Upcoming BL Stuff 2025

[darkhorse0607]

1 hour ago, cheywood said:

Places like B&C are filled with devoted fans dissecting the Heresy. Most of us probably had very developed expectations of what the final book was going to be. Abnett took those expectations and threw them in the bin. What he created was strange, original and largely inconsiderate of what came before. In that context it makes sense that the broader community appreciates it more than B&C.

 

Not to over inflate my "self importance"

 

I also would invite folks to read some of the Goodreads reviews

 

The number of 5 star reviews that feature something along the lines of "This book is more like a 3, but since it's the end of the Heresy I won't rate it lower than a 5* is not insignificant. There are also some of those on Amazon. Regardless, while it was well-received by the broader audience (which I don't think anyone was debating), I don't know that I would consider an average of 4.36 (goodreads, amazon had 83% 5 star reviews for part 3) a smashing success given that it was the culmination of a 20 year project, and was out performed (outrated at least) by more than a few other entries

 

Regardless without the sales data, we won't know. We can say there was something that caused an increase of profit for Black Library during the 6-month window where Black Library released, but that could be Vol 3, it could be a combination of other things (BL Celebration and book releases/trinkets for that, the return of Old World setting books that aren't Gortrek and Felix, etc).

 

Again, not debating that it didn't do well. All I think the argument was that there was controversy surrounding the books, which is undeniable. Whether that was from the story, the fact that it originally was billed as one but sold as three, or the Limited Edition scalping issue, there was controversy to the point where it made it to most of the larger Youtube channels. It isn't unfathomable that GW wants to give it some breathing room before they start the next series, rather than risking some (again, probably not a large portion but this is a corporation, they don't want most, they want all of the sales) of the possible sales/hype/related miniature sales from the new series.

[Petitioner's City]

Equally id say BL feels listless at the moment - be it for AoS or 40k or the next steps out of 30k - and lacking that momentum, I worry if delay is not a good idea?  Not necessarily a series, but a feeling of lots of ideas being put on the page.

 

Perhaps that's the result of the studio driving narrative these days and the company's stronger hold on IP and what goes in licenced products - but it's a real shame, this sense of absence. 

[cheywood]

Looks like a Reddit user, r/ian66, has found a new novel coming later this year: 

 

New Amazon Listing: Astra Militarum TBC

"**A fantastic Warhammer 40,000 novel from Black Library featuring the Astra Militarum.**  
  
Physically and psychologically conditioned from childhood under the most horrific conditions imaginable, the Tempestus Scions are the Imperium’s deadliest human soldiers – fearsome killers expected to follow their orders ruthlessly and without question.  
  
Led by the merciless Tempestor Traxel, the Scions of First Eradicant squad drop directly into the fires of a global civil war. Joined by a commissar who personifies the suffering of his past and facing a foe from the darkest days of the Imperium, Traxel’s fracturing psyche places the entire world at risk.  
  
On Rilis, Traxel will face the foe that broke him. This time, there is no price he will not pay."

Author:  R.S Wilt 

 

Amazon Link

Personally I think it’s well past time we had a Scions novel. Glad to see it finally happening. R.S Wilt has published a few short stories for BL. Any one read and enjoyed/disliked them?

  
 

Edited January 27 by cheywood

[Taliesin]

Definitely interesting to finally see a novel on the Tempestus Scions.

[darkhorse0607]

4 hours ago, Petitioner's City said:

Equally id say BL feels listless at the moment - be it for AoS or 40k or the next steps out of 30k - and lacking that momentum, I worry if delay is not a good idea?  Not necessarily a series, but a feeling of lots of ideas being put on the page.

 

Perhaps that's the result of the studio driving narrative these days and the company's stronger hold on IP and what goes in licenced products - but it's a real shame, this sense of absence. 

 

Agree

 

I was listening to Valrak the other day, and during one of his videos/streams, he said 10th was a stop gap edition, which is why there's basically been no content/story/campaign books for it.

 

I don't play so I'm not going to try to say one way another on the game, but I wonder if that and ADB taking over narrative are the reasons we haven't seen a lot of direction lately.

 

ADB came in at a weird time if it was a stop gap edition and could be prepping the next edition (rumored to be orks/space wolves, etc, which would make sense given that it's ADB) and while the two entities (studio and BL) are semi separate, I wonder if they put a hold on things until ADB is ready to move forward with the narrative

 

We have gotten some absolutely great books lately, but nothing really groundbreaking narrative wise, so I wonder if that's why

[Roomsky]

Re: ADB, I'm personally curious about the gun they're holding to his head the amount they must be paying him to be the story director for an edition so heavily marketed on returning primarchs. Hopefully he'll be injecting some right proper 40k back into things to combat the rise of herohammer 40k (even if G-Man and the Lion are here to stay.)

 

The Scions book looks interesting. I quite enjoy these Guard stories as the proving ground for new authors, they're usually at minimum decent.

[Felix Antipodes]

I’ve read all four of Wilt’s shorts released so far.  They were okay, but don’t stand out in my memory as any thing special (he got kudos from me for using the Howling Griffins in one story though ).

I will be doing a re-read of his Eradicant short, which featured Tempestus Scions, to see what their take on them is like (it was amongst a slew of shorts I read at the time and doesn’t stand out in my memory).

 

First I’d heard that 10th was a stop gap edition.  That explains a lot in my mind.  Hopefully, it means they are taking the extra time to work out a proper plan for the next edition rather than the seat of their pants, make it up as we go (or so it seems imho) since 9th.  With people like ADB and Wade Price in the driver’s seats I’m holding out hope (yes, I know) of better things to come.

Edited January 28 by Felix Antipodes
clumsy wordage

[cheywood]

Decided to read Wilt’s Scion short story, Eradicant. It was clearly commissioned to show off the Aquilons and World Eaters, but I think Wilt does an excellent job telling an interesting enough story within the limits of an extremely familiar concept. The characters are engaging/distinct and the prose is good. The action feels punchy too. The Scions are written as exaggerated versions of contemporary SOF, which makes sense because Wilt is an ex US-Army officer. I think his novel will be enjoyable for those who like that style of IG story. 

8.5/10

 

[Felix Antipodes]

Yeah, just finished a re-read of it as well.  It was a lot better than I remembered it.  Now I’m really looking forward to the novel to see how he handles a full sized novel and how many of Eradicant One made it to the next story or if its a whole new crew.

[byrd9999]

10th edition, as a player, doesn't feel like a stop-gap edition.

 

8th was a big Reset and the rules were overhauled, and it was a big improvement. 9th was a bloated mess, building off of 8th but piling micro-rules and options on top of each other.

 

10th was another Reset and rules overhaul, very necessary after 9th, and it's the best ruleset yet for the mainline 40k game*. Streamlined and more enjoyable. Sometimes fewer options is the best choice.

 

*Best GW ruleset for 40k is Kill Team, and best ruleset overall is WarCry, imo.

 

 

BL was a niche part of GW, one that no one really knew what to do with. The "golden years" that people recall were actually filled with corporate reshuffles and lack of BL oversight and unhappy authors.

 

The success of the HH was a surprise, especially coming at a time when the company's profits were dwindling and they even cancelled the shareholder dividend for a while.

 

This created a momentum and appreciation for BL fiction.

 

As the rest of the company grew into the profitable juggernaut we know today, the BL niche remained small, and has become a smaller contributor percentage wise to overall profits.

 

Hence the corporate focus has shifted away from BL.

 

I'm fine with the quality of books coming out. Sure, I can't wait for the new ADB or Nate Crowley, but in the meantime we have Robert Rath, Dan Abnett, Chris Wraight and a host of new authors cutting their teeth on the obligatory Guard books.

 

Even Peter Fehervari is getting some much overdue attention! Ltd hardback omnibus, a second paperback omnibus, and hopefully a paperback reissue of the Ltd set.

 

Let's appreciate what we have :)

[Bobss]

[Dornfist]

On 1/22/2025 at 8:44 AM, wecanhaveallthree said:

No McNeill in the lineup is actually criminal. I'll be reporting this directly to my member of Parliament.

 

Seeing this CONFIRMED BUT FOR ACTUAL REAL gives me a very vague feeling of dread. I'm still not quite over the bollocks that was TEATD in the Heresy era, I think. It's going to take the Iron Cage and Caliban to bring me back to 30K (or Taranis/Narek/Horus Primarch book, but those appear to have vanished into the ether). I might also be a bit annoyed that this collection is being published now featuring stories set within the Siege rather than during the main run of the Siege itself. Mixing mid- and post-Siege stories feels a bit naff. I've probably shouted enough that a lot of fat could have been cut and put in an anthology (or novellas!), and it just doesn't have a good mouthfeel to get a hodge-podge rather than a clear thematic line drawn between the Siege and the Scouring. One wonders how long some of these were sat on to ultimately end up in this collection. 

 

I'll sniff out the lore bits but unless there's a real banger vetted by the fraterhood, I can't say I'm particularly interested in reading more of the Siege. 

 

E: If I see Basilio Fo mentioned EVEN ONCE I will take this all the way to the Prime Minister.

Howwwwwww daaaare you WeCan!

 

I will not tolerate slander against the magnificent Basilio Fo! A man who was made so important after that one short story!!!

Spoiler

Whose plot in the Siege of Terra books was key to making a weapon that could destroy all Astartes! That was going to be relevant...for LATER in the setting's lore. And linked to the Terminus decree! Whose body switch links to the wider Inquisitor series universe by Dan!

Fo, a man of such great character and inspiring thoughts! As elegant as a bird! The MAN, THE MYTH THE-

 

Okay, okay I will stop now haha. I also want a resolution like you to Taranis/Narek's respective arcs, as well as the bloody Horus primarch book! And like you and possibly many other fraters, I was also of the crowd of cutting the bloat from the Siege books and putting them in an anthology. So I look at this announcement and feel conflicted: on the one hand, yay for doing what they should have done more of while making this limited series. On the other hand, can we really say THIS will be the end?

 

I think the line-up of authors is good, and I hope Wraight does more White Scars stuff. But I can't say more for sure. I may get the audiobook for this or a cheap copy cos that is enough money I have invested in the Siege arc.

 

Edited January 28 by Dornfist

[Dornfist]

On 1/27/2025 at 10:53 AM, DukeLeto69 said:

Have to say the Era of Ruin epilogue anthology IS something I want to read but the inclusion of:

 

Fragments (All We Have Left) by Dan Abnett

 

Just made me chuckle at the sheer masochistic horror…ie “you mean there were still more fragments left!!!!!!!”

Fellow frater, you ain't wrong lol.

 

Back when we were discussing TEATD, I complained about the "Fragments" sections. So you won't see me be hyped for more.

 

To paste a Reddit comment I made about this book announcement:

In Morgan Freeman voice: The End and the Death was not in fact, the end of the Siege of Terra books.

[wecanhaveallthree]

Quote

 But I can't say 

 

No need, lodge brother. No need.

[DarkChaplain]

On 1/27/2025 at 9:06 AM, Nagashsnee said:

It reminds me of Disney and Star wars, sure the sequel films made money, but they also harmed the brand. And now a few years latter they stopped doing star wars film, cut back all the tv series and are desperately trying to figure out how the 1-2 things that do keep selling work to replicate them. 

 

Wait what? They've not really cut down on anything. They chose not to have a season 2 of The Acolyte, but that's about it. Skeleton Crew just happened, and has been apparently very successful, with very little naysaying.

 

Ahsoka Season 2 is coming, something is still in the planning for a Kenobi sequel, and even The Acolyte has at least two novels currently slated for release, with more definitely coming due to the decision not to do season 2 due to the backlash affecting viewership.

Andor S2 is coming later this year, and movies are being made, multiple of which tie into the series.

Also keep in mind that some of the series they produced were originally supposed to be movies - but were padded for Disney+ so they could milk multi-month subscription fees, even if it negatively impacted the show (see: Kenobi).

 

Meanwhile, they've been running a large-scale multimedia publishing initiative with The High Republic, set a few centuries before the prequels, which is currently halfway through Phase 3 of 3, and has been pretty successful (and unlike BL with HH, actually stuck with the plan so far and is still producing a long audio drama per phase, haha). They've been pumping out content, albeit in a different era from the movies. We're talking 24 novels in this era across all 3 phases, and myriad comics.

 

And comic-wise, they've just wrapped up the major main series set before Return of the Jedi, and are about to finish a trio of mini-series dealing with the direct aftermath of the OT, with multiple post-RotJ mainstay series starting in the coming months.

 

Honestly, Star Wars hasn't slowed down, particularly for readers. They've been steadily producing 1-2 Disney+ series per year (even discounting the kids shows) and we're seeing 1-3 comic issues every week. Personally, I'm super duper excited for the upcoming Reign of the Empire trilogy, starting with The Mask of Fear in late February.

 

I'm currently more stoked for upcoming Star Wars media than 40k, frankly. The only reason I'm not stuck in more deeply with Star Wars: Shatterpoint on the tabletop (owning the Core Set, Kenobi's and Grievous's squads right now) is that AoS's Spearhead stuff has taken over my hobby time (currently painting Lizardmen, feels like I'm back to 2003/04!).

 

Honestly, to me, it looks like Disney/LucasFilm are putting more effort into their franchise - particularly the written part - right now than BL is. And I'm not just talking in terms of scale/money behind it, but in terms of ambition and self-propelling initiatives with long-term goals. With Star Wars, I can usually count on non-Sequel Era content actually paying off in a future publication. With BL, I can be happy if there even is a novel, and that it won't have its sequel axed, author leaving or laid-out plans completely abandoned by succeeding entries (see: Buried Dagger, half the Siege).

 

Edit: Bloody hell, there was another page. How long have I been away?

Edited January 29 by DarkChaplain

[Dalmyth]

2 hours ago, DarkChaplain said:

Meanwhile, they've been running a large-scale multimedia publishing initiative with The High Republic, set a few centuries before the prequels, which is currently halfway through Phase 3 of 3, and has been pretty successful (and unlike BL with HH, actually stuck with the plan so far and is still producing a long audio drama per phase, haha). They've been pumping out content, albeit in a different era from the movies. We're talking 24 novels in this era across all 3 phases, and myriad comics.

 

This is part of the reason why I really wish Black Library would take some inspiration from Lucasfilm's publishing. The three main phases of the High Republic were planned out way back in 2018 and they had a goal in mind to tell that story then move on. I feel like that's something BL should really try to emulate because of how well its worked for them imo. Have a story series planned out with some wiggle room for when the story develops and then once its done take a break. You could revisit things later and add stuff, but in the moment the goal should be to write out that original plan.

[Roomsky]

On 1/6/2025 at 6:00 PM, Felix Antipodes said:

My understanding is that GW instigated a (sort of) PG/YA mandate for BL content assuming readership would mostly be youngish and they didn’t want complaints from outraged parents by going too deeply into the more adult aspects of the gods.

This content standard doesn’t seem to be as strict nowadays but I can’t see GW putting out a Slaaneshi edition of Seven Shades of Grey anytime soon.

 

I do love a spot of the old "horrific death, agony, and mutilation is fine but natural functions of the human body are taboo" line these companies continue to tow. Outside of Titandeath, you'd think babies are brought by the Imperial Stork going by Black Library.

 

Re: Star Wars - hey, as long as I can follow a complete story in one format, I'm all for Black Library embracing a similar plan of releasing material in ways that make sense to anyone. 

Edited January 29 by Roomsky

[grailkeeper]

3 hours ago, Roomsky said:

 

 Outside of Titandeath, you'd think babies are brought by the Imperial Stork going by Black Library.

 

 

GW has made it clear a number of times where babies come from. 

 

 

 

They come from vats. 

[grailkeeper]

I was wondering the other day actually what happens if a space marine nees to use the bathroom. Has that ever been addressed other than by Ian Watson?

[DukeLeto69]

16 hours ago, grailkeeper said:

I was wondering the other day actually what happens if a space marine nees to use the bathroom. Has that ever been addressed other than by Ian Watson?

Always imagined a Dune style Stillsuit type thing that processes pee and fasces. 

[Ubiquitous1984]

17 hours ago, grailkeeper said:

I was wondering the other day actually what happens if a space marine nees to use the bathroom. Has that ever been addressed other than by Ian Watson?

There has been reference to them visiting the ablutions, I can't think of a direct quote of the top of my head however.

[Nagashsnee]

On 1/29/2025 at 3:09 PM, DarkChaplain said:

 

Wait what? They've not really cut down on anything. They chose not to have a season 2 of The Acolyte, but that's about it. Skeleton Crew just happened, and has been apparently very successful, with very little naysaying.

 

 

 

They went from 1 movie a year to no movies, the only movie CONFIRMED to be coming out is based on a tv series.  Speaking of tv series they canceled rangers of the new republic and rogue squadron (as did that go back to film before being canned?). 

 

For every 3 things they announced last 2-3 years 2 have been canceled and half of the thirds are on their 3 delay/director/writer.  The high republics sales (according to disney) are...well...not great. No idea on comics not my thing.

 

They have fallen back, downscaled and WISELY are regrouping on the film and series front.  Go back a little and see the absolute INSANE number of things they were announcing as being in the pipeline.  Now look at last and this year. It wasnt working, they realized it, they are not stupid and are in this for the money. 

 

The rey film, the game of throne directors trilogy, the Johson trilogy, they have either died, or been stuck in development hell. They have not put out a movie since 2019 and god knows they loved to announce them. 

 

Yes they are a huge company, yes they  constantly putting things out across all medias, but trying to pretend Disney Star Wars is going anywhere near as well as they want it to go is insane.  :cuss: even the things that are doing well are mostly tied to the older films and avoid the newer ones.  While this is not the place for it, i am not a mindless Star Wars hater, but i cant deny that they fumbled the golden goose hard. And anyone with a pulse online is aware of how well the overall community is doing.  

[Roomsky]

@Nagashnee

 

And I think that despite all that we can still compare it favourably to Black Library (from a certain point of view) is telling, with comprehensive series, reliable print runs, their cancellations being properly communicated (how many sequels to Black Library books have been quietly cancelled, leaving us all hanging?) and writers generally not being at war with each other over their interpretation of the setting (helps that Denning and Traviss did not survive the shift from old canon.) 

 

EDIT: And minimal price gouging, and consistent paperback-first releases for all but the biggest titles, and consistent reprinting of old material that's no longer canon.

Edited January 30 by Roomsky

[Nagashsnee]

14 hours ago, Roomsky said:

@Nagashnee

 

And I think that despite all that we can still compare it favourably to Black Library (from a certain point of view)

Oh for sure, but to fair to BL, Star Wars they are a much much bigger fish with a much bigger mandate. They also outsource ALLOT. Or use to at least. The best Star Wars comics i ever read (when i still read comics) were all dark horse. 

[theSpirea]

This might be expensive week for some

Double Eagle has awesome cover, Interceptor City is so damn ugly... but I'm still happy they are reprinting the first book