View source for Graham McNeill

{{short description|British novelist and video game writer (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox person
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| name               = Graham McNeill
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| nationality        = British
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| known_for          = Games Books & Novels
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| occupation         = Games Developer
| title              = Senior Writer at Riot Games
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| website            = {{official website|http://www.graham-mcneill.com}}
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'''Graham McNeill''' is a British novelist and [[Video game writing|video game writer]]. He is best known for his [[Warhammer Fantasy (setting)|Warhammer Fantasy]] and [[Warhammer 40,000]] novels, and his previous role as games designer for [[Games Workshop]]. 

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date=June 2020}}
In 1996 McNeill started work in an architects’ office designing new flats and commercial properties, until he saw an advertisement for a writer in the December 1999 copy of [[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-15 |title=Interview with Graham McNeill |url=https://juegosydados.wordpress.com/2018/08/15/interview-with-graham-mcneill/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Juegos y Dados |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2000, McNeill started work for Games Workshop as a staff writer for games development, writing articles for White Dwarf and army-specific books. In May 2000 he started writing for the ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' team, but continued to write articles for White Dwarf. McNeill has been heavily involved working on [[codex (Warhammer 40,000)|codex]]es, especially ''Warhammer 40,000 Codex: [[Tau (Warhammer 40,000)|Tau]]'' between late 2000 and June 2001. Other codexes he has been involved with are ''Warhammer 40,000 Codex: [[Necrons]]'', ''Warhammer 40,000 Codex: [[Chaos Space Marines]]'', ''Warhammer 40,000 Codex: [[Imperial Guard (Warhammer 40,000)|Imperial Guard]],'' and ''Warhammer 40,000 Codex: [[Daemonhunters]]''. McNeill continued to write codexes after moving into games development.

McNeill has written extensively for The [[Black Library]]. His works — ''False Gods (''2006), ''Fulgrim'' (2007) and ''Mechanicum'' (2008), are part of The Black Library's [[The Horus Heresy (novels)|Horus Heresy]] novel series. Another part to McNeill's story about the Ultramarines, ''The Killing Ground'', was released in May 2008. Early 2009 saw the release of his first novel outside of the Black Library, ''I, Mengsk'' (McNeill, 2009), set in [[Blizzard Entertainment]]'s ''[[StarCraft (series)|StarCraft]]'' universe. The novel tells the tale of three generations of the Mengsk family - Angus and his revolutionary activities, his son [[Characters of StarCraft#Arcturus Mengsk|Arcturus]] and his rise to power (leading up to the events of the [[StarCraft|first game]]), and Arcturus' son [[Characters of StarCraft#Valerian Mengsk|Valerian]] as he struggles to embrace his family's legacy (leading up to the events of the [[StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty|second game]]).

In April 2009, McNeill contributed a story entitled "The Last Church" to the anthology ''[[Tales of Heresy]]''. This was one of the first stories in the Black Library imprint in which the Emperor spoke directly and at length.

McNeill's ''A Thousand Sons'', a Horus Heresy novel focusing on the Thousand Sons legion and their fall from the graces of the Emperor by the hand of the Space Wolves, was released in 2011, and entered at number 22 on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller List]]. This novel was written in sync with [[Dan Abnett]]'s ''[[Prospero Burns]]'' (2011) which recounts the same narrative from an opposing perspective. Graham worked closely with Abnett on the two novels, ensuring they met at certain points and would not contradict one another.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

In 2011, McNeill wrote his first novel for [[Fantasy Flight Games]] (known for a wide range of [[roleplaying games]], card games, and board games), ''Ghouls of the Miskatonic'', the first story of the ''Dark Waters Trilogy'', based on the company's [[H.P. Lovecraft]]-derived ''[[Arkham Horror]]'' board game.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

In June 2015 McNeill commenced work with [[Riot Games]], the developing studio of the [[multiplayer online battle arena]] game ''[[League of Legends]]'', after visiting their main office in [[West Los Angeles]] in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=LA Times... - Graham McNeill|url=http://graham-mcneill.com/la-times/|website=Graham McNeill|accessdate=29 March 2017|ref=Personal Blog|date=3 June 2015|archive-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426071954/http://graham-mcneill.com/la-times/|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a senior narrative writer, McNeill develops backstories and lore for individual characters of the game and the in-game world. He is known for focusing on the lore of Demacia, a fictional region which lies in the ''League of Legends'' universe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reintroducing Demacia {{!}} /dev diary - League of Legends|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxjiCFo0NZM|website=Youtube|publisher=Riot Games|ref=Developer diary on storytelling - League of Legends|date=29 March 2017}}</ref> Within the ''League of Legends'' community he is primarily known by his alias "Dinopawz".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dinopawz's profile|url=https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/player/NA/Dinopawz|website=boards.na.leagueoflegends.com|accessdate=29 March 2017|ref=McNeills Forum Profile|archive-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330174416/https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/player/NA/Dinopawz|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2024 McNeill was laid off from [[Riot Games]].<ref>https://x.com/GrahamMcNeill/status/1749590320831246735?s=20 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

==Personal==
McNeill plays ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'', in which he plays with both [[Tau]] and [[Necron (Warhammer 40,000)|Necron]] armies, he started with The Ultramarines, and ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle|Warhammer]]'', in which he plays an [[The Empire (Warhammer)|Empire]] army.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

==Bibliography==

===Books===
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines|first=Andy|last=Chambers|year=2004|edition=4th|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-526-0|url=https://archive.org/details/spacemarinescode00pete}}
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tau|first=Andy|last=Chambers |author2=Haines, Pete |author3=McNeill, Graham|year=2001|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-098-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Imperial Guard|first=Andy|last=Chambers|author2=Haines, Pete|author3=Hoare, Andy|year=2003|edition=4th|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-410-8|url=https://archive.org/details/codeximperialgua00cham}}
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Necrons|first=Andy|last=Chambers |author2=Haines, Pete |author3=McNeill, Graham |author4=Hoare, Andy|year=2002|edition=3rd|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-190-7}}
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Chaos Space Marines|author=Games Workshop Design Staff|year=2002|edition=1st|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-322-5}}
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Daemonhunters|first=Graham|last=McNeill|author2=Haines, Pete |year=2003|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-361-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Witchhunters|first=Graham|last=McNeill |author2=Hoare, Andy |author3=Haines, Pete|year=2003|edition=1st|publisher=Games Workshop|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84154-485-X}}
* {{cite book|title=The Imperial Munitorum Manual|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2007|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-502-5}}

===Novels===
'''Warhammer'''
* {{cite book|title=The Ambassador|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2003|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-051-3}}
* {{cite book|title=Ursun's Teeth|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2004|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-076-9}}
* {{cite book|title=Guardians of the Forest|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2005|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-235-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Defenders of Ulthuan|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2011|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-157-0}}
* {{cite book|title=Sons of Ellyrion|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2011|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-068-9}}

'''The Legend of Sigmar'''
* {{cite book|title=Heldenhammer|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2008|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-538-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Empire|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2009|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-689-3}}
* {{cite book|title=God King|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2011|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-898-9}}

'''Warhammer 40,000'''
* {{cite book|title=Nightbringer|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2002|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-163-3}}
* {{cite book|title=Storm of Iron|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2003|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-103-X}}
* {{cite book|title=Warriors of Ultramar|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2004a|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-262-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/warriorsofultram0000mcne}}
* {{cite book|title=Dead Sky, Black Sun|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2004b|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-84416-148-X|url=https://archive.org/details/deadskyblacksunw00grah}}
* {{cite book|title=The Killing Ground|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2008|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-562-9}}
* {{cite book|title=Iron Warrior|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2010a|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-859-0}}
* {{cite book|title=Courage and Honour|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2010b|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-722-7}}
* {{cite book|title=The Chapter's Due|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2011|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-714-2}}
* {{cite book|title=Priests of Mars|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2012|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-176-1}}
* {{cite book|title=Lords of Mars|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2013|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-418-2}}
* {{cite book|title=Gods of Mars|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2014|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-723-7}}
* {{cite book|title=[[The Colonel's Monograph]]|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2019|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham}}
* {{cite book|title=The Swords of Calth|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2021|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham}}

'''Horus Heresy'''
* {{cite book |title=False Gods |first=Graham |last=McNeill |year=2006 |publisher=Black Library |location=Nottingham |isbn=1-84416-370-9}}
* {{cite book|title=[[Fulgrim]]|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2007|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-476-9}}
* {{cite book|title=Mechanicum|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2008|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84416-664-0}}
* {{cite book |title=A Thousand Sons |first=Graham |last=McNeill |year=2010 |publisher=Black Library |location=Nottingham |isbn=978-1-84416-808-8}}
* {{cite book|title=The Outcast Dead|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2010|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-087-0|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781849700870}}
* {{cite book|title=[[Angel Exterminatus]]|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2012|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-84970-358-1}}
* {{cite book |title=Vengeful Spirit |first=Graham |last=McNeill |year=2014 |publisher=Black Library |location=Nottingham |isbn=9781849705950}}
* {{cite book |title=The Crimson King |first=Graham |last=McNeill |year=2017 |publisher=Black Library |location=Nottingham}}
* {{cite book|title=[[Sons of the Selenar]]|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2020|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham}} (novella)
* {{cite book|title=[[Fury of Magnus]]|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2020|publisher=Black Library|location=Nottingham}} (novella)

'''StarCraft'''
*{{cite book|title=[[List of StarCraft media|I, Mengsk]]|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2009|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|location=New York City}}

'''Other'''
* {{cite book|title=The Dark Waters Trilogy I - Ghouls of the Miskatonic|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2011|publisher=Fantasy Flight|location=Roseville|isbn=978-1-58994-965-2}}
* {{cite book|title=The Dark Waters Trilogy II - Bones of the Yopasi|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2012|publisher=Fantasy Flight|location=Roseville}}
* {{cite book|title=The Dark Waters Trilogy III - Dweller in the Deep|first=Graham|last=McNeill|year=2014|publisher=Fantasy Flight|location=Roseville}}

===Comics===

* ''[[Warhammer 40,000 comics|Warhammer 40,000]]'' ([[Boom! Studios]]):
** "[[Fire and Honour]]" (with [[Tony Parker (comics)|Tony Parker]], August 2008)
** "[[Defenders of Ultramar]]" (with [[Kevin Hopgood]], November 2008)
* ''[[Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning|Warhammer Online]]: Prelude to War'' ([[graphic novel]] given away as part of the Collectors Edition)<ref>[http://www.warhammeronline.com/collectorsedition/ Collectors Edition details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029173701/http://www.warhammeronline.com/collectorsedition/ |date=29 October 2008 }} at Warhammer Online</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{iblist name|id=2312|name=Graham McNeill}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=19543|title=Graham McNeill}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081030044250/http://www.blacklibrary.com/author.asp?id=63 Graham McNeill] at the Black Library
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.graham-mcneill.com}}

{{Riot Games}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McNeill, Graham}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Riot Games people]]
[[Category:Scottish comics writers]]
[[Category:Scottish novelists]]
[[Category:Warhammer Fantasy writers]]
[[Category:Warhammer 40,000 writers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]