Robbie MacNiven's Blog, page 6
December 19, 2015
QUICK REVIEW : A Song for the Lost – Robbie MacNiven
Another very kind review of one of my latest works from Track of Words.
It’s halfway to Christmas and time for the thirteenth story in the 2015 Black Library Advent Calendar – A Song for the Lost by Robbie MacNiven. Ulix, a young Ecclesiarchy novitiate, suffers under the harsh regime of his zealous bishop, taking refuge in the comfort provided by the mysterious Sister D’Fey. While his fellow novitiates shy away in fear he seeks out her company in the darkness, unwittingly ingratiating himself with something far beyond what he realises. The innocent actions of a young boy prove to have far reaching consequences, for Ulix and the Imperium at large.
This continues the high standard MacNiven set with his first story, Redblade, once again creating a believable, relatable character that forms the core of the tale. It’s a more complex narrative than Redblade, but still maintains a good pace as the action shifts and the focus widens, turning into an ambitious story…
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December 15, 2015
Blood and Iron
Following on hard and fast from the release of my second short story for Black Library on Sunday comes number three – Blood and Iron, featuring the nefarious schemes of a Warpsmith belonging to everyone’s favourite Traitor Legion, the Iron Warriors. Link to the e-book here and the blurb below!
Ferrix, an Iron Warriors warpsmith on the corrupted forge world of Dementius, has his sights set on the most powerful fusion of daemon and machine he has yet attempted, seeking to unleash the violence of Khorne through the ultimate weapon. Blood and Iron chronicles an audacious plan to install a daemonic essence in the mightiest of destructive machines: a corrupted Imperial Titan.
December 14, 2015
A Song for the Lost is Out
My second short story as a professional freelancer went live yesterday, via the Black Library. Fans of the origional grimdark setting that is Warhammer 40,000 can expect Noise Marines, the corruption of innocence and some Eldar-torture (it wouldn’t be a Slaaneshi story without it, right?). The official, Inquisitorially sanctioned blurb is below!
In the Basilica of Himaeus the Justicar, nursing his latest beating from Bishop Eziah, young Ulix waits for Sister D’Fey to come and sing to him the only song that can ease his pain. He knows not why the other boys in the dorm hate her presence – nor does he care. When she sings the Song for the Lost, all his fears are soothed. As her voice lulls him to sleep, he cannot know that in his desire to escape the hardships of his life, he walks a path to an even darker future.
It’s a tale of mystery and intrigue in the heart of an Imperial temple that turns into something quite different – and very dangerous. Dark and twisted, to say anything else would give it away completely.
December 2, 2015
QUICK REVIEW : Redblade – Robbie MacNiven
For the fourth short story in the ongoing Deathwatch serial we get the first tale from a new Black Library author, in the shape of Redblade by Robbie MacNiven. It sees young Space Wolf Drenn, or Redblade as he prefers to be known, recently attached to a Blood Claws pack and railing against the cautious leadership of his older pack leader. Reckless and arrogant, he butts heads with his superior even while defending a floating refinery platform from waves of orks, while members of the inscrutable Deathwatch look on.
It’s a great start from a new author, with a fresh, interesting idea that feels quite different from the usual Deathwatch style, focusing as it does on the actions of a Space Marine before he joins, unaware that he’s being judged for suitability. Crucially for a short story with limited space the characters feel really believable, Redblade in particular reflecting the…
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December 1, 2015
The Space Marine Namedrop Winner
Right guys and gals, if you just want the name of who won the Space Marine Chapter namedrop draw, see the paragraph below, if you want the wonderful eulogy of why homebrew chapters are great, read everything else. In the end there were just shy of a hundred entries, and they were all worthy. It’s made me sad indeed that I can only allow Fate to choose one, but she’s a cruel mistress. Maybe Black Library will give me a long enough career to mention all of them some day or another (I totally will if I can).
Anyway, the winner is John Ilchef’s Doom Griffons!
Again, commiserations to everyone else, but you never know, it might be you next time. Last time I checked there were still only 1000 Space Marine chapters in existence in the canon. I think it’s safe to say that if we added up all the so-called “non-official” successor chapters created by fans and gamers the world over I’m sure we’d have tens of thousands. Home-made chapters are one of the best examples of the creativity that people bring to the megalith that is the 40k setting. Without such creativity and passion, the universe would be only a shadow of what it is today. I’ve only just begun writing for Black Library, so it’s not difficult for me to claim I haven’t forgotten my roots as a gamer, but I hope that’s always the case. Loyalist, heretic or xenos, we’re all in this together.
The novel featuring the Doom Griffons is currently under furious construction, as is the novella sequel I’ve also been given to write. You may deride it as hype, but I feel confident in saying there are some pretty eye-opening revelations on their way. Things are coming in the warp, and 40k won’t ever quite be the same again. Look for it later next year…
November 30, 2015
The Space Marine Chapter Namedrop Draw is Almost Upon Us!
I’ll be closed to entries by 18.00 GMT tomorrow. Sometime later that evening I’ll post the glorious winner on all my social media sites. For those who still want to enter before the deadline, or who are just wondering what all the fuss is about, there’s more info here.
The reaction to this little bit of fun has exceeded my wildest expectations. I was imagining a dozen suggestions, maybe two dozen at most. Having recounted several times, we’re currently looking at 85 possible winners. The level of general interest has also be huge, at least compared to the stuff I usually discuss on this blog. Just check the stats from yesterday – normally I get like 8 views a day on here, average. However on the 29th…
I think it shows just how creative the Games Workshop fanbase is when so many people have put so much time and effort into enriching the 40k universe. It’s an oft-repeated slogan, but it really is more than just a hobby.
November 28, 2015
November 25, 2015
Get your Space Marine Chapter Enshrined in the Lore!
On second thought who’d actually want to join this technicolour-blind lot?
Greetings all! It’s been an incredibly busy month here in Robbie’s Land. Regular followers will know that it’s still full steam ahead on the subject of my History PhD (as it likely will be for the next three years). On top of that I’m happy to say that after publishing my first pro short story last month, Black Library have given me a slew of fresh projects to work on. No less than three new shorts will be appearing beginning in December and, even more excitingly, I’ve just started work on a novel commission.
At the moment it’s understandably all hush-hush, but suffice to say the characters they’re letting me play with are fan favourites, and it’s an honour to get to write about them.
I don’t think I’ll be breaking any non disclosure forms by admitting, however, that a Space Marine chapter will at least be mentioned over the course of this mystery novel. Which chapter will that be, you 40k aficionados ask? Well, actually, I’ve decided to leave that up to you.
As a bit of fun I thought I’d let folks suggest their own chapter names for the possible prize of being name-dropped in a 40k novel. Unfortunately it’d be just that, a name-drop with no wider background or context, though if you really want to send me all your homebrew lore then feel free. I just can’t promise I’ll read it (believe it or not, writing for the mighty setting that is Warhammer 40,000 actually requires research, even for a fanboy of sixteen years standing such as myself. Between that and PhD readings, my sleep pattern isn’t looking great at the moment).
How will I choose the winning chapter in the possibly unlikely event that I actually get more than one submission? Answer; imma stick them all in a hat (actually a plastic costume-shop picklehaube) and pick one out. No guarantees, and yes I’ll be having the savant-cogitator eliminate quirky entries, so no Angry Marines (the blessings of Him on Earth be upon them though). To submit just send your chapter name either in a comment on this post, tweet me at @RobbieMacNiven or message the Robbie MacNiven Facebook author page here. Or my brand spanking new 40k-based tumblr. Whatever. Any follows/likes ect will also be appreciated and will guarantee your suggested name actually makes it into the picklehaulb (No! No corruption!).
Happy naming, battle-brothers and sisters!
November 13, 2015
It’s a fine thing to find yourself added to the Wiki arti...
It’s a fine thing to find yourself added to the Wiki article of Games Workshop authors. Shoutout to Proteus77, whoever you are, you mysterious editor.
