Upcoming Black Library Titles (as of October 2017)

Every once in a while a whole bunch of information about upcoming Black Library books shows up online, sometimes just titles, other times along with synopses and covers. Quite a lot has showed up recently, so I thought it might be good to pull together everything I can find about these books. Of what I’ve included below, some have been kicking around online for a while so you might be familiar with those, but others have only just showed up.

I’ve included everything I can find that’s a) not listed on the BL website at the moment, and b) is what you might consider ‘new’ – i.e. actually new titles, or new omnibus collecting together existing stories, etc. Where possible I’ve included the cover image, although you’ll note that some of them still say ‘Cover not final’, so bear in mind that those might (but might not) change in future. I’ve also added the synopsis to each one, which I’ve pulled directly from where I found each one online.

Looking online it can be hard to work out accurate release dates for Black Library books, for various reasons. For each of the books below I’ve added an estimated release date for when I expect each book to be available to buy from Black Library, based on what I’ve found online, a bit of extrapolation based on historic release schedules, and – frankly – a fair amount of guesswork. Please don’t take what I’ve said as gospel – I might be way off the mark, or release schedules might change…so take with a pinch of salt.

If you haven’t already, I’d suggest checking out the Coming Soon section of Black Library’s own website to get a look at everything that’s been officially announced as coming out between now and January 2018 – what I’ve listed below should fill in some of the gaps, and extend on into the rest of 2018. I should point out here that I don’t for a minute think that this list is finite – I expect (and hope) to see other titles pop up in due course as well.

I’ve split things up by setting, so there’s sections for 40k, the Horus Heresy, Age of Sigmar and the Warhammer Chronicles. There’s also a section at the end for something which is listed online as Black Library Summer Reading but feels like a bit of a mystery at the moment – take a look and you’ll see what I mean.

Warhammer 40,000

The Magos by Dan Abnett
February 2018 – I think this is going to be a paperback omnibus. CONFIRMED – plus hardback limited edition.

Inquisitor Eisenhorn returns in a stunning new novel that pits him against his oldest foe, forcing him to finally confront the growing darkness within his own soul.

Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn has spent his life stalking the darkest and most dangerous corners of the galaxy in pursuit of heresy and Chaos, but how long can a man walk that path without succumbing to the lure of the warp? Pursuing heretics in the remote worlds of the Imperium, Eisenhorn must confront the truth about himself. Is he still a champion of the Throne? Or has he been seduced by the very evil that he hunts? The Magos is the brand new, full-length fourth novel in the hugely popular Eisenhorn series. This paperback edition also includes the definitive casebook of Gregor Eisenhorn, collecting together all twelve of Dan Abnett’s Inquisition short stories, several of which have never been in print before. These additional stories have been compiled by the author to act as an essential prologue to this long-awaited new novel, while also serving as an indispensable companion to the original Eisenhorn trilogy.

Lukas the Trickster by Josh Reynolds
February 2018 – hardback, and I reckon this will get a LE version. BOTH CONFIRMED!

Rebellious young Space Wolf Lukas the Trickster finds himself facing a foe who might rival even his legendary cunning – the dark eldar corsair, Duke Sliscus.

Among the Space Wolves there are as many sagas as there are warriors, but there are none quite like that of Lukas the Trickster. Vainglorious, boastful and irreverent, the Jackal Wolf has ever stood apart from his battle-brothers, passed from pack to pack by embittered Wolf Lords, renowned and reviled in equal measure. But as a new enemy invades the icy reaches of Fenris at the height of the Helwinter, Lukas finds himself facing a foe who might rival even his legendary cunning – the dark eldar corsair, Duke Sliscus. In the battle between wolf and serpent, who will emerge triumphant, and who will stain the snow red?

Knightsblade by Andy Clark
February 2018 – hardback. CONFIRMED.

A Freeblade Imperial Knight must decide whether to abandon his quest to restore his honour in order to warn the planet that exiled him of an impending doom.

Since the fall of House Chimaeros to heresy, Luk Kar Chimaeros has renounced his heritage and his name to become the Knight of Ashes. For five arduous years, in this role as a Freeblade Imperial Knight, he has pursued his treacherous step-mother across the stars alongside a band of fellow exiles. Just as their hunt appears to be nearing its conclusion, word comes of a terrible destruction descending upon Luk’s home planet of Adrastapol. The Knight of Ashes must decide whether to continue his quest to exact justice and restore his honour, or to aid the Noble Houses of Adrastapol and risk being branded a heretic evermore.

Space Marine Conquests #2 – The Ashes of Prospero by Gav Thorpe
March 2018 – paperback (based on The Devastation of Baal being released in paperback). Available early at the Black Library Weekender 2017.

Space Wolf Runepriest Njal Stormcaller ventures into the Great Rift and the ruins of Prospero to save his long lost battle-brothers.

Goaded by the shade of the long dead sorcerer Izaak, High Runepriest Njal Stormcaller gathers together a disparate warband of Space Wolves to brave the Great Rift and return to the ruins of Prospero. If Izaak is to be believed, a force of the lost Thirteenth Company remains trapped within the old, labyrinthine city of Tizca, and if Njal can free them then he will not only be rid of the sorcerer but he will also rescue his ancient brothers. But the Thousand Sons still linger in the ashes of their former world as well as other, darker adversaries, and they will not allow the Wolves to pass through without a fight.

Cult of the Spiral Dawn by Peter Fehervari
March 2018 – paperback (note this is the ‘proper’ title for Genestealer Cults). Cover not final.

Intrigue and horror abound in a tale of dark cults and the corrupting power of false faith.

The galaxy is vast, and worship of the God-Emperor by His faithful takes many forms. The Spiral Dawn is one of the countless sanctioned sects of the Imperial cult. When a gathering of Spiralytes makes their holy pilgrimage to the sect’s home world, Redemption, instead of the haven of enlightenment they are expecting, they find a soot-choked hellhole where their order’s founders and an unorthodox regiment of Astra Militarum maintain an uneasy coexistence. As tensions between the pilgrims and the superstitious Guardsmen mount, the new arrivals begin to unravel the dark secrets concealed at the heart of their faith… This paperback edition contains a bonus short story, ‘Cast a Hungry Shadow’, available in print for the first time.

The Lost: A Gaunt’s Ghosts Omnibus by Dan Abnett
March/April 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

The Tanith First-And-Only face their sternest battles yet in the third Gaunt’s Ghosts omnibus, containing the novels Traitor General, His Last Command, The Armour of Contempt and Only in Death.

For a thousand years, the Sabbat Worlds have been lost to the Imperium, claimed by the dread powers of Chaos. Now, a mighty crusade seeks to return the sector to Imperial rule, but the innumerable forces of the Archenemy attack without mercy, and planet after planet burns with the flames of war. Amidst this nightmare, the armies of the Astra Militarum stand stoic against their foes. The Tanith First-And-Only are among the most legendary of these regiments of Imperial Guard, and at their head stands Commissar Ibram Gaunt, unflinching in duty and unrelenting in combat. But now the very future of the regiment is in jeopardy as Gaunt’s Ghosts battle the forces of Chaos across the Sabbat Worlds. From daring rescue missions to the grim horrors of the battlefield, the Tanith First-And-Only must survive extreme danger and the ghosts of the past if they are to avoid becoming forever lost.

Space Marine Conquests #3 – War of Secrets by Phil Kelly
June 2018 – paperback. Cover not final.

In the shadow of the Great Rift, Primaris Marines fight alongside the Dark Angels against the t’au, but as whole worlds burn, a terrible psychic curse is unleashed. 

Lieutenant Xedro Farren is a Primaris Marine, stronger and more adept than even the Space Marines his brotherhood has been sent to fight alongside. As he and his Primaris brethren support the Dark Angels in fighting a trauma-scarred force of t’au seemingly hellbent on destroying their own allies, their true quarry soon becomes clear: the shadowy instigator of a psychic curse that could plunge a string of Imperial planets into madness. As worlds burn in the fires of battle, an unthinkable pact is struck, and Lieutenant Farren begins to peel back layer after layer of deceit to discover an appalling truth. Can he hope to emerge from this web of lies without losing his honour – or come to that, his life?

Yarrick: The Omnibus by David Annandale
June 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

Omnibus of novels and short stories revealing the brutal battles which transformed Commissar Yarrick from a mere man into a legend of the Imperium.

Yarrick: once just a name, but now a legend, forged from the blood of the Imperium’s enemies. Time after time, Commissar Sebastian Yarrick has fearlessly led Imperial forces to victory beneath black banners of vengeance, even when defeat seemed inevitable. From his early campaigns as a newly blooded officer from the schola progenium ranks, to the brutal battles of the Second and Third Wars for Armageddon, one thing has never changed: Yarrick will not fail. No world will fall to Chaos, heresy or xenos while under his protection. This gripping omnibus contains all of author David Annandale’s stories about the famed commissar, and includes two novels, a novella and seven short stories, each revealing the bloody battles that helped forge a legend.

Enforcer: The Shira Calpurnia Omnibus by Matthew Farrer
July 2018 – paperback omnibus.

Definitive omnibus edition of Matt Farrer’s trilogy of novels featuring the Adeptus Arbites officer Shira Calpurnia, upholder of Imperial law in the Hydraphur system. 

The Adeptus Arbites are responsible for enforcing law and order across the vast reaches of the human Imperium. Newly promoted officer Shira Calpurnia is assigned to the fortress-system of Hydraphur, home of the vast Imperial warfleets that dock, rearm and repair in an endless cycle of conflict. But Shira soon finds herself in the thick of the action as her investigations embroil her in the corruption behind multiple assassination attempts, the vicious greed over an ancient charter, and encounters with psykers and murderers. The Shira Calpurnia novels present a unique and original view of the Warhammer 40,00 universe from the pen of acclaimed science fiction author Matt Farrer. This new omnibus edition contains the all three novels in the original Shira Calpurnia trilogy – Crossfire, Legacy and Blind – plus additional bonus material.

War for Armageddon by various authors
July/August 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

Space Marines from multiple Chapters unite alongside Titan Legions and the Astra Militarum to defend the world of Armageddon from ork warlord Ghazghkull Thraka. 

In the bleak 41st millennium, the planet Armageddon is on the cusp of annihilation. The strategically vital hive world has captured the attention of infamous ork warlord Ghazghkull Thraka, and when the Astra Militarum and whole Titan Legions prove unable to halt the invasion, it is feared that both the planet and the wider sector will be lost to the greenskins. But the Imperium refuses to succumb and unleashes the Space Marines – genetically engineered warriors who thirst for naught but blood and victory. But can even this alliance of mankind’s greatest warriors hope to turn the tide against Ghazghkull and his endless ork horde? This high-octane omnibus contains the classic novel Helsreach by New York Times bestselling author Aaron Dembski-Bowden, alongside four novellas and a host of short stories by some of Black Library best-known authors, including Guy Haley, Nick Kyme, Chris Wraight and Josh Reynolds.

Servants of the Machine God by various authors
August 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

A brand-new anthology of stories featuring the enigmatic Adeptus Mechanicus, cybernetic servants of the Imperium who venerate technology above all else.

It is the 41st millennium and humanity teeters on the brink of destruction. Yet out of the darkness comes a cold hope. The Adeptus Mechanicus are logical, remote beings of cybernetic construction. Their armour is a work of mechanical art, their weapons unparalleled in intelligent design. One of the most hostile fighting forces of the Imperium, the Priesthood of Mars serves justice upon their enemies with forbidding momentum. Though nominally allied with mankind, it is in the name of the Omnissiah that their mighty war machines step forth into the cauldron of war, for the Machine God alone is worthy of their sacrifice and neither man nor xenos can deter them from their single purpose of championing his dominion. This anthology contains a dozen gripping tales about the formidable Titans, Imperial Knights, battle-servitors and skitarii legions with which the Adeptus Mechanicus wage war, all written by some of Black Library’s most popular authors, including Graham McNeill, Gav Thorpe, Josh Reynolds, Rob Sanders, David Guymer, David Annandale and Andy Clark.

The Horus Heresy

The Horus Heresy #46 – The Burden of Loyalty edited by Laurie Goulding
February/March 2018 – hardback. CONFIRMED for February.

A brand-new anthology of Horus Heresy short fiction featuring stories by Dan Abnett, Chris Wraight, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, John French and more.

As the darkness of mankind’s internecine war slowly consumes the galaxy, those who still serve the Throne are forced to fight for both their own survival and the continued existence of everything they hold dear. With the threat of the Warmaster Horus’ fleet looming ever closer to Terra, if will fall to such heroes to halt the tide, but the enemies arrayed against them are powerful and the burden of loyalty is great… This Horus Heresy anthology contains two novella-length tales – The Wolf King by Chris Wraight and Cybernetica by Rob Sanders – as well as six short stories by popular Black Library authors including Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Gav Thorpe and John French.

The Primarchs #8 – Jaghatai Khan: Warhawk of Chogoris by Chris Wraight
April 2018 – LE hardback/July 2018 – standard hardback

As the Great Crusade burns across the stars, the primarch of the White Scars, Jaghatai Khan, must decide where his true allegiance lies. 

Ever since the Imperium’s rediscovery of the world of Chogoris, the White Scars’ culture of warrior mysticism has sat uneasily with the ideals of Unity. As the Great Crusade burns across the stars, their enigmatic primarch Jaghatai Khan fights to preserve his Legion’s distinctiveness amid a galaxy where cold rationality holds sway. Despite his self-imposed isolation, others in the brotherhood of primarchs seek to draw him into the greatest ideological battle of them all: the place of psychic power within the Legions. As the Librarius project is born, and opposition to it grows, the Khan must decide where his greatest allegiance lies – to the Imperial Truth, or to his own heritage.

Age of Sigmar

As usual there’s not a lot revealed in advance for Age of Sigmar. I suspect this is almost entirely because Black Library are still tied a bit tighter with releases for AoS than they are with 40k, which means they can’t advertise at least some of their new books without spoiling releases for the game itself. I’m confident we’ll see lots more than just these two over the coming months…

Soul Wars by Josh Reynolds
June 2018 – hardback. Cover not final.

Nagash revives an ancient grudge with the God-King Sigmar as a ferocious new war between the living and the dead shakes the Mortal Realms.

The Mortal Realms tremble with unending war. In Shyish, the Realm of Death, an ancient evil stirs, sensing opportunity. Nagash, the Undying King and God of Death, sets his gaze upon the citadels of the living and the servants of Sigmar, the God-King of Azyr. Allies once, joined together against the machinations of the Ruinous Powers, the two gods now find themselves enemies. Nagash, burning with the need to avenge an ancient slight, calls forth his soulless legions to sweep across the realm he claims as his own and reassert death’s dominion over all things, as the War of Heaven and Death begins anew.

The Realmgate Wars: Volume 1 by various authors
August 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

Huge omnibus tracking the course of the Realmgate Wars, the epic conflict that defined Games Workshop’s newest fantasy setting: the Age of Sigmar.

For five centuries, Chaos has tormented the Mortal Realms. Ancient portals known as realmgates stand defiled by the armies of the Dark Gods, preventing the forces of order from moving freely between the realms. The lands are broken, their populations enslaved, hunted for sport or infected with unholy plague. All hope of salvation was thought lost – until now. For Sigmar has been watching and making ready, and those destined to suffer his retribution will finally know the might of the God-King’s wrath as he unleashes his greatest weapon: the Stormcast Eternals. Reborn heroes clad in god-forged armour, Sigmar’s golden warriors descend to liberate the realms from the yoke of Chaos. The Realmgate Wars have begun… This mighty omnibus contains stories by some of Black Library’s finest fantasy authors, including Chris Wraight, Guy Haley, Nick Kyme, Josh Reynolds, C L Werner and Darius Hinks, winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award.

Warhammer Chronicles

The Rise of Nagash by Mike Lee
October 2017 – paperback omnibus. CONFIRMED.

In the fantasy world of Warhammer, magic suffuses the land to such an extent that even the dead can ‘live’ again, and whole empires of undead creatures hold sway in the dark places of the Old World. The vampires in the forests, the ghouls in their tunnels, the tomb kings of the southern deserts – all can trace their dark lineage back to Nagash, the first necromancer and supreme lord of undeath. For it was Nagash, two millennia before the time of Sigmar, who wrested the secrets of life and death from the dark elves, embarking upon a quest for immortality that would spark a war, destroy an empire and unleash a plague of undeath that would blight the Old World until the End Times and beyond.

Champions of Chaos by Darius Hinks, Sarah Cawkwell & Ben Counter
March/April 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

In the cold wastes of the North, the followers of Chaos gather in their thousands, eager to lay waste to the soft lands of the south. These bloodthirsty, undisciplined warriors can only be controlled by the fiercest of leaders – champions who have risen through the ranks by dint of their infamous deeds to become the favoured of the Dark Gods. This omnibus collects together the stories of three such mighty leaders – Prince Sigvald the Magnificent, the Gorequeen herself Valkia the Bloody, and the rogue wizard Egrimm van Horstmann. And be warned: though the journey to greatness is long and hard, the battle to maintain such a position of power amid the servants of Chaos is never-ending…

The War of Vengeance by Nick Kyme, CL Werner & Chris Wraight
May 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

Omnibus of novels telling the complete story of the War of Vengeance, a great and terrible conflict between the elves and dwarfs for domination of the Old World.

Centuries before the rise of Sigmar and the founding of the Empire, the War of Vengeance was a great and terrible conflict between the elves and dwarfs for domination of the Old World. This bitter struggle, which lasted for hundreds of years, left the very earth scarred by the destructive forces unleashed, and forged an enmity that would endure until the world’s ending. The three novels in this collection chart the course of this long and bitter war, from its tragic beginnings to the final confrontation that would bring both races to their knees and begin the slow doom of their civilisations… This omnibus contains the complete War of Vengeance trilogy, comprising the novels The Great Betrayal by Nick Kyme, Master of Dragons by Chris Wraight and Curse of the Phoenix Crown by C L Werner.

Witch Hunter: The Mathias Thulmann Trilogy by CL Werner
June 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

All three novels in C L Werner’s classic Mathias Thulmann trilogy – Witch Hunter, Witch Finder and Witch Killer – collected together in one complete volume.

In the Old World, the dreaded witch hunters are feared above all others. Tyrannical individuals tasked with hunting out evil throughout the towns and villages, they use whatever means they deem necessary to root out corruption and destroy those foolish enough to ally themselves with the Dark Powers. Counted amongst the most zealous of the witch hunters is Mathias Thulmann, a ruthless individual whose exploits are legend, recounted across the Empire to terrify all recidivists, heretics and the servants of Chaos. This omnibus edition contains C L Werner’s complete Mathias Thulmann trilogy, comprising the novels Witch Hunter, Witch Finder and Witch Killer and additional short stories.

Ulrika the Vampire by Nathan Long
June/July 2018 – paperback omnibus. Cover not final.

All three of Nathan Long’s engaging Ulrika the Vampire novels collected together in an omnibus format for the very first time.

Forced to join the ranks of the undead against her will after being kidnapped by the vampire Adolphus Krieger, fierce Kislevan noblewoman Ulrika Magdova can no longer return to her mortal life, and is forced to seek new allies and purpose. Crossing into the Empire, she is given sanctuary in the city of Nuln by a coven of vampires and taught how to control her powers. However, her headstrong nature soon drives her into fresh danger… Read the tale of Ulrika’s adventures as she travels the darkest corners of the Old World fighting enemies old and new, all while struggling with the demons of her own vampiric existence. This omnibus edition contains the complete Ulrika the Vampire trilogy, comprising the novels Bloodborn, Bloodforged and Bloodsworn.

Summer Reading

EDIT (21/10/17) – it’s still not exactly clear what the full situation is with the Summer Reading titles, but the two new ones – Crusade and Hammerhal – have now been released as part of anthologies designed as introductions to the 40k and AoS settings. I’ve

To be honest I’m not really sure what this is or how it’s going to work. The title – Summer Reading – suggests we’ll have to wait until next year, but Crusade and Hammerhal look like being out in maybe November, considering there’s a signing for them at Warhammer World on the 28th October, and Andy Clark is going to be talking about Crusade in one of the Weekender seminars…

They’re also listed online as paperbacks priced at £3.80 – I’m assuming that’s probably not quite right, but maybe £5 is a more realistic RRP?

My gut feeling (which is exactly that – a total guess) is that Crusade and Hammerhal will be out first in the omnibus editions that are listed against the signing, and then all six will be out in June/July 2018 in small paperback format as part of 2018’s Summer of Reading campaign. It’ll be interesting to see what happens!

I’ve included the synopses below for Crusade and Hammerhal, but most of the others are already available in various formats so I’ve just added links for each of those to the relevant page on the Black Library website. None of the covers were listed online [this has since changed], although if you take a good look at the picture above you can get an idea of what the Crusade and Hammerhal covers will look like.

#1 Crusade by Andy Clark

Check this out as part of the Crusade + Other Stories anthology – available now.

On the world of Kalides Prime, an Ultramarines strike force of Primaris Space Marines battles to thwart the machinations of the plague-ridden Death Guard.

New-forged sons of the primarch Roboute Guilliman, the Primaris Ultramarines are peerless warriors whose sworn duty is to protect mankind from the predations of the xenos and the foul traitors of the Heretic Astartes. In a galaxy riven by eternal war, they and the other armies of the Imperium are all that stand between mankind and damnation… Their ship damaged by warp storms, the Ultramarines of Strike Force Cassian make for Kalides Prime. Here they hope to find safe harbour to repair their craft before rejoining the Indomitus Crusade. Instead, the Primaris Space Marines discover a world reduced to rot and ruin by the plague-ridden warriors of the Death Guard.

#2 Assault on Black Reach by Nick Kyme
This one actually isn’t available to buy at the moment, so here’s the synopsis from online:

Captain Sicarius leads the Second Company of the Ultramarines to war against seemingly impossible odds in defence of the world of Black Reach.

In the dark future of the 41st millennium, the Imperium fights a desperate battle for mankind’s survival amongst the stars. Foremost among its protectors are the Space Marines, genetically engineered superhumans trained to be the ultimate warriors. And of all the Space Marines, it is the noble and courageous Ultramarines who best embody this warrior ideal. When the planet of Black Reach is invaded by a mighty ork horde, the Ultramarines must act fast – if the greenskins gain a foothold in the system, then they will surely spread and threaten the enitre sector. As the Ultramarines attack in all their righteous fury, the scene is set for an epic battle: one hundred Space Marines versus fifty thousand orks!

#3 Sin of Damnation by Gav Thorpe

Link to Black Library – http://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/novels/sin-of-damnation-ebook.html

#4 Wolf King by Chris Wraight

Link to Black Library – http://www.blacklibrary.com/the-horus-heresy/novels/wolf-king-ebook.html

#5 Hammerhal by Josh Reynolds

Check this out as part of the Hammerhal & Other Stories anthology – available now.

The Stormcast Eternals of the Hallowed Knights must uncover the mystery of the Hexwood before it brings the great city of Hammerhal to ruin.

Dark forces stir within the bowers of the mysterious Hexwood. A great warhost of tzaangor beastkin, creatures devoted to the Chaos god Tzeentch, defile the once-verdant lands of Ghyran. All that opposes them are the Stormcast Eternals of the Hallowed Knights, noble warriors reforged in resplendent sigmarite and wielding the lightning of Azyr. But Tzeentch’s followers are cunning, and as the Hallowed Knights wage bloody war in the forests, a secret and potentially ruinous attack on the great city of Hammerhal, which the Stormcasts are oath-sworn to protect, is about to begin. Both the warriors without and the hunters within the city must act fast, or the truth about the Hexwood will be the undoing of the Twin-tailed City.

#6 City of Secrets by Nick Horth

Link to Black Library – http://www.blacklibrary.com/new-titles/warhammer-age-of-sigmar/city-of-secrets.html

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So there you have it, that’s everything I can find at the moment. PLENTY of stuff to look forward to, I’m sure you’ll agree. If you’ve got any thoughts or comments on the week’s news and releases please do get in touch via the comments section below or on Facebook or Twitter.