Newer Black Library authors

[grailkeeper]

I've been reading BL for a while. A lot of the attention here understandably goes to the longer established authors, such as Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill etc.

 

GW has over the last few years widely expanded its range of authors. The newer ones have fewer fans because they are new, so get a bit less attention here. Maybe we could have a thread discussing the strengths of new authors and who might be an up and comer to watch out for. I'm looking for ones who might not have gotten a lot of attention till now.

 

I like Marc Collins a lot. I'll hold my hands up here- I'm biased because I've had a few interactions with him on twitter and he's been very sound to me. Same story with Jude Reid whose book on Creed is on my next to read pile.I bought Darktide, in part, on the strength of one of her stories.

 

I think Robert Rath is excellent. He's only had two novels and they're both 10 out of 10. If he wrote a copy of the phonebook I'd buy it. 

Anyone else out there who is worth keeping an eye out for? On the other hand anyone out there who might be the next CS Goto?

Edited January 20, 2023 by grailkeeper

[Roomsky]

• I've found what little I've read of Noah Van Nguyen so far to be excellent. I know he just put out an AOS book, but I hope he gets a full-length 40k novel soon.
• Denny Flowers has proved himself great so far, I love Fire Made Flesh and Outgunned. 
• If Adrian Tchaikovsky writes more books, I will grab them up immediately.
• Nate Crowley is currently my master of xenos fiction and I hope he writes Eldar or Tau at some point.
• Gary Kloster's limited 40k offerings have all been quite solid
• Richard Strachan is one of AOS' most competent authors and I'd be interested to see some 40k from him
   

[DukeLeto69]

Marc Collins was also “one of us”. He was very active on here and previously on thebolthole so he gets a pass from me anyway but... Grim Repast was excellent!

[grailkeeper]

35 minutes ago, Roomsky said:

• I've found what little I've read of Noah Van Nguyen so far to be excellent. I know he just put out an AOS book, but I hope he gets a full-length 40k novel soon.
• Denny Flowers has proved himself great so far, I love Fire Made Flesh and Outgunned. 
• If Adrian Tchaikovsky writes more books, I will grab them up immediately.
• Nate Crowley is currently my master of xenos fiction and I hope he writes Eldar or Tau at some point.
• Gary Kloster's limited 40k offerings have all been quite solid
• Richard Strachan is one of AOS' most competent authors and I'd be interested to see some 40k from him
   

I wasn't crazy about day of ascension, but Adrian Tvhaikovskys non BL work is excellent. I particularly recommend cage of souls. Making my way through city of lost chances atm.

[Kelborn]

Keeping it rather short due to lack of time but of those I've read/ listened to in the last year:

 

- Richard Strachan

- Robert Rath

- Nate Crowley

 

Those would be my favourites of the newer authors.

[aa.logan]

I’m rather impressed by the ‘new wave’ of BL authors too; I’m such a fan of  Van Nguyen, Rath, Crowley and Brooks that I’ll instantly buy and read anything they publish- in the case of the last two this includes their independent work.

 

having read so much non-BL Tchaikovsky (just in the last half hour finishing City of Last Chances, it left me wanting to read him doing the Guard), it’s hard for me to include him in that bracket but I guess I do. 

Victoria Haywood’s stories so far have really satisfied; hoping she gets a novel sooner rather than later,.
 

 

[cheywood]

Surprised Rachel Harrison hasn’t been mentioned. Honourbound might be the best Guard novel by an author not named Abnett, and Mark of Faith is quite good too. 

[grailkeeper]

35 minutes ago, cheywood said:

Surprised Rachel Harrison hasn’t been mentioned. Honourbound might be the best Guard novel by an author not named Abnett, and Mark of Faith is quite good too. 

 I liked honourbound. It had the biggest marketing of any book I can think of, even had a model of the main character. She kinda disappeared off the scene after for a while. Maybe there's some story in the background there. 

[animal310]

Mike Brooks is excellent. 

[Ramell]

I haven't even kept up properly with the main series I follow (Ghosts and HH), much less newer authors, but I quite enjoyed the stories from some of them in Sabbat War. Robert Rath in particular with Glory Flight.

[cheywood]

2 hours ago, grailkeeper said:

 I liked honourbound. It had the biggest marketing of any book I can think of, even had a model of the main character. She kinda disappeared off the scene after for a while. Maybe there's some story in the background there. 

She does have what I imagine is a pretty busy full-time position as BL’s art commissioning director (not sure if that’s the official title). It could be as simple as her not having much time to write or not feeling like it at the moment. 

[wecanhaveallthree]

That'd be very disappointing, because I echo every good sentiment about Honourbound. I'd even go a step further and say it was an excellent foundation for a modern Gaunt's Ghosts-alike - I'd love to see the cast back in action again and it certainly seemed to be set up as more than a one-shot novel. I can't imagine it sold poorly, either. 

[cheywood]

Does Alec Worley count? He’s been around for a while writing short stories but his first novel was the brilliant Wraithbone Phoenix. 

[aa.logan]

48 minutes ago, cheywood said:

Does Alec Worley count? He’s been around for a while writing short stories but his first novel was the brilliant Wraithbone Phoenix. 

I was considering him; he’s absolutely the biggest victim of the shift from audio dramas- each and every one that he wrote was outstanding. The Wraithbone Phoenix does show he’s just as good with prose though.

[theSpirea]

Excellent thread! I'm a big fan of short stories and the Inferno! anthologies are excellent source to discover new authors. Some of you may have noticed my signature and my never-ending rambling about some of these authors on various forums and discord channels. I try to promote them as much as I can (buy buying their books and converting non-believers).

 

I wouldn't shut up about Robert Rath since his very first BL short story The Garden of Mortal Delights (AoS). It was my favorite short story in 2019. I was hoping he would end up writing a full novel for AoS but I had a feeling he was "too good" and will transition to the 40K. His 40K output is nothing but amazing, especially the latest book Kingmaker (making it to my top 5 novels last year).

 

Nate Crowley, his take on Orks was a bit of fresh air in his short story The Enemy of my Enemy. No surprise his Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh! ended up my #1 novel last year. Both with Rath these two guy are Xenos masters for BL and I can't wait for their next books.

 

Denny Flowers, it started in 2019 with his Necromunda short story A Question of Taste. No surprise his first novel was set in Necromunda Fire Made Flesh. Excellent book and I dare to say the best one set in Necromunda. I bought multiple copies and gave it to all my friends.

 

Jake Ozga, I call him Fehervari for the AoS. Into Dark Water novella is so bizarre and atmospheric. It shows a strength of the AoS if BL lets author play in that setting. His other short stories are worth a read as well, Skull Throne, Supplication, Suffer the Vision. I hope he gets to write a full novel.

 

Michael R. Fletcher, Strong Bones and A Tithe of Bone are ridiculously good AoS short stories. Sadly, BL didn't offer enough money for Michael to write more for them. His non-WH stuff is excellent and he knows how to write grim. Many of current BL writers could learn from him.

 

Peter McLean, unfortunately another promising author not making it far with BL (no idea why but I guess his own books sell well enough). Wrote only a few short stories but all worth reading.

 

Gareth Hanrahan, afaik only two Crime short stories so far but both show potential.

 

Richard Strachan, the best AoS author right now. Especially now since Josh Reynolds is no longer writing for BL.

 

Honorable mentions: authors on my instant-buy-list to support them: Eric Gregory, Steven B. Fischer, Gary Kloster, Jeremy Lambert, Noah Van Nguyen, Victoria Hayward, Cameron Johnston, Adrian Southin, J. C. Stearns, Jude Reid, Jon Flindall, Rachel Harrison. I'm sure I'm forgetting some but the list is already pretty long. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by theSpirea

[DukeLeto69]

Re: Peter McLean apparently his relationship with BL “didn’t work out” whatever that means. The sense I get is that his original fiction was taking off (his “Priest” series has been optioned for TV/Film) and BL didn’t want to up his royalty rate as a consequence. May be totally wrong!

[cheywood]

11 minutes ago, DukeLeto69 said:

Re: Peter McLean apparently his relationship with BL “didn’t work out” whatever that means. The sense I get is that his original fiction was taking off (his “Priest” series has been optioned for TV/Film) and BL didn’t want to up his royalty rate as a consequence. May be totally wrong!

He and Thomas Parrott were friends. I’m not sure if the tweet’s still up but he announced his departure right after Parrott was fired. The two seemed very much related. I’m sure it helps that he has original fiction to focus on though. 

[chevalierdulys]

Michael Fletcher probably won't write full books here as well. I talked with him a bit on discord on a group we shared and he said that something about BL rules putting him off -about swearing, plot etc  am paraphrasing). Can't find the thread but he is more focus on his own novels. The same with Rob Hayes. 

 

so good authors to be Richard Strachan (AoS), Steve Lyons although he is not a newer generation, Marc Collins it's okay. Danie Ware as well. But my favorite is Fischer and he really understands what Grim is all about. I hope he continues to write more books. Unfortunately with all of these new writers coming with the olds there as well (apart those who left to start their own life - I expect per example Mike Brooks, Peter McLean etc to be off in the near future). Lets be real, the money they earn here is far less that outside. From what I've heard in some other place they don't earn that much for each book - which is unfortunately.  

 

Look at Graham Mcneill, his has written 3 novels (novellas) in the last three years whereas back since 2002 with nightbringer until 2013 he wrote 25 full lenght novels.

There are more examples... Although I would be interesting to read more new authors, BL should keep with some veterans. 

 

 

Okay I am drifting, sorry...

 

BL is speeding up with publising novels, last year were around 60 (all worlds) and this is a good thing. New authors coming out, some old will leave. 

 

 

[grailkeeper]

Any ideas what those rules are? I don't have a problem with swearing in books but I prefer sci-fi swears. "Feth" and the like. Its good world building whilst being suitable for kids (Dredd has been saying Drokk since the 70s).

 

 

[cheywood]

3 hours ago, chevalierdulys said:

 I expect per example Mike Brooks, Peter McLean etc to be off in the near future 

 

Look at Graham Mcneill, his has written 3 novels (novellas) in the last three years whereas back since 2002 with nightbringer until 2013 he wrote 25 full length novels.

 

BL is speeding up with publising novels, last year were around 60 (all worlds) and this is a good thing. New authors coming out, some old will leave. 

 

 

I’d be surprised if Brooks were leaving anytime soon. He seems to enjoy mixing commissions with his original fiction, he’s a long time Warhammer fan, and he had three books published by BL last year. McLean on the other hand left BL a few years ago. 
 

Graham has a job at Riot Games now, which I imagine pays a lot better than writing full-time, whether that be for BL or any other publisher. I don’t know if that’s indicative of any dissatisfaction with BL as much as it is an acknowledgment of full-time corporate positions paying more than freelance writing. 
 

By my count there were 40 new novels published last year (maybe 60 with reprints?) but I think that’s partially because BL fell behind on releases the past couple of years. Some of the authors have mentioned they’ve had books waiting longer than usual to be published. 

[Fedor]

I believe Fletcher was disappointed at the tonal restrictions in place...swearing, sexuality, violence etc...

 

His interest in 40k seemed ideally in writing "no holds barred" fully adult fiction. I've read some of his original work, and it would be towards the bleaker end of the broader grimdark /dark fantasy sub-genres.

[WARMASTER_]

On 1/31/2023 at 6:46 PM, Fedor said:

I believe Fletcher was disappointed at the tonal restrictions in place...swearing, sexuality, violence etc...

 

His interest in 40k seemed ideally in writing "no holds barred" fully adult fiction. I've read some of his original work, and it would be towards the bleaker end of the broader grimdark /dark fantasy sub-genres.

I’m not sure if those restrictions really stand up with BL though? ADB, Gav Thorpe [Luther novel as I’m not really touching his other works] + other authors I’ve recently all have swearing in books I echo other people though when I say I like the “made up” swear words as I think it adds to the world building and swear words really mean very little over all. Now when it comes to violence it definitively doesn’t stand up I’ve read many twisted acts in many books in that aspect at least I feel like 40K is completely “no holds barred” ADB again especially Andy Smillie have some really graphic battle/murder/deaths in many of their works 

 

I’m not saying he didn’t feel restricted I’m just saying I’m not really seeing them 

 

[WARMASTER_]

Robert Rath - for me is probably the stand out newer author I thought King Maker was a really good read 

 

Marc Collins - hasn’t overly impressed me of yet I wasn’t a massive fan of his Helbretch or Void Kings novels but there’s definitely lots of potential I feel he understands the 40K universe and it’s certain “mood” really well! I’ll definitely keep picking up his stuff as I think he’ll keep improving. Blighted Sun is on my to read list 

 

Mike Brooks -Unfortunately for me his need to awkwardly elbow in current hot topic identity politics to every piece of his work really just puts me off the author, I can see why people like his work and I’ve tried I just end up shaking my head and putting down every book about half way through [I don’t want to derail the thread with this also it’s my opinion of his work and it definitely won’t change] 

 

J.S Collyer’s new Storm Lords short was quite enjoyable so I’m hoping he writes more 

 

there’s a few more that aren’t readily coming to mind I’ll have to look