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Warhammer 40,000
Liber Xenologis: Observations from a Blackstone Fortress
The Imperium is beset by horrors.
Xenospecies too numerous to mention are bent on our destruction. Only by naming and studying these predators does humanity stand any chance of survival. And by circumstance, or perhaps by divine will, it has fallen to me, Captain Janus Draik, Rogue Trader and first son of House Draik, to codify the myriad threats aligned against us.
In the westernmost reaches of the galaxy I have braved the nightmarish pits of the Blackstone Fortress and the lawless dens of its orbital platform, Precipice. Through exploration of these treacherous environs, I have unearthed truths hidden from even the most learned Terran scholars. Here, in the galaxy's first truly comprehensive work of xenology, I have determined the terrifying face of our foe.
Xenospecies too numerous to mention are bent on our destruction. Only by naming and studying these predators does humanity stand any chance of survival. And by circumstance, or perhaps by divine will, it has fallen to me, Captain Janus Draik, Rogue Trader and first son of House Draik, to codify the myriad threats aligned against us.
In the westernmost reaches of the galaxy I have braved the nightmarish pits of the Blackstone Fortress and the lawless dens of its orbital platform, Precipice. Through exploration of these treacherous environs, I have unearthed truths hidden from even the most learned Terran scholars. Here, in the galaxy's first truly comprehensive work of xenology, I have determined the terrifying face of our foe.
- GenresScience Fiction40k
199 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2021
6 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Darius Hinks
108 books129 followersDarius Hinks is an author, writing primarily in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He was born in Birmingham, England, in 1972. He works and lives in Nottinghamshire. Hinks' first novel, Warrior Priest, won the David Gemmel Morningstar award.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 6, 2021
I could have read this in a single sitting, but was desperate to spread it out an prolong my enjoyment.
It would be easy to assume, as many have, that this is just a retread of the much earlier Xenology, but that comparison, whilst forgivable, isn’t really fair.
This sort of in-universe source book is far rarer in the BL catalogue than it really should be; they’re inevitably wonderful and the most recent iterations have been absolutely gorgeous. Some of the original artwork in here, page 89 in particular, is mind-blowing.
It’s as much a Blackstone Fortress book as a general 40k one, presented as a book written by the setting’s protagonist Janus Draik, who is both knowledgeable and hubristicly ignorant- there’s humour aplenty, much of it derived from pathetic fallacy. Peppered with footnotes that recall the Cain novels, the tone is light and readable. Unlike Xenology, which focused on the biology of Xenos species this takes a much more generalist approach. There is no analysis of bone structure, but plenty of societies and their mythologies.
There is so much to absorb- we get the Xenos big hitters; the Imperium’s takes on Orks, Eldar and Tau; nods to deep lore cuts such as Longshanks and more depth on the flora and fauna of notable worlds such as Catachan than I can recall reading before. Before the first page ends, there are Easter egg nods to other series of books and I’m certain there are others I’ve missed.
It feels a bit petty and mean-spirited to be “well, actually...” about a book as fun and good as this is, but the book is such an obvious labour of love and tribute to 40k any flaws do stand out. At times, Draik may come across as a little *too* well-informed; his knowledge of contemporary Terran biology exceeds that established by savants such as Arkhan Land, but that’s a minor quibble and makes the text more relatable; likewise his admiration for Xenos species maybe exceeds what would be tolerated even by a Rogue Trader. The book serves such deep cuts these complaints are perhaps inevitable, however trivial- they don’t really diminish the quality of the work.
In short, this is fantastic. I’ll be poring over it many times in the years to come, and expect to get something new from every reading. Do I think it as essential as the old Codex: Imperialis? Maybe. I liked it *that* much.
It would be easy to assume, as many have, that this is just a retread of the much earlier Xenology, but that comparison, whilst forgivable, isn’t really fair.
This sort of in-universe source book is far rarer in the BL catalogue than it really should be; they’re inevitably wonderful and the most recent iterations have been absolutely gorgeous. Some of the original artwork in here, page 89 in particular, is mind-blowing.
It’s as much a Blackstone Fortress book as a general 40k one, presented as a book written by the setting’s protagonist Janus Draik, who is both knowledgeable and hubristicly ignorant- there’s humour aplenty, much of it derived from pathetic fallacy. Peppered with footnotes that recall the Cain novels, the tone is light and readable. Unlike Xenology, which focused on the biology of Xenos species this takes a much more generalist approach. There is no analysis of bone structure, but plenty of societies and their mythologies.
There is so much to absorb- we get the Xenos big hitters; the Imperium’s takes on Orks, Eldar and Tau; nods to deep lore cuts such as Longshanks and more depth on the flora and fauna of notable worlds such as Catachan than I can recall reading before. Before the first page ends, there are Easter egg nods to other series of books and I’m certain there are others I’ve missed.
It feels a bit petty and mean-spirited to be “well, actually...” about a book as fun and good as this is, but the book is such an obvious labour of love and tribute to 40k any flaws do stand out. At times, Draik may come across as a little *too* well-informed; his knowledge of contemporary Terran biology exceeds that established by savants such as Arkhan Land, but that’s a minor quibble and makes the text more relatable; likewise his admiration for Xenos species maybe exceeds what would be tolerated even by a Rogue Trader. The book serves such deep cuts these complaints are perhaps inevitable, however trivial- they don’t really diminish the quality of the work.
In short, this is fantastic. I’ll be poring over it many times in the years to come, and expect to get something new from every reading. Do I think it as essential as the old Codex: Imperialis? Maybe. I liked it *that* much.
January 3, 2023
Ich bin größtenteils begeistert angesichts dieses einfallsreichen und wirklich kreativen Buchs. Ich bin bislang nicht vertraut mit den Blackstone-Fortress-Büchern. Auch wenn ich somit nicht alle Anspielungen nachvollziehen kann, bin ich jetzt definitiv neugieriger auf das bisherige Material oder auch das kommende Rogue-Trader-Rollenspiel.
Die Verarbeitung ist hochwertig, besonders die Kritzeleien am Rand sind teilweise sehr gut. Das Artwork ist teilweise recycelt, ich habe einige Abbildungen aus meinem alten Tau-Codex wiedererkannt.
Leider GW-typisch ist das Korrekturlesen etwas unter die Räder gekommen und einige Orthografiefehler sorgen für Abzüge in der B-Note. Inhaltlich finde ich auch gut, dass es viele neue Ideen für Rollenspiele, Necromunda oder erzählerische Missionen gibt (etwa, was alles in Makropolen passiert), ebenso die Unzuverlässigkeit des Erzählers, der die Existenz einiger bekannter Xenos direkt leugnet.
Allerdings finde ich, dass das Buch inhaltlich auch viel Potential verschenkt. Es handelt sich um eine Mischung aus wissenschaftlichem Bericht, charaktervollen Erzählungen des Freihändlers aus der schwarzen Festung, und wiedergegebenen Augenzeugenberichten. Als Quelle innerhalb des Universums kann es aber in keiner Rolle ganz überzeugen. Für einen wissenschaftlichen Bericht war es zu unsystematisch. Die Geschichtenteile sind zu kurz, ganz so als ob man eine Kurzgeschichte auf eine 2-Seiten-Punchline eingedampft hätte. Die Charakterzüge des Freihändlers beschränken sich größtenteils auf "ich habe jemanden zum Duell herausgefordert wegen EHRE" und "übrigens hatte ich eine sehr gute Erziehung". Nur selten handelt Draik überraschend oder interessant. Wie er einen "Wahrheitskäfer" in einem Verhör einsetzt und seine Interaktionen mit seinem Kroot-Begleiter waren dagegen sehr gut.
Ich denke, ich hätte weniger, dafür etwas längere Kurzgeschichten bevorzugt und dazwischen Kurzbiographien oder Steckbriefe der Wesen nach systematischen Kategorien. Dort hätte man sicher auch gut den sarkastischen Tonfall einbauen können.
Die Verarbeitung ist hochwertig, besonders die Kritzeleien am Rand sind teilweise sehr gut. Das Artwork ist teilweise recycelt, ich habe einige Abbildungen aus meinem alten Tau-Codex wiedererkannt.
Leider GW-typisch ist das Korrekturlesen etwas unter die Räder gekommen und einige Orthografiefehler sorgen für Abzüge in der B-Note. Inhaltlich finde ich auch gut, dass es viele neue Ideen für Rollenspiele, Necromunda oder erzählerische Missionen gibt (etwa, was alles in Makropolen passiert), ebenso die Unzuverlässigkeit des Erzählers, der die Existenz einiger bekannter Xenos direkt leugnet.
Allerdings finde ich, dass das Buch inhaltlich auch viel Potential verschenkt. Es handelt sich um eine Mischung aus wissenschaftlichem Bericht, charaktervollen Erzählungen des Freihändlers aus der schwarzen Festung, und wiedergegebenen Augenzeugenberichten. Als Quelle innerhalb des Universums kann es aber in keiner Rolle ganz überzeugen. Für einen wissenschaftlichen Bericht war es zu unsystematisch. Die Geschichtenteile sind zu kurz, ganz so als ob man eine Kurzgeschichte auf eine 2-Seiten-Punchline eingedampft hätte. Die Charakterzüge des Freihändlers beschränken sich größtenteils auf "ich habe jemanden zum Duell herausgefordert wegen EHRE" und "übrigens hatte ich eine sehr gute Erziehung". Nur selten handelt Draik überraschend oder interessant. Wie er einen "Wahrheitskäfer" in einem Verhör einsetzt und seine Interaktionen mit seinem Kroot-Begleiter waren dagegen sehr gut.
Ich denke, ich hätte weniger, dafür etwas längere Kurzgeschichten bevorzugt und dazwischen Kurzbiographien oder Steckbriefe der Wesen nach systematischen Kategorien. Dort hätte man sicher auch gut den sarkastischen Tonfall einbauen können.
December 27, 2021
'Liber Xenologis' is a background book for 'Warhammer 40,000' that is written from an in-universe perspective by Darius Hinks. The in-universe author is the Rogue Trader Janus Draik, one of the characters from the 'Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress' board game, who shares his observations about the alien creatures that he has researched, focusing primarily of those he encountered within the Fortress itself.
The book is beautifully made with the numerous pieces of artwork that show the many weird and wonderful species of xenos that he has encountered or heard about being some of the best parts of the book. The book includes sections for the majority of the setting’s major aliens (such as the Aeldari and the Orks), as well as some obscure and unique species (such as the Hrud and the Khrave Marauders). The book is very well written, getting across the attitude of the in-universe author very well, and has many humorous moments throughout, particularly when Draik gets things wrong (his assertion that Genestealer Hybrids and Necrons are fictitious for example.
'Liber Xenologis' is a brilliant book that should appeal to most fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, not just xenos fans, and is well worth a full five stars.
The book is beautifully made with the numerous pieces of artwork that show the many weird and wonderful species of xenos that he has encountered or heard about being some of the best parts of the book. The book includes sections for the majority of the setting’s major aliens (such as the Aeldari and the Orks), as well as some obscure and unique species (such as the Hrud and the Khrave Marauders). The book is very well written, getting across the attitude of the in-universe author very well, and has many humorous moments throughout, particularly when Draik gets things wrong (his assertion that Genestealer Hybrids and Necrons are fictitious for example.
'Liber Xenologis' is a brilliant book that should appeal to most fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, not just xenos fans, and is well worth a full five stars.
October 11, 2022
Enjoyable alien-themed art book. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
August 10, 2025
Amazing book, I enjoyed this very very much.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews