Black Library Weekly: The Curtain Call

Hello and welcome to the final episode of the Black Library Weekly on Goonhammer!

As I talked about last week, we're recalibrating some of the Black Library content here on the site:

But [like the Black Library's Inferno! magazine, Goonhammer too] must focus on growth and evolution, and so I share all this to note that this isn’t surrender and defeat. And it sure as hell isn’t a farewell, as I’m not only going to be continuing to bring you reviews of the latest Black Library offerings but we’ve got some kickass content ideas I love coming down the pipeline as well.

Make sure to let that last line sink in because I'm really excited about a new series we're currently working on, one that blends coverage of the Black Library, the tabletop, and library collecting. All the things I love!

By the same token, I've grown very attached to the weekly column as well- and if the comments I've received this past week are any indication, so have many of you. As a result, I'm excited to reveal that I've decided to carry on the column over on Substack.

I hope you'll not only to continue some of the best Black Library coverage around here on Goonhammer, but also join me over there for the weekly roundup of goings-on in the world of the Black Library- and much, much more!

Now, onto the books!

It's Not Easy Being Green

As the Eleventh Edition of Warhammer 40,000 approaches, the Orks are definitely having a moment. The Green Tide anthology and Ghazgkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords are still getting used to their new shelves in our libraries, Legends of the Waaagh! on the horizon, and Warhammer Community then announces a ton more on the way.

Some of the announcement covered ground we're already aware of, such as the Legends of the Waaagh! anthology and a new printing of The Yarrick Omnibus by David Annandale. But those new reveals? Chef's kiss.

Image credit: Games Workshop

First up is a new swashbuckling Ork novel from Justin Woolley. While this isn't his first novel (that honor goes to 2022's Catachan Devil), it does represent the natural evolution from his greenskin novellas (2020's Prisoners of Waaagh! and 2024's Long Live Da Red Gobbo).

This will be music to the ears of the many who loved the space-pirate-opera of Mike Brooks' highly-acclaimed Voidscarred, which won Best Novel in Goonhammer's Book Awards this year and was runner-up for the Black Library Book of the Year. The story follows an Ork pirate captain facing down the a Rogue Trader-cum-pirate queen, Lord Captain Antoinette von Hume, for the greatest prize in his perilous career.

Image credit: Games Workshop

Next we've got the latest entry in the extraordinary Illustrated and Annotated Editions, Nate Crowley's Prophet of the Waaagh!. These deluxe editions are a fantastic addition to the Black Library, and this will be the sixth offered to date. While it was a true delight to reread the Eisenhorn trilogy alongside Dan Abnett's fascinating insights and thoughts, I'm also very happy to see other authors like Chris Wraight (Lords of Silence) and Robert Rath (The Infinite and the Divine) get their turns in the spotlight.

The Black Library has gold here, and I hope these editions keep coming. But if there's one book I'm most excited to see, it's the next one.

Image credit: Games Workshop

Last month in my "Black Library Celebration postmortem," I returned to one of my frequent talking points: the role of the short story in the Black Library's catalogue of offerings. For a number of years Games Workshop has been following a sort of pipeline model that put new short stories into circulation first through a digital subscription- typically either a "Theme Week" or special event release such as the Advent Calendar.

Last December's Advent came and went without a peep, as did this most recent Celebration. In my postmortem examining the lack of a Celebration subscription, I speculated a few reasons for the pivot away from the digital release model, the last (and most plausible) being that:

The model itself isn’t working. In this instance we note that just because we’re not getting the stories released in the “digital subscription” model doesn’t automatically mean that the Black Library has slowed down its commission of them. While the overhead for a printed book is certainly more than for digital goods, it may just be that the demand from the buying public is significantly higher for printed goods. In that case, Games Workshop might seek to realize a greater return by bundling unreleased stories in anthologies rather than online. The flaw here is that thus far the Black Library has happily done both, selling the digital product first and the paper to follow- and thus getting two bites at the apple.

It looks like The Black Library has pivoted back to the one-bite model, as the upcoming World Ablaze anthology contains eleven brand-new, unreleased short stories. Thanks to sleuth extraordinaire u/Hasvik212 over on the Black Library subreddit, we've even managed to learn what they are:

Pursuit of Redemption - Mike Vincent
Riderz of da Storm - Denny Flowers
The White Horror - Jude Reid
Good Enemy - Guy Haley
Rok Crackers - John Sollitto
Steel Mayhem - Justin Woolley
Fighting Blind - R. S. Wilt
Ash and Steel - Richard Swan
Ark of Salvation - Robbie MacNiven
Home Front - Rhuairidh James
Seasons of Woe - Marc Collins

Man, what a lineup! Two things jumped right out to me. First, the Black Library has frequently used the digital Theme Weeks as a sort of 'proving ground' for new writers₁. With all but one of these contributors already having a Black Library novel to their name₂, this is a very different approach and I'll be very interested in seeing how the Black Library reconfigures its talent pipeline model in the future.

Second, how can you not want to read a story titled Rok Crackers?

Image credit: Games Workshop

Late to the Party

Back in late 2024 to early 2025, White Dwarf published a five-part serial by William Crowe featuring the Tattershields, a squad of Kasrkin after the destruction of Cadia. A little editor's note at the end of the final installment teased readers to be on the lookout for Veterans of the Fall, "coming soon" from the Black Library.

It may have taken its time arriving, but u/Hasvik212 turned this one up as well. While it's billed as a novel, it seems more like a linked collection of related stories (a new novella, the five-part serial Tatters of Hope, and the previously-released Tattershield). While another "fix-up" in the vein of Ghost Maker or William King's Trollslayer is pretty unlikely, I'm curious to see more about this one.

Image credit: Games Workshop

Up for Preorder

Just one this week, but it's a nice one! Rich McCormick's Zardu Layak: The Crimson Apostle is finally landing, and it's being released in a Special Edition as well as the standard hardcover.

It looks lovely, and if I'm being honest the Word Bearers section of the Museum isn't spoiled for tons of choice when it comes to shelf candy, so it's an easy pickup. However, I've grown increasingly of the opinion that author commentary- either an introduction or an afterword- should be standard-issue for books that are priced close to double of the regular release. I'm all for the added trim, but by miles my favorite part of deluxe editions is seeing the author's thoughts on the book or character.

Then again, just because it's not noted in the Sunday Preview doesn't mean it's not there, as we've seen before. We'll just have to wait for the book to find out!

Image credit: Games Workshop

Sharing a Six-Pack with… Dale Lucas

While fantasy-only writers tend to be in the minority in the Black Library, they have continued to do terrific work in building up the Age of Sigmar setting through their stories. Dale Lucas is one such writer, and his most recent work was the terrific Ushoran: Mortarch of Delusion (reviewed here).

He's joined us this week for the Six Pack, our occasional feature where writers share a half-dozen book recommendations. Maybe something for your next read, or TBR pile?

Three Black Library Books He’d Recommend…

Image credit: Games Workshop

Soul Wars, by Joshua Reynolds. "Probably my favorite Age of Sigmar novel, balancing spectacle, thematic richness, and character work into a whole that’s thrilling, moving, and supremely satisfying."

Image credit: Games Workshop

Dark Harvest, by Joshua Reynolds. "Reynolds’ penchant for atmosphere is on display in this spooky offering from the Warhammer Horror imprint. Though I read and write all sorts of fantasy, sci fi and horror, horror is my first love. So, a haunting, fog-shrouded tale like this one was destined to ring my bells."

Image credit: Games Workshop

Strong Bones, by Michael R. Fletcher. "One of the toughest things in a high fantasy setting like the Mortal Realms is figuring out what creatures and characters of immense power might fear, or be vulnerable to. Fletcher’s Strong Bones is a short story about what the Ogor Mawtribes might fear- and it’s gloriously macabre."

Two Non-Black Library Books He’d Recommend…

Image credit: William Morrow Paperbacks

Declare, by Tim Powers. Powers’ specialty is a very particular sort of historical fantasy. He starts from the assumption that known facts and known history are immutable, then proceeds to tell tales about supernatural forces and dark powers operating behind what we all think we know. Declare is a John le Carre-esque Cold War spy thriller about djinn and Noah’s Ark, and one of my favorite books. I re-read it every few years to remind myself what excellence looks like.

Image credit: Gollancz

Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser stories by Fritz Leiber. "Most fantasy fans know the cornerstone works by Tolkien and Howard, but Leiber’s series of stories about a hulking barbarian and his lithe little partner in crime are some of the best sword and sorcery in existence. Leiber packs more texture, atmosphere, action, and character into his short stories than some full-sized fantasy novels."

And Finally, One of His Own Books He’d Recommend…

Image credit: Orbit

The Fifth Ward: First Watch. "My first major publication: a cop buddy crime thriller set in a fantasy city teeming with humans, orcs, elves, and dwarves. I wanted to meld the buddy cop action movies I grew up watching with the sort of grounded sword and sorcery I love and tell a story about everyday heroes just trying to make a living instead of Dark Lords or prophesied Apocalypses."

Classics old and new, this is terrific stuff. Thanks, Dale!

Image credit: Adrian Southin

Welcome to the Club!

Like videos of soldiers coming home and surprising their kids or shelfies from new Black Library readers excited at how they're displaying their burgeoning collection, Black Library writers get excited about being published is something I'll never tire of seeing.

Here's Adrian Southin, whose novella The Best Laid Schemes hit the shelves this past weekend as part of the Grombrindal: The Legend of the White Dwarf anthology:

Contributing to the story of Warhammer is always a humbling experience, but being asked to create something centering a character with as much history, mystique, and prominence as THE White Dwarf still feels a bit stunning, and tying it to "Da Stink of Defeat" even more so.

One of the true joys of publishing in an anthology is getting to see all of the writers whose work my is appearing alongside, writers whose work I've read, listened to and played for years.

As ever, working with the editors at Black Library was an absolute treat. Their diligent, thoughtful feedback was so impactful in shaping this story. I cannot thank them enough!

And to anyone who's already picked up a copy or is thinking about it, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it—but hopefully it takes you a few less coffees to get through 😋

Congratulations, Adrian, I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to read it!

ICYMI

The big release this weekend was the next installment in our Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame project, which saw an incredible six books from the first half of 2006 get inducted. I mean, it's the start of the Horus Heresy, so it checks out, right?

We've got some big changes coming to the format in terms of how we're structuring the coverage, so while it means more voting in each installment it also means we're gonna cover ground a lot faster too.

Meanwhile, Contemptor Kevin dove into the lore and narrative elements of the upcoming Eye of Terror: Reign of Iron release for the tabletop. Like the previous releases in this series, 500 Worlds and The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant, these are absolutely bursting with fluff, and it's a terrific roundup of what lies within. Honestly, they had me at "Night Lords-controlled planet."

Over at WARCOM, the Pages from the Black Books series continued with content around the Thousand Sons, and there was a lore piece explaining a bit of what's been going on with the surprisingly-sprightly Commissar Yarrick.

Finally, not to be missed: the Warhammer 40,000 musical.

Around the webway, the Fluffenhammer crew has started up their own Book Club and launched it in fine style, taking a look at the immortal Horus Rising. In their Warhammer Monthly issue-by-issue deep dive they're up to #24, as Inquisitor comes to a close. There's also a great deal of appreciation for artist Karl Kopinski, so check it out.

Speaking of Warhammer Book Clubs, make sure to check out Jen and Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame Committee member Keri of the WH40K Book Club, as they've just dropped their review of David Annandale's Apostle.

Image credit: Earache Records

Quick Hits

Writers grappling with the consequences of artificial intelligence is an area of continuing concern (see this from a year ago, for example). Bram Stoker Award-winner Tim Waggoner (Skin Man) shared some thoughts on how horror writers can prevail against AI-generated fiction that's well worth a read.
The British national science fiction convention (aka EasterCon) was held this past weekend in Birmingham. Amongst the many luminaries present and presenting was Mike Brooks (Voidscarred, Lelith Hesperax). Not only was he part of a panel called "Bisexuality and Boundary Crossing: Liminal Sexualities and Genres" but he also DJ'ed the disco!
Earache Records has released a seven-LP vinyl box set of the band Bolt Thrower. The band, active from 1986-2016, had a relationship with Games Workshop and featured both Warhammer art and content in their songs.
John Sollitto shared that his upcoming fantasy novel, Scholarguard, has received its final front and back cover art!

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

Hive, by Dan Abnett
Rynn's World, by Steve Parker (Special Edition)
Veterans of the Fall, by William Crowe
World Ablaze, by various
Da Freebooterz Code by Justin Woolley
Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh! (Illustrated and Annotated Edition), by Nate Crowley

Current PODs in Production

Era of Ruin, by various (POD Special Edition, window end 12/24)
Anarch, by Dan Abnett (POD hardcover, window end 1/12)
Blood Pact, by Dan Abnett (POD hardcover, window end 1/12)
Salvation’s Reach, by Dan Abnett (POD hardcover, window end 1/12)
The Warmaster, by Dan Abnett (POD hardcover, window end 1/12)

Upcoming in 2026

Queen of the Rose Throne, by Gary Kloster (paperback, 4/11)
Shade of Khaine, by Evan Dicken (paperback, 4/11)
Aestred Thurga: Pyre of Faith, by Danie Ware (hardcover, 4/18)
Paragon of Faith and Other Stories, by various (softcover, 4/18)
Carnage Unending, by various (paperback, 4/18)
Zardu Layak, the Crimson Apostle by Rich McCormick (Special, hardcover, 4/25)
Legends of the Waaagh!, by various (paperback, 5/19)
Yarrick: The Omnibus, by David Annandale (paperback, 5/19)
Horus Rising, by Dan Abnett (paperback, 6/2)
Tomb World, by Jonathan Beer (paperback, 6/30)
The Remnant Blade, by Mike Vincent (paperback, 6/30)
Voidscarred, by Mike Brooks (paperback, 6/30)
Krakenblood, by Marc Collins (paperback, 7/14)
Vagabond Squadron, by Robbie MacNiven (paperback, 7/14)
Starseer’s Ruin, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (paperback, 7/14)
Siege of Terra: Flames of Betrayal, by various (paperback, 7/28)
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: The Ultimate Guide (hardcover, 8/4)
Archmagos, by Guy Haley (paperback, 8/11)
The Relentless Dead, by Steve Lyons (paperback, 8/11)
Words of Waaagh!, by DK Books (hardcover, 10/1)

Footnotes

For a perfect example of this, look no further than the recent No Peace Among Stars anthology. As I discussed in my review, this was basically a compilation of Theme Weeks and featured a great deal of new talent.
In fairness, the novels of Rhuairidh James (Death Guard) and R. S. Wilt (Final Deployment) have been very recent releases. The odd one out is up-and-comer John Sollitto, who has had short stories placed in recent print anthologies Paragon of Faith and Other Stories and Death and Duty: An Astra Militarum Anthology.

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