Seven days, Space Wolves fans.
Last week saw the release of a delightful array of the new miniatures, including the new Army Set. At the time I noted it was a bit of a missed opportunity for them not to also be releasing the teased Space Wolves: The Young Wolf boxed set for the Black Library:
Okay, so maybe Space Wolves fans don’t get to have it all, and it might just be that Games Workshop doesn’t want Black Library and Grey Plastic sales to cannibalize one another, so while releasing a special edition of Belisarius Cawl is a thematic miss, Space Wolves fans might well be breathing a sigh of relief.
I hope you enjoyed the week of rest, sons of Russ, for you (or more specifically your wallets) are being called to battle once more!
Preordering This Week
Active from 1989 to 2017, William King is certainly in the pantheon of elite authors when it comes to bringing this universe to life. He had a couple of stories in the first-ever Warhammer Fantasy anthology, Ignorant Armies (1989). He had a couple of stories (one co-written with Bryan Ansell) in 40K’s first-ever anthology, Deathwing (1990). And along the way he created enduring legends like Gotrek & Felix and Ragnar Thunderfist.
It’s Thunderfist who takes central stage with Space Wolves: The Young Wolf, a limited edition release collecting together Space Wolf (1999), Ragnar’s Claw (2000), and Grey Hunter (2002). In addition to the deluxe printing, there is also an introduction from Dan Abnett.
While no price has been released, comparable releases have been priced around USD $180 in the past.
Take My Money…Please!
Although I’m not always rewarded by learning about new Black Library content, I nevertheless love listening to the announcement streams from Games Workshop. New models, new game editions, new expansions, whatever it is it’s a fun hour or so to spend in the hobby.
This past week was the “The Dropsite Preview,” the massive announcement for the upcoming second edition of The Horus Heresy wargame. For gaming history nerds like me, the first three introductory minutes were like catnip. Then forty-five minutes in, co-presenter Adam Troke (Warhammer Community’s content manager) asked a question that had me on the very edge of my seat.
So we’ve covered all the models, we’ve covered all of the rules, we’d like to talk a little bit about the lore. Perhaps you’ve been sat there in the chat, and you’re like What is this Horus HEresy, and how do I get into it? How do I enjoy this enormous, decades-spanning series? Well, our Loremaster preapred a little message to expalin how.
Cut to Loremaster Alex Doddy. “With more than thirty-five years of real-world history behind this setting, including two best-selling novel series totaling sixty-four books, a tabletop miniatures game and more, it could feel…overwhelming. The good news is, it’s actually pretty straightforward, and to prove it, here are three surefire ways to get started.”
For a long time now, the original Horus Heresy novels have been handily collected in omnibus editions, but with an interesting caveat: they’re only offered in French and German. Indeed, the 16th French installment is on preorder this week, collecting books 46 (Ruinstorm by David Annandale), 47 (Nick Kyme’s Old Earth), and 48 (The Burden of Loyalty, an anthology) of the series.
If, like me, you’re an English reader, you’re stuck chasing paper copies on the aftermarket. Games Workshop only keeps a handful of titles in print, and even then it’s largely sporadic. As a member of a number of Black Library forums, I’m regularly seeing mass market paperbacks trading hands for $50, with certain ones like Dan Abnett’s Legion going for even more. With such a massive push for the Horus Heresy this week, surely this was the time to announce English omnibus editions?
Alas, no. Alex’s “three surefire ways” were to buy the new core rulebook, buy Horus Rising (a path sure to end in disappointment when you discover that starting with book four or so, you’ll need to $tart $ourcing them from the aftermarket), or listen to them all on audiobook.
Left unspoken I suppose were the additional options of learning German and/or French.
I don’t pretend to have access to all of the market information that has led Games Workshop to conclude that market conditions are not optimal for English-language omnibuses, but I will continue to keep this particular candle burning.
C’mon guys, take my money!
I Want Your Skulls
If you’re into Warhammer video games, then you already know that Warhammer Skulls was last week. Just about every currently-supported Warhammer video game made sure to show up at the party with something to show off, so as not to miss out on all the free publicity. There were also several new titles announced, none perhaps more exciting than Owlcat’s upcoming Dark Heresy.
Owlcat- a CRPG studio known for its work on the Pathfinder games- caught lightning in a bottle with Rogue Trader, selling over a million copies in its first year. This next installment will be set in the Calixis Sector during the Noctis Aeturna, right after the Fall of Cadia.
This all sounds great, but if you’re wondering what this might have to do with the Black Library, wait no more: the Collector’s Edition of the game will feature not one, but two actual books. One of these is an art book, and the other is a new novella from Aaron Dembski-Bowden called Dark Heresy: The Night Lords Story.
You read that right- the author of the superlative Night Lords Trilogy has come off the bench to pen a new Night Lords novella only available in the Collector’s Edition. Of course, it does come at a dear pricetag as the Collector’s Edition is priced at $289 (plus another $90 for shipping to me here in the US).
If you decide to shell out for that, you’ll probably appreciate this list of Warhammer games on sale (and even free!) right now.
ICYMI
This week saw our review of Jude Reid’s Fulgrim: The Perfect Son. While the book was a little uneven, it was the novel debut of Marduk Tamaris, an Emperor’s Children villain (he’d call himself a ‘heroic’ one) I hope to see much more of in the future.
Tamaris had actually been introduced in Reid’s short story, Perfection and Pain, which was part of the Heretic Astartes eShorts Week earlier this year (reviewed here).
Around the web, we also enjoyed Lord Samper’s review of Robert Rath’s Fall of Cadia here, and another look at Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives from Mike Brooks.
As one of those people who love to head to the Wikipedia page for a series only after I’ve finished watching it, I love seeing reviews of books I’ve already read to see how the reviewer’s thoughts differed from mine, or what other insights they’ve brought forth from its pages.
And as any Black Library author will tell you, the more people you have reading, sharing, and discussing the books they create, the better!
RPG Corner
Week by week we inch closer to the debut of Cubicle 7’s next two RPG lines for Warhammer, The Horus Heresy and The Old World. Each side of the Warhammer universe (sci-fi and fnatasy) will then have three different game settings to choose from, each with their own distinct system.
For some that could seem like overload, others will say there’s nothing wrong with having options to find the system that works best for your play group, as each isn’t just mechanically different but also thematically different. For example, Wrath & Glory tends towards a more ‘heroic’ experience (similar to D&D 5e), while Imperium Maledictum is a lot grittier (and deadlier).
No surprise to learn, of course, I’m in the latter camp. After all, it can be a lot of fun to tinker and find what works best for you. Enjoy the crunchy Maledictum ruleset but find Wrath & Glory’s Gilead system-in-a-bottle setting irresistible? Have at it!
Dominic McDowell-Thomas and Pádraig Murphy of Cubicle 7 Games sat down this week with the Miniature Realms channel to discuss at no small length the upcoming Warhammer: The Old World game. They discuss the ambition of another ruleset in addition to the setting and plenty more!
Artist Spotlight: Christian Byrne
Grotsnik: Da Mad Dok, the latest from Denny Flowers (Outgunned, Above and Beyond) released this past weekend in its lovely Limited Edition format. There was a funny moment this weekend when I realized that both books sitting next to my computer shared the same cover artist, this one and Noah Van Nguyen’s Elemental Council.
I love this image in particular because on first look it’s just a bunch of T’au emoting, but once you read the book you can see how well Byrne brought out the different personalities of the main characters in this extraordinary story (reviewed here).
“Enjoyed doing this one,” noted Byrne on his Instagram account. “Something a little different.”
Byrne’s talents for the Black Library aren’t just limited to 40K, either, as shown here in his depiction of Grombrindal, the White Dwarf.
In addition to his linked social media above, you can find more of Byrne on his Artstation page.
Quick Hits
- The Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work Special Edition went up for ordering this past Saturday. Here in the US it sold out in about five minutes. I secured mine, I hope you managed to score one! I was a little ambivalent on this one because it had no author content (introductions, afterwords, etc.), but it will look very nice on the shelf. FOMO is a helluva drug, y’all.
- James Brogden is back! Last seen in 2021 with Blood Drinker, a Warhammer Horror short story, he’s in the brand-new White Dwarf (512) with The Trials of Albarak: A Debt of Stone. This Age of Sigmar short story recounts Albarak’s encounter with Grombrindal, the legendary White Dwarf, and will be serialized over the next four issues.
- Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers is a a terrific-looking anthology of horror, science fiction, and fantasy short stories currently available for preorder. It features tales from both Adrian Tchaikovsky (Day of Ascension, On the Shoulders of Giants) and Black Library newcomer Stark Holborn, whose short story Nightfall on Stygies was part of this month’s Cult Mechanicus eShorts Week (review here).
- Another 2025 Black Library rookie is Richard Fox, who had his debut story We Were Brothers as part of the Heretic Astartes eShorts week (and yes, reviewed here). He’s also the author of the Teran Expeditionary Corps series and just released the latest entry, Shadows Fall.
- Gareth Hanrahan has penned several stories for the Warhammer Crime imprint, and has just published his latest fantasy tale The Sword Triumphant. He also sat down for an interview with The Echo, where he talks about his background in RPG design and jumping to write in his own world.
- The Tales of Pannithor series is to Mantic Games’ worlds what the Black Library is to Games Workshop, and they’ve just announced the upcoming release of two more novels. One, Stand at Callenspire, is penned by the prolific Josh Reynolds (Kal Jerico, Dark Harvest)! Look for a release this November.
- Peter McLean authored a number of Black Library stories in 2018-19, including The Method of Madness for Age of Sigmar and Baphomet by Night for 40K. His latest, Paved with Good Intentions, is now up for preorder.
- Literary journal Speculative Insight published an analysis this week of Warhammer 40,000. Titled In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future There Are Only Warriors, it uses Ibram Gaunt and Ciaphas Cain as a lens through which to examine the Imperium of Man.
- Finally, for you audiobook fans out there, Peter Fehervari’s Cult of the Spiral Dawn (formerly Genestealer Cults) is getting the full audio treatment! It will be up for preorder this week.
Writers are Fans, Too!
Here’s Gav Thorpe (The High Kâhl’s Oath, Angels of Darkness) showing off his work in progress on an Imperial Titan. Looks amazing already!
And that’s a wrap for this week. For those aiming for the Space Wolves boxed set this week, best of luck ye sons of Russ!
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