The Black Library sale - my swag

I've been away for a few days, trekking up hills and through valleys in the Lake District, so no blogging or even sight of a computer! Here is a pic for proof.


I returned to find a nice little package waiting for me.

Black Library have had a sale so I picked up an assortment of publications. I got The Life of Sigmar, a background book for Warhammer Fantasy Battle, that tells the early story of Sigmar, founder of the Empire. In look and feel it is very similar to the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer. Most of the internal art is drawn to look like woodcuts. Very characterful.

Also for WHFB I got Darkness Rising, a background book covering the history of the Storm of Chaos campaign. This is the limited edition version (copy 123 of 300) with a silver metal cover and slip cover. It looks stunning. Both books should help fill in the background to WHFB as I get back into the game.

40k did not go ignored. Another background tome I indulged in was the Insignium Astartes. I hadn't bought this in the past because I play Blood Angels if I play Space Marines at all, and they are not a strict codex chapter. Of course, the Ultramarines get the biggest chunk of attention as they typify a codex chapter but the sections on vehicle insignia and army badges could be useful. The only problem with this book is that it is too large to fit on my shelf!

I also picked up the 40k quiz book. I can't ever imagine a time when I would want or need to read this book and I chose it on a whim. I've had a quick flick through and some of the questions are very difficult indeed - I thought it would be easy-peasy and more aimed at kids. I might post up some questions on this blog and see if anyone can get the answers.

Tales from the Dark Millennium is a collection of short stories based in the Pyrus Sector, the setting for the Sabertooth CCG. The Black Library ran a competition for authors to submit their work to be included for this volume. I entered but was rejected. I'm curious to see how the winners fared. Besides there are stories by Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill, and they are always worth reading.

There is a book set on Necromunda, Cardinal Crimson. I thought this book might be intriguing because I am trying to develop the background for my own hive city, Kaerlund. I wonder if these books are different in feel and scope to the more mainstream 40k fiction. I want my own corner of the 40k universe not to be totally driven by world shattering conflicts, but instead to delve a little more deeply into the rich background.

Blind is the third Shira Calpurnia book by Matthew Farrer and is probably the novel I am most looking forward to reading. The first two were very interesting for the reasons I gave above. The previous books did not deal with soldiers and wars but were slightly lower key, dealing with the Adeptus Arbites and other non-combatant organisations. I get the feeling with these books that half of their function is simply to examine the 40k background in more detail, and Farrer's books so far have done that.

Well, that little lot should keep me out of mischief for quite some time. Expect reviews as and when.