Black Library Weekly: The Unruining of an Era

Image credit: Games Workshop

Some big news in the world of Black Library this week, and for a nice change of pace it's not come delivered in the Sunday Preview. No, indeed we've been given a Christmas reprieve by Games Workshop, not just the Black Library but across all of Warhammerdom.

But at long last- a Christmas miracle- the saga of the Era of Ruin has come to an end. And what a tale?

For those who might have missed this particular narrative arc, here's a quick recap. The Era of Ruin anthology was the concluding book in the Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra series which kicked off in 2019 with John French's The Solar War. Each were released in the usual standard editions but also in a deluxe, highly-coveted leather-covered Limited Edition.

"Highly-coveted," of course, means the scalpers smelled blood in the water, and collecting the series in Limited Edition was a bit like the Dark Souls version of collecting the Black Library. The final novel in the series, The End and the Death: Volume III by Dan Abnett had come out at the beginning of 2024, so there was a lot of anticipation for the final volume to complete the set.

This past June, it was go time. Expecting a surge of traffic, Games Workshop even set the preorder window to a special day and time. While I told the story in much greater depth here, the TLDR is that the scalpers and their bot legions flooded the zone and GW ended up almost immediately pulling the plug on the whole shebang. Fair play to them, they let the community sign up for a special notification that would update them once they decided how to go from there.

Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and not a word of the fate of Era of Ruin- until last week. Games Workshop announced that the special edition of the book would be made available on a print-on-demand (POD) basis, meaning that for the duration of the new, special ordering window (basically from now until Christmas), and that as a "guaranteed stock product" every order would be fulfilled.

The acclaim from the community was immediate, with some declaring (probably prematurely) that it might well portend the end of the era of the scalper. Certainly the lack of "preorder" listings on eBay came as little surprise, for who would order from a secondary seller at a grossly inflated price if it was still available at sticker on the GW website? The true test there will come after the preorder window is closed and those who for whatever reason missed their chance hit up the marketplace.

Image credit: Games Workshop

What Does This Mean for the Future?

One thing's for sure- with a guaranteed issue and two-week order period, there are going to be a lot fewer of those folks.

But Games Workshop doesn't give us a lot of tea leaves to read, so care must always be taken when speculating about what the future holds. That said, this latest development offers a few interesting possibilities. Let's look at a few of them.

The End of Scalping

This may be one of the move's biggest impacts. Scalping has long been a parasitical scourge on the hobby, although a robust aftermarket does offer some (usually unheralded) benefits to the consumer₁. But scalpers are only a symptom, not the cause. That award goes to the artificial product scarcity that drives up demand.

The cynical will attribute that to GW's "greed,₂" but I feel the greatest portion of motive belongs instead to risk aversion. The Black Library looms large in our collective psyche because we're highly engaged with it, but it is a niche product for the company. The last thing they want to do is overproduce and be left with inventory sitting on pallets in a warehouse somewhere.

One can argue (with merit, I believe) that GW could have leveraged its sales data to establish a more healthy quantity for the release. If a product limited to 2,500 copies sells out instantaneously, how quickly would it take to sell out if it was limited to 3,000, 3,500, or even 5,000?

To be sure, this isn't just a thermostat that GW can adjust entirely at-will. After all, if you are doubling the number of limited editions you're releasing, you need the authors to be okay with autographing twice as many limitation pages. But increasing supply was certainly an option, and by moving Era of Ruin to a POD format it is, in effect, promising an effectively unlimited number of units₃.

The End of Limitation

Could this herald the beginning of the end of limitation for deluxe edition supply? Many collectors- but by no means all- appear quite happy to sacrifice book numbering if it means a more open supply. What can we expect from the deluxe editions in the year ahead? Will they keep the traditional autograph/limitation, or eliminate those to increase the available quantity?

It's an interesting solution, precisely because it's that rare solution that actually saves Games Workshop money. Think about what we've seen them doing to combat scalping since last June. As I wrote last month, we've seen:

Increased transparency- being more open with concerns about scalpers and bots, as well as measures implemented to counter them
Increased security- a Captcha on the webstore to help thwart bots
Increased vigilance- canceling suspicious orders and returning the inventory to stock for others to order
Increased supply- Ashes of the Imperium had looked like it was going to be limited to 3,500 copies- a thousand more than expected.

The security and vigilance measures are things that increase operating costs. If GW eliminates the limitation page (with its numbering and autograph) and keeps the price the same, then we're actually being offered less at the same price.

And don't forget, those limitation pages have additional costs associated with them. I don't know if/how authors are additionally compensated for the time spent signing pages, but those pages have to be mailed to the authors, someone has to process them back at GW, they have to be placed into the books, and so forth. There's a manual component here, it's not all just magic and factory work.

Not only that, but consider the recent limitation page mishaps we've seen, such as an upside down one in Krakenblood and a missing one from Tomb World). Fielding (and resolving) customer service issues have costs as well.

From GW's perspective, delimitation may well solve more problems than it creates.

A Pilot Program?

This might be considered the "compromise" solution, which splits the difference in approaches into a two-tiered system.

The 'upper' tier might be the higher-demand titles that see such elevated scalper engagement that it threatens to put collectors off the product altogether. The Siege of Terra series would certainly qualify, and so likely would The Scouring (the new series that just kicked off with Chris Wraight's Ashes of the Imperium).

Sharp-eyed readers have noticed the introduction of the term "Premium Edition" in describing both Era of Ruin and Ashes of the Imperium. In both cases, each book has been given deluxe covers and treatments, but without the autographs or numbering that has marked the traditional Limited/Special Editions.

Could this be the genesis of a new kind of edition as a permanent option for GW going forward, with "Premium" denoting this upper-tier, delimited approach and the lower-tier being the usual (and limited) Special/Limited Edition treatments?

As with any kind of compromise, it stops short from fully satisfying every kind of collector (after all, it doesn't begin to touch distribution issues with instant-sellout, non-deluxe books like Mike Vincent's The Remnant Blade or softcover anthologies like No Peace Among Stars.

But as a split-the-baby solution it might be a way forward worth trying, which could make The Scouring something of a 'pilot program' for future consideration.

While we're in a moment of uncertainty with the path forward for the Black Library, it's worth remembering that these measures are being looked at with an aim of putting more books in more peoples' hands. Surely we can all get behind that, right?

Image credit: John Spade

Gold into Lead

One of the features of the Era of Ruin Special Edition is a 'metal decoration,' and while I've heard of few issues with such features in the Siege of Terra run, The Scouring hasn't got off to a great start.

The Black Library is not a zero-defect company₄; the occasional errors are just how these things go (blame the warp!). But we've seen a concerning number of issues with the metal decoration that's part of Ashes of the Imperium since the book released. John Spade- who supplied the above pic- is actually one of the luckier ones, since his medallion was entirely detached and he can glue it back on with relative ease. More common are errors of alignment, where the medallion rotated on the cover before the glue dried. If you want to correct that, you'll need to pry it off first.

The good news, at least, is that as a delimited product, Games Workshop has a lot more leeway in issuing replacements should the matter rise to that level of redress.

Screenshot

"Worth Beyond Question"

Fans of the Emperor's Children rejoice! Displate has unveiled its next limited-edition offering and it's none other than Fulgrim. This is the fourth limited edition, behind the Emperor, Titus, and most recently Sanguinius.

I reviewed the Sanguinius one here, and while pricey I found them to be high-quality and very nicely done. There's about 40 days left in the order window, but they're limited to 1,500 copies. Scalpers are hip to the flip on these too, so if this is something you're keen for I wouldn't wait for Santa.

Image credit: Mohamed Abouzayed

Other Reveals

Digging in online retailer sites is a bit like magnet fishing- usually you'll get the same old stuff, but every once in awhile you'll land a real treasure. Friend of the show Mohamed Abouzayed of the Black Library Nutters Facebook Group and Black Library subreddit all-star u/Equivalent_Fun_4825 win this week's Eagle Eye Award for finding a trio of upcoming titles in the Amazon and Blackwells engines.

June's release of Dan Abnett's Horus Heresy is intriguing, because of that price point, listed at USD $22 is a far ways off from the usual mass market paperback pricing we've been accustomed to ($10). The timing is also interesting given the recent announcement of the Horus Heresy Saga reprints, which will see a dozen "essential reads" reprinted in hardcover format. Undoubtedly we'll learn more as we get closer to launch.

Yarrick: The Omnibus is just another printing of David Annandale's novels Imperial Creed and The Pyres of Armageddon, the novella Chains of Golgotha, and six Yarrick short stories. Note that this is the same content published recently as in the Yarrick: The Box Set release as well as in previous Omnibus editions, but it's always good to see "evergreen" collections readily available.

Finally, Legends of the Waaagh! is an interesting mix of tales, all themed around the Orks. It includes I Am Slaughter by Dan Abnett, Caves of Ice by Sandy Mitchell, and- get this- Helsreach, by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

Those of you who play Magic: the Gathering will appreciate the parallel of how it feels when an expensive rare or mythic gets reprinted in an upcoming set, and Helsreach has long commanded a premium in paper on the secondary market. It's an incredible tale, and great to see it reissued here.

Incidentally, both Helsreach and Caves of Ice (the second book in the Ciaphas Cain series) are amazing in audiobook format, for those who instead enjoy listening to their reading.

They also found a slew of paperback books releasing next Summer, to make sure to scroll to the bottom to find all the latest info on product releases.

Image credit: Games Workshop

Sharing a Six-Pack With...Evan Dicken!

Author Evan Dicken is something of a rare bird in the Black Library, a fantasy writer whose quill has been inked entirely in service to the Age of Sigmar setting. When I sit down to consider my big takeaways from 2025, "AoS Kicks More Ass than I Thought" will most certainly be one of them. Starting with a chance dabble on Gary Kloster's Skaventide, I've gone from being a wool-dyed 40K fan to someone who eagerly enjoys the books of both properties.

Just this year I ended up reviewing Ushoran, Mortarch of Delusion by Dale Lucas (here), the anthology On the Shoulders of Giants and Other Stories (here), the Raiders of the Realms eShort subscription week (here), Chris Thursten's Abraxia, Spear of the Everchosen (here), Starseer's Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky (review coming up), and last- but most certainly not least- Evan's own Shade of Khaine (here).

Now Evan's here with a few book reviews of his own- Age of Sigmar readers (and those wanting to explore this incredibly rich setting) take note!

Three Black Library Books He’d Recommend…

Image credit: Games Workshop

Skavenslayer, by William King. "While Trollslayer will always hold a special place in my heart, I feel like Gotrek and Felix really come into their own in the second book of the series. It’s a classic adventure yarn where our heroes take a job as sewer jacks and soon find themselves up to their elbows in skaven as they discover a plot to destroy Nuln. Bonus points for the first appearance of the pair’s long-running archnemesis, Grey Seer Thanquol!" (Note: Skavenslayer also was recently inducted into our Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame here!).

Image credit: Games Workshop

Godeater’s Son, by Noah Van Nguyen. "I love a good fall-to-Chaos story, and this is one of the best. While the characters and set pieces are top-notch, it’s honestly the descriptions of the Mortal Realms (Aqshy in particular) that stick with me. Van Nguyen’s prose often verges on the poetic, and I’ve often found myself reading passages over and over just to enjoy the language. Simply aspirational."

Image credit: Games Workshop

On the Shoulders of Giants and Other Tales, by various authors. "Okay, I know this isn’t a proper novel; but whenever someone asks me where to start with AoS, I always end up pointing them to an anthology. And this is truly this is one of the best, especially if you love Cities of Sigmar (like I do). While I enjoyed every piece, the standouts for me were Anna Stephens’ linked stories of danger and loss, and Adrian Tchaikovsky’s titular tale that proves, once again, why he is simply one of the best AoS (and fantasy) authors around."

Two Non-Black Library Books He’d Recommend…

Image credit: Head of Zeus

The City of Last Chances, by Adrian Tchaikovsky. "Tchaikovsky breathes compelling life into the old friction between sorcery and science. Set in an occupied city chafing under the yoke of philosopher tyrants, we’re given a double-fistful of compelling characters. I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a dense novel. With over a dozen interwoven PoV characters it requires a level of attention akin to Game of Thrones. But I would also be lying if I said it wasn’t well worth the effort." (Editor's note: if you're keen on more Tchaikovsky- and you absolutely should be- check out this Humble bundle!)

Image credit: Del Rey

The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett. "A dire and delightful tale of an investigator’s assistant trying to solve a magical murder in a world where eldritch kaiju occasionally drag themselves from the sea to wreak havoc on civilization. Bennett’s characters are by turns hilarious and tragic, but always wholly human."

Image credit: Games Workshop

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

Shade of Khaine. "I’ve been a fan of the Gotrek novels for about as long as I can remember, so it was a true pleasure to be able to add to the canon, even obliquely. Although the Slayer doesn’t make an appearance, it was fun to dig into Maleneth’s backstory. Also, I’ve always been a sucker for stories where a bunch of bad people have to band together to defeat someone even worse." (Editor's note: This book is a finalist for my AoS Book of the Year. It's also a terrific 'point of entry' into the setting for those who are looking to explore Age of Sigmar).

Thanks Evan, looking forward to your next visit to the Mortal Realms!

Image credit: Victoria Hayward

Guess Who: Black Library Edition

Look, I enjoy living in Kentucky and all, but I never walk into my local Warhammer store and find a baker's dozen of Black Library authors hanging out, signing books, and having a wonderful day chatting and connecting. Must be nice to live near Nottingham and Warhammer World, where these kinds of things actually do happen- and did this week!

How many authors can you name? See if you can beat my score (I got 10)!

Answer key:

Rob Young (Longshot, Master of Rites)
Jude Reid (Fulgrim- The Perfect Son, Morvenn Vahl: Spear of Faith)
Rob Rath (Assassinorum: Kingmaker, The Infinite and the Divine)
Noah Van Nguyen (Godeater's Son, Elemental Council)
Gav Thorpe (Angels of Caliban, Malekith)
John French (Dropsite Massacre, Ahriman: Exile)
Rich McCormick (Renegades: Lord of Excess, Knife Fight)
Victoria Hayward (Deathworlder, Nightsider Imperialis)
Jonathan Beer (Tomb World, Dominion Genesis)
Marc Collins (Krakenblood, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer)
Mike Vincent (Blades of Atrocity, The Remnant Blade)
Robbie MacNiven (Vagabond Squadron, Oaths of Damnation)
Mike Brooks (Voidscarred, Lelith Hesperax)

Image credit: Cubicle 7 Games

RPG Corner

Cubicle 7 Games, the current licensee for the Warhammer world of role-playing games, will be releasing new Adeptus Mechanicus-based sourcebooks for its Imperium Maledictum game system.

This will follow the recent Inquisition-based model, with a Player's Guide, a GM's Guide, and both collected in a Collector's Edition with special treatment and a slipcase.

ICYMI

Lots of happenings this week in the Black Library coverage!

First, I wrote a colossal piece on how to get started collecting the Black Library. This is a very common question in the collector communities, and I wanted to be able to provide guidance that I wish that I'd had when I got started all that time ago. Things I cover include:

Planning your library to stretch your budget
Learning what things cost
How books are released
Best ways to build up your library
How to successfully navigate the online preorder sweepstakes
Tips for buying on the secondary market- and avoid getting scammed
Taking care of your books for the long term

Make sure to check it out!

Next, we had the latest installment of our ongoing Black Library Readers' Hall of Fame series. Make sure to see what books from 2001 made it into the Hall- and vote for the books of 2002!

Finally, our Lore Friday book review? The latest from Guy Haley's Belisarius Cawl portrayal in Archmagos. Hell yeah!

Around the web, we didn't have a lot last week so unsurprisingly there's plenty to see this week!

Filmdeg Miniatures had -Y">a terrific interview with visionary Alan Merritt about the visualization of the Horus Heresy. Arbiter Ian and Mira Manga's Warhammer Book Club ">take a look at the Horus Heresy anthology Shadows of Treachery.

Plenty to keep you busy on a week without any preorders!

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

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)
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)
The Remnant Blade, by Mike Vincent (paperback, 7/2)
Tomb World, by Jonathan Beer (paperback, 7/2)
Voidscarred, by Mike Brooks (paperback, 7/2)
Krakenblood, by Marc Collins (paperback, 7/16)
Vagabond Squadron, by Robbie MacNiven (paperback, 7/16)
Siege of Terra: Flames of Betrayal, by James Swallow (paperback, 7/30)

Footnotes

These usually come in two forms. One is availability, the ability to acquire product you desire in good condition long after it's disappeared from primary market sources. Yes, you have to pay a premium, but that's how the market is sustained. The second benefit comes if you ever need to liquidate your collection, where high aftermarket prices can bring you a higher return. Yes, profit motive is exactly what drives the scalpers too- I didn't say it was a benefit without consequence- but life often throws us curveballs (the loss of a job, a colossal medical bill, a new baby) that we must reluctantly offer up our hobbies on the altar to. For those of us who have heavily invested time and treasure into collecting, the market price is likely to be well in excess of the retail price of our collections.
I'm not going to go full Gordon "Greed is Good" Gekko here, but I generally prefer not to pontificate about consumer pricing on luxury goods. There's a lot of complexity and a lot of nuance involved. If GW was purely motivated by "greed" (a state of being above and beyond the existential profit motive that must drive all commercial enterprises who wish to keep the lights on) then we could certainly see them respond to instant-sellouts of premium products by simply adjusting price upwards until a more favorable equilibrium is obtained. Is there anyone who thinks Limited Editions wouldn't sell out if they were raised from $75 to $100 apiece and GW banked another $62,500 per release?
As an anthology, author autographs was never a consideration for Era of Ruin because even in its original incarnation in June it was not going to feature any.
Nor would you want it to be, unless you enjoy adding another '0' onto the end of the pricetag for your books. Leave that to healthcare, aerospace, and defense.

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Tags: black library | black library weekly | evan dicken