Black Library Review Request

[grimmtu]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so I thought I'd put it here.

Well, I am currently collecting a pile of books to read this summer. I'm working at a public school, which means I will pretty much have nothing to do over summer break (besides maybe find a part-time McJob), and I've decided to take a break from philosophy and political works to focus on good old fashioned literature. So far on the list are some yet to be decided minor works of Steinbeck and lots of Russians.

So, I've been thinking about adding something from the Black Library to my summer reading list and would like some information and reviews from people who have read them.

I mostly play Chaos, so that's definately something I'm interested in reading about, but I've also become interested in playing Empire WHFB.

Thanks in advance.

[DavidWC09]

I've read some Black Library books, though I'm far from a fanatic.

I read three or four of the Slayer novels. And I read Steven Saville's recent vampire trilogy.

And I recently read one about Empire wizards. And Guardians of the Forest.

I enjoyued them, though I'd hardly qualify them as literature. They're good entertainment, and if you're a WHFB junkie, they'll sate your appetite.

They're putting out some WHFB ancient world books, which take place in the early days of the Old World. I've been close to picking some up, but they're long for paperbacks, and small type. So those 400 pages are more like 500.

Anyhow, that's all I can tell you. :happy:

[Lost Nemesis]

I've heard good things about the Eisenhorn trilogy. Apparently it details an Inquisitor and his fall to Chaos.

May be a good one to pick up.

[Sigur]

I also heard good things about the Eisenhorn triology, but haven't read it.

What I have read is the Inquisition Wars triology and I think it's okay. Space Marine (by Ian Watson) I have read looooooong ago. If you happen to get it (which is unlikely) read it so you know what one of the first (if not the first ever) 40k novels were like.

People will tell you that Dan Abnett is great and the best thing ever. I have read a few Gaunt's Ghosts novels and ...well...writingwise, he's pretty good but his ideas of the 40k universe are a bit weird.

The books about Shaeffer's Last Chancers are okay. They may be silly at times and you may feel stupid for being a grown-up person reading them but 40k also feels a lot like that, isn't it? I liked the last one of those the best by the way and I think that they reflect the way 40k is better than Abnett's work (at least the Abnett books I read so far).

[Helbrecht]

I have around 60-70 Black Library books and by far my favorites have been Eisenhorn, Gaunts Ghost's, any Horus Heresy novel (except Descent of Angels), Storm of Iron and Lord of the Night (both are chaos novels!), and Angels of Darkness.

For fantasy Malleus Darkblade series and The Von Carstein trilogy.

[Mr.Pink]

If you like the Empire i strongly recommend HeldenHammer i finished it this morning and it is fabulous! Its about Sigmar and his early days and rise to power before the Empire was founded.

[Vitae]

I while back I picked up a couple of the Caiphas Cain books as a bit of an antidote to the happy sci-fi fluff I was reading. I enjoyed them and picked up the rest of the trilogy as it was then. The series has become quite repetitive and slightly boring but its a good fun read that is not too doom and gloom.

I have since picked up approximately 100 back titles from the BL 40K catalog (almost all of it) and read a good number of them.

Fifteen Hours is probably stand out single book - it is a story of the "real" guard experience

The Space Wolf Saga - first series, is probably the set I've most eagerly read and enjoyed. Followed closely by the Grey Knights Saga (the third book was a little disappointing). The Space Wolf Saga - second series is also very good. Followed up very closely by the Ultramarines books and the Storm of Iron Book.

I've liked the short stories. Okay they can be quite a mixed bag but there always seems to be a real gem in there. They are also great to dip into and then put aside - then pick up again. Sometimes that can be better than embarking on a novel.

I enjoyed the first 4 or so of the Gaunt's Ghosts saga before that became just too dark, miserable and pointless - I stopped reading at #6. I've got the rest but haven't read them - hoping they pick up.

Last Chancers - yawn.

Armageddon (Crusade and Conquest) are okay - you can pick what is going to happen right from the word go - and book 2 ends with you thinking there must be a book 3 out there somewhere. BTW its not Battle for Armageddon - its a large format fluffy book.

Double Eagle was an excellent one off. Highly recommend that.

The Dawn of War trilogy (from the computer game) good but not great.

Inquisition War felt very dated and was hard work. The new Inquisitor style books written to support the "Dark Heresy" RPG (Scourge the Heretic by Sandy Mitchell) was much more accessible - if predictable. I have not been able to crack the Revenor books although they are supposed to be great.

Likewise the Horus Heresy books are proving challenging. I've got half way through the 3rd book but I find the feeling of inevitability depressing - the plot fails to present any hope or options for a better future at best and at worst is so contrived that it is hard to believe you are talking about superior beings as even toddlers would have had a better sense of the consequences of their actions.

Desert Raiders - Not sure why they did that one - unless it was to coincide with the re release of the Tallarans. Reble Winter was okay - again I get the feeling it was inspired by a product release. One book clearly inspired by a product release, the novella, Assault on Black Reach is passable - I just won't pay money for it - it should have been a freebie / "redeem the coupon" when you purchased the AOBR set.

I have dipped into some of the Chaos inspired titles and have found them good if not memorable. Likewise the books by Goto that purport to be "Eldar"

The Blood Angels books didn't really do much for me - not that they are bad in any way. Just didn't capture me. Which is a shame because if there was ever a chapter with a back history that should make for a wonderful story its them.

Lastly I have enjoyed the "Battlefleet Gothic" novels (Execution Hour and Shadowpoint) as well as Relentless.

Hope this helps

[kevin vanrooyen]

I have to say the Gaunt's Ghosts series is by far the best I have ever read. Most of the time they're fighting chaos, although the enemies do always tend to fall down more and get up less Abnett keeps his main characters far from invincible.

9.5/10 stars

[pilot00]

Since you started talking about novels i ve order angels of darkness and expect it to arrive this week.Are there any other books concerning the dark angels?And how many books concern themselves with the horus heresy?

I ve read the dark adeptus novel and the dark chalice.One is about a corrupt mechanicus forge world(i think it is part of the grey knights omnibus?)and the dark chalice has to do with the a 'fallen' chapter of space marines(again i think its a part of a collective of novels)and i find them both memorable.

[Helbrecht]

Originally Posted by pilot00

Since you started talking about novels i ve order angels of darkness and expect it to arrive this week.Are there any other books concerning the dark angels?And how many books concern themselves with the horus heresy?

I ve read the dark adeptus novel and the dark chalice.One is about a corrupt mechanicus forge world(i think it is part of the grey knights omnibus?)and the dark chalice has to do with the a 'fallen' chapter of space marines(again i think its a part of a collective of novels)and i find them both memorable.

The dark angels also appear in Sons of Fenris (Space Wolves second omnibus) and in Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels (both are Horus Heresy books). I believe thre is a short story about the Sword of Luther in Let the Galaxy Burn.

Currently There are 11 books in the horus heresy series along with one audibook that has two short stoies. The next horus heresy books concern themselves with the fall of Prospero.

Dark Adeptus is the middle book of the Grey Knights Trilogy which can now be purchased as an omnibus.

The Bleeding Chalice is book two of five of the Soul Drinker story arc. The first three can be purchased as an omnibus.