Ultramarines and Assault on Black Reach

It looks like the cat is pretty much out of the bag on this now, so I might as well come out and say that the mini-book project I mentioned in a previous post about the Ultramarines is actually Assault on Black Reach: The Novel.

This seminal battle in the Ultramarines' glorious history pits the legendary Captain Sicarius of 2nd Company against the Ork Warlord Zanzag, as they fight for the fate of Black Reach. Expect to see other 'stars' of the Ultramarines in the novel, such as the Master Scout Tobias Telion and the mighty dreadnoughts, Agnathio and Ultracius. In fact, the entire 2nd Company of the Ultramarines is involved in the story, plus some battle-brothers from 1st and 10th in the Astartes task force that is sent to liberate the planet from the clutches of the greenskin scum infesting it.

I've recently finished writing the novel, which comes in at around 128 pages (but with a lower price point to match) and marks the first of several mini-book releases from Black Library. I am, of course, proud and honoured to be the first. The book has plenty of action and battles in it, as you might expect, but also has a twist or two and at its core a triumvirate of Ultramarines' sergeants, united in their devotion to the Chapter; but divided by opinion of their heroic captain. The story, in its few quiet moments, focuses on the relationship between these three sergeants: Scipio, Iulus and Praxor, and how their experiences of the fight on Black Reach changes them.

Hopefully then, as well as some great action, there'll be some thought provoking moments too. There's also a lot of stuff in there that fans might not have seen in a Space Marine novel before. There are definitely some new troop types given a run out (from the upcoming Codex: Space Marines) and the odd uniquely Space Marine 'thing' that'll add some extra background to the Emperor's finest.

Assault on Black Reach: The Novel is released on September 6th in all GW stores (UK and US for sure, with others to follow as I understand it) and will be available at UK Games Day 2008 on September 14th too.