Nathan Long

Nathan Long is an American writer whose work spans genre fiction, screenwriting, television, video games, and music. He is particularly associated with the Warhammer fiction published by Black Library, where he developed original stories around the Blackhearts and continued the long-running Gotrek and Felix fantasy series after William King moved on to other projects. His Warhammer work is characterized by fast pacing, violent action, and a direct, energetic style that differs from King's more elaborate descriptive approach. Long began writing at approximately twelve years old. Before becoming established as a novelist, he spent about fifteen years working in screenwriting. That period produced scripts for feature films as well as numerous animated and live-action television episodes. His screen credits include the screenplay for Guyver: Dark Hero, writing work on The Sender, and co-writing Gehenna: Where Death Lives. He also acted in a small role in Guyver: Dark Hero. His breakthrough in published fantasy came through Black Library. The Blackhearts novels follow a group of renegades and rebels forced to undertake dangerous covert missions as an alternative to execution. The trilogy was later collected in an omnibus, and the wider story was supplemented by short fiction. Long also contributed to the Gotrek and Felix line, writing Orcslayer, Manslayer, Elfslayer, Shamanslayer, and Zombieslayer, as well as the audio production Slayer of the Storm God and additional short stories. Zombieslayer, released in 2010, was his final novel in that sequence according to the cited reference material. Long expanded the Warhammer setting through the Ulrika the Vampire trilogy. Bloodborn introduced Ulrika, a character connected to Felix Jaeger, as she adapted to becoming a vampire. Bloodforged and Bloodsworn continued the story, with Bloodsworn concluding the trilogy in 2012. Bloodborn received the 2011 Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel. He also wrote Battle for Skull Pass, a Games Workshop tie-in novella associated with the Dwarf-focused Battle for Skull Pass boxed set. In 2012, Night Shade Books published Jane Carver of Waar, Long's first cited original novel outside licensed settings. The book presents a humorous and often risqué take on classic swashbuckling planetary adventure, drawing on the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs while centering on a biker heroine. A follow-up, Swords of Waar, appeared the same year. Long has also worked in interactive entertainment. He served as lead writer for Wasteland 2 and Wasteland 3, co-wrote Torment: Tides of Numenera, and acted as lead writer and casting and voice-over director for The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep. His work on The Bard's Tale IV additionally included composing four songs. In television, he was head writer for Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight during its 2009–2010 run and wrote or co-wrote numerous episodes of that series, as well as episodes of L.A. Heat and Ultimate Book of Spells. Long lives in Los Angeles and has also been described as regularly performing with his band, MI-6. His professional identity is therefore broader than that of a conventional novelist: he is a cross-media genre storyteller whose portfolio includes licensed fiction, original novels, film and television scripts, game narratives, voice-production work, and music.

Nathan Long began writing at around twelve years of age and later entered professional screenwriting. He spent approximately fifteen years writing for film and television before becoming widely recognized for published genre fiction. His early screen and television work included the feature screenplay for Guyver: Dark Hero, writing on The Sender, and contributions to series such as L.A. Heat and Ultimate Book of Spells. He also co-wrote Gehenna: Where Death Lives and appeared briefly as Cop #1 in Guyver: Dark Hero. Long became closely associated with Games Workshop's Warhammer fiction through Black Library. His Blackhearts books created a group of condemned or renegade characters who are offered perilous secret missions instead of execution. The central trilogy was later issued in an omnibus, with additional short fiction expanding the setting. This work established Long as a writer capable of handling ensemble action, morally compromised characters, and the darker comic-fantasy tone associated with the Warhammer universe. Black Library subsequently selected Long to continue the Gotrek and Felix sequence after William King stopped writing the series. Long's contribution began with Orcslayer and continued through Manslayer, Elfslayer, Shamanslayer, and Zombieslayer. He also wrote the audio title Slayer of the Storm God and several shorter pieces. His approach placed greater emphasis on speed, combat, and the brutal practicalities of the protagonists' travels than King's more ornate prose. The change generated both praise and criticism, but Long's run became one of the longer authorial contributions to the Black Library line. Zombieslayer was published in September 2010. Long then developed a connected strand of Warhammer fiction around Ulrika, a character linked to Felix Jaeger. Bloodborn, published in 2010, follows Ulrika's adjustment to vampirism and the physical and moral consequences of her transformation. Bloodforged followed in 2011, and Bloodsworn completed the trilogy in 2012. Bloodborn won the Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel in 2011. Long also wrote Battle for Skull Pass, a short Warhammer novel tied to Games Workshop's Battle for Skull Pass boxed game and its conflict between Dwarfs and greenskin forces. His first cited original novel was Jane Carver of Waar, published by Night Shade Books in March 2012. The novel is an affectionate but satirical interpretation of old-fashioned planetary romance and adventure fiction, with a biker heroine occupying the role traditionally associated with the heroic explorer of pulp science fantasy. Swords of Waar followed in 2012, extending the Jane Carver setting beyond the first novel. Long's career later or concurrently expanded into interactive media. He was lead writer on inXile Entertainment's Wasteland 2 and Wasteland 3, and co-writer on Torment: Tides of Numenera. For The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep, he served as lead writer as well as casting and voice-over director, and composed four songs for the game. These roles demonstrate a broader production function than prose authorship alone, involving narrative structure, character dialogue, performance direction, and audiovisual integration. In television, Long served as head writer on Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight during 2009 and 2010, contributing to a substantial group of episodes. His television credits also include multiple episodes of L.A. Heat and an episode of Ultimate Book of Spells. He has been based in Los Angeles and has regularly performed with the band MI-6. The available material does not establish a corporate brand, publishing company, or separately incorporated business associated with his name; the subject is best understood as an individual creative professional and authorial identity.

1. 2012Jane Carver of Waar

   Night Shade Books published Long's first cited original novel, followed by Swords of Waar later that year.

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2. 2011Scribe Award recognition

   Bloodborn won the Scribe Award for Best Original Speculative Novel.

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3. 2010Zombieslayer and Bloodborn

   Zombieslayer concluded Long's cited Gotrek and Felix novel run, while Bloodborn launched the Ulrika the Vampire trilogy.

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4. 2009Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight television work

   Long served as head writer on Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight during its 2009–2010 run.

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5. 2008Battle for Skull Pass

   Long wrote a Games Workshop tie-in novella associated with the Battle for Skull Pass boxed set.

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6. 2006Gotrek and Felix continuation begins

   Orcslayer began Long's major run continuing the Gotrek and Felix series for Black Library.

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7. 2004Early Warhammer fiction publication

   Valnir's Bane was published, marking an early entry in Long's listed Warhammer bibliography.

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A cross-media genre writer combining licensed fantasy fiction, original speculative adventure, screenwriting, television writing, and interactive narrative design.

• The BlackheartsFantasy novel trilogy

  A Warhammer Fantasy trilogy about renegades, criminals, and rebels compelled to undertake secret and exceptionally dangerous missions in exchange for avoiding execution. The books were later collected in an omnibus and supplemented by short fiction.

• Gotrek and Felix novelsLicensed fantasy novels2006

  Long's contribution to Black Library's long-running Warhammer series includes Orcslayer, Manslayer, Elfslayer, Shamanslayer, and Zombieslayer. The books continue the dwarf Gotrek's search for a heroic death and Felix Jaeger's travels with him, using a faster and more combat-focused narrative style.

• Ulrika the VampireFantasy novel trilogy2010

  Bloodborn, Bloodforged, and Bloodsworn follow Ulrika after she becomes a vampire, concentrating on her attempts to manage her new powers, appetites, and identity within the Warhammer setting.

• Jane Carver of WaarOriginal science-fiction novel2012

  An original planetary-adventure novel that both celebrates and parodies classic swashbuckling space fantasy. Its central figure is a biker heroine who enters a setting modeled on the pulp traditions associated with Edgar Rice Burroughs.

• Wasteland 2 and Wasteland 3Video-game narrative

  Long served as lead writer for these inXile Entertainment role-playing games, contributing to their story structures, character writing, dialogue, and broader narrative presentation.

• The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows DeepVideo-game narrative and production

  Long was lead writer and casting and voice-over director for this role-playing game. He also composed four songs, giving his contribution a narrative, performance, and musical dimension.

• 2012Move into original fiction with Jane Carver of WaarProduct launch

  After extensive work in licensed Warhammer fiction, Long sought an original setting for a science-fiction adventure.

  What changed. Night Shade Books published Jane Carver of Waar, followed by Swords of Waar later in the year.

  Aftermath. The books established an original adventure property separate from Long's licensed franchise work.

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• 2006Continuation of Gotrek and FelixStrategy

  Black Library needed a writer to continue the unfinished Gotrek and Felix narrative after William King moved to other projects.

  What changed. Long took over the series and wrote multiple novels, an audiobook, and related short fiction.

  Aftermath. His run became one of the longer author contributions to the Black Library imprint, although the stylistic change from King's work drew both approval and criticism.

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1. Nathan Long (author)