Upcoming BL Stuff - 2022

[cheywood]

14 minutes ago, chevalierdulys said:

Btw, so the last releases for this month is going to be sanguinius SE and HB and Hallowed Ground (the omnibus I am not counting that's not a "new" book) To be honest I am not that interested... another BTW, what a heck happend to shadowsun from phil kelly? It disappeared. Usually it stays for a bit OUT OF STOCK or temporarily out of stock (like AWAKENINGS per example) but that one puff disappeared..

 

Hallowed Ground’s not a new release either. The hardback came out last spring. Very enjoyable read for those who like AOS.

 

Shadowsun’s a limited edition, so it sold out. The hardback’s out next year. Simon and Schuster has it listed for April but that could easily change.

[skylerboodie]

30 minutes ago, cheywood said:

<snip>

the SoT will almost inevitably be followed by coverage of the Scouring. 

 

The Scouring does seem the obvious and sensible thing to do, which is actually why I fear Black Library won't do it, given how they seem determined to make every decision they can to run the division into the ground. 

 

I would love a Scouring series. Nick Kyme was asked about it at a previous BL Live event (I miss those) and he said he thought a Unification Wars series would be more interesting. I'd love both of course, but as the latter would be practically made up of whole cloth, I'd prefer the former as there is already a framework of lore to tie it around. Chris Wraight's Valdor novel(la) was great, but the thought of a whole bunch of new proto Primarchs feels derivative to me. 

[cheywood]

20 minutes ago, skylerboodie said:

 

The Scouring does seem the obvious and sensible thing to do, which is actually why I fear Black Library won't do it, given how they seem determined to make every decision they can to run the division into the ground. 

 

I would love a Scouring series. Nick Kyme was asked about it at a previous BL Live event (I miss those) and he said he thought a Unification Wars series would be more interesting. I'd love both of course, but as the latter would be practically made up of whole cloth, I'd prefer the former as there is already a framework of lore to tie it around. Chris Wraight's Valdor novel(la) was great, but the thought of a whole bunch of new proto Primarchs feels derivative to me. 

I didn’t know Kyme said that. I shudder to think how awful that could be unless it’s just Abnett, ADB, French, Wraight and maybe Haley. I don’t trust any of the other Heresy authors to successfully define a pivotal period that, ideally, should bear minimal resemblance to the Imperium. I’m rereading Horus Rising right now and it’s astounding how, despite the lore changes 60+ books bring, it’s still so philosophically and conceptually relevant, not to mention distinct from 40k. Such a shame no author involved in the Heresy really matched his brilliance until ADB arrived. 

 

The Scouring’s already pretty well defined and ripe to be put to page. Hopefully they make the safe choice in this instance.

[theSpirea]

2 hours ago, chevalierdulys said:

That's one thing I don't compreehernd. If their sales are going down, how can they translate to so many languages? French, German, I know there are spanish and italian but probably those are publish by other companies within those countries since they don't usally sell on GW website  That's four translators on a role for a novel. I don't know how much it costs BUT surely is not cheap. As a portuguese I read in english. But, I bet they don't even sell that much since of all the books they have "avaiable" only half are in english. The rest are combination of french & german. 

 

I don't speak any of those languages so can't comment on a quality but translating books isn't actually that expensive if they give it to students/fans/newbie translators which is very comment with these types of books.

 

On topic: I was just checking this year publications and noticed there's nothing from Necromunda and even last year wasn't that great. Also Warhammer Adventures ended and I haven't seen any update if there's going to be more.

Here are dates for Dawn of Fire. For something they were trying to make the next HH it doesn't seem to be doing well which is a shame because so far I enjoyed all four books.

23-04-2022    Haley, Guy      Dawn of Fire    #4    Throne of Light
06-11-2021    Thorpe, Gav    Dawn of Fire    #3    Wolftime, The
30-01-2021    Clark, Andy     Dawn of Fire    #2    Gate of Bones, The
08-08-2020    Haley, Guy      Dawn of Fire    #1    Avenging Son

 

They still managed to publish close to 40 novels this years. That is more than in 2020 or 2021 if I'm not mistaken.

Edited November 21, 2022 by theSpirea

[Scribe]

2 hours ago, Sothalor said:

I honestly think Dawn of Fire is dead in the water at this point. With the gaps between releases and the seeming scattershot approach with each book having its own focus, it sort of feels like BL is speed-running the meta-arc of the Horus Heresy from "tightly-plotted forward momentum" to "mangled octopus giblets of where are we going with all this".

 

On another note, I hit up my local GW store this weekend and chatted with the manager a bit vis a vis BL availability in the stores. He told me there's a new corporate policy currently rolling out: the idea going forward is that the stores only carry what they consider "introductory" or "gateway" books - some of the more well-known series or novels, for instance. Less stocking of new releases and "boutique" lines like Crime/Horror or lesser known authors. The reasoning, handed down from corporate, is that the "die-hard collectors will eventually figure out how to get their hands on what they want."

 

 Well. you too, GW.

 

They absolutely do everything in their power short of not releasing books at all, to keep them out of the hands of the community and actually *gasp* grow the setting and IP.

[skylerboodie]

Amazon indicates Dawn of Fire book 5 (German translation) for May 2023, listed as Guy Haley (& translator) again; would be unusual for back to back entries from the same author, but possible, especially as he's leading the series and writes so quickly.

 

They've definitely given the series little chance to do well; I can't see anyone but existing Black Library readers having much reason to stay interested in it given the lack of proper support, let alone convert many miniature collectors/gamers to become readers too. 

[chevalierdulys]

My store in Portugal still has Hallowed Ground and The End of Enlightenment in HB. He says nobody buys them so they stay there.

Since you are saying HG is good I am going to puchase. What about the End of Enlightment? Is it any good? Don't have that many reviews on goodreads.

 

[cheywood]

Just now, chevalierdulys said:

My store in Portugal still has Hallowed Ground and The End of Enlightenment in HB. He says nobody buys them so they stay there.

Since you are saying HG is good I am going to puchase. What about the End of Enlightment? Is it any good? Don't have that many reviews on goodreads.

 

The powers that be don’t like there to be much AOS talk here just fyi. Personally I didn’t enjoy The End of Enlightenment anywhere near as much as Hallowed Ground. 
 

To stay on topic, Haley could be writing book 5 or it could be an error because sites like Amazon aren’t properly accounting for it being a multi-author series. I think at least one site had Gav Thorpe as the author for book 4 at first. 

[Noserenda]

Im personally liking Dawn of fire, the time line with the plague war series still throws me off but overall its alright, two a year is about what id expect but the gaps are definitely irregular, which is fitting for the real life period unfortunately.

Unification wars really dont interest me though, its not 30k, just some post apocalypse spin off really. The human timeline starts with the Valdor novel. Scouring on the other hand still has stories to tell! 

[Moonreaper666]

2 hours ago, Noserenda said:

Im personally liking Dawn of fire, the time line with the plague war series still throws me off but overall its alright, two a year is about what id expect but the gaps are definitely irregular, which is fitting for the real life period unfortunately.

Unification wars really dont interest me though, its not 30k, just some post apocalypse spin off really. The human timeline starts with the Valdor novel. Scouring on the other hand still has stories to tell! 

 

The things the Scouring could unveil

 

-How much of the Alpha Legion went to the Eye of Terror

 

-Relative strength and numbers of the Traitor Legions that did not fully participate in the Siege

 

-Lost and the Damned as well as Independent Warlords

 

-Rise in Daemonic invasions and Cult uprisings forcing the Inquisition to purge Trillions

 

-How many Loyalists left and how many Second Founding Chapters

 

-Destruction of Caliban and the Iron Cage

[DukeLeto69]

Find myself reading far less BL these days. Just not excited for the vast majority of releases and certainly not the “stress” of being able to get one in dead tree format.

 

If I can get the following in next couple of years then I will be happy:

 

Abnett = Pandaemonium, Interceptor City, SoT 8&9 (more Gaunt?)

 

Wraight = WotT3

 

ADB = Black Legion 3, SotE2

 

WH Crime = inc Wraight & Haley follow on novels

 

Another Fehervari novel (well I can dream)

 

Anything else will be totally based on the reaction from you lot on here.

[chevalierdulys]

10 hours ago, cheywood said:

The powers that be don’t like there to be much AOS talk here just fyi. Personally I didn’t enjoy The End of Enlightenment anywhere near as much as Hallowed Ground. 
 

To stay on topic, Haley could be writing book 5 or it could be an error because sites like Amazon aren’t properly accounting for it being a multi-author series. I think at least one site had Gav Thorpe as the author for book 4 at first. 

I understand. I prefered the warhamemr fantasy, read almost all books comparing to sigmar. So I Can understand people don't enjoy. Thank you for your feedback. I am not going to buy it. Money is limited and I Have the paperback novel. 

[Casual Heresy]

I really hope Dawn of Fire dosen't die. I'm loving them so far and I've committed to LE. Do feel that, as with most things from BL, they would shout about it more.

 

Warhammer Crime is fast becoming my favourite part of BL though. Only two books (both great though!) was disappointing.

 

Has any one heard any rumours about a release date for Wrath of the Lost? Believe it was announced back in September alongside Shadowsun and Harrowmaster.

[Taliesin]

15 hours ago, skylerboodie said:

 

The Scouring does seem the obvious and sensible thing to do, which is actually why I fear Black Library won't do it, given how they seem determined to make every decision they can to run the division into the ground. 

 

I would love a Scouring series. Nick Kyme was asked about it at a previous BL Live event (I miss those) and he said he thought a Unification Wars series would be more interesting. I'd love both of course, but as the latter would be practically made up of whole cloth, I'd prefer the former as there is already a framework of lore to tie it around. Chris Wraight's Valdor novel(la) was great, but the thought of a whole bunch of new proto Primarchs feels derivative to me. 

 

Surely have they have been thinking for years on what to do after the Heresy ends, we can take that as a given.

Probably they have decided quite some time ago what they will have their main guys write post-Heresy as well, but they are holding off on announcing it until the Siege of Terra is actually complete.

 

The Scouring makes sense and is interesting. For me also the Unification Wars would be superb. At least do 1 or 2 novels there please.

 

But like you I also have that concern about the fact that even though it seems so obvious, would they actually do it, because so many of the decisions seem.....counter productive.

 

Once again I wish there had been a BL Weekender so myself and others could ask some clarifying questions in person, like happened in the past

[Ubiquitous1984]

14 hours ago, theSpirea said:

 

I don't speak any of those languages so can't comment on a quality but translating books isn't actually that expensive if they give it to students/fans/newbie translators which is very comment with these types of books.

 

On topic: I was just checking this year publications and noticed there's nothing from Necromunda and even last year wasn't that great. Also Warhammer Adventures ended and I haven't seen any update if there's going to be more.

Here are dates for Dawn of Fire. For something they were trying to make the next HH it doesn't seem to be doing well which is a shame because so far I enjoyed all four books.

23-04-2022    Haley, Guy      Dawn of Fire    #4    Throne of Light
06-11-2021    Thorpe, Gav    Dawn of Fire    #3    Wolftime, The
30-01-2021    Clark, Andy     Dawn of Fire    #2    Gate of Bones, The
08-08-2020    Haley, Guy      Dawn of Fire    #1    Avenging Son

 

They still managed to publish close to 40 novels this years. That is more than in 2020 or 2021 if I'm not mistaken.

One DoF book in 2022 is pretty inexcusable IMO.  It's hard to remember all the plot lines and key players when the books are spaced out so widely.

 

edit - I've tweeted Guy Haley to ask him if he can shed any light on future releases.  If he responds I'll update on here.

Edited November 22, 2022 by Ubiquitous1984

[Felix Antipodes]

The BL coming attractions page has been updated.  For those who asked Wrath of the Lost is out Jan.   The Garro novella is also out then.  No DoF listed.   Time short so will edit in link later.

[Ubiquitous1984]

19 minutes ago, Felix Antipodes said:

The BL coming attractions page has been updated.  For those who asked Wrath of the Lost is out Jan.   The Garro novella is also out then.  No DoF listed.   Time short so will edit in link later.

https://www.warhammer-community.com/blacklibrarycomingsoon/

 

Interesting that we'll also have the first AoS Limited Edition boxset in December.

[theSpirea]

18 minutes ago, Ubiquitous1984 said:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/blacklibrarycomingsoon/

 

Interesting that we'll also have the first AoS Limited Edition boxset in December.

And it looks fabulous.

Sadly no Crime/Horror/Necromunda

[System Sound]

That is a very dry December? 

[chevalierdulys]

6 hours ago, Ubiquitous1984 said:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/blacklibrarycomingsoon/

 

Interesting that we'll also have the first AoS Limited Edition boxset in December.

Instant buy.  I would love to buy one from old william king slayer, my favorite novels from fantasy are unboudbly skavenslayer, daemonslayer, beastslayer and dragonslayer. 

But I am going to get it. looks nice and beautiful. The problem is the price. IF it follows the same of dark empirium is 125€ (correct?. That's a bit much for me for 3 novels.

[Lord Nord in Gravis Armour]

I personally don't think there's any chance of Dawn of Fire "dying" (at least in the sense of just being discontinued). I think it's more likely to have a distinct end, but one notably contracted from their original vision. It wouldn't totally surprise me if they put it out of its misery with Book 5, but I think more likely it ends with Book 7.

 

Sad - the series had a lot of potential. But they definitely hit the fast-forward button with Book 3 and I don't think they're going to take their collective foot back off the gas now. Then there was the complete cluster that was the Hand of Abaddon mystery in Book 1 which suddenly wasn't a mystery and not even worth commenting on in Book 2 (being simply spoiled in the Dramatis Personae section) which then became a mystery again once Haley resurfaced in the rotation.

 

Look for around a year of real time and a couple years of in-universe time to pass between each of the remaining books.

Edited November 22, 2022 by Lord Nord

[Ubiquitous1984]

Guy Haley responded to my tweet saying there will be more DoF books, but he doesn’t know when they’ll be out.  

[Sothalor]

1 minute ago, Lord Nord said:

I personally don't think there's any chance of Dawn of Fire "dying." I think it's more likely to have a distinct end, but one notably contracted from their original vision. It wouldn't totally surprise me if they put it out of its misery with Book 5, but I think more likely it ends with Book 7.

 

Sad - the series had a lot of potential. But they definitely hit the fast-forward button with Book 3 and I don't think they're going to take their collective foot back off the gas now. Then there was the complete cluster that was the Hand of Abaddon mystery in Book 1 which suddenly wasn't a mystery and not even worth commenting on in Book 2 (being simply spoiled in the Dramatis Personae section) which then became a mystery again once Haley resurfaced in the rotation.

 

Look for around a year of real time and a couple years of in-universe time to pass between each of the remaining books.

 

I think this is part of the problem; Dawn of Fire is billed as the tie-in for "new" setting lore, the closest thing there is to the "Ongoing 40K Plot Development."

 

But that runs up against the fact that the main GW studio is also moving forward with its own things - whether that be the rumored, rapidly oncoming 10th Edition, or the Arks of Omen thing that supposedly leads up to it, or whatever.

 

The Horus Heresy could get away with a decade-plus-spanning release schedule because it was a distinctly separate era and sub-setting from "modern" 40K. 

 

But if GW intends to just continuously cycle through to new editions of 40K on a 2-3 year schedule...

 

Well, I think that's an issue for how GW/BL present the series. There's a certain perception of "the iron has cooled." I don't think they can escape a certain amount of "Dawn of Fire was supposed to transition the 8th to 9th lore" and the perception that it'll all be outdated come 10th.

 

That isn't fair to the authors, nor the merits of the individual stories and novels and characters and all that. But that's the reality of the entwined nature of this realm of tie-in fiction and how GW/BL operate.

[Noserenda]

Its not even that though really, due to the timeline shifts Dawn of Fire is really filling in the gap between 7th and 8th, which i think is the real problem, its an increasingly distant point and that really limits what they can do with plot developments or characters, we know a bunch of them survive the series which hurts tension and we know the psychic awakening is never going to actually happen there because its not happened in the current 40k timeline.

Like, its interesting developments, but they would have been thrilling a couple of years ago. I hope sometime soon we might see something more up to the Studio plots, they need the backup ! 

[wecanhaveallthree]

Dawn of Fire just aimed too high, I think. Pitching itself as the new Horus Heresy was just too ambitious for exactly what Noserenda says: a bunch of books plugging in the gaps. If it hadn't overpromised so much or tried so hard, it would've been better received, and I say this as someone who has never read and felt absolutely no desire to read any of them. The appeal to read either filler or 'the next big series' just wasn't there, but pitching it more character-focused and elaborating more on 'modern' characters (like Colquan, who we adore) might have generated an itch to scratch.

 

Conversely, books like Reynolds' Apocalypse were delightful and hit the sweet spot of 'how's life in the post-Maledictum Imperium'.

 

Briefly on the subjects of Ghosts, I 100% echo that they found their place and Abnett found his voice in Necropolis. It's not a complicated book, but it doesn't need to be: it has the right plot beats, the right mix of characters, and it was a very strong foundation to build on going forward.