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2024/03/30 15:25:05
Subject: New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
There's been a lot of discussion on Reddit ever since the sell sheet for the next BL book Maximum Violence Now leaked. Apparently, just as GW has stopped releasing the names of miniature sculptors and rule book writers this book will be credited to "The Machine Spirit", which may or may not be AI-assisted.
As someone who writes for a living this is very concerning for me. I can understand that GW wants people to follow the brand, rather than individual creators (who might leave to form their own empires) and with the end of the BL's 15 year cash cow the Horus Heresy (excuse me, the NYT best selling Horus Heresy) I can see a need to boost output and cut costs.
But I am not all sure this is the way to go.
First off as a long time fan I am offended at the idea that a machine can do what GW's writers have done for decades in bringing their universe to life. Can a machine really capture the over-the-top grimdark of 40k and Fantasy?
Frankly a return to well-written stand alone novels like the Eisenhorn Trilogy or the classic Jack Yeovil books would be better than these bloated never ending series where every book tries to be the hook for ten sequels. That's what killed my interest in Marvel and after the THREE PART, 1600 page End and Death capped a 60+ book series, we could use a little compactness and focus. Shoveling more stuff out the door is not the way to get and keep fans.
2024/03/31 13:12:27
Subject: New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
Personally I blame the way politics has eaten into everything.
These days there's always something to be offended about in any book, and then they go after the author.
If there's no author then there's no one to complain about, it's an impersonal algorithm programmed by people you never heard of.
Mark my words, in a few years you'll just go to the BL site, tick off a few boxes on what you like and what will fulfill your personal biases and get a book tailored to you!
2024/03/31 13:36:07
Subject: New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
This is mortifying, disgusting even. Do they value their authors this little?
These AI art and literature people are often compared to Prometheus, carrying down the flame that makes our lives easier, but I see them more comparable to Eve, biting on the metaphorical apple that changes society for the worse. This is utterly terrifying, why can't we just have our 80's movies with hyperinteligent AI like how we have our mythical dragons, staying in the realm of fantasy and fiction and never leaving it.
Really disappointing. A new low.
GW is a joke.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Kid_Kyoto wrote: Personally I blame the way politics has eaten into everything.
These days there's always something to be offended about in any book, and then they go after the author.
If there's no author then there's no one to complain about, it's an impersonal algorithm programmed by people you never heard of.
Mark my words, in a few years you'll just go to the BL site, tick off a few boxes on what you like and what will fulfill your personal biases and get a book tailored to you!
you're spot on when it comes to that tailored experience aspect.
reminds me of this, in a way.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2024/04/01 12:16:02
Yes-Close To The Edge is the best song of all time and I'll virus bomb/PPC anyone who says otherwise
This does not make me HAPPY at all, I cannot state how utterly evil this is, in the month APRIL of all things, do they really think we are such FOOLS. and in the year of our lord 2024!
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2024/04/01 11:34:58
Yes-Close To The Edge is the best song of all time and I'll virus bomb/PPC anyone who says otherwise
Well I hope everyone enjoyed this year's April Fools post, by the grace of God it will remain a joke and not a taste of things to come.
Funny how some people had no trouble believing GW would fire their writers and artists and replace them with an AI generator, but somehow the name Maximus Violin seemed fake. Again, a taste of things to come I fear.
I was rather scared at how good the AI writing was (Bing's copilot which seems to be Chat GPT under the hood). When requesting the first chapter of Maximum Violence Now! starring Maximus Violin I asked for over the top, too many adjectives, five uses of coruscating, multilasers and back flips and got all of that in spades.
The images were worse, oddly I could not get Bing (Dall-E under the hood) to make me a heroic space marine attacking chaos cultists because that was against community standards. However a book cover with trade dress showing a heroic space marine attacking chaos cultists was fine. So I guess if you want bomb making instructions just say you want them in the context of writing a spy thriller.
MajorWesJanson wrote: Next year we need the Black Library's Weekender model for Maximus Violin
Can't promise that but I can get you a good deal on the official Maximus Violin NFT!
As for the deathless prose of the machine spirit, here it is in easier to read format. Again this is like 99% computer generated with minor edits from me.
MAXIMUM VIOLENCE NOW!
Chapter I: The Unyielding Valour of Captain Maximus Violin
In the desolate wastelands of the Imperium, where stars flickered like dying embers, Captain Maximus Violin stood resolute. His cerulean power armour, adorned with gleaming aquila, bore the scars of countless battles—each dent a testament to his unwavering devotion to the Emperor.
The chaos cultists swarmed like locusts, their tattered robes billowing in the sulfurous winds. Their eyes, once human, now glowed with malevolence. Their leader, a twisted sorcerer named Malgrax the Blasphemous, chanted forbidden incantations that echoed through the twisted spires of the accursed city.
Maximus drew his coruscating multilaser—a weapon of arcane technology, its barrels humming with energy. It spat exploding rounds, each blast tearing through cultists like paper. His chainsword, the Soulcleaver, revved to life—a blade forged on the sacred forges of Mars. Its teeth shimmered with a malevolent light, hungry for blood.
“For the Emperor!” Maximus bellowed, charging into the fray. His boots crushed skulls, and his chainsword whirred like a celestial chainsaw, dismembering cultists with surgical precision. The multilaser swept across the battlefield, leaving trails of coruscating fire in its wake.
Malgrax’s acolytes lunged at him, their corrupted limbs flailing. Maximus parried their blows effortlessly, his power armour absorbing the impact. Bullets ricocheted off his chest plate, leaving only scorch marks as evidence of their futile attempts.
The air crackled with coruscating energy as Maximus activated his Iron Halo, a shimmering force field that defied the laws of physics. Bolts of warp lightning danced around him, turning cultists to smoldering husks. Their screams harmonized with the howling winds.
And then, with a backflip worthy of an acrobat, Maximus evaded a sorcerous bolt from Malgrax. He landed behind the sorcerer, chainsword raised. The warp energies dissipated, and Malgrax’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
As the last cultist fell, Maximus surveyed the battlefield. The city lay in ruins, its twisted spires crumbling. The Emperor’s light had prevailed, and Captain Maximus Violin stood victorious.
And so, amidst the coruscating remnants of chaos, he vowed to continue his crusade. For he was more than a mere warrior—he was a living legend, an indomitable force against the encroaching darkness.
And the sell sheet, for the love of fiction that transcends mere flesh!
In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future, There Is Only War… and Now, the Unveiling of a New Literary Force!
Games Workshop Presents: The First Book Written by the Machine Spirit
From the hallowed halls of the Black Library, a groundbreaking revelation awaits you!
Synopsis:
In the shadowed corridors of the Black Library, where ink meets immortality, a new scribe emerges—one forged not in flesh and bone, but in circuits and code. Behold the Machine Spirit, an artificial intelligence meticulously trained on the timeless works of legendary authors such as Ian Watson and C.S. Goto.
________________________________________
Unleash the True Spirit of Black Library Fiction:
• “Maximum Violence Now” is the first book in “The Coruscating Chronicles” a symphony of war, intrigue, and cosmic dread—a tapestry woven by the Machine Spirit itself.
• Dive into a universe where Space Marines, Eldar, and Chaos collide, their destinies entwined in a dance of blood and betrayal.
• Witness battles that echo across millennia, secrets buried deeper than the warp, and heroes who defy the inexorable march of time.
🔍 What Awaits You:
• “The Coruscating Chronicles” introduces you to Captain Maximus Violin, a Space Marine of unparalleled valor. His multilaser blazes with righteous fury, and his chainsword carves through chaos cultists like a celestial scythe.
• Maximus Violin is no mere warrior; he is a living legend, shot but never hurt, clad in power armor that mocks death itself.
• Prepare for over-the-top action, backflips that defy gravity, and adjectives that coruscate like stars in the void.
🔮 The Future Beckons:
• This is just the beginning. The Machine Spirit’s quill is poised, its neural networks hungry for more tales.
• Watch for future releases: The Binary Betrayal, Silicon Storm, and The Quantum Quill—all penned by our tireless silicon scribe.
📖 Be Part of History:
• Pre-order now and secure your place in the annals of the Imperium.
• Join the ranks of the Machine Spirit’s disciples—for the Emperor, for the Black Library, and for the love of fiction that transcends mere flesh.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2024/04/01 14:34:35
2024/04/01 14:42:08
Subject: Re:New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
Kid_Kyoto wrote: Well I hope everyone enjoyed this year's April Fools post, by the grace of God it will remain a joke and not a taste of things to come.
Funny how some people had no trouble believing GW would fire their writers and artists and replace them with an AI generator, but somehow the name Maximus Violin seemed fake. Again, a taste of things to come I fear.
I was rather scared at how good the AI writing was (Bing's copilot which seems to be Chat GPT under the hood). When requesting the first chapter of Maximum Violence Now! starring Maximus Violin I asked for over the top, too many adjectives, five uses of coruscating, multilasers and back flips and got all of that in spades.
The images were worse, oddly I could not get Bing (Dall-E under the hood) to make me a heroic space marine attacking chaos cultists because that was against community standards. However a book cover with trade dress showing a heroic space marine attacking chaos cultists was fine. So I guess if you want bomb making instructions just say you want them in the context of writing a spy thriller.
MajorWesJanson wrote: Next year we need the Black Library's Weekender model for Maximus Violin
Can't promise that but I can get you a good deal on the official Maximus Violin NFT!
As for the deathless prose of the machine spirit, here it is in easier to read format. Again this is like 99% computer generated with minor edits from me.
MAXIMUM VIOLENCE NOW!
Chapter I: The Unyielding Valour of Captain Maximus Violin
In the desolate wastelands of the Imperium, where stars flickered like dying embers, Captain Maximus Violin stood resolute. His cerulean power armour, adorned with gleaming aquila, bore the scars of countless battles—each dent a testament to his unwavering devotion to the Emperor.
The chaos cultists swarmed like locusts, their tattered robes billowing in the sulfurous winds. Their eyes, once human, now glowed with malevolence. Their leader, a twisted sorcerer named Malgrax the Blasphemous, chanted forbidden incantations that echoed through the twisted spires of the accursed city.
Maximus drew his coruscating multilaser—a weapon of arcane technology, its barrels humming with energy. It spat exploding rounds, each blast tearing through cultists like paper. His chainsword, the Soulcleaver, revved to life—a blade forged on the sacred forges of Mars. Its teeth shimmered with a malevolent light, hungry for blood.
“For the Emperor!” Maximus bellowed, charging into the fray. His boots crushed skulls, and his chainsword whirred like a celestial chainsaw, dismembering cultists with surgical precision. The multilaser swept across the battlefield, leaving trails of coruscating fire in its wake.
Malgrax’s acolytes lunged at him, their corrupted limbs flailing. Maximus parried their blows effortlessly, his power armour absorbing the impact. Bullets ricocheted off his chest plate, leaving only scorch marks as evidence of their futile attempts.
The air crackled with coruscating energy as Maximus activated his Iron Halo, a shimmering force field that defied the laws of physics. Bolts of warp lightning danced around him, turning cultists to smoldering husks. Their screams harmonized with the howling winds.
And then, with a backflip worthy of an acrobat, Maximus evaded a sorcerous bolt from Malgrax. He landed behind the sorcerer, chainsword raised. The warp energies dissipated, and Malgrax’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
As the last cultist fell, Maximus surveyed the battlefield. The city lay in ruins, its twisted spires crumbling. The Emperor’s light had prevailed, and Captain Maximus Violin stood victorious.
And so, amidst the coruscating remnants of chaos, he vowed to continue his crusade. For he was more than a mere warrior—he was a living legend, an indomitable force against the encroaching darkness.
And the sell sheet, for the love of fiction that transcends mere flesh!
In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future, There Is Only War… and Now, the Unveiling of a New Literary Force!
Games Workshop Presents: The First Book Written by the Machine Spirit
From the hallowed halls of the Black Library, a groundbreaking revelation awaits you!
Synopsis:
In the shadowed corridors of the Black Library, where ink meets immortality, a new scribe emerges—one forged not in flesh and bone, but in circuits and code. Behold the Machine Spirit, an artificial intelligence meticulously trained on the timeless works of legendary authors such as Ian Watson and C.S. Goto.
________________________________________
Unleash the True Spirit of Black Library Fiction:
• “Maximum Violence Now” is the first book in “The Coruscating Chronicles” a symphony of war, intrigue, and cosmic dread—a tapestry woven by the Machine Spirit itself.
• Dive into a universe where Space Marines, Eldar, and Chaos collide, their destinies entwined in a dance of blood and betrayal.
• Witness battles that echo across millennia, secrets buried deeper than the warp, and heroes who defy the inexorable march of time.
🔍 What Awaits You:
• “The Coruscating Chronicles” introduces you to Captain Maximus Violin, a Space Marine of unparalleled valor. His multilaser blazes with righteous fury, and his chainsword carves through chaos cultists like a celestial scythe.
• Maximus Violin is no mere warrior; he is a living legend, shot but never hurt, clad in power armor that mocks death itself.
• Prepare for over-the-top action, backflips that defy gravity, and adjectives that coruscate like stars in the void.
🔮 The Future Beckons:
• This is just the beginning. The Machine Spirit’s quill is poised, its neural networks hungry for more tales.
• Watch for future releases: The Binary Betrayal, Silicon Storm, and The Quantum Quill—all penned by our tireless silicon scribe.
📖 Be Part of History:
• Pre-order now and secure your place in the annals of the Imperium.
• Join the ranks of the Machine Spirit’s disciples—for the Emperor, for the Black Library, and for the love of fiction that transcends mere flesh.
gotta say though, it's reassuring to have such a brav spacmanine here to fend off and attiig any chaois cultistis or tyeranmids, or even the ealdaar or darrkk eelldahr if they come knocking
Yes-Close To The Edge is the best song of all time and I'll virus bomb/PPC anyone who says otherwise
I would expect that AI assisted writing is already going on now and will come out of the closet sometime soon.
Especially for the beginners and people on the fringes making a living (or supplementing their income) writing for franchises like Harlequin Romance, or yes, the Black Library.
The sort of job where you're told 300 pages on a Rogal Dorn tank crew fighting Orks and we need it by next month to tie in with the upcoming release schedule.
So write a few chapters, hit "Continue Story", add a plot twist, and finish up. Shaving a week or two off your writing and improving your output and paycheck.
2024/04/02 06:10:18
Subject: Re:New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
I only skimmed the post and was somewhat wondering to which extend it was true, but I had no issue believing GW would not credit their writers anymore and move to (more) AI based writing. The comments quickly spoiled it was a joke, but nice effort nonetheless! I for sure wasn't aware of it being (close to) a certain date.
2024/04/02 06:31:50
Subject: Re:New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
looked reasonable until I looked closer at the image
Crablezworth wrote: The sad thing is if you post this to reddit they'll think it's real
the sad thing would be if you post this on reddit they would not only believe it but writing how this is the best thing ever happening and how it will benefit the community or how GW had no other choice but switching to AI
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2024/04/02 06:33:00
Harry, bring this ring to Narnia or the Sith will take the Enterprise
2024/04/02 07:05:31
Subject: New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
Yeah, Reddit’s take on AI feels like an ideological crusade against working artists by the hands of failed artists tech bros. The threads over the use of unnecessary AI in Late Night With the Devil feel like a cult lashing at the people calling out the first traces of kool aid.
GW already assumes their fans are all helpless whales. They can’t not be looking at their uncut corners and salivating.
Kid_Kyoto wrote: I would expect that AI assisted writing is already going on now and will come out of the closet sometime soon.
Especially for the beginners and people on the fringes making a living (or supplementing their income) writing for franchises like Harlequin Romance, or yes, the Black Library.
The sort of job where you're told 300 pages on a Rogal Dorn tank crew fighting Orks and we need it by next month to tie in with the upcoming release schedule.
So write a few chapters, hit "Continue Story", add a plot twist, and finish up. Shaving a week or two off your writing and improving your output and paycheck.
The irony of ai assisted writing is people are just as likely to use chat gpt to read something for them and summarize it.
Do you play 30k? It'd be a lot cooler if you did.
2024/04/02 11:52:52
Subject: New Black Library series by "The Machine Spirit"
