Black Library Weekly: Be Careful What You Wish For...

Image credit: Games Workshop

...because you just might get it, the old adage goes.

As someone who has a particular interest in the Mega Editions, as all the trinkets that come with them look so good in the shelves of my Black Library Museum, I've felt for awhile that 2025 was a bit of a disappointing year. The last time we saw a Mega Edition was last year's Interceptor City, by Dan Abnett, which came nicely packaged in a flight recorder-themed box with an extra book, squadron patch, enamel pin and a map.

Given the abundance of the three-book Box Sets this year (two for the Space Wolves, Saints of the Imperium, and Yarrick) it seemed that the Mega Edition was out of favor. Not so fast, said Games Workshop, who revealed this past week that a new, deluxe edition of William King's seminal (and new Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame inductee) Trollslayer was up for preorder!

It's gorgeous, because of course it is. The book treatment is top-notch, plus Wanted posters, metal coins, an axe for a bookmark and even a quad of bar coasters.

Image credit: Games Workshop

The timing, though? As brutal as Gurnisson's backswing. Let's take one more look at the subject we discussed two weeks ago, which is the rising volume of deluxe editions. I'll briefly recap it here.

If you are a collector who buys every deluxe edition product the Black Library releases, here's what your spend looked like for 2025:

January to March: $400
April to June: $610
July to September: $840
October to December: $885 (at time of writing)

All told, that's $2735 for the year (and, admittedly, a very nice library). How does it compare to previous years? To find out, I made the same calculations for 2023 and 2024₁.

Image credit: Jay Kirkman

A couple quick notes:

2024's Q4 included the First Founding Deluxe Limited Edition at $200. That falls into the art/lore books rather than fiction, but still under the Black Library umbrella.
I was a bit divided on including the Cain and Gaunt's Ghosts print-on-demand (POD) books, because they're positioned and priced like standard hardcovers. But being a limited offering, I opted to include them in the above. They account for $300 in 2023 and $330 in 2024.

And now some takeaways:

If, as many have expressed, you've been feeling like we're being asked to open our wallets even more this year, this appears to confirm that sentiment. The overall pricetag went up 34% from last year- and the current quarter isn't quite over.
I was a little surprised by the relatively closeness of Q4 this year and last. This quarter is the one where I started to feel my own consumer fatigue, so it's interesting that last year's Q4 wasn't all that different ($885 vs $800).
A big part of that fatigue, I think, has to do with this year's Q3. In 2023, Q3 was actually more pricey than Q4, which may have led consumers to feel some relief. In 2024, Q3 was quite a bit lower, so while Q4 was still expensive it wasn't a sustained pressure (especially when rolling into Q1 2025, which was half as expensive as Q4 2024). This year, not only was Q4 the second-highest quarter in three years, but it was directly preceded by the third-highest. That's half a year of elevated pressure- nine months if you consider how Q2 2025 looked compared to previous Q2's.

This seems like a good place to pause and once again note that this is a luxury good, not an essential, and nobody is making people buy every release that comes out. Plenty of Black Library consumers are quite happy to buy what they like and sod the rest. I'm not taking a moralistic position here, but rather my interest in the 'spend ask' is to gauge the possible degree to which consumer fatigue is playing a part in sagging demand.

I'm hardly the first to notice that some deluxe products haven't been moving quite so briskly here lately. In previous weeks in this column I've examined the other factors that could be at play, such as less-in-demand subjects or uninspiring cover treatments. But money has to play a part, right?

Money always does.

Image credit: Black Library Nutters

Want an Era of Ruin Limited Edition?

Ready for a little early Christmas cheer?

The launch last June of the Era of Ruin Limited Edition was a disaster. I covered my experience trying to order it here, but the TLDR is that to the surprise of absolutely no-one, scalpers and their bots swarmed the site the moment of launch. To their credit, Games Workshop saw this happening in real-time and yanked the plug right out of the wall.

In explaining what happened, GW asked interested punters to sign up for an email announcement that would let us know when the next step would be. Unfortunately, we've heard nothing ever since, and so there's a giant question mark over the fate of the title.

However, a very small number of Era of Ruin LE's have made it into the wild, mainly through release at select Warhammer headquarter stores.

One of those stores was in Tokyo, where Black Library Nutters Facebook Group member Don Matias Castro Segovia managed to score his during a Store Anniversary event. He traveled 90 minutes away, then waited in queue for over two hours, and even had to battle "scalper scum" trying to snatch up every copy (he estimated there were between 6 and 10 for sale).

In the end, good triumphed over evil and Don Matias emerged victorious!

Now we could just end this tale here- after all, collectors prevailing over scalpers is already a feelgood story, but there's one more development that's filled with the Christmas Spirit. Don Matias is putting the book up and donating the proceeds to the annual Black Library Nutters Christmas Charity drive, which goes to benefit children's charities.

"The motivation to make a difference in a child life for the holidays is rewarding enough," he said. "Plus, this community has always been good and whenever I have sold a book, it has helped me to pay bills and give the life I want to give to my loved ones."

The drive runs through the first week of December, so while details haven't been announced yet on how to raffle/bid for the book, they'll be along soon. If you're not a member yet of the Black Library Nutters, what are you waiting for?

Image credit: Uline

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Box

It's a long-familiar routine. One the way back home from the ice rink for one of my sons' hockey games, I drop by the local Warhammer store to pick up my latest preordered book. I give the manager, Jimmy, the last four of the order number, he goes in the back and cheerfully reappears a few moments later with the shipping box. A quick box-cut later and he's handing me my shiny new book (inside its packing box).

12" x 9.5" x 5.25". The standard Games Workshop shipping box. At least, until this past Saturday. This time, Jimmy came out with a noticeably bigger box (holding my copy of the Steel Tread Special Editon, by Andy Clark), about half again as large. Noting my curious look, he told me that he and other managers had been asking GW to ship the LE's/SE's in larger boxes. The standard shipping boxes were only slightly larger than the LE/SE packing boxes, and were more susceptible to having the merchandise damaged in transit. We've all seen the horror stories (many of us firsthand), so I'll be curious to see if the larger shipping box trend continues. If so, that's a welcome and positive adjustment to quality assurance!

Image credit: Jay Kirkman

Back to the Front

Speaking of the Steel Tread, after the Special Edition cover reveal last week of its sequel, Demolisher, I wrote this in reaction to the fact that both covers used the same art:

In an alternate universe Games Workshop released Steel Tread with the back end of the Leman Russ tank on the cover and kept the Demolisher one the same, so when you staged them side-by-side you got to see the complete tank.

Turns out, I... kinda?---get my wish? As pictured above, it seems the back of the book has the rear of the Russ₂, so if I displayed it next to Demolisher they would indeed show the whole tank. I'll have to see how that looks in a couple weeks when the sequel arrives.

In the meantime, I've filed it away in hardback section of the Library, and wouldn't you know it, it went right to the same corner that so many LE's/SE's have been filed to lately, strictly because of their author's last names.

Image credit: Jay Kirkman

ICYMI

This week we took to the stars with our Beyond the Black Library series, which looks at non-Black Library work from Black Library authors. Sarah Cawkwell (Valkia the Bloody, The Gildar Rift) has penned the latest book in the Twilight Imperium universe, Thunder's Edge: Echoes of Memory, and we gave it a go! By way of a personal milestone, it was also my hundredth article on Goonhammer since I started writing here earlier this year!

Then we had the latest installment of our ongoing initiative, the Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame. Five books from the years 1999-2000 were chosen for induction- and readers get to vote to help pick the next round from 2001's novels. Make sure to swing by and vote!

The lads at the Fluffenhammer Podcast have been releasing monthly deep dives into the pages of the comic serial Warhammer Monthly, one issue at a time. This week it's Issue #17, and the return of Bloodquest!

Over in Arbitor Ian and Mira Manga's corner of the world, their book club review of Aaron Dembski-Bowden's Helsreach is up! Come check out their discussion of one of the Black Library's absolute bangers. Not enough ADB discussion for you? Don't worry, they've ">got you covered with a look at Aurelian over at Arbiter Ian's Precinct House channel.

Aasa Timonen is back with a new book review this week as she cracks into Adrian Tchaikovsky's Starseer's Ruin. Timonen is the Warhammer scholar₃ whose review of Shade of Khaine longtime readers may recall I accidentally almost plagiarized earlier this year (full story here), so I may wait to read her review until I've written my own this time!

Image credit: Bloody Press

Quick Hits

Enjoy eldritch horror (and who doesn't)? Carrie Harris (The Strength of Symbols, A Forbidden Meal) has written a short story for the Cthulhu-based Arkham Horror game, focusing on one of the investigators. You can find The Investigators of Arkham Horror: Winifred Habbamock for free here!
We don't tend to think of books using the same value-for-dollar calculation that we do other forms of entertainment, but by any measurement this is an insane value. Subterranean Press is taking preorders for The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky, with 37 stories totaling over 600 pages. Tchaikovsky is that rare author whose non-Black Library stuff I might rate even higher than his Black Library works, and his Black Library works are terrific (On the Shoulders of Giants, Day of Ascension). "Hungry ants that want to reconstruct the world in their own image. Occult investigations into private clubs. A philosopher’s attachment to his beloved pet. A new definition of battlefield archaeology.What the homunculi do when the wizard’s away. A trans-dimensional theatre troupe. Murder by flower-arrangement. The infectious consequences of a fairytale wedding." And those are just a few of the tales that await! The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky is limited to 1,000 copies, and each come signed and numbered- all for USD $60? I've ordered mine!
Tim "The Hardest Working Man in Horror" Waggoner (Skin Man) has been signed to write the novelization of Terrifier 3. This is Waggoner's second dance with the franchise; his Terrifier 2 adaption won the Scribe Award for Best Adapted Novel presented by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers earlier this year. You can preorder the eBook on Amazon now, with physical copies available for preorder this coming week!
Graham McNeill (Swords of Calth, Storm of Iron) sat down with Jennifer Brozek for an interview about writing in different genres, including his current Kickstarter project Wolves of Winter. With less than two weeks to go Wolves of Winter is languishing at around 20% of goal, so I'm hoping we see a big push at the end to get it funded. Vikings versus demons, with Graham at the wheel... what's not to love?
Josh Reynolds (Fulgrim: The Palatine Phoenix, Deathstorm) continues to push out the boundaries of the occult and eccentric. His latest novella, The Harvest of Macha, is set in Ireland in 1922 and pits Charles St. Cyprian, the Royal Occultist, and Ebe Gallowglass, his intrepid assistant, against the awakening of eldritch powers seeking to immanentize the eschaton!

World Fantasy Convention 2025

While next year it's being held in Oakland, the World Fantasy Convention being in Brighton this year meant a good number of Black Library writers were able to attend, appear- and even present!

Here's Victoria Hayward (Deathworlder, Nightsider Imperialis) and Gav Thorpe (Kill Team, The Red Feast) good-naturedly trolling Mike Brooks (Voidscarred, Brutal Kunnin'). Gav mentioned seeing Andi Ewington (Da Red Gobbo's Last Stand) and John French (Dropsite Massacre, Ahriman Omnibus) as well.

Image credit: Victoria Hayward

If Brooks lost his badge, it might be because he was so busy between presenting at the Satirical Fantasy panel and DJ'ing! Here he was getting ready to hit the scene:

Image credit: Mike Brooks

He also shared his hair care regimen, for those wondering how he manages to style in defiance of gravity.

Image credit: Mike Brooks

Then there was Ben Galley (Mournclaw) making the rounds and running into Rob J. Hayes (Anarchy's End, No Quarter).

Image credit: Ben Galley

Galley also linked up with Anna Stephens (River of Death, The Siege of Greenspire) and speculative fiction author Stewart Hotston.

Image credit: Ben Galley

Finally, Danie Ware (The Triumph of St. Katherine, The Rose in Anger) enjoyed the "Write for the Fight" panel, where- amongst other fine presenters- was Juliet McKenna (Fear Itself).

Image credit: Danie Ware

Writers are Fans, Too!

While I’ll never scorn an author making an honest living selling the fruits of their imagination, I take an extra degree of satisfaction knowing how many of the writers whose stories and words populate the shelves of the Black Library are genuine Warhammer fans first, and Black Library writers second. Here’s a few who shared that love recently.

Image credit: Victoria Hayward

Here's Victoria Hayward, celebrating Warhammer's 50th by sharing her first-ever mini and her first ticket to Games Day₄. Hayward's a terrific example of someone who was a fan first, then Black Library writer later! (She recently shared some book recommendations with us, too!)

Need more proof?

Image credit: Victoria Hayward

With all the Warhammer Quest excitement going on right now with the release of Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, here's a hero Mark Latham (Kovos Falls, Judgement) recently shared. Writers who paint? It's all in the hands...

Image credit: Mark Latham

He wasn't the only one wielding a mean brush recently, as Graham McNeill (False Gods, Lords of Mars) was putting in some work for his Trench Crusade minis.

Image credit: Graham McNeill

Image credit: Graham McNeill

Next, talk about living the dream. Here's John French painting the miniature of a character from his own imagination...

Image credit: John French

Finally, from the many-hued desk of Adrian Tchaikovsky comes some delightfully-painted Krieg cavalry.

Clearly, creativity is a talent that takes many forms!

Black Library Bingo - Astra Militarum Edition

And now for something completely different! How complete is your library? Mark every book you currently own in any format (special editions, regular editions, eBook, audiobook, even contained in an omnibus!). For every complete row of five you make, you get a point.

There are twelve possible points up for grabs (5 columns, 5 rows, and 2 diagonals).

I got a 5. Can you beat me?

Image credit: Games Workshop

Coming Attractions

Here’s a list of the known upcoming releases from the Black Library based on the available preorder information we have. As always, take all of this with a grain of salt unless it’s Games Workshop-confirmed.

This section will be updated weekly in this column. Any titles that are announced but without a date will be added once a date is assigned it, and anything highlighted in green is something just added (or updated) this week. Books that are underlined are previously unpublished titles.

Upcoming but Undated

(None)

Upcoming in 2025

Steel Tread, by Andy Clark (hardcover, 12/6)
Master of Rites, by Rob Young (hardcover and Special, 12/6)
Ashes of the Imperium: The Scouring, by Chris Wraight (hardcover, 12/6)
Hell’s Last, by Justin D. Hill (paperback, 12/6)
Demolisher, by Andy Clark (hardcover and Special, 12/13)
The Rise of Nagash, by Mike Lee (paperback, 12/13)
Trollslayer, by William King (Mega Limited Edition, 12/20)

Upcoming in 2026

Farsight: Blade of Truth, by Phil Kelly (paperback, 1/27)
Fulgrim: The Perfect Son, by Jude Reid (paperback, 1/27) (review)
Siege of Terra: The Shattered and the Soulless, by Graham McNeill (paperback, 1/27)
Vaults of Terra: The Omnibus, by Chris Wraight (paperback, 1/27)
Huron Blackheart: Master of the Maelstrom, by Mike Brooks (paperback, 3/10)
Carcharodons: Void Exile, by Robbie MacNiven (paperback, 3/10) (review)
The Green Tide, by Mike Brooks, Nate Crowley, and Justin Woolley (paperback 3/24)
The Ghost Legion: The Pillar of Dreams, by Mike Brooks (title translated from German) (4/7)
Carnage Unending, by Dan Abnett (paperback, 4/21)

Footnotes

These are napkin-math estimates using 2025's price points. Tracking down precisely what everything cost in 2023 would have been exhaustive (and exhausting). In general I used $75 for the LE's/SE's ($65 for the character series ones), $150 for Megas, $170 for Box Sets, and $30 for POD books (that last one actually is historically accurate since there weren't any released this year). I did my good-faith best.
...and the flagon with the dragon holds the brew that is true.
For real. Her presentation "Remade, Reforged, Reborn: Stormcast Eternals as the simulacra of humanity in polycrisis" was part of this year's Warhammer Conference.
Since we're talking about the Warhammer Conference down here in the footnotes, did you know that last year Hayward was a presenter? With "The Jungle Made Us: An Author’s Reflections on Writing Catachan", she shares some of her thoughts and insights from writing Deathworlder₅.
Dear Games Workshop: Deathworlder Special Edition when...?

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