Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I'm looking for canon stories told entirely or partly from the POV of a Necron, or at the very least, in which Necrons are communicated or bargained with.

In essence, any fiction that provides insight into the psychology, motivations, and emotions (if any) of Necrons, instead of portraying them as waves of zombie-like robots. Can also include short stories or audiobooks. Or hell, even video games.

.

The Twice Dead King series is a Necron POV novel series. It does a good job I think in exploring the psychological issues of the Necrons and the Flayer plague, as well as their coping mechanisms. For example, one character's seeming rigid adherence to protocol and tradition is seen as a character flaw by another character but in the end, it turns out that rigidity may actually be a psychological strategy to avoid deeper insanity from having to cope with such immense stretches of time.

The Infinite and the Divine. Hands down one of the best BL books written in the last 10 years.

 Gert wrote:
The Infinite and the Divine. Hands down one of the best BL books written in the last 10 years.

Second this- it's also hilarious. Ex: "Our ships are not void-proof. Trazyn- do these Orkoids need to breathe air?"

The short story severed is also a good example of modern Necron writing. It's about Nemesor Zahndrek and Vargard Oberon and how a little senility can help cope with being immortal and soulless automatons. You might not have a nose but you still need to stop and smell the roses.

Imperial Armour 12: Fall of Orpheus had Necrons informing humans they have one month to leave the sector. The imperials only think the negotiations are dreams. It does not end well.

Lots of colourfull characters and some cool Nevron sosciaty.

 Mr Nobody wrote:
The short story severed is also a good example of modern Necron writing. It's about Nemesor Zahndrek and Vargard Oberon and how a little senility can help cope with being immortal and soulless automatons. You might not have a nose but you still need to stop and smell the roses.

Zahndrek doesn't know that Doomsday Arks can fly, which is some nice character assassination for him from Severed.

And he's just pretending to be crazy. For some reason. Maybe.

 Lord Damocles wrote:

 Mr Nobody wrote:
The short story severed is also a good example of modern Necron writing. It's about Nemesor Zahndrek and Vargard Oberon and how a little senility can help cope with being immortal and soulless automatons. You might not have a nose but you still need to stop and smell the roses.

Zahndrek doesn't know that Doomsday Arks can fly, which is some nice character assassination for him from Severed.

And he's just pretending to be crazy. For some reason. Maybe.

I didn't want to spoil, but yes, he's doing a little acting. I think it's a very interesting coping mechanism for a Necron. It's a galaxy of madness, you don't have to be a sane person if a delusion is more comfortable.

The short story Devourer from the leviathan omnibus is packed with brief-but-juicy insights into necron cultures/personalities. Anrakyr is featured, but he's pretty boring and can mostly be ignored. The meat of the story is the cryptek and her lychguard besty (Roommates? Cousins maybe?) trying to escape from a tomb world as its overrun by bugs. Along the way, they scoop up some other survivors as well as a hardlight construct with the memories and personality of a necrontyr. (Basically a pre-biotransferrance attempt at pseudo-immortality.)

And yes, the Infinite and the Divine and the Twice Dead King are also both fantastic. My goodness, why do we bother printing marine books.

Is there any place I can buy the Twice Dead King books for less than $crazy? Why does Black Library leave their books out of print when there is clear demand?

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Is there any place I can buy the Twice Dead King books for less than $crazy? Why does Black Library leave their books out of print when there is clear demand?

Might be a non-starter, but could try a library?

I guess I should. The last time I checked, the libraries around me all had anemic Sci Fi sections. But that was 20+ Marvel movies ago.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I guess I should. The last time I checked, the libraries around me all had anemic Sci Fi sections. But that was 20+ Marvel movies ago.

Some libraries have started coordinating with other libraries in their area to transport/share books. Depending on where you live, that might help you some.