News about Horus Heresy books, from Convention Secundus

[HaSY]

 

Last weekend, there was a fan-organised event as sort of replacement to Black Library Weekender:

 

Convention Secundus

 

http://conventionsecundus.info/itinerary/

 

The reason for such drought in the HH line is due to Betrayal of Calth that they want to build up for it but that did not turn out. But, the authors have been working and there would be huge influx. In Laurie Goulding's own words, "Be careful what you wish for."

 

 

 

What does 'it did not turn out' mean exactly? Like... it didn't come to fruition? Or it didn't sell well? Authors didn't complete assignments? The story died or changed?

 

And 'be careful what you wish for'... is that a warning against progressing the story towards terra? Or a warning against keeping the story around Ultramar?

 

 

 

From Gav Thorpe

 

Angels of Caliban

- incorporating from what was going to be dreadwing. Waiting for the return of draft for rewrites

- Continues the story on Caliban and Imperium Secundus as well as Lion hunting Curze.

 

Follow up to Corax in HH

 

Writing Book 8 of the Beast Rises

 

What is 'Pharos' referencing? (Sorry if I missed it)

 

The follow up to Corax- does that refer to Corax: Soulforge or one of the other Corax type books? (I'm just wondering if I should actually read that novel or not?)

 

Thanks for giving us the scoop!

 

DId not turn out is the only phrase I got lol

 

Prolly a gentle reminder that we will be swarmed with lots of books

As for Pharos

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17583151-pharos---horus-heresy-33

 

For Corax, it should be follow up after all those LEs.

[veterannoob]

We did mention there are a lot of stories which were held because of BaC box set and we should be seeing them soon. Only details we have are from the 4 book covers shown at 40K open day. If only I could find some way to write BL books off for taxes... ;)

[HeritorA]

'The reason for such drought in the HH line is due to Betrayal of Calth that they want to build up for it but that did not turn out.' - worst explanation ever. HOW 2 novellas for the release of plastic boardgame has influenced the whole release schedule of HH and authors writing novels?

Maybe the reason is that author's run away and being busy on other projects who pay more?

Horus Heresy still will have a lot of books and will end in 5 or 10 years. But sadly it would be finished by Kyme and Thorpe

[hopkins]

Horus Heresy still will have a lot of books and will end in 5 or 10 years. But sadly it would be finished by Kyme and Thorpe

or could be finished by McNeill, ADB and Wraight

[Doctor Perils]

Hey, what about Abnett and Mitchell ? (Mitchell hasn't written anything in the Horus Heresy has he ? Can't we have a wise-cracking Solar Auxiliary ?)

[Chapter Master Valrak]

It seems that every Primarch has had a proper fight with the other except Dorn (I don't count the Curze thing because :P), I wonder if he'll fight one of his brothers on Terra.

[drooling blood]

While Sangy seems to spend have spent most of his time with future traitors or fence sitter legions. (Horus, Fulgrim, Magnus, Khan) He hasnt come to blows with another Primarch yet. Though Guilliman is looking as the prime cantidate for a out the back punchathon, to get him to shift his arse. Or a very public statement that the legions march for Terra. Which the line troops agree with, but Gulli doesn't. Calling him a coward for holding what he has, not fighting for the Imperium.  A giant move your arse and men Guilliman, or else. Which could make for a interesting read.

 

Either way with calth coming out, Its probably 5+ years before they do Battles of Terra box.

[b1soul]

Ugh...Gav Thorpe...won't be picking that one up

[Frosco Toppings]

Ugh...Gav Thorpe...won't be picking that one up

More trite, ham-fisted stuff then

[b1soul]

 

Ugh...Gav Thorpe...won't be picking that one up

 

More trite, ham-fisted stuff then

You mean masterful character portrayals such as the Lion's act of judo-chopping Nemiel's head off?

[HeritorA]

Actually ' Lion's act of judo-chopping Nemiel's head off? ' - was one of the good points

[Doctor Perils]

But I liked Nemiel :(

[Taliesin]

One thing I can add to forthcoming books is that a friend of mine spoke to Graham McNeill recently, and he seems to think that The Crimson King is 99% certain to come out in 2016.

[veterannoob]

Just purely curious, I'm wondering what the problem with Gav's work is. I've seen a lot of comments on certain forums or pages and even Gav himself acknowledged his detractors (love this term, thank you ADB!). So far the only detailed complaint was a too simple dialogue.

 

Not an argument, I actually don't know:) Thanks.

 

You can DM me if you don't want to say here.

[Conn Eremon]

Just purely curious, I'm wondering what the problem with Gav's work is. I've seen a lot of comments on certain forums or pages and even Gav himself acknowledged his detractors (love this term, thank you ADB!). So far the only detailed complaint was a too simple dialogue.

 

Not an argument, I actually don't know:) Thanks.

 

You can DM me if you don't want to say here.

Every body's tastes are different, so if you like his work I wouldn't care about those who don't.

 

I'll admit, I don't. His fiction work with BL (as opposed to FW/GW work, which I hear is extensive but I don't know of any specific examples and so have no opinion) has been almost entirely a miss for me. Dialog is a big part of it, few of his characters' words match up with the characters themselves, they rarely seem like things they would actually say. I keep being put in the mind of them reading off a script. It just doesn't come across as natural speech. More than that, his characters tend to feel superficial or one-dimensional, like everyone can be defined with a one-word description that they never deviate from. It all combines into very bland, boring characterization for me.

 

It doesn't help that some of his books, notably Deliverance Lost, introduced new (to us fans) plots that were widely (at least here on the B&C) disliked. Whether those plots are entirely of his design, as opposed to the Team, isn't known, but being the writer of them he gets the blame.

 

By all accounts however, his work is pervasive throughout GW and FW publications in addition to his BL fiction work. It comes across to me that his main strength is in that style of pseudo-historical, background lore writing rather than fictional novel writing. Which makes sense to me, because I feel the same way about my own writing. When trying the BL kind of fiction, no matter how small, I'm never satisfied with what I put out, because it just feels stilted and forced. I don't get that feeling when I write background lore, and it's that writing that I get the most positive feedback on.

 

While I am apparently comparing myself to Gav Thorpe, I fully recognize that his talents are leagues above my own, whether I like his writing or not. Just saying I can understand being better at one style of writing than another.

[HaSY]

 

Just purely curious, I'm wondering what the problem with Gav's work is. I've seen a lot of comments on certain forums or pages and even Gav himself acknowledged his detractors (love this term, thank you ADB!). So far the only detailed complaint was a too simple dialogue.

 

Not an argument, I actually don't know:) Thanks.

 

You can DM me if you don't want to say here.

Every body's tastes are different, so if you like his work I wouldn't care about those who don't.

 

I'll admit, I don't. His fiction work with BL (as opposed to FW/GW work, which I hear is extensive but I don't know of any specific examples and so have no opinion) has been almost entirely a miss for me. Dialog is a big part of it, few of his characters' words match up with the characters themselves, they rarely seem like things they would actually say. I keep being put in the mind of them reading off a script. It just doesn't come across as natural speech. More than that, his characters tend to feel superficial or one-dimensional, like everyone can be defined with a one-word description that they never deviate from. It all combines into very bland, boring characterization for me.

 

It doesn't help that some of his books, notably Deliverance Lost, introduced new (to us fans) plots that were widely (at least here on the B&C) disliked. Whether those plots are entirely of his design, as opposed to the Team, isn't known, but being the writer of them he gets the blame.

 

By all accounts however, his work is pervasive throughout GW and FW publications in addition to his BL fiction work. It comes across to me that his main strength is in that style of pseudo-historical, background lore writing rather than fictional novel writing. Which makes sense to me, because I feel the same way about my own writing. When trying the BL kind of fiction, no matter how small, I'm never satisfied with what I put out, because it just feels stilted and forced. I don't get that feeling when I write background lore, and it's that writing that I get the most positive feedback on.

 

While I am apparently comparing myself to Gav Thorpe, I fully recognize that his talents are leagues above my own, whether I like his writing or not. Just saying I can understand being better at one style of writing than another.

 

He has been improving and I do enjoy his writing. 

Like you, I am more of a pseudo-historical style writer.

[veterannoob]

Thanks guys. That actually is helpful:) Just curious, I see strengths in other authors as well and I think ADB, Graham, Guy Haley and Dan are the only BL authors I can think of where I've liked all work.

[Doctor Perils]

Thanks guys. That actually is helpful:) Just curious, I see strengths in other authors as well and I think ADB, Graham, Guy Haley and Dan are the only BL authors I can think of where I've liked all work.

 

Have you tried Sandy Mitchell's Ciaphas Cain series ? He manages to both capture Grimdark and a good dash of humour

[veterannoob]

My god, that series is like one of the 3 BL series I have not tried yet, but I should. Thanks for the recommendation:)

[Felix Antipodes]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more buzz about the blurb in their email announcing the HH calendar;

 

"2016 is set to be a great year for all fans of the Horus Heresy. You can look forward to a packed lineup of new novels and stories as the epic series turns towards its final, inevitable conclusion."

 

I have read that they feel the series needs to wind up but didn't think it would be quite so fast (still expecting this will be over several years) that they have an end plan in place.

[veterannoob]

I think you are referring to the final story arc(long as that may be) called The Gauntlet. That came up twice in panels. But no official timeline of competition of series. They know where it will end up but there's still much to tell in between. :)

[b1soul]

I don't think the issue to me is...BL is taking too long to conclude the HH series...the problem has always been bad writers producing bad HH novels. If quality were consistently high, I would not mind 100 HH novels

[DarKnight]

Speaking of Gav, A Thousand Sons is probably in my HH top 5. Deliverance Lost is barely better than Battle for the Abyss IMO. Maybe it's the story that was told, I dunno but I hope he can bounce back.

[Midgard]

"A Thousand Sons" is by Graham McNeil...

 

I would agree that "Deliverance Lost" is one of my least favorite HH novels. I have a love/hate relationship with Gav Thorpe's writing. His "narrative" stuff (codex entries, background) tends to be rather good, however, his characterizations are hit and miss. Sometimes, his style works really well, as is the case with his Dark Angels works (including "The Lion" from the HH "Primarchs" anthology). At other times, it does not carry the same kind of gravitas I would have expected from the characters, especially in the Heresy setting (case in the point: "Deliverance Lost").

 

Now, the thing about Gav's works is that he can write. Even in his lesser stories, there are parts that are very well crafted, and convey the kind of characterizations I like (i.e. most of the "flashback" scenes in "Deliverance Lost", the last 20% or so of the novel). I found that over the last couple of years, the quality of Gav's output has increased by a wide margin, though it might also have to do with the subject of his works. His Raven Guard novellas ("Corax: Soulforge" and "Ravenlord") work because of their more focused, confined narrative that remains tight without giving him an opportunity to drift into codex-style narrative; the Dark Angels with their almost autistic personality traits and stunted emotional development come across as rather believable in his Legacy of Caliban trilogy (though it may also be helped by a large cast of characters which keeps the story moving without getting too dry). I don't know if that style would have worked with more expressive characters or subjects, but I am hopeful that he has a better grasp now on what his strengths are, and continues to play to those.

[DarKnight]

"A Thousand Sons" is by Graham McNeil...

 

I would agree that "Deliverance Lost" is one of my least favorite HH novels. I have a love/hate relationship with Gav Thorpe's writing. His "narrative" stuff (codex entries, background) tends to be rather good, however, his characterizations are hit and miss. Sometimes, his style works really well, as is the case with his Dark Angels works (including "The Lion" from the HH "Primarchs" anthology). At other times, it does not carry the same kind of gravitas I would have expected from the characters, especially in the Heresy setting (case in the point: "Deliverance Lost").

 

Now, the thing about Gav's works is that he can write. Even in his lesser stories, there are parts that are very well crafted, and convey the kind of characterizations I like (i.e. most of the "flashback" scenes in "Deliverance Lost", the last 20% or so of the novel). I found that over the last couple of years, the quality of Gav's output has increased by a wide margin, though it might also have to do with the subject of his works. His Raven Guard novellas ("Corax: Soulforge" and "Ravenlord") work because of their more focused, confined narrative that remains tight without giving him an opportunity to drift into codex-style narrative; the Dark Angels with their almost autistic personality traits and stunted emotional development come across as rather believable in his Legacy of Caliban trilogy (though it may also be helped by a large cast of characters which keeps the story moving without getting too dry). I don't know if that style would have worked with more expressive characters or subjects, but I am hopeful that he has a better grasp now on what his strengths are, and continues to play to those.

LOL thanks