I just noticed this. That's a big get for Black Library, looking forward to the book. Children of Time is great.

I've never read any of his work, but if his insect-caste work went into alien psychology, he'd certainly be a good pick to write a GSC novel.

I read the BL Cult of the War Mason and found it to be disappointing as a player of both GSC and Sisters.

I'd love to read a really good GSC book. Might have to check this out.

I hesitate to be a wet blanket, but I hope the work is better than the blurb.

stroller wrote:
I hesitate to be a wet blanket, but I hope the work is better than the blurb.

Well he's a world class genius capable of literary perfection so anything less than a master work of generation defining fiction that will revolutionise the way 40k is written for decades to come will be a disappointment.

Aash wrote:
I haven’t read the Children of Time, but I did read Empire in Black and Gold, the first in his fantasy series with people in insect based factions. I didn’t much like it to be honest so never bothered with the rest of the series so can’t say I’m particularly enthused by this.

I am surprised that a successful science fiction/fantasy author is interested in writing in a corporate IP rather than doing their own thing. I was under the impression that this sort of thing (expanded universes, novelisations, larger IPs etc) were mostly done as work for hire and an established author getting involved seems unusual.

Very much so, to be honest. Its almost certainly a hit to both paycheck and reputation, so its more than a little weird.

I have no idea anything about him. However I noticed on my kindle that some of his books are free on prime reading. So if anyone else has access to that it's better than buying the books.

Read an interesting piece where he was talking about writing the GSC book. Having to check with people at BL all the time about making sure his understanding of existing lore was correct.

But, he specifically chose them as there isn't as much definition of the GSC (certainly compared to some other factions) and so it has given him some license to do some world building. Quite interesting reading about the framing of the 'good guys' (and how the GSC view themselves, trying to survive in an utterly ruthless Imperium). Has definitely made me interested to read the book!

Also another book he has done called 'Ogres', completely unrelated Fantasy, which sounds really interesting

Voss wrote:

Aash wrote:
I haven’t read the Children of Time, but I did read Empire in Black and Gold, the first in his fantasy series with people in insect based factions. I didn’t much like it to be honest so never bothered with the rest of the series so can’t say I’m particularly enthused by this.

I am surprised that a successful science fiction/fantasy author is interested in writing in a corporate IP rather than doing their own thing. I was under the impression that this sort of thing (expanded universes, novelisations, larger IPs etc) were mostly done as work for hire and an established author getting involved seems unusual.

Very much so, to be honest. Its almost certainly a hit to both paycheck and reputation, so its more than a little weird.

What I will say is that he seems to be absolutely prolific with his writing (almost Stephen King-like in terms of volume).

So if he can knock out a novel in a few months it might not be the same impact on him that, say, it might have on someone like GRR Martin!