John French

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About John French
John French is an award winning script writer, novelist, and games designer. He has written twelve novels over a decade long career, notably the Ahriman series and Horusian Wars trilogies set in the dystopian far future of Warhammer 40,000, and five novels in the New York Times Bestselling The Horus Heresy series, most recently with The Solar War. His other work includes cosmic horror in the Lord of Nightmares Trilogy from Fantasy Flight Publishing, and detective fiction in The Last Visitor in Further Associates of Sherlock Holmes from Titan Books (writing as Stephen Henry). In 2018 he won a Scribe Award for Best Audio with the audio drama Agent of the Throne: Blood and Lies.
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Author Updates
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Blog postI have a new and lovely website! It's going to by my new home, and while there will be nothing going on here - the new place has lost of new things including articles, stories, journeys into unknown lands and mailing lists of stuff you just won't be able to read anywhere else.
Go over there now!
No really, go. There is nothing new here. Go!
1 month ago Read more -
Blog postReally excited to be announce that I am writing for the Dark Tide video game by Stockholm based Fat Shark, makers of acclaimed Vermin Tide, and Vermin Tide II. The writing team on this project is a joy, headed up by Matt Ward, its stacked with talent from Victoria Hayward to Dan Abnett, and many more.
The game is out in September 2022. The game is out in September 2022.
Go check out the trailer:
Find out more about Dark Tide here
2 months ago Read more -
Blog post'What is your advice to aspiring writers?'
Me: Read these books.
Advice is a tricky thing because it really only reflects the challenges and experiences of the person giving the advice. My experience may not be your experience and so the lessons I have learned might not match the challenges you are facing. Five bullet points just may not be the most helpful thing. But I do think there are areas that it’s helpful to know about. So, my answer to helpful advice is a list of books b3 months ago Read more -
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Blog postAhriman: Sorcerer is out in as an audio book on Audible.
Click here and get it
If you haven't got the audio book of Ahriman: Exile - the book in the Ahriman Trilogy go here to get it too.
9 months ago Read more -
Blog postTwo weeks ago (ish) I submitted myself to question by internet. Here are the all the answers:
The Horusian Wars, Inquisitors, Incarnation, and all that stuff
What (when) the heck is the Horusian War anyway?This blog post is your friend (click link).
This may be an obvious question but what drew you to the old Inquisitor characters (Covenant in particular) after all this time? Are they characters you always wanted to w4 years ago Read more -
Blog post'So you're doing a book on Inquisitors…'
'Yup.'
'Cool, but what is this Horusian War thing?'
What indeed.
Prompted by a few short stories I did last year, questions like this keep coming up. Which is great, because at the back of all authors' skulls lurks the dread that we have decided to tell a story that no one will be interested in. But, thankfully, you guys are intrigued, and the questions have made me think that I should give some kind of answer on what the Hor4 years ago Read more -
Blog post‘I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere here when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone, our voices will linger in these walls.'
Yes, that’s a modified quote from G’Kar from Babylon 5, and there are few better I could think of to sum up looking back on the fact that it is a year to the day since Alan Bligh passed4 years ago Read more -
Blog postSomehow the shelf of stuff that has my name on it has begun invading other shelvesSo, at some point in the last year, without me realising it, I crossed over into having written over a 1,000,000 words of published fiction.
This has come as a bit of a surprise. I mean, not when I think about it - objectively, it makes sense and ads up and everything.
28 vignettes, short stories, or novelletes, 4 Novellas; 10 audio dramas, 9 novels published, 2 written and coming out imma4 years ago Read more -
Blog postBook #2 of the Horusian Wars series was announced by Black Library, and I am doing a Q+A about the series here on my blog.
If you don’t know what I am talking about, Incarnation is the sequel to Resurrection and is out in July. It’s all about Inquisitors in Warhammer 40,000, and whether they can save humanity by reincarnating the God Emperor, or by creating a vessel for the dark powers of Chaos. More about that here.
And here is the cover and the blurb for Incarnation:4 years ago Read more -
Blog post'Do what you need to do. Do not cause more trouble than you solve. If you get into trouble you are on your own. Good luck.'
That is not what Inquisitor Covenant said to his new acolyte, but that is the core of Agent of the Throne. Ianthe is a former soldier, with lots of experience in killing things that are difficult to kill. After serving Covenant in front line battles, she is sent off to deal with threats that are too small for Covenant to deal with personal5 years ago Read more -
Blog postAlan Bligh - 1974 to 2017This is not something I ever wanted to write.
Alan Bligh died on the 26th of May 2017 after a brief fight with cancer.
I met Alan in 2003. I was on the edge of deciding that a career in academia was not for me, he looking for something to do after going through university as a mature student. We both answered adverts for part time mail order staff to work at Games Workshop. They employed us both, and I got both a job that lasted a couple of years,5 years ago Read more -
Blog postLight. That's what they all ask for. No matter who they are, they want light. They want to see it again. They want to feel it's warmth on their face. They want to know that - in this age of night' tyranny - light still exists.'- Azubiades the Elder
'Gods do not walk these realms. They abandoned us to the dark, and left only candle flames to comfort us.'- inscription on a wall in the city of Azyrplos
'All souls are shadows beneath the sun.'
- Lord-Castellant Arachidamia
5 years ago Read more -
Blog postThis is the second part of the Q+A I did to celebrate this blog getting over 10,000 views. You can get Part One over here.
***SPOILERS***I have tried to answer all the questions here in a way that will only mean something to people who have read the stories they concern BUTThere is still the possibility that if you have not read Praetorian of Dorn or Grey Angel, that you might consider some of the later answers as spoiling your enjoyment of reading those storie6 years ago Read more -
Blog postBack in September this blog hit 10,000 views. To celebrate I opened the fortress gates to you questions. There were... more than I anticipated. Here, at last, are the first set of answers. There are more to come.
Which scene, character, or setting (The Horus Heresy, Dark Heresy, Arkham Horror etc) have you most enjoyed writing?
Tough question. Really tough question, but... I think I have to go for this:
Disciples of the Dark Gods for the Dark Heresy RPG
6 years ago Read more -
Blog postEnoch Nos, Iron Venator
This is one of my latest conversions inspired by John Blanche's artwork, and by the Inq28 movement and Blanchitsu pages of White Dwarf. I see Enoch as roaming the rust wastes around half dead hives, hunting down rengade nobles, or anyone else that is willing to by an oath contract from his clan. Coated in grafted muscle, he is adicted to alchemical liquor that keeps his body from failing. The iron plate armour, and the contract parchments bound to it, will return to6 years ago Read more -
Blog postTo mark this blog reaching 10,000 views I am doing a Q&A.
Post your questions in the comments between now and Friday 16th, and I will blend them all together and post answers on the blog.
SPOILERS - If your question is laden with spoiler, send it to me in a message. I will answer them in a spoiler separate spoiler-unsafe post.6 years ago Read more -
Blog postAlong side Praetorian of Dorn, a short story about the Inquisition in Warhammer 40,000 sneaked out from Black Library:
http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/purity-of-ignorance.html
Quite a lot of you have fired questions at me about it already:
What are the Horusian Wars?Is that Covenant from the classic Inquisitor game?If it is Covenant, does that mean daemonhunters and factions of the Inquisition at war?Is this a one off, or the start of a series?
Well... 6 years ago Read more -
Blog postThree years ago I pitched a crazy idea of a Horus Heresy book. Now it's here, printed and in readers hands. At the moment I can name ever of person who has read it. That's about to change...Endings and beginnings.Alpha to Omega.6 years ago Read more
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Blog postWell not actually by the hundred weight. For starters I don't think you can weigh interviews... can you? Anyways, I have done a lot of interviews recently about writing, and books new and old.
Here is your handy round up:
Over on Track of Words, I delve into how I got started writing for Black Library, and the Tallarn arc of The Horus Heresy series:
I chat about my Ahriman trilogy to Kenny Lull on the Combat Phase podcast:
Gaming and Primarchs6 years ago Read more -
Blog postPrint copies of Praetorian of Dorn arrived ahead of its August release
This is not a small book. I know I should know that, because I wrote it, but there is something about a thick block of printed and bound paper that brings it home more than a word count at the bottom of a screen.
And look at that cover...
6 years ago Read more -
Blog postI did an interview with The Imperial Truth podcast, and you can listen to it now.
Click the link and you can hear me talk about working on the Horus Heresy novels, and get some behind the scenes spoilers of Tallarn: Ironclad.
http://theimperialtruth.com/interview-with-john-french/6 years ago Read more -
Blog postMore miniature painting from the dark fringes of Warhammer 40,000. Behold, the Exiled Assassin bearing a book of penance-kills on his back. This model is very much inspired by the art of John Blanche, in particular the Berserker Assassin piece done for the Inquisitor tabletop game.6 years ago Read more
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Blog postBehold the reference book pile (or should that be heap) next to my keyboard.
I love this part of a new project: finding all the bits of lore I want to highlight, and digging out ideas and deciding how they could be used on the page. In this case it's all about the Inquisition of Warhammer 40,000 in all of its shadowy glory.6 years ago Read more -
Blog postIf your not that fussed about small painted figures, or distopian sci-fantasy, look away now.
Over the last few years a creative movement has sprung up amongst miniature converters and painters. Inspired by the premise the classic Inquisitor 40k game, and the art of John Blanche, Inq28 is about exploring the depth and texture of the Warhammer 40,000 universe by creating unquie character models. Inspired by the jaw dropping work that's out there I have been doing a bit of character hacking6 years ago Read more -
Blog postThe recent obsession with Lego construction continues. I am increasingly in awe of these kits - just beautiful, and so much fun to put together.6 years ago Read more
Titles By John French
A Horus Heresy Character Series novel
Sigismund – First Captain, Emperor's Champion, the Eternal Crusader! The founder of the Black Templars was many things, and this novel brings him to life as never before.
READ IT BECAUSE
Get a rare glimpse into the mortal life of one of the greatest champions of the Space Marines, before they were recruited. Sigismund’s beliefs would light a fire that still rages 10,000 years later.
THE STORY
The Great Crusade is ending. The Emperor has returned to Terra, while Horus remains among the stars to complete the unification of humanity.
As the Imperial armies fight the final battles of the age, Remembrancer Solomon Voss seeks the answer to one question – why does Sigismund, First Captain of the Imperial Fists and greatest champion of the Legions, believe that war will not end?
Granted a rare audience with the master of the Templars, the answer takes Voss on a revelatory journey to a time before Sigismund became a Space Marine, through his first battles and oaths to the bitterest duels between Legions.
Written by John French
Book 5 of the Siege of Terra
After a series of victories, the Imperial forces are on the back foot once more. The power of Chaos is rising, the Traitors gain ground, and all hope seems lost. Can Terra endure?
READ IT BECAUSE
Delve back into the biggest war in Imperial history, which is getting even bigger as Traitor Titans land and the influence of the warp grows, plaguing the defenders in all sorts of vile ways.
THE STORY
The victories of Saturnine and the sacrifices of the Eternity Wall space port have faded into the hope of yesterday. Denied but not defeated, the Traitors intensify their assault on the Imperial Palace. With the principal space ports in Horus’ hands, the Warmaster now drains the heavens of his reserves.
As the pressure of the assault increases, the power of Chaos waxes. The waking lives of the defenders are filled with despair, while their dreams pull them in search of a false paradise. As the fabric of the defences fails and the will of those who stand on them cracks, Horus commands the Titans of the Legio Mortis to breach the walls. Against them stands the might of Mercury Wall and the strength of the Legio Ignatum. Ancient rivals, the god-engines of both Legions meet in battle, while within the walls a few desperate individuals seek a way to turn back the tide of the warp’s malign influence. Across Terra, lost warriors and travellers make their way through wastelands and gardens of horror, towards home and an unknown future.
Written by John French
The Siege of Terra Book 1
After years of devastating war, Horus and his forces have arrived at Terra. But before they can set foot on the Throneworld, they must first break the defences of the Sol System. Powerful fleets and cunning defences bar their path – but can anything hope to halt the advance of the Traitor armada?
READ IT BECAUSE
The final act of the long-running, bestselling series starts here, with a brutal and uncompromising look at the first stage of the Siege of Terra, the war to conquer the solar system. Armies will fall, heroes will rise and legends will be written…
THE STORY
After seven years of bitter war, the end has come at last for the conflict known infamously as the Horus Heresy. Terra now lies within the Warmaster’s sights, the Throneworld and the seat of his father’s rule. Horus’ desire is nothing less than the death of the Emperor of Mankind and the utter subjugation of the Imperium. He has become the ascendant vessel of Chaos, and amassed a terrible army with which to enact his will and vengeance. But the way to the Throne will be hard as the primarch Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian and protector of Terra, marshals the defences. First and foremost, Horus must challenge the might of the Sol System itself and the many fleets and bulwarks arrayed there. To gain even a foothold on Terran soil, he must first contend the Solar War. Thus the first stage of the greatest conflict in the history of all mankind begins.
Written by John French
After the betrayal at Isstvan, Horus begins his campaign against the Emperor, a galaxy-wide war that can lead only to Terra. But the road to the final confrontation between father and son is a long one – seven years filled with secrecy and silence, plans and foundations being formed across distant stars. An unknown history is about to be unveiled as light is shed on the darkest years of the Horus Heresy, and revelations will surface that will shake the Imperium to its very foundation... Age of Darkness enters a new chapter of the epic Horus Heresy story, and features stories from some of the Black Library’s best-known authors, including Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill, James Swallow and Aaron-Dembski Bowden.
Read it because
The first phase of the over, and the Age of Darkness begins. These tales show the state of the galaxy as war engulfs it and lay hints to what is to come.
The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.
From the battlefields of Phall and Isstvan, to the haunted shadows of Terra itself – the greatest war in the history of mankind rages on. While the traitor Legions continue their campaign of terror across the galaxy, preparations are made for the defence of the Imperial Palace and the final, inevitable reckoning that must yet come between Horus and the Emperor... This anthology spans the entire Horus Heresy, with short stories from Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Gav Thorpe, as well as two brand new novella-length tales. Learn the fate of Rogal Dorn’s fleet originally sent to Isstvan III in ‘The Crimson Fist’ by John French, and descend deeper into the darkness of the Night Lords Legion in ‘Prince of Crows’ by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.
Read it because
This anthology spans the entire Horus Heresy, with short stories from Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Gav Thorpe, as well as two brand new novella-length tales. Learn the fate of Rogal Dorn's fleet originally sent to Isstvan III and descend deeper into the darkness of the Night Lords Legion.
The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.
The name Ahriman has lived in infamy ever since the galactic war of the Horus Heresy. The greatest sorcerer of the Thousand Sons, and protege to the primarch Magnus the Red, Ahriman’s deepest aw is hubris. His mistaken belief in casting the Rubric to cure his Legion of their curse has seen him exiled. Though spurned by his kin, Ahriman has not given up on his quest to restore his brothers from the eshless husks they have become and will brave the worst horrors of the galaxy, and the Eye of Terror itself to obtain the knowledge to achieve it. For to bring about salvation, Ahriman must risk his own further damnation and the wrath of his primarch
Read it because
It’s an epic saga of grand ambition that pits one of Warhammer 40,000’s greatest antiheroes against, well, pretty much the entire galaxy, including Space Marines, the Inquisition and his own brothers. Oh yeah, and the primarch Magnus the Red makes a significant appearance…
Only from out of great conflict can true heroes arise. With the galaxy aflame and war on an unimaginable scale tearing the Imperium apart, champions of light and darkness venture onto countless fields of battle in service to their masters. They ask not for remembrance or reward – simply to meet their destiny head-on, and only by embracing that destiny will they come to learn what the unseen future may yet hold for them...
This Horus Heresy anthology contains eighteen short stories by authors such as Graham McNeill, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Nick Kyme and many more. Also, Chris Wraight’s acclaimed novella ‘Brotherhood of the Storm’ delves into the nature of the elusive White Scars Legion, and their questionable sense of duty to the Emperor.
Read it because
This Horus Heresy anthology contains eighteen short stories by authors such as Graham McNeill, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Nick Kyme and many more. Also, Chris Wraight’s acclaimed novella Brotherhood of the Storm delves into the nature of the elusive White Scars Legion, and their questionable sense of duty to the Emperor.
Recalled from the Great Crusade after Ullanor, Rogal Dorn and the VIIth Legion were appointed as the Emperor’s praetorians – but only after the Warmaster’s treachery was revealed did the full extent of that sacred duty become apparent. Now, the Solar System comes under attack for the first time since the war began, and many of the seemingly impregnable defences wrought by the Imperial Fists prove inadequate. With all eyes fixed firmly upon this new threat beyond the gates of Terra, who in turn will protect Dorn from the enemy within?
Read it because
At last, Rogal Dorn and the VII Legion take centre stage in a Horus Heresy novel! And it's a doozy, as the assault on the Solar System begins. Or does it?
The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.
After a long and gruelling conflict, the traitors at last close upon Terra. But time is dwindling for an attack. Both Guilliman and the Lion are returning with all haste, and their armies could turn the tide. The hosts of the Warmaster must unite, for only then can they attack the Throneworld itself. While Mortarion is sent on ahead as the fleet’s vanguard, it falls to Lorgar and Perturabo to marshal Fulgrim and Angron, both now elevated to daemonhood and perhaps beyond even the will of the Warmaster to command. But Horus lies wounded and as the greatest battle the galaxy has ever know looms, it is up to Maloghurst to hold his fractious Legion together and to wrench Horus himself from the edge of oblivion.
Read It BecauseThe time is nearly here… but first, the events of Wolfsbane have left Horus in a bad way, and now we get to take a look at the inner workings of the Traitor fleet as it threatens to fall apart.
While loyalist and traitor forces clash on a thousand battlefields across the galaxy, a very different kind of war is being fought in the shadows - a war of subtlety and subterfuge, unknown to many, but one that surely holds the key to victory for either side. Rogal Dorn and his Legion prepare to defend the Solar System against the armies of the Warmaster Horus, even as Malcador the Sigillite charges his many agents and spies with missions of the utmost secrecy. The future of the Imperium is being shaped by unseen hands... This Horus Heresy anthology contains thirteen short stories by authors including James Swallow, John French, Chris Wraight and many more. Also Anthony Reynolds returns to the hallowed halls of the Imperial Palace in his novella The Purge, as we glimpse something of the Word Bearers' plans for the final assault on Terra.
Read it because
The mysterious Malcador the Sigillite and his secretive minions take centre stage in a collection of short stories – plus one novella – that expand the Horus Heresy into the darkness with thrilling tales of subterfuge and treachery, many of them in print for the first time.
The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.
The galaxy burns at Horus’s command, and a billion more lives are lost with each passing moment – though it was not always so. Once, the title of Warmaster stood for honour, loyalty and a fierce pride in the strength of the Space Marine Legions. But perhaps by following the myriad lines of destiny and defiance that were already woven around the primarchs and their sons, we may yet come to understand the bitterness that can eat away at even the most steadfast of souls… [br] This Horus Heresy anthology contains fifteen short stories by authors such as Graham McNeill, Nick Kyme, Gav Thorpe and many more. Also, Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s acclaimed novella Aurelian revisits Lorgar’s pilgrimage within the Eye of Terror, and examines just what could convince a true servant of the Emperor to embrace the powers of Chaos once more.
Read it because
It's a collection of stories from eBooks and audio dramas collected into a numbered volume of the series for the first time – and including the acclaimed novella 'Aurelian' by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, which delves into Lorgar's first flirtations with Chaos.
The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.
The Emperor’s vision of mankind ascendant lies in tatters. The Great Crusade is naught but a fading memory. The dream of Unity is no more. But with Horus’s rebellion spreading to every corner of the Imperium and war engulfing new worlds and systems almost daily, there are some who now ask: were the signs there to be seen all along? In these dark times, only one thing is certain – the galaxy will never know peace again, not in this lifetime or a thousand others... This Horus Heresy anthology contains twenty-one short stories by David Annandale, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Gav Thorpe, Chris Wraight, Guy Haley, James Swallow, Nick Kyme, Rob Sanders, John French, Andy Smillie and Graham McNeill.
Read it because
Been dying to read some of the stories from event-exclusive books? Now's your chance with this great collection of tales from the length and breadth of the Heresy.
The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.
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