DarkChaplain Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 December is upon us, and with it another Advent Calendar. To be frank, I was looking forward to this all year. Eighteen short stories and six full-cast audio dramas bring you a whole host of stories from the worlds of Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, The Horus Heresy and Blood Bowl – and they're all brand new! http://www.blacklibrary.com/advent-2016.html Day 1:Perpetual by Dan Abnett (Audio Drama) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/Perpetual%20MP3.jpgEscaping from ruined Calth, Oll Persson and his band of refugees are trapped on a dark, forgotten world. But the enemy draws near, and immortality may not be enough to survive... Oll Persson stands apart from the rest of mankind. He is one of the old ones, one of the undying. One of the Perpetuals. Now, fleeing from the ruins of Calth with his band of fellow refugees, the vagaries of the warp have brought him through the backways of time and space to a city that rests on the edge of oblivion... and no further. The path has ended abruptly, and Oll's enemies are finally closing in. Will his immortality be enough to save him this time? It's the return of Oll Persson in a tale following the events of 'Know No Fear' and 'Unmarked' which drives the mysterious Perpetual towards his ultimate destiny… Written by Dan Abnett. Running time 27 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Penelope Rawlins, Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto. Day 2:The Maiden of the Dream by John French http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Maiden%20cover.jpg Mylasa Yaygus is an enigma, her origins a mystery even to her master, Covenant. Of all of the inquisitor's acolytes, Mylasa is the least known and arguably the most dangerous. A powerful Primaris psyker, the truth about her past is as byzantine as her abilities. As Ilk, she is a hive-born wretch bound for the Black Ships, as Verrun, she is the daughter of a rich merchant clan... but if these are false memories, who really is Mylasa? She is the Maiden of the Dream, a psychic torturer and manipulator of consummate skill, and amongst her many lives and histories might there be a mote of truth that reveals who she really is? One of John French's strengths is crafting intricate mysteries with strong characters at their core, and this is another such tale of a powerful psyker who may be her master's most useful ally or most dangerous foe. Day 3:Into Exile by Aaron Dembski-Bowden http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Into%20Exile%20cover.jpg When the traitorous allies of Horus and Kelbor-Hal seized Mars, they sent elite hunters to apprehend key targets and ensure that any loyal resistance would fail. One such target was the legendary technoarchaeologist Arkhan Land, the discoverer of many lost treasures and curiosities from mankind's Golden Age - and the Imperial Fists cannot allow such a valuable mind to fall into the hands of the enemy. Does Land have good reason to fear his apparent saviours? Finally, for the first time ever, you'll see the story behind one of the most famous names in the Imperium – Arkhan Land, whose name is on some of the Imperium's most powerful and revered weapons. Oh, and the events of this story tie in to 'The Master of Mankind'… Day 4:The Road of Blades by Josh Reynolds (AoS) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Road%20of%20Blades%20cover.jpg Those who tread the Road of Blades do so seeking glory in the eyes of the Dark Gods, or so Ahazian Kel believes. He is the last of his tribe, a Deathbringer, a fearless warrior whose path leads him to the dreaded Soulmaw, a forge-citadel and bastion of Khorne's Skullgrinders, a place between realms. To breach such a fortress... the rewards could be beyond imagining, the power to determine your own destiny, but Ahazian must endure every trial of Chaos and prove he is worthy before he can become exalted. It's an exploration of what a servant of the Blood God will do, and how far he will go, in the service of his dark master and in pursuit of power and glory. Day 5: The Calculus of Battle by David Guymer (Audio Drama) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/Calculus%20of%20Battle%20MP3.jpg The beleaguered Astra Militarum defenders of Varasine fight against the alien menace of a tyranid invasion, but their only possible salvation approaches in the form of something almost equally inhuman. Warleader Kardan Stronos of the Iron Hands, long having studied the xenos threat, now brings his fearless battle-brothers to join the war - only he can save Varasine, measuring his Chapter’s infallible logic and ruthless strategy against the cost in human lives. The Iron Hands can be among the most inhuman of Space Marines, pitting cold logic and precise calculations above the lives of those they ostensibly fight to defend… as the Astra Militarum are about to discover. Written by David Guymer. Running time 21 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth and Luis Soto. Day 6: Fixed by Robbie MacNiven (Blood Bowl) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Fixed%20cover.jpg Nordland Rangers star player Greig Garr is in trouble, and living a lifestyle he can no longer afford now his glory days are over. As the team slips down the league, and his debts mount, it becomes harder and harder for him to keep his coveted position as team captain. Badly injured after a nasty run-in with a lizardman, Garr must find a way to play in the next match or he won’t be able to pay back his debts. A mysterious stranger offers to cure his leg, but what will the true cost of his amazing help be? It's a classic sporting dilemma taken to the extremes that only Blood Bowl can provide – in a world of daemons and monsters, the cost of mysterious magical help is always going to be higher than you'd like… Day 7: The Grey Raven by Gav Thorpe (Horus Heresy) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Grey%20Raven%20cover.jpg Balsar Kurthuri of the Raven Guard has always followed his primarch's orders. When the Edict of Nikaea forbade psykers within the Legions, he returned to the line squads without a second thought. When the Warmaster's treachery became known, he gave freely of his powers. Now, as the war appears to be entering its final, grim stages, at Lord Corax's command he must return to Terra to face judgement for the apparent crime of unswerving loyalty… After a shocking twist in 'Weregeld', the Raven Guard Chief Librarian returns to Terra to face judgement. Will his unerring loyalty to his primarch be punished, and if so, what does that say about the the Imperium the Sigillite is working to build? Day 8: Wraithbound by J C Stearns http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Wraithbound%20cover.jpg Though the Imperium defends its worlds with vigour, not all cries for help are answered in time, or even heard at all. A nameless Imperial world has been conquered by orks; its resources seized for the greenskins’ war effort, and its human population enslaved. The eldar have foreseen that if the ork warlord is not stopped, and soon, the consequences will be dire. Enraged by its losses, the Imperium will eventually launch an anti-xenos crusade of unparalleled ferocity. To protect the future of their own craftworld, the eldar must be prepared to sacrifice all to defeat the ork invaders. Those tricksy eldar are up to their usual ploys – manipulating mankind for their own benefit. But with humans on one side and orks on the other, have the aliens bitten off more than they can chew this time? Day 9: The Soul, Severed by Chris Wraight (Audio Drama) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Soul%20Severed%20MP3.jpg As Lord Commander Primus, Eidolon leads the Emperor’s Children in the absence of his primarch - who even knows where the daemon prince Fulgrim resides, now? But a challenge from within the Legion forces Eidolon to confront one of his rivals, the ambitious Archorian, a capable officer and tactician who would see the Legion returned to glory. Dissent is unacceptable. It is time for the Kakophoni to be set against their erstwhile brethren. With their primarch obsessed with, shall we say, other matters, the Emperor's Children turn to infighting, in a typically extreme way… Written by Chris Wraight. Running time 25 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Steve Conlin and Luis Soto. Day 10: Fabius Bile: Prodigal by Josh Reynolds http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Prodigal%20cover%202.jpg When Fabius Bile is attacked by daemons aboard his frigate Versalius, he is surprised to be rescued by an old friend, one of his very first experiments. It has ever been the Apothecary's desire to improve mankind, to render them hardy enough to endure in a galaxy of pain and war. Such desires have often led to abominations created by Bile's own hand, and enemies too numerous to list. This creation, Mesuline, though ostensibly an ally, bears a cryptic message, one that could bode ill or well for her Progenitor. When you have as long and chequered a past as Fabius Bile, occasionally things are gonna come back to haunt you. Such is the case here, as an early experiment returns, and chaos ensues… Day 11: Bear Eater by David Guymer (AoS) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Bear%20Eater%20cover.jpg On the hunt for the vampire Mannfred, Hamilcar Bear-Eater and a handful of Astral Templars cross the Sea of Bones to find a civilization untouched by Chaos, and attempt to bring them back into the light of Sigmar. But Jercho is a curious land and a secret lurks at the heart of this wealthy, seemingly blessed realm. When all the Mortal Realms have been cast to flame, and ravaged by Chaos, how is it that these sun worshippers remained inviolate? A mystery from the Mortal Realms awaits for the Astral Templars. Is it possible that the touch of Chaos can be resisted? If so, that could be amazing… but let's be honest, it's probably too good to be true, isn't it? Day 12: The Embrace of Pain by Ian St Martin http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Embrace%20of%20Pain%20MP3.jpg While voyaging through the depths of the warp, the infamous blademaster Lucius the Eternal is challenged by a servant of another god - a champion of the old Death Guard Legion, no less. Keen to remain dominant over his preening and ambitious rivals in the Cohors Nasicae, Lucius takes up his sword without a second thought... but could an unfeeling daemonhost of Nurgle, or the voices inside his own head, be the undoing of his Slaaneshi curse? Lucius the Eternal is a fascinating character, and his unique curse (or blessing, depending on your point of view) coupled his pride and pitted against the gifts of Nurgle make for one hell of a tale. Written by Ian St Martin. Performed by John Banks, Antonia Beamish, Robin Bowerman, Steve Conlin and Luis Soto. 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hopkins Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 first up we have a HH audio from non-existent author Dan Abnett http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/perpetual-mp3.html http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/Perpetual%20MP3.jpg THE STORYOll Persson stands apart from the rest of mankind. He is one of the old ones, one of the undying. One of the Perpetuals. Now, fleeing from the ruins of Calth with his band of fellow refugees, the vagaries of the warp have brought him through the backways of time and space to a city that rests on the edge of oblivion... and no further. The path has ended abruptly, and Oll's enemies are finally closing in. Will his immortality be enough to save him this time?Written by Dan Abnett. Running time 27 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Penelope Rawlins, Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4578829 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolemai Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Threads merged. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4578832 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopkins Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 i'm clearly blind Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4578844 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mellow Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Does this take place straight after Oll escaped from Calth using the immaterium sidestep by cutting the air with the sword/knife? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4578846 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 1, 2016 Author Share Posted December 1, 2016 Right after Unmarked Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4578876 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 first up we have a HH audio from non-existent author Dan Abnett http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/perpetual-mp3.html http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/Perpetual%20MP3.jpg THE STORY Oll Persson stands apart from the rest of mankind. He is one of the old ones, one of the undying. One of the Perpetuals. Now, fleeing from the ruins of Calth with his band of fellow refugees, the vagaries of the warp have brought him through the backways of time and space to a city that rests on the edge of oblivion... and no further. The path has ended abruptly, and Oll's enemies are finally closing in. Will his immortality be enough to save him this time? Written by Dan Abnett. Running time 27 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Penelope Rawlins, Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto. someone still cares about perpetuals stuff? Does this take place straight after Oll escaped from Calth using the immaterium sidestep by cutting the air with the sword/knife? Right after another story 'unmarked' which is boring and about nothing. I will tell you the truth Oll Person will arrive on Vengeful spirit and will help the Empra kill Horus. Yada yada - another boring story about overused perpetuals. Gods of the Warp - can you give us some good story about HH where big SM fight big SM yada yada and not some 'magic' disney stories about stupid immortals Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4578964 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 1, 2016 Author Share Posted December 1, 2016 ....rooted in the old, ancient lore about Ollanius the Pious. So yes, I care how they expand upon that and what role he is to play exactly, even if I have a laundry list of issues with Abnett's Perpetuals. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579222 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster The Lobster Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Abnett...Give me! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579225 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mellow Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Well as long as the perpetuals have some big important role and function and it's actually revealed by the end of the HH it should be fine. At the moment they just seem to be some weird extra line in the evolutionary ladder for Humans. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579232 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apothecary Vaddon Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Bells are faintly rung in my head for another Oll Persson story ... where they were 'trapped' somewhere, I don't know if I'm simply remembering the end of Know No Fear or what, but I'm not 100% sure if Perpetual is truly new or just a new audio adaptation of an existing story Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579432 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scribe Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Pass for sure, hopefully the perpetual line gets wrapped sooner rather than later... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579452 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Will his immortality be enough to save him this time? *sigh* Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 1, 2016 Author Share Posted December 1, 2016 Bells are faintly rung in my head for another Oll Persson story ... where they were 'trapped' somewhere, I don't know if I'm simply remembering the end of Know No Fear or what, but I'm not 100% sure if Perpetual is truly new or just a new audio adaptation of an existing story Every single story this calendar, like in the past, is supposed to be brand new. Perpetual is set after Unmarked from Mark of Calth Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579513 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 2, 2016 Author Share Posted December 2, 2016 Story two is out, a Horusian Wars short by John French! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4579922 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Story two is out, a Horusian Wars short by John French! And this one is BRILLIANT! Well done John French, well done Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4580114 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 3, 2016 Author Share Posted December 3, 2016 Day 3:Into Exile by Aaron Dembski-Bowden http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Into%20Exile%20cover.jpg When the traitorous allies of Horus and Kelbor-Hal seized Mars, they sent elite hunters to apprehend key targets and ensure that any loyal resistance would fail. One such target was the legendary technoarchaeologist Arkhan Land, the discoverer of many lost treasures and curiosities from mankind's Golden Age - and the Imperial Fists cannot allow such a valuable mind to fall into the hands of the enemy. Does Land have good reason to fear his apparent saviours? Finally, for the first time ever, you'll see the story behind one of the most famous names in the Imperium – Arkhan Land, whose name is on some of the Imperium's most powerful and revered weapons. Oh, and the events of this story tie in to 'The Master of Mankind'… Excited to read this. Arkhan Land was probably my favorite character in Master of Mankind. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4581360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izlude Posted December 3, 2016 Share Posted December 3, 2016 Wow so where the land raiders come from? Sweet! A few questions: 1. How long is it? 2. Is it okay to read this before MoM? I haven't received it in the mail yet. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4581564 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 3, 2016 Author Share Posted December 3, 2016 I'd say read it before MoM. Arkhan's plot continues there Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4581571 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted December 3, 2016 Share Posted December 3, 2016 I'd say read it before MoM. Arkhan's plot continues there Yes - but sadly as a prequel to MoM character it is was a little disappointing and short Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4581702 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carach Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 what exactly is wrong with the perpetual lines? i always find their little sidestories to be quite interesting/entertaining. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4582117 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlemad Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Into Exile was good. Nice backwards structure, ending with Land leaving Mars and beginning with him meeting his Imperial Fist escort for the first time. He remains perfectly disagreeable. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4582157 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 4, 2016 Author Share Posted December 4, 2016 Day 4:The Road of Blades by Josh Reynolds (AoS) http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/Product/DefaultBL/xlarge/BLPROCESSED-Road%20of%20Blades%20cover.jpg Those who tread the Road of Blades do so seeking glory in the eyes of the Dark Gods, or so Ahazian Kel believes. He is the last of his tribe, a Deathbringer, a fearless warrior whose path leads him to the dreaded Soulmaw, a forge-citadel and bastion of Khorne's Skullgrinders, a place between realms. To breach such a fortress... the rewards could be beyond imagining, the power to determine your own destiny, but Ahazian must endure every trial of Chaos and prove he is worthy before he can become exalted. It's an exploration of what a servant of the Blood God will do, and how far he will go, in the service of his dark master and in pursuit of power and glory. Today we got the inevitable Age of Sigmar story. I'm still linking it and all for completion's sake. Weirdly enough, this is another Josh Reynolds, which means that we really haven't seen anybody else touch AoS fiction since July, with Josh scheduled for two more novels soon and one just out as limited edition at BLL! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4582210 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scribe Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 what exactly is wrong with the perpetual lines? i always find their little sidestories to be quite interesting/entertaining. I dont like some of the additions they brought, and I dont like that they replaced the Sensai. :p Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4582340 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mellow Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 Is it possible to download Perpetual (or any of the other audiobooks) direct to an apple device? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/328358-black-library-advent-calendar-2016/#findComment-4582442 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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