The Silent War

[R_F_D]

The Silent War has just been released, couple of days earlier from previously announced

http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/the-silent-war-ebook.html

 

I'm not complaining and will still buy it but does this look like a rather short anthology?  Not sure if anyone has read the e-book versions and these are relatively long shorts?  Aside from the novella the Purge?

 

Just seen that the audio is 2 hours longer than Eye of Terra so I'm assuming its larger than that.

[Tymell]

According to Amazon's page counts it's longer than Eye of Terra (480 pages vs. 416), so despite having fewer stories, the ones in it must be longer overall.

[JH79]

I'm glad to see many of the short stories from the past few years collected like this and available as Audio (narrated by Jonathan Keeble too!!) but i can't help but think this feels a little like a square peg fitting into a round hole... i was hoping for a little new material, maybe as an exclusive to this volume which would help tie the narrative together, similar to Trial by Blood. I'm assuming the majority of these stories (similar to Vol 31, 33 & 35) were never penned with the intention of being part of this specific collection, which is possibly why it does feel patched together and disjointed. Hopefully we get Tallarn & Garro anthologies later down the line too with everything presented chronologically.

[Tymell]

I'm strongly expecting a Raven Guard one too. The Value of Fear, Raptor and The Shadowmasters are conspicuously almost the only short stories/audios left now that aren't in an anthology. Those + the Raven Guard novellas would make a good sized collection. When it comes will probably depend on whether Gav is doing a third novella.

[Chaeron]

Pleasant surprise: ordered!

[R_F_D]

I'm strongly expecting a Raven Guard one too. The Value of Fear, Raptor and The Shadowmasters are conspicuously almost the only short stories/audios left now that aren't in an anthology. Those + the Raven Guard novellas would make a good sized collection. When it comes will probably depend on whether Gav is doing a third novella.

 

Well it looks like BL are blitzing through all the outstanding non-numbered hardbacks (we've had four new hardbacks in a week) so I assume Deliverance Lost is being/will shortly be worked on, potentially to coincide with the release of something new for the Raven Guard?  Or could just come out with Angels of Caliban ..

[Roomsky]

A little disappointed we're not getting The Garro Stuff, but I guess we'll get another anthology later with Vow of Faith.

 

Besides the Raven guard, Garro, and Tallarn stuff, which I'm sure will get their own anthologies, are there any loose ends that still need to be collected?

[m_r_parker]

I will always promote 'The Purge' - it's a fantastic read, and more people should look at picking this up. Sticking it into the main run of the Heresy as part of a compilation, a great move. Plus it's always good to have print versions of previously audio-only entities, as I really prefer to have my imagination create what the actors are doing.

 

But...

 

Book 31 - Legacies of Betrayal - Compilation of short stories / novellas

Book 33 - War Without End - Compilation of short stories / novellas

Book 35 - Eye of Terra - Compilation of short stories / novellas

Book 37 - The Silent War - Compilation of short stories / novellas

 

... this is starting to get a little silly ...

[Jareddm]

I imagine it's cleaning up the decisions of old management.

[Tymell]

A little disappointed we're not getting The Garro Stuff, but I guess we'll get another anthology later with Vow of Faith.

 

Besides the Raven guard, Garro, and Tallarn stuff, which I'm sure will get their own anthologies, are there any loose ends that still need to be collected?

 

Not much, which is cool after years of so many shorts :P

 

Aside from the aforementioned Raven Guard, Garro and Tallarn stuff (even Tallarn is lessened since Eagle's Talon and Iron Corpses are in Eye of Terra, which just leaves Witness, the new short Siren and the two novellas) there's:

 

The Dark Between the Stars

Meduson (9 shorts)

7 novellas (The Honoured, The Unburdened, Scorched Earth, Promethean Sun, Wolf King, Cybernetica, The Seventh Serpent)

[Roomsky]

Not much, which is cool after years of so many shorts

Aside from the aforementioned Raven Guard, Garro and Tallarn stuff (even Tallarn is lessened since Eagle's Talon and Iron Corpses are in Eye of Terra, which just leaves Witness, the new short Siren and the two novellas) there's:

The Dark Between the Stars

Meduson (9 shorts)

7 novellas (The Honoured, The Unburdened, Scorched Earth, Promethean Sun, Wolf King, Cybernetica, The Seventh Serpent)

With this in mind, only a mere 6 of the remaining 9 books until 50 will be anthologies!

[Praetor of Calth]

 

Not much, which is cool after years of so many shorts :P

 

 

Aside from the aforementioned Raven Guard, Garro and Tallarn stuff (even Tallarn is lessened since Eagle's Talon and Iron Corpses are in Eye of Terra, which just leaves Witness, the new short Siren and the two novellas) there's:

 

The Dark Between the Stars

Meduson (9 shorts)

7 novellas (The Honoured, The Unburdened, Scorched Earth, Promethean Sun, Wolf King, Cybernetica, The Seventh Serpent)

 

 

 

With this in mind, only a mere 6 of the remaining 9 books until 50 will be anthologies! ;)

There's no way in hell the series will be 50 books long. These are the books we know about that are still to come out;

 

Angels of Caliban, Praetorian of Dorn, The Crimson King, Master of Mankind, Garro Novel, Garro Anthology, Vulkan Pt3, Lion and the Wolf, Crimson King Pt2.

 

Add in stories which have been set up/basically guaranteed to get their own book;

 

Cybernetica Sequel, Alpha Legion Schism, BA Road to Terra and DG Fall

 

And the presumed Tallarn, RG and Shattered Legion Anthologies

 

Thats around another 17-18 books leaving the rest for the Siege. We're looking at a 60 book series folks.

 

 

Speaking of which, if you read the Path of Heaven interview on the BL blog. Chris hints, heavily, at the book setting up certain infamous events on Terra. Almost as if he'll be writing it...

[Tymell]

Aye, we're definitely moving into the endgame section (Imperium Secundus on the way out, legions moving towards Terra, etc), but with a way to go yet. In terms of anthologies, I'd expect at least another 5: Garro, Tallarn, Raven Guard, and a couple of novella ones ala The Primarchs (if they wanted to do more themed stuff, Meduson, Scorched Earth, Cybernetica and The Seventh Serpent would make a very nice shattered legions anthology ;) ), and there are plenty more we know are on the way in some form.

It's purely personal guesswork, but I'm going to say about 55-60 books, with the siege being in 2019/2020.

Not much, which is cool after years of so many shorts


Aside from the aforementioned Raven Guard, Garro and Tallarn stuff (even Tallarn is lessened since Eagle's Talon and Iron Corpses are in Eye of Terra, which just leaves Witness, the new short Siren and the two novellas) there's:

The Dark Between the Stars
Meduson (9 shorts)
7 novellas (The Honoured, The Unburdened, Scorched Earth, Promethean Sun, Wolf King, Cybernetica, The Seventh Serpent)

With this in mind, only a mere 6 of the remaining 9 books until 50 will be anthologies!

There's no way in hell the series will be 50 books long. These are the books we know about that are still to come out;

Angels of Caliban, Praetorian of Dorn, The Crimson King, Master of Mankind, Garro Novel, Garro Anthology, Vulkan Pt3, Lion and the Wolf, Crimson King Pt2.

The others I know, but I'm curious: which is Lion and the Wolf?

[DarkChaplain]

The "Lion and the Wolf" was hinted at an event a couple of months back as written by Chris Wraight, being about the feud between Russ and the Lion. However, that is what the Primarch spinoff novel for Leman deals with, out this year, second after Guilliman. Its not part of the main series.

 

A Garro novel isn't confirmed as far as I am aware. Vow of Faith was supposed to be the "book", but it turned out not to be a novel like people expected it to be.

[Praetor of Calth]

The "Lion and the Wolf" was hinted at an event a couple of months back as written by Chris Wraight, being about the feud between Russ and the Lion. However, that is what the Primarch spinoff novel for Leman deals with, out this year, second after Guilliman. Its not part of the main series.

 

A Garro novel isn't confirmed as far as I am aware. Vow of Faith was supposed to be the "book", but it turned out not to be a novel like people expected it to be.

 

You could be right about the Lion and the Wolf book, which was indeed the story I was referring too, but the Garro novel however is a full book. It ties all the Garro stories together. It is not "Vow of Faith."

 

If I was too guess, I'd say it'll be about the founding of the Grey Knights.

[Tymell]

The "Lion and the Wolf" was hinted at an event a couple of months back as written by Chris Wraight, being about the feud between Russ and the Lion. However, that is what the Primarch spinoff novel for Leman deals with, out this year, second after Guilliman. Its not part of the main series.

 

Yeah, that's what I thought.

 

With Garro I've read lots of different things. Some bits talking about a compilation, some about a novel (after Vow of Faith), some mentions of the title Weapon of Fate, others Warrior of Fate, each potentially referring to either. The rumours regarding it seem to be a bit of a mess, so I'm taking it that something is being worked on, but will wait to see exactly what.

[Taliesin]

It could be done in 50 if the remainder are novels. we have had a lot of anthologies lately but that has been cleaning up stories as well.

I can't see there being that many anthologies in the next few numbered books. Silent War could have been the last for a while. Based on my feeling Master of Mankind or The Crimson King will be #40 and #41. But of course, both are *still* being written ( McNeill confirmed just a few weeks ago that he is still hard at work at it).

[Tymell]

It could be done in 50 if the remainder are novels. we have had a lot of anthologies lately but that has been cleaning up stories as well.

I can't see there being that many anthologies in the next few numbered books. Silent War could have been the last for a while. Based on my feeling Master of Mankind or The Crimson King will be #40 and #41. But of course, both are *still* being written ( McNeill confirmed just a few weeks ago that he is still hard at work at it).

Those two seem to be the most likely contenders, aye. If it is finished in time, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to coincide The Crimson King with Forge World's Prospero book later this year.

[b1soul]

but the Garro novel however is a full book. It ties all the Garro stories together.

...by James Swallow?

[Taliesin]

Which of these two new anthologies do you guys think is better? 

 

Eye of Terra:

 

The Wolf of Ash and Fire by Graham McNeill

Aurelian, The Long Night and Massacre by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Brotherhood of the Moon by Chris Wraight

Inheritor and Master of the First by Gav Thorpe

Vorax by Matthew Farrer

Ironfire by Rob Sanders

Red-Marked and Stratagem by Nick Kyme

Sins of the Father and The Herald of Sanguinius by Andy Smillie

The Eagle's Talon by John French

Iron Corpses by David Annandale

The Final Compliance of Sixty-Three Fourteen by Guy Haley

 

 

Silent War:

 

The Watcher by C Z Dunn

Child of Night, Grey Angel & Templar by John French

The Gates of Terra by Nick Kyme

Luna Mendax & Wolf Hunt by Graham McNeill

The Purge by Anthony Reynolds

Army of One & Distant Echoes of Old Night by Rob Sanders

Ghosts Speak Not, Lost Sons & Patience by James Swallow

The Sigillite by Chris Wraight

[Izlude]

I just finished Eye of Terra so can give you my opinion: Totally worth the purchase if you have not read most of it, many are audio books converted to reading format. Some of the ones that really stand out:

 

1. The Wolf of Ash and Fire: What the cover is based on...Horus and Emperor fighting side by side, what is not to like? This story is awesome and I think was only available at one of the conventions. 

 

2. All of ADB stuff is awesome: Aurelian alone makes this worth it. This was a limited edition book (I got from ebay while back) with the background of Lorgar and is one of my favorites novella. The long night and massacre is great if you like NLs. I was less impressed with massacre but I think is based on one of the current 40k characters, Talos, so may be worth the read

 

3. Red-marked and Stratagem: I actually got this book more for this as I am a UM fan but honestly wasn't as impressed. Don't get me wrong, I am on the look out for new UM content but these two were pretty cliche and I didn't expect it to be at the level of Dan or ADB so wasn't too disappointed. Not sure why but Thiel is not one of my favorites, I think Kyme tries to make him too much of a maverick which gets sort of old and is cliche...wow a rebel amongst a legion known for being tight-assess...surprise surprise...

 

4. Eagle talon: I had to re-read the beginning a few times as I was confused with the prose but once I got the jest it is actually one of my favorites in this book. John French can write IF very well which he has proved with Crimson Fist (a personally favorite). The style is different and very cool while highlighting the IF change during the heresy.

 

5. The final compliance: Guy Haley can write and he is definitely a rising star much like Wraight with his Scars and DG stuff. Short but sweet. Pharos was awesome and cements Haley being in my top tier authors (Dan, ADB and Wraight). 

 

The rest were okay and probably worth the read. The BA stuff was so so. Not a fan of Gav and didn't care much for his shorts. 

 

As for Silent war I read a couple of them. The Purge is awesome (A WB back on terra causing mischief) and Sigillite is pretty deft too. I also read Templar which was quite good.

 

So in summary if you have the dough and haven't bought these shorts/audio I think they are both worth it! I actually owned many of the short stories in one format or another and still bought the Eye of Terra more to have everything in one place. I will most likely get Silent War later with another one book to save on shipping.

[Taliesin]

I was drawn to Eye of Terra because most of those stories look intriguing, including a few you didn;t mention, like Vorax and Inheritor.

I was particularly interested in the two Thiel stories because I do love the idea of the red-marked Ultramarines, plus the two Blood Angels stories. War without End which I just got also has a good Blood Angels story.

 

Eagle's Talon and Iron Corpses both about Tallarn, which I have not read a word about yet.

[DarkChaplain]

The Blood Angels story in Eye of Terra was previously coupled with the one in War Without End's when they first popped up as exclusives. They reflect on similar themes from different perspectives.

 

Inheritor I found pretty.. dumb. It ties into Dawn of War and makes Eliphas canon, but there was little point to it all. And Vorax felt like an advertisement for the then-new Forge World kit than a good story in its own right.

[Taliesin]

What did you think of the rest of the stories in these two anthologies then?

[DarkChaplain]

I enjoyed most of them for one reason or another. A lot fill in blanks between novels, or aspects that we were left wondering about.

 

Red-Marked I felt was released too late (just this year, after delays) to be doing much, if you've read Deathfire or listened to Stratagem years ago. If you read R-M first after Censure, then Stratagem and only then Deathfire, it'd be better - otherwise survivors are too predictable, really.

The Eagle's Talon & Iron Corpses give a glimpse on Tallarn, but I feel they'd be more effective read in conjunction with John French's main stories (Tallarn: Executioner, Ironclad, Witness and Siren) rather than on their own.

Master of the First is a stepping stone in the Dark Angels plotline and should definitely be read before Angels of Caliban in July. Its more Astelan and should clear some things up about Caliban's schism.

Brotherhood of the Moon fits neatly between Scars and The Path of Heaven, along with stories from previous anthologies (Daemonology & Allegiance from War Without End).

 

Basically, all of Eye of Terra fits in somewhere between books, and can make things more clear and enjoyable as a whole. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly and would read it asap.

 

The Sigillite is more of a side show than Eye of Terra.

 

Wolf Hunt is the epilogue to The Outcast Dead (again, long delayed even though it was planned/started right after TOD) and "fixes" some issues people had with it, mainly the timeline. It also tides one character over into Vengeful Spirit and fleshes out some Palace-related stuff.

The Purge is a pretty good novella that splits between Terra and the Shadow Crusade and deals with Sor Talgron. It also hints/sets up things around Terra and the Sol System, one thing of which plays a role in Templar, which was good and puts more spotlight on Sigismund and Legion champions.

Child of Night, Distant Echoes of Old Night, Lost Sons, Grey Angel and Patience deal with Knights Errant and their missions.

Child of Night recruits a Night Lord for Malcador's dudes, Distant Echoes is about the Death Guard and their bioweapons and Lost Sons sees I believe Rubio visit Baal to tell the Blood Angels left there that the BAs are done for after Signus.

 

Grey Angel should be read after Garro: Legion of One and Luna Mendax. After Grey Angel, you get to Vengeful Spirit. Its more Loken and Iacton.

Patience is set after Ghosts Speak Not, which is an excellent story about investigating treachery close to Terra, led by Amendera Kendel and accompanied by some of the Death Guard loyalists last seen in Flight of the Eisenstein. It sheds light on the fallout from that and Voices from Tales of Heresy. Its really good.

 

Army of One is just a micro short about Malcador unleashing assassins and Gates of Terra is another preparation piece for the coming assault on Terra.

The Sigillite is a good story overall that sheds light on Malcador's role and goals, at least somewhat. It also introduces a character that appears in The Path of Heaven.

 

So yeah, I'd recommend this one too for the look at the Silent War Malcador is waging, and it ties into a bunch of novels. Its not as vital as Eye of Terra in my eyes, though, and in my eyes it should have been released a year or two ago already.