Author Archives: Michael

Black Library Monthly – April 2019

Welcome to Black Library Monthly for April 2019, in which I’m going to take a look over the key pieces of Black Library-related news which arose over the last month, as well as talk about the month’s new releases and what I’ve been reviewing. In some respects it’s felt like quite a quiet month on the BL front, but looking back there’s actually still been a decent amount to talk about as well as a fair few new releases – including a rare brand-new Digital Monday short story. As usual, I’ll kick off by taking a look at the month’s general BL-related news before moving onto a couple of more specific topics and then the month’s releases.

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Deathwatch – Steve Parker

Published back in 2013 after two excellent short stories – Headhunted and Exhumed – Steve Parker’s novel Deathwatch winds the clock back and tells the origin story of Talon Squad, and how its various members came to be working together under the burdensome command of the mysterious Sigma. For Lyandro Karras, First Codicier of the Death Spectres, life is about to become unexpectedly complicated as he’s inducted into the Deathwatch – the multi-Chapter force of elite alien hunters – and forced to face up to some uncomfortable truths regarding loyalty, purpose and even fate. Meanwhile beneath the surface of the mining world Chiaro, Inquisitorial agents risk their lives to uncover a sinister cult taking shape in the darkness.

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RAPID FIRE: Steve Parker Talks Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to Steve Parker about Shadowbreaker, his latest 40k release and the sequel to his much-loved novel Deathwatch. It’s available to pre-order right now, so check out the interview and get ready for another slice of epic Deathwatch action!

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Fleet of Knives – Gareth L. Powell

The sequel to the BSFA Award-winning novel Embers of War, Gareth L. Powell’s Fleet of Knives picks up where its predecessor left off and delivers another slice of wildly imaginative, character-driven space opera. After the climactic battle at the Gallery and the discovery of the Marble Armada, the Trouble Dog and her crew are on sabbatical trying to come to terms with recent events, while Ona Sendak languishes on death row. An urgent distress call sets Sal Konstanz and the Trouble Dog back in motion, however, while the Marble Armada is about to reveal its true purpose to the wider galaxy.

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QUICK REVIEW: Blacktalon: Hunting Shadows – Andy Clark

Blacktalon: Hunting Shadows is available as either a standalone e-short or featured within the Gods & Mortals anthology.

A tale of Neave Blacktalon, Knight-Zephyros of the Hammers of Sigmar, Hunting Shadows sees Andy Clark explore the Brazen Plains of Aqshy as Blacktalon tracks down an elusive mark which has been devastating settlements in the region. Though she normally operates alone, this time – much to her displeasure – she’s been sent assistance in the form of Knight-Venator Tarion Arlor and a band of Palladors. It’s an ominous sign that Sigmar considers her mission so dangerous as to warrant such support, but as the hunt progresses it becomes clear that she’s going to need all the help she can get.

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Perdition’s Flame – Alec Worley

The first ever Warhammer Horror audio drama, and Alec Worley’s first audio drama for Black Library, Perdition’s Flame is the story of comms man Vossk, formerly of the 86th Vostroyan Firstborn, en route to a penal legion as punishment for desertion. Imprisoned alongside murderers and sadists and warded by stern Praetorian Guard, when the ship’s systems start to fail Vossk realises that the horrors he thought he’d left behind have followed him into the void. Something on the ship is causing the failures and spooking both crew and inmates, but Vossk is trapped in his cell while the darkness draws closer.

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Lords and Tyrants (Reviews List)

While it carries on the naming convention started with the Age of Sigmar anthology Gods & Mortals, for which you can read my review here, Lords and Tyrants is a slightly different beast in that its 16 Warhammer 40,000 short stories have all been previously released as standalone e-shorts. I’ve read and reviewed all of these stories individually on Track of Words, and while I would love to kick back and re-read most of these, I just don’t really have time to do so. There are some seriously good stories in this anthology, however, so I do want to do my bit and help promote it.

As such, rather than write a full review of the anthology as a whole I’ve listed each of the featured stories with a little snippet about each one and a link out to my individual review. Hopefully this way you can get a feel for all of the stories, and make an informed decision as to whether you fancy picking up the anthology as a whole. I’ve listed them out alphabetically by author, so read on and see what you think.

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RAPID FIRE: Gav Thorpe Talks The Red Feast

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to Gav Thorpe about his new pre-Age of Sigmar novel, The Red Feast, which is available to order right now! It’s pleasantly surprising to see a book like this which explores an earlier point in the Age of Sigmar setting, so read on to find out more about what you can expect…

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The Solar War – John French

This novel was first released as a limited edition hardback, before receiving a full release in May 2019.

The Siege of Terra – the final chapter of the Horus Heresy – begins with John French’s The Solar War, which tells the story of the colossal void war that forms the opening stage of the Siege. To the backdrop of the largest void battles imaginable it weaves together a compelling, character-led tale of duty, honour, determination and even hope. While Mersadie Oliton desperately searches for a way back to Terra and Sigismund seeks out atonement in battle, Abaddon cleaves to the path laid out for him by Horus and even Ahriman diligently plays his part. As the war rages on multiple fronts, these and many other individual stories play out with the fate of Terra and the Imperium in the balance.

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QUICK REVIEW: No Honour Among Vermin – CL Werner

This short story is available within Inferno! Volume 2 or as a standalone e-short.

CL Werner has history writing about skaven and it shows in his short story No Honour Among Vermin, a devious tale of brutality and back-stabbing. Fylch Tattertail might not be the biggest or strongest of skaven but what he lacks in physical prowess he makes up in sneakiness. As part of a ramshackle crew of untrustworthy skaven undertaking a daring mission to steal a worryingly dangerous artefact from under the noses of a Chaos cult, he needs all of his cunning in order to play his role in the heist, and live to reap the rewards…such as they are.

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