What do you think of Black Library?

Polly7 · 05-23-2013, 12:17 PM

Hi there,
I have recently been reading a lot of Black Libraries' output. Black Library publishes stories set in the universes of the war-games Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000. I was wondering what other people thought of their stuff? I've enjoyed most of what I have read, particularly Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts series, and Graham Mcneill's Ultramarines books. I don't mind what opinion you have, as long as you give a good reason rather than just giving a knee jerk "I hate it" or "I think its the best thing in the world". Go mad.
Polly7

AlbertaCowboy · 05-23-2013, 02:35 PM

I LOVED the "Felix and Gotrek" novels, but only the original ones written by William King.
Not being too familiar with the Warhammer world, I found these books to be wonderfully well written with great characters and dialogue. Unfortunately, after "Giantslayer", William King apparently chose to drop the series, and his replacement was very subpar as far as I'm concerned. I found that the characters became stale, the dialogue didn't really "sound" like the original duo, and I lost interest in the series.

DiapDealer · 05-23-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polly7

I don't mind what opinion you have, as long as you give a good reason rather than just giving a knee jerk "I hate it" or "I think its the best thing in the world".

Fine. Then I MEH the hell right out of it.

But seriously, Abnett's really the only Black Library author I've been exposed to (Eisenhorn and Ravenor). I like him just fine.

jgaiser · 05-23-2013, 06:38 PM

If you like grimdark fantasy (which I do), the Warhammer 40K universe is right up your alley. I've got pieces of Gaunt's Ghosts, Horus Heresy, Eisenhorn and Ravenor. Haven't read them all, but I've really enjoyed what I have read. I'll probably be purchasing more.

Polly7 · 05-24-2013, 05:23 AM

Thanks for your input.
Also, thank you for your reasons, as this makes the discussion worthwhile.
Keep it up.
Polly7

crich70 · 05-24-2013, 09:47 AM

I've never heard of the "Black Library." Aside from the one in the Harry Potter books that is. Is it online?

jgaiser · 05-24-2013, 10:24 AM

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Default.aspx

crich70 · 05-24-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Default.aspx

Thanks. I can say I won't be buying any bundles anytime soon. $150.00 or more is a bit steep for me.

jgaiser · 05-24-2013, 10:50 AM

Ah.. But the bundles are still cheaper than buy the individual books in the series.

That said, you probably want to get a taste before you start spending too much...

If you like military science fiction and you're not put off by grim and dark tales, a good book to try out would be Dan Abnett's "First and Only". It's the first book in the Gaunt's Ghost series (15 novels total).

xg4bx · 05-24-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

I LOVED the "Felix and Gotrek" novels, but only the original ones written by William King.
Not being too familiar with the Warhammer world, I found these books to be wonderfully well written with great characters and dialogue. Unfortunately, after "Giantslayer", William King apparently chose to drop the series, and his replacement was very subpar as far as I'm concerned. I found that the characters became stale, the dialogue didn't really "sound" like the original duo, and I lost interest in the series.

If you like William King you should check out his Terrarch Chronicles series-

''In a world of magic and gunpowder, the half-breed Rik must rise from simple soldier to the deadliest assassin the world has ever known.

In Death's Angels, Rik and his fellow soldiers of the Seventh Infantry uncover a sinister conspiracy to waken an ancient slumbering evil. They encounter the lovely and terrible Lady Asea, immortal sorceress and ultimate manipulator of men and nations. Their deadly quest will eventually take them to the haunted city of the cannibalistic Spider God to face the hidden peril lurking there.

Death's Angels is a thrilling tale of muskets and magic blending Lovecraftian horror with adventure in the tradition of Sharpe by the bestselling creator of Gotrek and Felix.''

kyrilson · 05-24-2013, 08:39 PM

I really enjoy the Black Library output. I haven't read much of the fantasy side, but have been eyeing the Felix and Gotrek series, as it seems well regarded by many. The Blackhearts series is quite good (fantasy).

I highly recommend all of Abnett's work in the Black Library. Very well written books. I also really enjoyed the Night Lords series, which is actually about villains, rather than heroes. Be warned, if you've never read Warhammer40K, the future is not pleasant place in this universe.

BillSmithBooks · 05-25-2013, 11:32 AM

I really love the Warhammer 40K universe, love the fiction, fun stuff, sold DRM free which is way cool BUT --

I am also very annoyed at Games Workshop for bullying M C A Hogarth about Spots: The Space Marine by claiming to own the term Space Marine...you know, the phrase invented by sci-fi writers in the 1930s and not used by GW until the 1980s.

Apache · 05-25-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

If you like William King you should check out his Terrarch Chronicles series-

''In a world of magic and gunpowder, the half-breed Rik must rise from simple soldier to the deadliest assassin the world has ever known.

In Death's Angels, Rik and his fellow soldiers of the Seventh Infantry uncover a sinister conspiracy to waken an ancient slumbering evil. They encounter the lovely and terrible Lady Asea, immortal sorceress and ultimate manipulator of men and nations. Their deadly quest will eventually take them to the haunted city of the cannibalistic Spider God to face the hidden peril lurking there.

Death's Angels is a thrilling tale of muskets and magic blending Lovecraftian horror with adventure in the tradition of Sharpe by the bestselling creator of Gotrek and Felix.''

Thank you for this suggestion. they look interesting and I will be getting the first one.

Apache

kyrilson · 05-25-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

If you like William King you should check out his Terrarch Chronicles series-

''In a world of magic and gunpowder, the half-breed Rik must rise from simple soldier to the deadliest assassin the world has ever known.

In Death's Angels, Rik and his fellow soldiers of the Seventh Infantry uncover a sinister conspiracy to waken an ancient slumbering evil. They encounter the lovely and terrible Lady Asea, immortal sorceress and ultimate manipulator of men and nations. Their deadly quest will eventually take them to the haunted city of the cannibalistic Spider God to face the hidden peril lurking there.

Death's Angels is a thrilling tale of muskets and magic blending Lovecraftian horror with adventure in the tradition of Sharpe by the bestselling creator of Gotrek and Felix.''

Just looked up Death's Angels on Amazon, and it is FREE on Amazon right now!!! Grab it if you want to check it out!! I grabbed it and have added it to my TBR pile (which is rather large).

jgaiser · 05-25-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilson

Just looked up Death's Angels on Amazon, and it is FREE on Amazon right now!!! Grab it if you want to check it out!! I grabbed it and have added it to my TBR pile (which is rather large).

Thanks for that. Did grab it.

05-23-2013, 12:17 PM	#1
Polly7 Ebook/Ereader Lover Posts: 38 Karma: 4264 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: K4B	What do you think of Black Library? Hi there, I have recently been reading a lot of Black Libraries' output. Black Library publishes stories set in the universes of the war-games Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000. I was wondering what other people thought of their stuff? I've enjoyed most of what I have read, particularly Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts series, and Graham Mcneill's Ultramarines books. I don't mind what opinion you have, as long as you give a good reason rather than just giving a knee jerk "I hate it" or "I think its the best thing in the world". Go mad. Polly7

05-25-2013, 11:32 AM	#12
BillSmithBooks Padawan Learner Posts: 243 Karma: 1085815 Join Date: May 2009 Location: www.OutlawGalaxy.com, Foothills of NY's Adirondack mountains Device: My PC...using Puppy Linux (FBReader, Calibre, Kindle Cloud Reader,	I really love the Warhammer 40K universe, love the fiction, fun stuff, sold DRM free which is way cool BUT -- I am also very annoyed at Games Workshop for bullying M C A Hogarth about Spots: The Space Marine by claiming to own the term Space Marine...you know, the phrase invented by sci-fi writers in the 1930s and not used by GW until the 1980s. Last edited by BillSmithBooks; 05-25-2013 at 11:58 AM.

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05-23-2013, 02:35 PM	#2
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	I LOVED the "Felix and Gotrek" novels, but only the original ones written by William King. Not being too familiar with the Warhammer world, I found these books to be wonderfully well written with great characters and dialogue. Unfortunately, after "Giantslayer", William King apparently chose to drop the series, and his replacement was very subpar as far as I'm concerned. I found that the characters became stale, the dialogue didn't really "sound" like the original duo, and I lost interest in the series.

05-23-2013, 06:38 PM	#4
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	If you like grimdark fantasy (which I do), the Warhammer 40K universe is right up your alley. I've got pieces of Gaunt's Ghosts, Horus Heresy, Eisenhorn and Ravenor. Haven't read them all, but I've really enjoyed what I have read. I'll probably be purchasing more.

05-24-2013, 05:23 AM	#5
Polly7 Ebook/Ereader Lover Posts: 38 Karma: 4264 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: K4B	Thanks for your input. Also, thank you for your reasons, as this makes the discussion worthwhile. Keep it up. Polly7

05-24-2013, 09:47 AM	#6
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I've never heard of the "Black Library." Aside from the one in the Harry Potter books that is. Is it online?

05-24-2013, 10:24 AM	#7
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	http://www.blacklibrary.com/Default.aspx

05-24-2013, 10:50 AM	#9
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Ah.. But the bundles are still cheaper than buy the individual books in the series. That said, you probably want to get a taste before you start spending too much... If you like military science fiction and you're not put off by grim and dark tales, a good book to try out would be Dan Abnett's "First and Only". It's the first book in the Gaunt's Ghost series (15 novels total).

05-24-2013, 08:39 PM	#11
kyrilson Fanatic Posts: 538 Karma: 13511506 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Cleveland, OH Device: Voyage, Oasis, Kobo Glo HD,iPad Pro, Sony 350 and T2	I really enjoy the Black Library output. I haven't read much of the fantasy side, but have been eyeing the Felix and Gotrek series, as it seems well regarded by many. The Blackhearts series is quite good (fantasy). I highly recommend all of Abnett's work in the Black Library. Very well written books. I also really enjoyed the Night Lords series, which is actually about villains, rather than heroes. Be warned, if you've never read Warhammer40K, the future is not pleasant place in this universe.

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