Upcoming BL Stuff - 2023

[Felix Antipodes]

1 hour ago, Xin Ceithan said:

I am very … anxious? … to see how they handle the return of the Lion.

 

The return of Roboute came with a lot of missed opportunities IMO (even if FW  / BL started Ton pick up the pieces  over the years it seems). 
 

And even with the whole baggage from Unremembered Empire, Roboute at least has the excuse of being practically dead the last ten thousand years going for him 

 

I’d  be interested to see how they handle the Lion being AWOL from the Imperium over the millennia ….

That will be a make or break for his return, for me at least.  Will they go with the fluff and have him recently returned from his coma?  Have him off doing his own thing until Cadiz hit the fan?  I’m hoping for the former but that will be up to the design team not BL.

 

While I’m not one of the many Thorpe detractors here, I think he has had his day with the Chapter.  Time to pass the torch, Gav.  Not that I necessarily want one of the other warhorses to take up the reigns.  There are plenty of new kids on the block who should be given a chance to step up.  I quite like how Marc Collins writes Astartes for instance.  I’m sure there are others who could do an equally good job.

[cheywood]

A few pseudo updates from Fnac for those who want to speculate. All these novels are embargoed, so only the date and author are listed. 

 

Darius Hinks has a novel coming late June. No idea what this could be. Maybe a tie-in with the new edition of 40k? He did write Dominion for the new AOS edition a couple years ago, so there’s precedent.

 

‘Max’ Brooks has a novel coming in July. I was thinking this would be Mike Brooks’ Warboss in regular edition, but that’s coming out this weekend. Either the writer of World War Z is doing tie-in fiction or Mike Brooks has another novel coming this summer. Edit: this could also be the paperback edition of Harrowmaster which is coming in July, though previous embargoes have all been for new books.

 

Finally, Marc Collins also has a novel coming in July. I would put money on this being The Martyr’s Tomb.

Edited March 24, 2023 by cheywood

[Ubiquitous1984]

I wouldn't rely on BL commissioning one of their heavy hitters to write the Lion's return (if indeed we even get a novel).  They picked Guymer for Angron; hardly a heavy hitter (no disrespect intended, I've enjoyed his work for BL) plus the 'big beasts' tend to be tied up in writing long anticipated sequels.

 

What is likely is that we'll see a BL publication to tie-in with 10th edition dropping.  Let's just hope it's a vast improvement on Gav's Indomitus, which I found almost unreadable.  I won't hold my breath as such books by their very nature will be studio-driven and bolter-porn heavy.

 

edit - as I posted this, cheywood's always useful fnac update appeared.  Hinks' novel being the 10th edition tie-in seems plasuible.  

Edited March 24, 2023 by Ubiquitous1984

[Karhedron]

39 minutes ago, Ubiquitous1984 said:

I wouldn't rely on BL commissioning one of their heavy hitters to write the Lion's return (if indeed we even get a novel).  They picked Guymer for Angron; hardly a heavy hitter (no disrespect intended, I've enjoyed his work for BL) plus the 'big beasts' tend to be tied up in writing long anticipated sequels.

 

Guymer also wrote Johnson's Primarch novel and I really enjoyed it. I liked his depiction of the Lion as cool and aloof but not completely uncaring. The HH depictions have veered between borderline autistic and psychopath. If Guymer was announced to be writing some Lion 40K novels, I would be more than happy.

[wecanhaveallthree]

Guymer can't be engaged for that, as he still needs to write the third Iron Hands book. Which is definitely coming, any day now, for sure! 

[lansalt]

Has anyone got the new Cypher book yet? I'm impatient to learn about the reveals inside

[aa.logan]

29 minutes ago, lansalt said:

Has anyone got the new Cypher book yet? I'm impatient to learn about the reveals inside

Yes; it’s great but, unless I’ve missed stuff, French goes out of his way to keep stuff nice and mysterious. 
 

Non-spoiler spoilers- not plot but general detail 

 

•It is set just after Guilliman arrives on Terra and as everything starts kicking off
•The closer they get to the throne, the harder psykers find it to use their powers.

•Cypher’s Fallen are a mix; some are full on drooling Chaos devotees, others resentful loyalists

•The Dark Angels in it are perhaps the most committed to the hunt of any depicted in a BL book

•There is an interesting look at the Callidus Temple and the ways in which they interact with the Custodes

•Cypher points out that the idea of the Lion having just one weapon over the course of centuries of war is ridiculous- he used different tools for different jobs

 

[byrd9999]

I would love it if Max Brooks writes for BL! My son loves his Minecraft tie-in fiction. And WWZ is supposed to be good. Let's  hope it's not a typo!

 

[aa.logan]

2 hours ago, cheywood said:

‘Max’ Brooks has a novel coming in July. I was thinking this would be Mike Brooks’ Warboss in regular edition, but that’s coming out this weekend. Either the writer of World War Z is doing tie-in fiction or Mike Brooks has another novel coming this summer. Edit: this could also be the paperback edition of Harrowmaster which is coming in July, though previous embargoes have all been for new books.

I really *really* loved World War Z, and even quite enjoyed Max Brooks’ probably quite bad Bigfoot novel, so I’d love it if he wrote something for BL.

 

On the other hand, I really, really *really* like Mike Brooks’ output. In October (just before Harrowmaster came out) he tweeted “I think by the end of the month I'm on thirteen novels and two novellas (published), with another awaiting publication and another awaiting edit notes (and another one in progress). Nothing non-fiction though.” It could well be another piece of original fiction, or another publisher, but maybe this title awaiting publication is this July release 

[DukeLeto69]

Looks like John French has written some original fiction, the start of a fantasy series. So less BL from him!

[chevalierdulys]

5 hours ago, cheywood said:

A few pseudo updates from Fnac for those who want to speculate. All these novels are embargoed, so only the date and author are listed. 

 

Darius Hinks has a novel coming late June. No idea what this could be. Maybe a tie-in with the new edition of 40k? He did write Dominion for the new AOS edition a couple years ago, so there’s precedent.

 

‘Max’ Brooks has a novel coming in July. I was thinking this would be Mike Brooks’ Warboss in regular edition, but that’s coming out this weekend. Either the writer of World War Z is doing tie-in fiction or Mike Brooks has another novel coming this summer. Edit: this could also be the paperback edition of Harrowmaster which is coming in July, though previous embargoes have all been for new books.

 

Finally, Marc Collins also has a novel coming in July. I would put money on this being The Martyr’s Tomb.

 

It is. You can check on bookdepository. It's mike brooks warboss :) 

[cheywood]

10 minutes ago, chevalierdulys said:

 

It is. You can check on bookdepository. It's mike brooks warboss :) 

It is? Would you mind linking that listing? The English hardback of Warboss is out this weekend and bookdepository lists the German edition for release in May not July: https://www.bookdepository.com/Warhammer-40-000-Orkboss-Mike-Brooks/9781800267817?ref=grid-view&qid=1679684401635&sr=1-5

There is a listing for the German edition of Harrowmaster this July though, so it could be that, but previous embargoes on Fnac have all been for new novels not rereleases: https://www.bookdepository.com/Warhammer-40-000-Die-Geisterlegion-Mike-Brooks/9781800267732

[cheywood]

2 hours ago, DukeLeto69 said:

Looks like John French has written some original fiction, the start of a fantasy series. So less BL from him!

You mean Letters From an Unknown Land? Right now it’s just a series of very short stories that French has been putting out on his website for free. I wouldn’t necessarily take it as a sign that he’s cutting back on his BL work, seems like a fun little side project more than his primary focus. 

[chevalierdulys]

2 hours ago, cheywood said:

It is? Would you mind linking that listing? The English hardback of Warboss is out this weekend and bookdepository lists the German edition for release in May not July: https://www.bookdepository.com/Warhammer-40-000-Orkboss-Mike-Brooks/9781800267817?ref=grid-view&qid=1679684401635&sr=1-5

There is a listing for the German edition of Harrowmaster this July though, so it could be that, but previous embargoes on Fnac have all been for new novels not rereleases: https://www.bookdepository.com/Warhammer-40-000-Die-Geisterlegion-Mike-Brooks/9781800267732

Maybe I a mistaken but I believe I saw it there. Now it's not :\ but to be honest something is strang eon bookdepository. Usually they have all games workshop boosks on preorder and now all of them (not released) say notify me. I am sorry for the mistake. I thought I've seen it.

 

[cheywood]

14 minutes ago, chevalierdulys said:

Maybe I a mistaken but I believe I saw it there. Now it's not :\ but to be honest something is strang eon bookdepository. Usually they have all games workshop boosks on preorder and now all of them (not released) say notify me. I am sorry for the mistake. I thought I've seen it.

 

No worries! Maybe it’ll pop back up. 
 

edit: and thank you for checking!

Edited March 24, 2023 by cheywood

[chevalierdulys]

another week with only one novel.. so maybe next week is going to be the box set of anthony reynolds trilogy?

[Arguleon Veq]

About a third of the way through Warboss, starts with a workmanlike, solid setting of the stage then a commencing with a slow boil. Most interesting thing so far (to me) is the traditional ork vs. grot dynamic being called into question (in an Marxian fashion)

 

At this point, the humies are pretty forgettable

[Nagashsnee]

1 hour ago, Arguleon Veq said:

About a third of the way through Warboss, starts with a workmanlike, solid setting of the stage then a commencing with a slow boil. Most interesting thing so far (to me) is the traditional ork vs. grot dynamic being called into question (in an Marxian fashion)

 

At this point, the humies are pretty forgettable

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[Lord Marshal]

Dark City finally getting a paperback release (English) next week.

[chevalierdulys]

three weeks with only one book published  :\ since I have to pay 12€ for each order under 100, that's thrice I didn't purchase.. I wonder if that's the reason why warboss (a hardback is still avaiable) 

[theSpirea]

24 minutes ago, chevalierdulys said:

three weeks with only one book published  :\ since I have to pay 12€ for each order under 100, that's thrice I didn't purchase.. I wonder if that's the reason why warboss (a hardback is still avaiable) 

12 EUR for shipping is only for some of the EU regions afaik and I don't think these regions make up a high percentage of overall BL sales.

[chevalierdulys]

3 hours ago, theSpirea said:

12 EUR for shipping is only for some of the EU regions afaik and I don't think these regions make up a high percentage of overall BL sales.

didn't knew this... makes sense , since there are no hubs here like in france, sweden (i think) or germany. But it's a bit strange... 12€ for shipping for a single book anything lower than 100€ (could even be a 2 kilos stuff) and the price is flat-rate? I don't know. Feels cheap, opportunistic and worst than all - don't give a care about you guys (as you say not a high percentage of overall bl sales) although I have all BL novels :P 

 

[theSpirea]

I'm only guessing that might be the case. I have no idea how popular WH is in that region. It might not even be about numbers, maybe local shipping options/tax/policies? But I do agree that the flat rate of 12 EUR for shipping is extremely high and the limit for the free shipping of 100 EUR is also highly unusual.

 

There are no FLGS/hobby stores in your country selling BL products? Maybe try eshops in Poland (it seems they sell books much cheaper than directly on GW and they might ship it to your country).

Edited March 26, 2023 by theSpirea

[Felix Antipodes]

5 hours ago, chevalierdulys said:

three weeks with only one book published  :\ since I have to pay 12€ for each order under 100, that's thrice I didn't purchase.. I wonder if that's the reason why warboss (a hardback is still avaiable) 

I’m beginning to think those GW warehouse issues or some other supply problem is at play here.  There have been plenty of books announced or spotted by FNAC and other sources, so there seems no other reason for the lack of product.  All the more aggravating after the horror show of the BL Celebration release week.

[DarkChaplain]

Still no idea what Mike Brooks' orks series is supposed to be called on the meta-level, but the audiobook is special again.

 

The novel in print/ebook only has chapters one to five, every chapter after that is called "Lotz". Around 20 "Lotz" chapters. The audiobook has the narrator (in-character) trying to think which chapter number it actually is - with corrections, or small arguments, etc. Really creative and something unique to the audiobook.

 

Seriously, Harry Myers is incredible here. That's also the bloke who narrated The Wraithbone Phoenix, which was also brilliantly performed.