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What would you like BL to do as a sequential series?


DukeLeto69

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Okay, let me put this into terms you can understand...

 

For the sake of argument, let's say I have the new HH novel in my hands. I'm going to print it as a hardback. It'll be about 416 pages.

 

BUT WAIT. I changed my mind. I'm going to print it in such huge font sizes that only one word fits on each page, because I'm making a stylistic decision to change the layout of the series. It's now 100,000 pages long.

 

NO, I CHANGED MY MIND. I'm going to print it on a HUGE sheet of paper, with 50,000 words on one side and 50,000 on the other. You now have a 2-page novel.

 

The number of pages is unrelated to the length of the story. It is word count that defines these things.

Okay, let me put this into terms you can understand...

 

For the sake of argument, let's say I have the new HH novel in my hands. I'm going to print it as a hardback. It'll be about 416 pages.

 

BUT WAIT. I changed my mind. I'm going to print it in such huge font sizes that only one word fits on each page, because I'm making a stylistic decision to change the layout of the series. It's now 100,000 pages long.

 

NO, I CHANGED MY MIND. I'm going to print it on a HUGE sheet of paper, with 50,000 words on one side and 50,000 on the other. You now have a 2-page novel.

 

The number of pages is unrelated to the length of the story. It is word count that defines these things.

 

Fair warning, there are some folks almost fanatically resistant to this one, dude. I've butted heads over it a few times, and little things like facts and reality aren't always enough to convince people. I've quoted John Scalzi, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, the Nebula Award criteria, and NaNoWriMo's guidelines, all in agreement, all in the same post, and I still get told that Ragnar Blackmane is a novella. 

 

Go figure.

Ok back to the original intent of this thread I am going to propose the the following parameters...

 

A Setting Series (such as HH) = multiple authors, multiple story arcs and not necessarily completely chronological in mixed formats with 100k word novels, anthologies, 50k word novels, novellas, audio-dramas.

 

A Sequential Series (such as TBA) = multiple authors, single story arc (with sub plots) told chronologically, in 50k novel format.

 

A Linked Series (such as Primarchs) = multiple authors, multiple stories linked by overall theme or setting but not specifically impacting on each other or chronological, in 50k novel format.

 

A Series (such as Gaunt's Ghosts or Night Lords) = single author, broadly chronological but author led decision, in multiple formats but (ideally) led by 100k word novels.

 

So on that basis I believe Age of Apostasy would be a Setting Series (covers a large time span) whereas the Badab War would be a Sequential Series (told chronologically). I suppose you could argue that events that happen during the AoA could be Sequential Series such as The Reign of Blood or The Wars of Vindication?

 

Anyway, still interested in more suggestions for timeline entries people would like to see (including votes for those already suggested).

I would like a 'Setting Series' for the current Gathering Storm.

 

I suppose it's too late now, as the GW books are already halfway through the current arc, and I'm surprised at the lack of BL releases to accompany this event.

 

The stories didn't have to focus on the events in the GW books, we could have had a story set in the Eye with a Chaos Lord consolidating his power before joining Abaddons 13th crusade, or a Cadian Guard Regiment receiving word of Cadias fall and how they cope/ react to the news, or the implications of Ynnead on some far flung Craftworld.

 

Maybe for future GW events

Given what Laurie's said recently, I'd put it down to new GW management not wanting to shackle their authors to tie-ins, when we're already looking at a quiet year for the Heresy with the demands of the Primarchs series.

I had to set aside the "Fracture of Biel Tan" after only a paragraph or two as it was direct spoilers for "Valedor".

 

So I'm now reading that and it's absolutely great. I'd be keen to read more from Guy, Andy & Gav on their Eldar stories. Get Rob Sanders back on the Czevak horse too...

I had to set aside the "Fracture of Biel Tan" after only a paragraph or two as it was direct spoilers for "Valedor".

 

So I'm now reading that and it's absolutely great. I'd be keen to read more from Guy, Andy & Gav on their Eldar stories. Get Rob Sanders back on the Czevak horse too...

 

Now Xisor you know my feelings about Czevak!!!!!

 

 

I had to set aside the "Fracture of Biel Tan" after only a paragraph or two as it was direct spoilers for "Valedor".

 

So I'm now reading that and it's absolutely great. I'd be keen to read more from Guy, Andy & Gav on their Eldar stories. Get Rob Sanders back on the Czevak horse too...

Now Xisor you know my feelings about Czevak!!!!!

And you mine. ;)

 

Did you read his (Fidus!) Kryptman short? I could stomach a good galactic romp story in the Time of Ending. The Gathering Storm stuff has me excited, but it's typically mainstream GW fare (not especially creative beyond the cool models, a bit lacking in nuance and depth) - landing someone like Czevak (or any other) on top of that could flesh it out marvelously.

 

Well, more than all that, I'd be happy to see it with Czevak as the antagonist/background. I think a lot could be done there.

 

---

 

With Valedor, there's some utterly magnificent pieces. "Iyanden was the greatest, you're a rival of Eldrad" etc without making the galaxy seem like a small place. I'd love to see more of that.

 

(Similarly with all the good bits out of Gav and Andy's Eldar books. Get it all mixed in with the Gathering Storm.)

Let's just about STORIES instead of FORMATS, ok? -.-

The best point ever.

 

Given what Laurie's said recently, I'd put it down to new GW management not wanting to shackle their authors to tie-ins, when we're already looking at a quiet year for the Heresy with the demands of the Primarchs series.

Seems so - through it's bad for 2017 - cause almost all the major stuff being written now will be released in 2018.

First half of 2017 sucks plainly and simple. Nothing of major BL releases till Crimson king in June/July

Yes, I am absolutely gutted to be getting only dross like "Warmason", "Jain Zar", "Warlord", "Slaughter at Giant's Coffin", "Carrion Throne" and "Eye of Medusa".

 

What an absolutely tedious year. Waste of time. Bloody hack authors.

 

 

You might think it's sarcasm, but I'd put it closer to contempt. I'm variously excited about all of those; Crimson King I can barely give a hoot about by comparison, but that's mainly from past experience. It might be good...

 

Yes, I am absolutely gutted to be getting only dross like "Warmason", "Jain Zar", "Warlord", "Slaughter at Giant's Coffin", "Carrion Throne" and "Eye of Medusa".

 

What an absolutely tedious year. Waste of time. Bloody hack authors.

 

 

You might think it's sarcasm, but I'd put it closer to contempt. I'm variously excited about all of those; Crimson King I can barely give a hoot about by comparison, but that's mainly from past experience. It might be good...

 

 

Warmason from Werner I did forgot - really want it, but Jain Zar - meh; Warlord: Fury of the God Machine is 50/50 (miss or hit as everything with Annandale); "Eye of Medusa - the same.

 

As for the "Carrion Throne" - truly a jewel of the first half of 2017, but it's release only at the late May (so it's almost 2nd part of the year). February/March/April are truly poor

Ideas that come to mind, not gonna lie I have a lot of ideas.

 

As a sequential series  -

 

  • Black ship harvesting arc (following a black ship on its harvesting of psychics and how they go about catching the really crafty ones and the really powerful ones)
  1. Book 1 Heading out to harvest - catching the powerful
  2. Book 2 Tracking down the crafty ones in hiding or ones being hidden by powerful people
  3. book 3 Return to terra keeping them all confined until they get back
  • Navigator house wars (the internal politics of Navigator houses, assassinations, power plays that sort of thing)
  1. Book 1 - Terra families and internal propaganda
  2. Book 2 - Navigator families on other planets and how they influence events across the galaxy
  3. Book 3 - War between families causing major disasters across some systems
  • I know it's been done before but a really in depth look into a space marine recruitment process
  1. Book 1 - Selection
  2. Book 2 - Organs
  3. Book 3 - Scout - black carapace finish

Ideas that come to mind, not gonna lie I have a lot of ideas.

As a sequential series -

  • Black ship harvesting arc (following a black ship on its harvesting of psychics and how they go about catching the really crafty ones and the really powerful ones)
  1. Book 1 Heading out to harvest - catching the powerful
  2. Book 2 Tracking down the crafty ones in hiding or ones being hidden by powerful people
  3. book 3 Return to terra keeping them all confined until they get back
  • Navigator house wars (the internal politics of Navigator houses, assassinations, power plays that sort of thing)
  1. Book 1 - Terra families and internal propaganda
  2. Book 2 - Navigator families on other planets and how they influence events across the galaxy
  3. Book 3 - War between families causing major disasters across some systems
  • I know it's been done before but a really in depth look into a space marine recruitment process
  1. Book 1 - Selection
  2. Book 2 - Organs
  3. Book 3 - Scout - black carapace finish

Really? I do appreciate good sarcasm - but you really want to see that kind of stories from BL? teehee.gif

Absolutely yes.gif I have a huge interest in the nitty critty workings of 40k! In particular the psychic side of things especially!

Hmm, ok then. I thought that stuff has enough coverage in Codexes. Also that kind of stuff is take pages from really 'good' stuff - like happened in the Praetorian of Dorn - almost 20 pages spent on Arhamus progression as a SM.

On the other hand you will definitely get your wish this March with Dante

http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/march/dante-ebook.html

and

http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/march/mephiston.html

both contain a lot of info on how SM 'progress' through the years.

Absolutely yes.gif I have a huge interest in the nitty critty workings of 40k! In particular the psychic side of things especially!

Hmm, ok then. I thought that stuff has enough coverage in Codexes. Also that kind of stuff is take pages from really 'good' stuff - like happened in the Praetorian of Dorn - almost 20 pages spent on Arhamus progression as a SM.

On the other hand you will definitely get your wish this March with Dante

http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/march/dante-ebook.html

and

http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/march/mephiston.html

both contain a lot of info on how SM 'progress' through the years.

I actually agree with you on Praetorian of Dorn those 20 pages you say were not needed for that particular story but I get why French did it.

As for the codex reference could not disagree more they are just snap shots on what is rather than an involved tale about why is, which to me is far more interesting.

Absolutely yes.gif I have a huge interest in the nitty critty workings of 40k! In particular the psychic side of things especially!

Hmm, ok then. I thought that stuff has enough coverage in Codexes. Also that kind of stuff is take pages from really 'good' stuff - like happened in the Praetorian of Dorn - almost 20 pages spent on Arhamus progression as a SM.

On the other hand you will definitely get your wish this March with Dante

http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/march/dante-ebook.html

and

http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/march/mephiston.html

both contain a lot of info on how SM 'progress' through the years.

I actually agree with you on Praetorian of Dorn those 20 pages you say were not needed for that particular story but I get why French did it.

As for the codex reference could not disagree more they are just snap shots on what is rather than an involved tale about why is, which to me is far more interesting.

Hm - yeah, in general codex are that mainly. That's why you definitely gonna like Dante and Mephiston - prose version of indocrination and rank progression

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