Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Black Library'.
-
Hey there, we've been waiting for two years until we finally got a long desired novel about the "recently" introduced "new" faction that is the Leagues of Votann. It was rather quickly sold out (both version) but to my surprise, it hasn't been talked about in here. Is the interest simply non existing or what happened? I, for one, wasn't able to get a copy due to my missing the release but still. Someone should/ might've read or started it by now, right? Very curious about your thoughts about this one. Please, don't turn this into another "Oh god it's Gav" threads. We had our very share of such posts in the past. Imho, his worldbuiling in Luther was superb (and the novel itself) so that's probably what I'm most intrigued of. Cheers, Kel
- 10 replies
-
- Leagues of Votann
- Black Library
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Black Library Era of Ruin anthology leak
Joe posted a topic in + NEWS, RUMORS, AND BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS +
Courtesy of Facebook, a big ol' anthology series for the Scouring seems to have leaked. Album here. -
Many years ago, Laurie Goulding( Writer and editor for BL during lot of time. Now, he is Narrative Director of the League Studio Creative eXpressions Team at Riot Games Inc) intervened in a forum (now closed and lost most of the information on it) gave Black Library's official Primarch discovery order. Thankfully, this information was rescued and posted again here, but after so many years some few notes must be added. Anyway, this still looks like canonical. Well, as much canonical something about Warhammer can be, from GW! I add some extra notes at the end. Horus Lupercal* Leman Russ [DELETED FROM IMPERIAL RECORDS]** Ferrus Manus Fulgrim Vulkan Rogal Dorn Roboute Guilliman Magnus the Red Sanguinius Lion El'Jonson Perturabo Mortarion Lorgar Aurelian Jaghatai Khan Konrad Curze Angron Corvus Corax [DELETED FROM IMPERIAL RECORDS] Alpharius Omegon*** Notes: *Officially, Horus was the first recovered Primarch but in the novel Alpharius: Head of the Hydra, Alpharius himself states that he was the first Primarch recovered, hidden by the Emperor and Malcador for secret purposes. He was recovered in Terra, in Zharinam (aka Zhari Namco) Plateau. Remember, is Alpharius. Can be true or not... ** The Primarch of the Second Legion, according the Book Fulgrim: The Palatine Phoenix. So, the other is the Eleventh Primarch, the 19th recovered. ***Instead of Alpharius,was Omegon, his twin brother. Stated by Alpharius in Alpharius: Head of the Hydra. Same counsel as above (See *). Hope you can find this useful.
- 6 replies
-
- primarch
- Laurie Goulding
-
(and 4 more)
Tagged with:
-
+ Epilogue + I was there. I was always there. I was there that day, when Horus slew the Emperor... The words cling to my being even as the world Ends around me, the Death promised so long ago. It is the only thing I hear. Here at my Death, at the End of my duties the realization burns like a pyre light in the darkness of the Sea of Souls. My eyes bore witness to many things. Stories and secrets, forbidden rites, and arcana. For I was there. I was there that day, at the Whisper Heads, on 63-19. I was there when the laws of our universe were undone. When brother first fought brother by the whims of the Warp. I fought on both sides... I was there... I remember the first time a questioned you, the first time I felt doubt in my heart. My Father who knew all, but would not tell. I imagine that is how you must have felt towards your own Father? Even before it all. Even as you walked beside him. As I walked beside you. My soul is a tiny thing. A little ember in the swirling universe, yet I can feel their eyes upon me. The last loyal Son of Horus, the last Luna Wolf. Two opposite truths alive and reborn in the same soul. I who learned to kill for the living and dead from my Father who I love. Who I helped kill. The Loyal Traitor. An Ouroboros, the aspect missing in the Old Four's Tarot. I was there the first time you Died... And I now wonder if that Death would have been a mercy. For in the End, in your true Death. You regretted all. The Father I loved conquered the Father they made you become. The one I helped End. I was there... I was there when Istvaan burned from your Heresy. I was there when the Mournival killed itself. I was there, beside Abaddon when Little Horus killed Tarik. I was there... Their wants and desires swirl and coalesce. It pours into me, grafting me with a new name... I was there for all of it... Seven long years of war, the prelude to the Long War. Trillions lives lost, Trillions new Neverborn to fight it. The End of a Dream, the beginning of a Nightmare. The Age of Darkness to birth the Far Future. The Death of the Imperium, for there will only be War. I was there, in Remembrance. I was there in their struggles. I was there when Mersadie Oliton drew her last. Thinking of that pict of the Monster... and the one of Me. I was there when Euphrati Keeler lost and found her Faith, the Blade for the ages to come. I was there for every lecture of Kyril Sindermann. Who thought me the truth of the Warp. I was the man beside them, in the beginning. I was there, a Vengeful Spirit aboard the flagship, as the galaxy burned. I was there, the only name I could hear. I was there beside me. I was all around me. Always. I was... I was there this day, when the Emperor slew Horus.
- 1 reply
-
- The Horus Heresy
- Siege Of Terra
- (and 8 more)
-
Hello Fraters, This is a public release to advise that the Cabal of Dead Ink will hopefully be publishing its first PDF project for general availability through the Downloads section soon. (Pending Admin approval etc). The release will be an original short story set in the run up to the Badab War, featuring new or barely known characters, and will hopefully be the first in a series from different perspectives and POV of both the Loyalists and Secessionist forces. It will also contain original artwork (covers and maybe interior art) of the same subject. It will not be a graphic novel product. You can rest assured that all artwork will be board and subject appropriate. The reason for this notice is to not only create interest, but also to prevent any concerns of improper use of the artwork. You can see one of our previous Notices of Interest for Graphic Designers/Digital Artists. We have sourced work from a professional artist called Dan Morison, who has been very generous in allowing us to use his art for this purpose, without remuneration as per GW IP Policy. We have permission to use it, and an email chain to provide evidence of what was agreed. Further, he will receive proper accreditation in the publications we make. The Cabal of Dead Ink would like to use this opportunity to highlight Dan's great style, and to give our public thanks to him for his trust and support. We would encourage anyone interested to go and see his stuff. We are still continuing with our plan in creating a BL Submissions Anthology, which will showcase the work of those who gave their shot to the recent Open Submissions window, but may have been declined, missed the window, or decided not to proceed for whatever reason. We are also working with Fraters within this forum to enhance and support our work with formatting and artistic skills, such as @TheTrans We look forward to discussing this further with any interested parties. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to PM me, or respond below, and I'll reply as soon, and as fully, as I can. I would also like to thank the help and support of the Cabal with getting us all this far. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, for which I am eternally grateful. The Secession, and our Story, continues. Maz.
- 1 reply
-
- Fan Fiction
- Badab War
- (and 6 more)
-
I know many of us are anxiously awaiting Dan Abnett’s TEATD Vol. 2 (maybe 3 as well, who the feth knows?) and that once Dan puts a bow on the Heresy, a lot of people are going to want BL to pursue a series following the events of the Scouring. I personally am not a fan of this idea, as it feels like so much of the “mystery” of that age has been explained or clarified by the Heresy series and I think the setting as a whole loses a bit of charm when it’s all spelled out. Not to mention the fact that I think it would be a suboptimal use of BL’s current resources. The DoF books need to be wrapped up, as well as probably 7-8 other trilogies/sequels that people are dying to read for 40k. After the editing woes and mixed reception of the Dawn of Fire series, I’m not sure I trust Kyme and Co. to start another series right after the marathon that was the Heresy just yet. The last thing I want is another Beast Arises fiasco. I’d love to hear y’all’s thoughts on the matter! Cheers, LTL
-
I was there… After 63 books and 17 years, the story of the Horus Heresy will finally come to its close with The End and the Death. It's been a long, sometimes bumpy, but more often than not epic road from Horus Rising to here. While reading certain moments of the recently released The End and the Death Volume 1 I was honestly feeling quite moved by the fact that we have now actually reached the finishing line of this journey that started all the way back in 2006. For a series with such an impossibly high page-count as the HH and with such an enormous mountain of stories published under its banner, the question of "What's the best reading order?" has basically become its own genre among fans by now. In response to this, there are plenty of "Just the hits"-rundowns, "Avoid at all costs"-blacklists, trackers for specific Legions and Primarchs, or the awesome achievement of Black Librarium’s series spanning web of connections...They're all out there and all have their worth, in my opinion. And honestly? It's just fun to create these kinds of things. It's fun to think about a series that one has spent so much time with, it's fun to dissect it, to edit it, to try to make sense of it. That's one of the reasons I've always loved playing around with reading orders, or why I'm always delighted to talk about this when a friend asks me where to go next in the series. With regards to a reading order and the question of the perfect way to publish the Horus Heresy I was always fond of omnibuses. Black Library at one point got serious with bundling the HH into sensible story-packages and started releasing the HH in omnibus format: Crusade's End, The Razing of Prospero and The Last Phoenix. Those three books all collected two or three novels of the burgeoning series alongside a chosen handful of the scattered novellas and short-stories into a story package that guided a reader right along a chosen thread of the Heresy-web. I loved them! But alas, it was not meant to last: Black Library stopped producing further omnibuses and eventually even stopped selling the existing ones. Still, the idea of omnibuses for the HH had stuck with me, and I kept throwing together reading orders for my custom "omnibuses" for fun. In 2021, I decided to get serious with this and started a personal, series-spanning project: +++ The Horus Heresy Omnibus Project: https://www.heresyomnibus.com +++ What I present there is a reading order that assembles every Horus Heresy novel, novella and short story into a network of twenty-one (theoretical) omnibuses. The result is a fully-grown website that's supposed to help navigate and hopefully entice people to engage with this humongous, mad, epic literary series that has accompanied me and so many other fans for such a long time and will hopefully entertain new readers for years to come. Along the way I started collaborating with the incredibly talented pixel artist Eric Alloway, who had started painting pixel versions of Horus Heresy characters on his Twitter account . We both liked what the other one was doing and decided to join forces. As a result, the website is now littered with pixel versions of all the major Horus Heresy characters, which should make browsing the page fun for veterans and newcomers alike. A friend of mine with experience in software engineering completes our three-man team and takes care of the IT-side of things, of which I understand next to nothing. The website has been way over a year in the making and I hope that both existing fans that eagerly await the final Volume of The End and the Death to hit the shelves as well as newcomers who are just starting to get interested in The Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 find the site useful or at least fun to browse. It would mean a lot to us if fans of these books would engage with and enjoy what we’ve built here, so if you like what you see, please spread the word! We’re also happy to receive constructive feedback to further improve the site. The site will also be the place where I will publish reviews, blog posts, interviews and my long-form analysis of Warhammer books through the lens of different schools of psychology, so if you're interested in this it might be worth a visit and return from time to time. Currently available are Stories told by Monsters, an analysis of Josh Reynolds’s Fabius Bile- and Lukas the Trickster- novels through the lens of Narrative Therapy, and The Dark Coil in contact with Gestalt therapy, an analysis of Peter Fehervari's Dark Coil series through the lens of Gestalt Therapy. Down the line I have a project in the works about a certain Angel and his murderous vigilante brother, so if you're interested in that, stay tuned. For orientation, I recommend starting out with the first omnibus or taking a look at the FAQ. We've also opened threads about the project on Twitter and Reddit, so if you are active there, come and say hi!
- 13 replies
-
- Horus Heresy
- Art
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
FERRYMEN ADEPTUS ASTARTES: REVILERS CHAPTER CONCEPT: NARRATIVE SUMMARY (Max 100 Words): Sergeant Ravyx Atton leads a Phobos Strike Team from the secretive Revilers Space Marine Chapter. When the navigators of a Torchbearer fleet are incapacitated by a psychic trap, becalming them in Magellan’s Crucible – a fluctuating passage through the Cicatrix Maledictum – Atton and his men deploy to the embattled world of Aluxan to sequester their psychic novices, in order to save the fleet and prosecute the will of Roboute Guilliman. Strike Team: Charon must infiltrate and evade the legions of rebels to effect a rescue, and thwart a deadly plot by the Alpha Legion, before time runs out EXTRACT (Max 500 Words): Racing to the door, Atton tore smoke grenades from his body webbing, hurling them down either corridor, before stepping out, sweeping the carbine left and right. Telemetry depicted where the rest of his team were, and they moved as fast as he, efficiently from room-to-room. His foot smashed doors in, then a shock grenade, followed by a sweep of the space with the carbine. He set the weapon stablight to strobe, for maximum disruption, erupting into the confined quarters at the same moment as the pummelling concussion thundered. Heretics were blasted off their feet by the detonation, before the scene became a series of flash-picter images. Atton executed them with tight shots from the suppressed carbine, not a round wasted. He was grateful for the forward grip; the mobility of the weapon was exceptional. Moving to another room, he repeated the sequence, and it sounded like a storm was battling to escape the temple. Great bolts of noise were quelled by the baffles in his auto-senses. Heretics reeled from his attack, hands pressed to cover popped eardrums, before Atton put them out of their misery with a wicked volley. One of them, mutated into a hulking brute, crashed through the wall before he could ready his next bomb. It roared at him, grappling him from behind, in a slew of plaster and stonework. The mutant’s clutching claws snapped the strap on his bolt carbine, sending it spinning away, as the creature barrelled forward, trying to make him a permanent fixture within the opposite wall. The power of his foe was tremendous, muscle-corded arms wrapping his body, trapping his limbs, rivalling his Rubicon-wrought strength. Anger spurred defiance. Atton pushed off with his feet, hurling both combatants back through the jagged gap the mutant had opened, and they tumbled together crunching furniture and ripping down hanging silks. The heretic-beast shifted grip, clamping its paw over his face, fingers fused into two long talons, hooking onto his skull mask and trying to wrench his helmet off. The change gave him a chance, and he got his left arm free, seizing a broken table leg and thrusting it up behind him where his Lyman’s Ear discerned the enemy’s voice box. Clotted, guttural bellowing announced his success, and he twisted the stake, breaking it off, the pressure on his ribs vanishing as the brute grasped to remove the painful splinter. As they writhed, rolling across the floor, the mutant trapped Atton’s neck more by luck than skill, but even as the pressure warning indicator flared dangerous amber sigils, Atton’s hand closed on his heavy bolt pistol. Four shots pumped into the brutal knot of twisted muscle behind him. He didn’t care where he was hitting, Atton trusting that the Emperor’s ordained tools would do the work. The mutant howled even as its organs were pulverised, a strangled human note to the plaintive cry, before Atton punched the barrel under its blubbery chin, and blew its mismatched, horned head off in a shower of red-grey gruel. ++++++++++
- 3 replies
-
- Cabal of Dead Ink
- Black Library
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
From the album: Soric's Astartes
This image belongs to Games Workshop and Black Library.© Games Workshop and Black Library
-
- Black Library
- Horus Heresy
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hello, all! Disregard this post if something similar has been posted already, but I'm brand new to B&C so here goes :) A lot is happening with the Lion, Vashtorr, and the Arks of Omen story at the moment, but aside from the obligatory Lion book and the inevitable Ultra book about fighting 'nids in Pacificus, what is everyone looking forward to/hoping for from Black Library in the current timeline- through the end of 10th? GW has to have the brotherly reunion at some point and a lot of folks are still waiting for the third Bequin book, not to mention the Blood Angels'/ Dante's new role in Nihilus. I'd love to hear your hopes & dreams, leave them below!
-
From the album: HH Artwork
-
- Horus Heresy
- Black Library
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
From the album: Books
Second room of books -
From the album: Books
-
For those wondering about this novel https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/01/17/gary-kloster-interview-master-lazarus-crossing-the-rubicon-primaris-and-his-first-feature-novel/ Also, GW confirms that Belial is also crossing the Rubicon, not only Asmodai, which makes him the first Terminator character to do so.
-
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/ahriman-unchanged.jpg Exciting times as BL announced officially the next Ahriman novel, Unchanged. You can read an extract too (epub format). John mentioned on Facebook that it is indeed the third novel. Given John's importance to the Horus Heresy in both BL and FW formats, it's always good to see what he's imagining. I wonder if he will be writing a fair bit of the fluff in FW Propsero whenever it emerges :)
- 68 replies
-
- AhrimanJohn French
- Chaos Space Marines
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Has anyone had a chance to read this one yet? I just recently got mine and am planning to start reading it this weekend. I’ve heard Dorn plays a part in the story.
-
WarCom Article. Was wondering when we'd get the next Siege of Terra novella. I guess this'll be the "Garro dies" book.
-
So, it's your first day starting as the new Big Decision Director for Black Library and suffice to say, you're feeling a heady mix of excitement and trepidation! You've met the staff on a guided tour and are now sat at your desk sipping a freshly made brew of your favorite mid morning tipple. Suddenly you get a call from The Big Cheese, Mr or Mrs Top of the Pile as it were, and He or She quickly dispenses with the pleasantries... "We're fist pumping the market again under the brand name Masterworks... we've got 10 slots available, because 10 is a nicer number than 9 you see. Horus Rising & Helsreach kick things off, because they're awesome, get back to me with the remaining 8 by end of play would you. Oh and welcome to the team!". You slowly take another sip, and because much like Horus Rising & Helsreach, you're also awesome, get straight to work filling in the gaps! - So there you have it people... i like the idea of a properly curated selection of Black Library Masterwork books, but my background knowledge of their catalog is limited, Roomskys Top 10 Essential Reads list was evidence of that! So how would you fill in the remaining gaps, we'll assume there's 8 to go, Masterworks is the name, making a list is the game! Horus Rising Helsreach
-
I am lacking in the lore pertaining to the truth of the Alpha Legion. But I want to know as of yet what is it we know? Who are the Alpha truly aligned with? Where is Alpharius and Omegon? What have they and the Alpha Legion done as a whole in the present setting in 40k? If you guys could kindly fill me in, that would be awesome. I know you lore guys are out there!
-
Hail fraters! I have long wanted an overview of the available Dark Angel fiction, and have thus compiled a list, which I will here share. I might have missed a story or two, but if so, please let me know and I will update. So, without further ado - fantastic tales of the Unforgiven and where to find them: Warhammer 30k - The Horus Heresy – The Age of Darkness Leman Russ - The Great Wolf (The Primarchs vol. II) (by Chris Wraight) Leman Russ and the Lion clash on the world of Dulan, starting the feud between the Lion and the Wolf that lasts for 10.000 years. Once I get the book, I will read it and update here with my opinion on it. So, bought the book, read it, loved it. It is truly a fantastic tale. Extremely well written. Though it is not a thick book by any means, it manages to portray the Dulan conflict in new light, while still remaining true to the original piece of fluff. Now, finally, we Dark Angels have a novel that presents the Lion in a flattering light, a novel where his tactical and strategic expertise is aptly demonstrated. Finally, we have a Lion who is not written by Gav Thorpe! I can only give this novel my highest recommendations! It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/january/leman-russ-ebook.html. Exocytosis (by James Swallow) A 2016 Advent quick read concerning Luther of Caliban and his friend Calas Typhon of the Death Guard. I have not read it, but will update with my thoughts once I get it. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/new-titles/new-feat/exocytosis-ebook.html. Descent of Angels (by Mitchel Scanlon) Concerning the early history of Caliban before the coming of the Emperor. I liked it a lot, but it has been dished for not being particularly relevant to the overall Horus Heresy storyline. With more in common with a fantasy novel than W40k, it has divided the fans. I liked it, and would have liked Scanlon to have written more. The one thing I did not like about it was that the ending felt incredibly rushed, and that the author should have spent another 50-100 pages rounding it off. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/descent-of-angels-ebook.html. Fallen Angels (by Mike Lee) Mike Lee continues the tale of the Dark Angels in “Fallen Angels” and this time the action continues on the world of Diamat, where the Lion tries to stymie Horus´ efforts to win the war. I like it, and would have preferred Lee to handle the Dark Angels instead of Gav Thorpe. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/fallen-angels-hardback.html. Call of the Lion (by Gav Thorpe) Astelan turns up here, and is in conflict with another Dark Angel commander. It continues the plot that there is a schism between the Calibanite Angels and the Terrans. Which IMHO is a horrible plot line. The story is not half bad, though. Generally I am of the opinion that Mr. Thorpe does short stories better than he does novels (of the Dark Angels variety, that is). It is available in audio drama here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/horus-heresy/hh-audio/call-of-the-lion-audio.html. Savage Weapons (by Aaron Dempski-Bowden) This is fantastic! The Lion portrayed as he should be, facing off against Konrad Curze. I am a huge fan of this, and have read it a number of times. Go read it. Now. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/savage-weapons-ebook.html The Lion (by Gav Thorpe) Another short, portraying the Lion as a lunatic unable to control his emotions, slaying advisors who gainsay him. The Iron Hands and Death Guard have short cameos in this as well. Horrible stuff really, and yet another example of Thorpe mishandling the First Legion. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-lion-ebook.html. Grey Angel (by Gav Thorpe) A Knight-Errant in the bowls of a Caliban dungeon being interrogated. I will have to listen to it again, or track it down in prose form, in order to decide whether it is actually good or not. Ok - so I got it in prose form. This was actually a lot better than I remembered it to be. The basic premise of the novel is that Loken is being interrogated by Luther, while trying to figure out whether the 1st Legion is loyal or not. It is mostly "filler", but does serve to advance the Dark Angel storyline a tiny bit. It is available in audio here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/grey-angel-mp3.html or in writing here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/grey-angel-eshort.html. Master of the First (by Gav Thorpe) Astelan and Luther scheme on Caliban, and a rebellion is afoot. The voice acting is superb and the story is a lot better than what I have come to expect from Mr. Thorpe. I enjoyed it, so take it at that. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/master-of-the-first-mp3.html. By the Lion´s Command (by Gav Thorpe) I have not read this yet, so will update when I have actually done so. Might be good…might be Thorpe-ish. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/by-the-lions-command-ebook.html. The Prince of Crows (by Aaron Dempski-Bowden) The Dark Angels and Night Lords clash in what I gather to be the final battle of the Thramas campaign. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. ADB shows once again that he is a very, very capable author and does justice to both legions. Read it. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/prince-of-crows-ebook.html. Wolf King (by Chris Wraight) A Horus Heresy novella, detailing what happens to Leman Russ following "The Burning of Prospero" and the opening scenes of "Scars". I have not read it, but the Dark Angels play a pivotal role, I have been told. Once it is released as part of the a mass market paperback omnibus, I will read it and update. It is currently available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/new-titles/new-feat/wolf-king-ebook.html The Unremembered Empire (by Dan Abnett) Though the Ultramarines are the star of the show, the Lion and the 1st Legion do have a rather important role to play throughout the novel. Abnett´s portrayal of the Lion is one that I like, and though Curze does the “I am Batman” throughout the novel and handles three Primarchs in close combat rather efficiently, it is an ok book. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-unremembered-empire-hardback-edition.html. The Long Night (by Aaron Dempski-Bowden) More concerned with Sevatar of the Night Lords, the Dark Angels feature as his gaolers following the events in The Prince of Crows. I have not read it, but would very much like to. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-long-night-eshort.html. Angels of Caliban (by Gav Thorpe) I have not read the book yet, but am looking forward to it. I have read that the author (who I am not a fan of) was rather micromanaged by the IP director at Games Workshop/Black Library during the writing of the novel, and that this has had a very positive effect on the author´s product. Though written by Gav Thorpe, I am looking forward to reading it. Once I have read it (ie. when it comes out in mass market paperback) I will update this post with my thoughts on it. The book is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/angels-of-caliban-ebook.html. Warhammer 40k - Age of War Azrael (by Gav Thorpe) Concerns Azrael, Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels. I have not read it yet, but have bought the Limited Edition, despite it having been written by Gav Thorpe. My expectations are very low, so I can only be happily surprised. Once I have actually read the book, I will edit this post and provide further thoughts on it. So - I have read the book. It did have some good parts, but mostly it was what I have come to expect of Mr. Thorpe, when he writes about the Dark Angels. Bland writing and a plot that was telegraphed from miles away. Nothing really stands out about this book. It is pretty much a by-the-numbers book. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/sml-azrael-ebook.html. Azrael: Protector of Secrets (by C.Z. Dunn) A well-written quick read, about the final assault on a renegade governor´s fortress, and how the Dark Angels cooperate with trusted allies of the Astra Militarum. It is a short three pager, and I enjoyed it for what it is. With only so much space to work with, the level of depth is limited. I feel, however, that C.Z. Dunn has done a good job in the space available. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/advent-day-five-azrael-protector-of-secrets-ebook.html. Sammael: Lord of the Eternal Hunt (by Ben Counter) A very short quick read, concerning the difficulties faced by Sammael when trying to balance the Chapter´s obligations to erstwhile allies and the obligations on the Chapter on account of the events following the Horus Heresy. It is interesting, but all too brief to allow for any real storytelling or depth. During a short commute, it can be used to idle the time away, but it provides nothing of real relevance or surprise and is as easily forgotten, as it is read. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/advent-day-twenty-four-sammael-lord-of-the-eternal-hunt.html. Trials of Azrael (by C.Z . Dunn) This audio drama is a tie-in with the Pandorax novel written by the same author. It takes place during the opening phases of the campaign, when the Dark Angels are just intervening. Supreme Grand Master Azrael gets separated from his men and is led on a cat and mouse chase through the bowls of an Imperial warship, along with the infamous Khârn the Betrayer. All in all, I found this to be an interesting and exciting yarn, full of enough twists to keep me more attentive on this, than on painting. The voice acting is nothing short of excellent and the atmospherics throughout are brilliant. I rate this as an A+ production! The audio drama is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/trials-of-azrael-mp3.html. The Last Guardian (by C.Z . Dunn) The Deathwatch along with an inquisitor board an abandoned and desolate Eldar Craftworld. It continues the character development of Balthasar, later Company Master of the 5th Company. The voice acting and effects are good, the story is for a Dark Angels fan delicious! I would recommend listening to it while you paint up some Dark Angels! It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/deathwatch-last-guardian-mp3.html.... The Ascension of Balthasar (by C.Z . Dunn) Following leads on the Fallen, the Dark Angels fall into a trap laid by the Crimson Slaughter and must fight their way out. As I have come to expect from the various audio dramas, the voice acting is extremely good, the effects magnificient. This is a fantastic production and I am happy that I got it. It – just as Pandorax and (probably) also Deathwatch: The Last Guardian, ties in with the Dark Vengeance novella by the same author. If you have not gotten it, I would recommend it to any Dark Angel fan. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/ascension-of-balthasar-mp3.html. Malediction (by C.Z . Dunn) Featuring Master Tigraine from the App game Freeblade, it details a victory feast held in honour of a retiring Astra Militarum Colonel. The feast is unexpectedly attended by Master Tigraine of the Dark Angels 6th Company, who asks the Colonel to recount the tale of how he became a hero. I enjoyed it immensely, the twists and turns of the story along with brilliant voice acting made this a hit with me. I would highly recommend it! It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/malediction-mp3.html. Pandorax (by C.Z . Dunn) What to make of this one. I have only read the book, and not listened to the audio version. The book ties in heavily with Dark Vengeance, also by the same author. Though the writing in this one is not exactly stellar, the story of the Pandorax Campaign is nevertheless an interesting one. I bought both this and the campaign Warzone supplement, and have generally been happy with the purchase. It details the fight against the Black Legion and their Red Corsair allies by the Dark Angels, Astra Militarum and Grey Knights. The most interesting bit is without a doubt, the side tale of a mysterious Grey Knight, who wants to deal with neither the Dark Angels nor his supposed brothers of the 666th Chapter. As to who this Grey Knight is, I hope we will find out in the future… It can be found here as an audio book: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/pandorax-unabridged-audiobook-mp3.html Dark Vengeance (by C.Z . Dunn) Released as a supplement to the Dark Vengeance starter box, it reads much like a video game; the story is told from several viewpoint characters, who all feature in the box set. I found it an entertaining light read, and though it is almost entirely “bolter porn”, the viewpoints of Turmiel the Librarian I found to be of particular interest. The Dark Angels are fighting against the dastardly Crimson Slaughter, who are trying to enact a ritual with the Hellfire Stone mentioned in the Pandorax tale as well. It follows on the audio drama The Ascension of Balthasar. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/dark-vengeance-ebook.html. The Purging of Kadillus (by Gav Thorpe) Oh, where to begin. The Dark Angels had their very own campaign supplement back in the days of yore. It was called Storm of Vengeance and featured the Dark Angels defending a little known world against the Orks led by two infamous warbosses. Gav Thorpe has used the campaign supplement to write this novel, and while it does shine in places, for the most part it portrays Master Belial of the 3rd Company as an angst ridden, indecisive “leader”, who seeks affirmation in juniors prior to giving orders. I am not a fan of this novel, and would not recommend it, as it is generally poorly written with stilted dialogue and dull battle scenes. And, oh yes, the interrogator-chaplains are again portrayed as blinkered fools. It is part of the Space Marine Battles series, and is the worst of those I have read. Mind you, I have not read the “Hunt for Voldorius”, which supposedly is terrible. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/The-Purging-of-Kadillus-ebook.html. It can be bought cheaper on Amazon Prime (almost half price) and the Book Depository . Unforgiven (by Graham McNeill) The Dark Angels fight in multiple campaigns across the galaxy, defending the Emperor´s domains against traitors and heretics. In one such campaign, Sergeant Kaelen comes into contact with his Chapter´s dark past – and it is a thrilling, well-penned read, also providing a view into how a battle-brother can advance in the ranks of the Circle. It is available as a short story here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/unforgiven-ebook.html. Deathwing (by William King & Bryan Ansell) The seminal story about the origins of the Deathwing, and the tale of Cloud Runner fighting to prevent his home world, a Dark Angel recruiting planet, from falling into darkness at the hands of a Genestealer Cult. It is well-written, gripping and provides insight into this most prestigious of the Dark Angel companies; the first company. Highly recommended…and one can almost not claim allegiance to the Dark Angels without having read this fantastic tale! It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/deathwing-short-story-ebook.html. The Black Pearl (by Chris Pramas) To my knowledge, this was first released as part of the Inferno! magazine. It is a gripping tale of a Chaplain´s obsession with finding a relic from the time of the Heresy, and the lengths to which he will go to procure it. The tale is broken into two story lines, one being the present battle the Chaplain finds himself in, the other being the interrogation of a Fallen. I remember the story as one of the first I read about the Dark Angels, along with Deathwing and Unforgiven, and thus it rates high in my opinion. It is available here as a short story: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-black-pearl-ebook.html The Falls of Marakross (by Steve Parker) From the same collection of short stories as A Balance of Faith, Vindicare and Tears of Blood, it is without a doubt the best of the four stories. Well written and with an interesting plot, it is solely the language used in the interaction between the Dark Angel protagonist and an inquisitor, which comes off as odd at times. Still, I enjoyed it immensely, and would happily read another piece of Dark Angel fiction by Mr. Parker. The short story can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-falls-of-marakross-ebook.html. Tears of Blood (by C.S. Goto) Hunting rumours of the Fallen, the Dark Angels are drawn to the world of Tyrine, which has fallen to the Arch-Enemy. Also drawn to it, are the Eldar of Craftworld Kaelor, as they try to avert catastrophy befalling their world. The short story is actually more about the Eldar, than the Dark Angels, and ties directly into the events following those of C.S. Goto´s “Eldar Prophecy”. Its relevance to the Dark Angels is minor and almost entirely irrelevant. The Marines of the First Legion could easily have been replaced with those of any other Chapter and there is next to zero character development for the Angels. The Eldar, as they are characters continuing from “Eldar Prophecy” are far more developed. Overall, I would rate this one as barely worth the time it took to read the 33 Ipad pages. The short story can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/tears-of-blood-ebook.html. Vindicare (by C.S. Goto) The Biel-Tan Swordwind has descended, and a lone Vindicare Assassin is poised to try and thwart them. Aiding the defense of the planet is a considerable number of Dark Angels…who get the Imperial Fist treatment. Suffering horrific losses in no time, the Dark Angels receive a very harsh treatment at the hands of the author. Generally, the story is very straightforward without any particular surprises or literary memorable moments. Overall, the Dark Angels are not the protagonists of the story, it adds nothing to our annals besides a grim defeat supervised by a nameless captain. Further, our Terminators and Tactical Marines are fielded in “squadrons”, and Terminators evidently vault into battle wielding chainswords… Give it pass, unless you really have nothing else to do… The short story can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/vindicare-ebook.html. A Balance of Faith (by Darren-Jon Ashmore) A short story, where a Dark Angel librarian is the side character to a Sister Hospitaliers crisis of faith. For what it is, it is alright. By no means essential, and its age does show. Black Library writing has come a long way since this was published in 2006. The short story can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/balance-of-faith-ebook.html. Sons of Fenris (by Lee Lightner) Book 5 of the Space Wolves series featuring an invincible and invulnerable Ragnar Blackmane. It also portrays the Dark Angels in a most unflattering light, being the prime antagonists of the Dark Angels. I believe that the entire book has been retconned, as the actions of both Chapters would have grievous repercussions of both and the Imperium as a whole. The tale is moderately interesting, and I bought it on a whim years ago, so that I would have something to read, while I commuted to work. I bought it solely on account of the Dark Angels being in it, as I have not read the other books in the Space Wolves series, nor anything else about Ragnar Blackmane…though I might get the new Legends of the Space Marines Ragnar Blackmane by Aaron Dempski-Bowden, which feature the Dark Angels as well… On a whole, I would not recommend this novel. The writing is uninspired, and the Space Wolves are depicted as being levels above the Dark Angels in ability, tactical acumen, battlecraft skills and…well…everything. Available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/sons-of-fenris-ebook.html. Easy Prey (by C.Z. Dunn) It is a very brief, 2½ Ipad page, quick read about a Dark Angel Tactical Marine hunting down a sniper. Though brief, it is well written and immediately got me in the mood, as we follow the tense hunt for an unknown sniper. I liked it, and would actually like to read more about the outcome of the campaign in which the quick read takes place. I would recommend it, for any who have a brief commute to do… It is available as a quick read here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/easy-prey-ebook.html Reparation (by Andy Smilie) To my knowledge, this is the only piece of Dark Angel fiction penned by Andy Smilie. It is a short read of about 13 Ipad pages, and I did enjoy the twist of it. I had not figured it out, though I was aware that something was off. The Dark Eldar antagonists of the read are suitably unpleasant and alien to make one want not to fall into their clutches. As with “Easy Prey” by C.Z. Dunn, I will happily recommend this to fans of the 1st Legion. Flesh of the Angel (by Robbie MacNiven) Concerning the exploits of brother Zameon Gydrael of the Deathwatch. It ties into the Deathwatch: Overkill game and was released as part of the Deathwatch: Ignition omnibus. I have not read it, but am thinking of buying just this short, so that I can read more Dark Angel fiction... It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/40k-qu-re/flesh-of-the-angel-ebook.html Vox Tenebris (by Robbie MacNiven) Taking place during the Warzone: Fenris conflict, it continues the tale of Zameon Gydrael, now a member of the Deathwing, and the Space Wolf from Deathwatch: Ignition series. I have not heard the audio drama, but once I do, I will update this with my opinion. Bought it, and listened to it! This is a brilliant audio drama! Well worth every penny I spent on it. The voice acting is well done, the plot is (for a dungeon crawler) very, very good, and the two protagonists have a wonderful back-and-forth dialogue. If Robbie MacNiven ever does a full Dark Angels novel, then, well, sign me up for it! It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/vox-tenebris-mp3.html Ragnar Blackmane (by Aaron Dempski-Bowden) The Young Wolf remembers old battles in order to fight new ones. One of the old conflicts in question, is the ancient feud between the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves. I have not read the book, but am thinking of getting it. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/ragnar-blackmane-ebook.html Angels of Darkness (by Gav Thorpe) As far as I know, this was the first full length piece of Dark Angels fiction released. It shows its age now, and ties into the old 90´ campaign set “Storm of Vengeance”. It tells the tale of Interrogator-Chaplain Boreas who has been left on Piscina IV following the Ork invasion. It is split between the present and a past interrogation he conducted. The novel split the community back then, though the author has explicitly stated that one should not trust the biased view and self-aggrandizing statements. As an early work of Black Library, it is worthy of a place on the shelf…but it comes with the major caveat of it having been written by Mr. Thorpe. It is far, far better, though, than his dismal “The Purging of Kadillus”. It is available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/angels-of-darkness-ebook.html, though it can be bought cheaper on Amazon Prime. Ravenwing (Legacy of Caliban vol. I) (by Gav Thorpe) Once I have bought and read the Omnibus, I will update this and post my review. The first of the Legacy of Caliban trilogy. It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/ravenwing-ebook.html Master of Sanctity (Legacy of Caliban vol. II) (by Gav Thorpe) Once I have bought and read the Omnibus, I will update this and post my review. The second of the Legacy of Caliban trilogy. It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/master-of-sanctity-ebook.html. Unforgiven (Legacy of Caliban vol. III) (by Gav Thorpe) Once I have bought and read the Omnibus, I will update this and post my review. The third and concluding part of the Legacy of Caliban trilogy. It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-unforgiven-ebook.html . Lords of Caliban anthology (by Gav Thorpe) An anthology of Dark Angel quick reads and short stories. It ties into the Legacy of Caliban series, and has now been released as part of the Legacy of Caliban Omnibus, which renders this particular anthology obsolete. It contains the following six quick reads & short stories: Accept No Failure Grand Master Belial deliberates his failure on Piscina IV against the Great Beast, Gharzaghkull Thraka, and debates whether to cut the losses of Dark Angels and simply order Exterminatus on the planet. He is aided by Asmodai, who is suitably psychotic and as always entirely unreliable. The portrayal of both Belial and Asmodai is suitably Gav Thorpe-ish, in that they are caricatures of supposedly brilliant military leaders, who are raked by self-doubt and unable to reach a decision. This does not apply to Asmodai, who is simply a far gone madman, who wants to see the galaxy burn. I am not a fan the portrayal of either. Azrael also has a showing, and he is done considerably better than either of the other two. Also available here as an audio drama: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/accept-no-failure-mp3.html. Holder of the Keys One of the Fallen is compelled to relive his memories of the fall of Caliban. The voice acting is good, even if the story is very short and seems to be without bearing to an overarching story line. It is interesting solely for the view it provides on what it is to be on the receiving end of an interrogation… Also available here as an audio drama: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/holder-of-the-keys-mp3.html. A Hunt in the Dark It is the tale of Sammaels ascension to the rank of Grand Master of the Ravenwing, and the trial he is subjected to, prior to him being affirmed in that august office. Though written by Gav Thorpe, it is actually not half-bad, and is one of his better pieces of Dark Angel fiction. I am luke warm about it, but mainly that is because it is written by Gav Thorpe, which makes for there being oddities in how one would conduct a military organization…even if it is in the far future, and we have space ships, and magic and daemons… It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/a-hunt-in-the-dark-ebook.html Honour of the Third Details the very early exploits of Belial, where he is evidently not the same insecure, angst ridden leader, that shows up in “The Purging of Kadillus”. It is a very short read, and is as easily forgettable as it is read. It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/honour-of-the-third-ebook.html Battle-Brothers Hunting through the bowls of a space station, the Ravenwing face some hard choices. I have read somewhere, that what happens in this story is set during the first few chapters of “Ravenwing”. It is ok, and might make more sense, if one had read “Ravenwing”. It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/battle-brothers-ebook.html. All Must End Tying in with the Legacy of Caliban trilogy, it details a librarian trying to glean clues from the warp, whilst the major players of the Dark Angels watch over him. Though written by Thorpe, it is not half bad, and I found it sufficiently interesting. Not his worst work by far. It can be found here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/lords-of-caliban-ebook.html. The novels “Ravenwing”, “Master of Sanctity” and “Unforgiven”, as well as the anthology Lords of Caliban, have all been released as the Legacy of Caliban omnibus, available here: http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/legacies-of-caliban-ebook.html. As far as I can tell, it is cheapest to buy on Amazon Prime. Rage of Asmodai (by C.Z. Dunn) Another C.Z. Dunn piece. I am not entirely sure how this one fits in with the rest of the Mr. Dunn's Dark Angels-storyline, but it was a fun, if too brief, tale of a number of Relictor Space Marines being aided by the infamous Chaplain Asmodai, trying to retrieve an artifact, whilst Asmodai wants a certain black armoured traitor Space Marine. Though it is not the best piece of fiction from Dunn's hand, the audio drama was well enough crafted to be entertaining. If you have a few pennies to spare, there are certainly worse purchases to be made out there. The audio drama is available here: https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-rage-of-asmodai-mp3.html. War of Secrets (by Phil Kelly) I have not heard particularly good things about this book - but nor have I read it. If I ever get my grubby hands on it, I will update this review. That said and done, this is all I have been able to find. Happy reading! Kind regards, Master Ciaphas
-
I'm wondering how many people read this... I've always been an ultra fan but very rarely enjoyed the fiction surrounding them.... Until Abnett fleshed out Calth etc... I know some people dislike Abnett here, but whatever... we all have different tastes. This is more about Guilliman because I'm wondering who's picking up that torch now that Abnett has more or less stopped writing about him. For a while I had hopes of other authors stepping in and then this book was announced. Honestly I didn't read it for a long for fear of hating it. Now I've almost completed this and I'm extremely mixed. I have personally met David Anandale and wanted to love it. Before I say anything to colour anyone's perception of it (especially someone who hasn't read it), I want to hear what you guys thought of it.
- 33 replies
-
- Roboute Guilliman
- Guilliman novel
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hey guys, As I started my Death Guard I got pretty sick... laid up in bed and I thought I'd slowly re read Dark Imperium. The first time I went through I whipped through it pretty quick upon release and it was definitely from an Ultra angle. I wanted to slow down and absorb the Death Guard aspect. Aside from the fact I tried to ignore it was at times geared towards a very young audience, I really liked how Death Guard gelled together until it got to the big three... Mort, Typhus and the Great Unclean dude. So here's my question... in all the Heresy novels it's almost repetitive that the Primarch comes off a little slow, and the first captain is usually the smart one, and naturally at odds with his Primarch. With Death Guard I did not think that was the case. But.... SPOILER ALERT: Right before the attack on Ultramar Typhus is chastising Mortarion claiming he is too late, and foolish for waiting for Guilliman to awaken. In fact Typhus makes it sounds like they could have wiped or at least put a very critical amount of damage on the '500' if they'd simply not waited so long to attack. This makes it feel like Mort has a personal vendetta... which I suppose is fine and it's usually why the good guys win. But beyond this first headscratcher the turmoil brewing between Typhus and Mortarion gets pretty bad. It seems Typhus accuses Mort of not fully accepting Nurgle into his life (like it's a cult or something). You get the sense Typhus wants Mort to feel second to him.... as in Typhus is the chosen of Nurgle, and Mort is just witness to all of his discoveries. Typhus also mentions discovering Nurgle first, and bringing it to Mort's attention. It's a weird scene and you're left with Mort feeling like he's got bigger problems on his own end then with Guiliman. I really don't understand it to be honest. Can anyone fill me in on this internal vendetta? They actually have a disdain that I think runs deeper than Ahriman and Magnus (though they seem to have buried the hatchet.)
- 30 replies
-
Has anybody see this over on the BL site? http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/summer-of-reading-2017-bundle.html 7 brand new short stories from BL to be released this week. 1. Grandfather's Gift - Guy Haley 2. Hardest Word - Dave Guymer 3. Shadows of Heaven - Gav Thorpe 4. Death Warrant - Robbie MacNiven 5. Auction of Blood - Josh Reynolds 6. Pride and Fall - Ian St.Martin 7. Restorer - Chris Wraight (I will link when I get chance, PC not playing at the moment)