With the end of the Horus Heresy, what next for the Black Library?
Last year, we reached the End and the Death of the Horus Heresy series: a fitting capstone to a monumental series. I read Horus Rising back as a teenager on release and in the time that the series took to reach its conclusion I've lived the majority of my adult life. Now, at last, the ink is dry and the final chapter closed on this grand saga of 40k's origins.
But time and commercial content wait for no man. And so, we must ask:
What comes next..?
There are a myriad of ongoing stories in the 40k canon, of course, many of them also lengthy sagas in their own right, but what I'm concerned with here is what series could arise to claim the crown of the Heresy. What series could fill the void left by the epic tale of the fall and fall of Horus Lupercal, that has underwritten the success of the Black Library for nearly two decades?
Here's five guesses from me as to what might be the next big thing for the Black Library.
The next historical event: The Scouring
If we’re thinking purely chronologically, the next big event in the 40k timeline is the Scouring, as the loyalist legions hound the now fragmented traitor legions into the eye of terror, while coming to terms with the death of their liege lord and the growth of the imperial cult.
The Iron Warriors battling the Imperial Fists, the fall and rebirth of the Sons of Horus into the Black Legion, the growth of the Imperial Cult: there is a rich seam of history here to be mined. Perhaps this series might be hampered by being almost too similar in tone to the Horus Heresy, given its chronological proximity to that series, but nevertheless: the Scouring is a ready made progression if the editors of the Black Library want to continue their grandest story.
The next Imperium Civil War: The Age of Apostasy
Another strong contender is a series concering the War of the Apostasy. Set in the 36th millenium, this period saw another huge civil war split the imperium as High Lord Goge Vandire set himself up as defacto ruler of mankind through his command of the Administratum and the Ecclesiarchy.
A series set during the Reign of Blood and the following Plague of Disbelief that ravaged mankind during this time would do a good job of bridging the eras of 30k and 40k. Themes of religious conflict, political intrigue and the dangers of one man holding too much power unchecked - central tenants that persist into modern 40k - make this civil war a prescient primer for the lore of 40k, while being quite a different prospect to the all-out horror of the Horus Heresy. Moreover, the period is rich with characters like Sebastian Thor, Goge Vandire and particularly Alicia Dominica of the Brides of the Emperor that can entice newer readers into the setting in the way Gavriel Loken did for the Heresy.
"Themes of religious conflict, political intrigue and the dangers of one man holding too much power unchecked make this civil war a prescient primer for the lore of 40k."
Plus, Leutin thinks it should be the next big thing. And that's got to count for something, right?
Looking backward - the Emperor and 40k's deep past
But what if the next big thing looked even further back..?
Perhaps a series could follow the Emperor on his millenia-long journey to become the Master of Mankind. While it would be interesting to see how the Emperor grew into the aloof god we meet at the start of the Horus Heresy and certainly to shine a light on his relationship with Malcador, I’m more in favour of keeping the Emperor’s past a mystery, as much as possible.
Nevertheless, a series centered on the Unification Wars could be a way to delve into the pre-Imperium history of 40k, whilst keeping some of its deepest secrets obscure. A major series perhaps focusing on the role of the Thunder Warriors in unifying Terra and their ultimate betrayal by the Custodes and proto-Space Marines could make for a suitably tragic saga.
Looking further back, a series could take us back into the end of the Age of Technology and the time of the Age of Strife. A high-concept, more traditional high sci-fi universe crumbling under the weight of an apocalyptic civil war between the Men of Gold, Stone and Iron could be epic in every sense of the word. There are enough references to that time that persist in 40k that readers might still be able to find some familiarity among the chaos. Likewise, events such as the burgeoning fall of the Aeldari and the birth of the Kin of the Votann would be incredible fodder for a series – if handled correctly.
"A high-concept, high sci-fi universe crumbling under the weight of an apocalyptic civil war between the Men of Gold, Stone and Iron could be epic in every sense of the word."
Jumping forward: what comes after the indomitus crusade.
To take the opposite track, perhaps the next major series could push the 40k timeline forward in dramatic new ways. There has been a change in the way the previously static timeline of 40k has been pushed forward in recent editions, with the return of Guilliman, the rise of the Ynnari and the machinacations of Vashtor resulting in the revival of the Lion in the last decade. The current Reign of Fire books detail the Indomitus Crusade of Guilliman, but what could come next?
It might be argued, with the latest revelations in the Bequin novels by Dan Abnett, that the groundwork for the next big narrative arc - one that could be as grand as the Heresy - is already being sewn. The ramifications of the identity of the King in Yellow alone are huge and could set the scene for a whole new chapter in the 40k narrative, if editorial decides to take on the story and run with it.
As the Primarchs are likely to keep returning, giving them a suitably dynamic story within which to strut their stuff does seem sensible. Underpinning that with a major new book series might make narrative - and commercial - sense.
Entering the Maelstrom: the Badab War
Lastly, let’s consider something a little left-field. On the face of it, the Badab War has a lot going for it: it’s got a relatively well-fleshed out chronology, some strong characters and principally concerns space marine on space marine action, which helped make the Horus Heresy so popular.
However, the biggest issue I can see with this as a potential new series is the arrival of Primaris Marines in 40k. Would GW consider opening up another time period featuring classic, "firstborn" marines to be to the detriment of their flagship line? Nevertheless, the tale of Lufgt Huron and his secession from the Imperium over tithes and treaties is quintessentially 40k, capturing the huge scale but also immense pettiness of the setting: something which maybe hasn't been felt in more recent stories.
Let me know what period of the 40k canon you'd like to see explored in Heresy-esque levels of detail in the comments below!
Until next time,
Alex
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