Garro: Legion of One

The Horus Heresy #Audio Drama

by James Swallow

Nathaniel Garro continues his mysterious mission in the latest Horus Heresy audio drama. Nathaniel Garro, loyalist Death Guard, and hero of The Flight of the Eisenstein, has found a new calling in his service to the Emperor. Surrounded by a cloak of secrecy, Garro travels the galaxy in pursuit of his new goal. His quest will lead him to heart of the most destructive warzones, and reveal a secret that will change the course of the Horus Heresy itself...

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, 40k, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Media Tie In

1 pages, Audio CD

First published April 14, 2011

About the author

James Swallow is a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author and scriptwriter, a BAFTA nominee, a former journalist and the award-winning writer of over sixty-five books, along with scripts for video games, comics, radio and television.

DARK HORIZON, his latest stand-alone thriller, is out now from Mountain Leopard Press, and OUTLAW, the 6th action-packed Marc Dane novel, is published by Bonnier.

Along with the Marc Dane thrillers, his writing includes, the Sundowners steampunk Westerns and fiction from the worlds of Star Trek, Tom Clancy, 24, Warhammer 40000, Doctor Who, Deus Ex, Stargate, 2000AD and many more.

For information on new releases & more, sign up to the Readers’ Club here: www.bit.ly/JamesSwallow

Visit James's website at http://www.jswallow.com/ for more, including ROUGH AIR, a free eBook novella in the Marc Dane series.

You can also follow James on Bluesky at @jmswallow.bsky.social, Twitter at @jmswallow, Mastodon at @jmswallow@mstdn.social and jmswallow.tumblr.com at Tumblr.

Reviews

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

May 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order (https://www.heresyomnibus.com) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras - Now in Immaterium of everything outside the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, before moving on to the last Omnibus XXI The Siege of Terra.

I'll never forget getting my hands on this when it first came out and genuinely knowing nothing about it, resulting in me having my mind absolutely blown! I've mentioned before about stories that hit initially hard, but lose a lot of interest in repetition, but I've heard this so many times over the years and I still love it.

Garro is off on another mission for the Sigillite, now no longer a Legion of One with the newly freed from the Dictate of Nikaea and former Ultramarine, Rubio, and the former World Eater Captain, Varren. The unlikely trio are head to an even more unlikely place to recruit an Astartes to Malcador's cause, Isstvan III...

I feel like I'm going to be repeating myself throughout the Garro series, but the audio drama Longworth is just giving more than audiobook Longworth and, regardless of how just like a chainsaw the chainsword effects are, I find the whole production positively charming.

The story is simple, but great with classic fakes outs and the epic reveal, but the things that really shine are how distinct and rendered each Knight Errant feels and the way their character is actually shown through their words and actions, rather than generic Space Marines with their character traits listed, as is the case sometimes, unfortunately. This shouldn't be impressive, but it is done well in such a short period of time. The other really great and heartbreaking element is [Cerberus] and his tragic monologues to his fallen comrade and the assumed persona and fractured thoughts as a result of his extreme trauma.

In both these cases the credit has to be shared between Swallow's writing and Longworth's performance. My appreciation for Swallow has grown exponentially over the course of reading the series and I've always loved Longworth, despite truly coming to appreciate Keeble as an audiobook narrator, so it's a real treat to return to these.

It's definitely bizarre this came out before the story that sees Varren join Garro, but can totally understand being too excited to not release this ASAP.

One of the all time classic Horus Heresy audio dramas.

Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), all 25 novellas (+2 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels, 3 Characters novels, and 144 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 10+ repeats). Plus, 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.

I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).

*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best

***

Initial Review:

A year after pledging kimself as Knight Errant to Professor 'Malcador' Oak, Ash 'Garro' Ketchum has searched across the galaxy, far and wide, to find the very best there ever was. His travels bring him, Brok Rubio and Misty Varren, to charnel world in search of the last pokemon he will catch, a Dracovish, a fossilised dinosaur near the head of a fish fossil, going by the name of Cerberus.

The second Garro audio drama has all the hallmarks of the Heresy and everything that made the first one great, but with the addition of a complex and tragic figure whose reveal seems very obvious now, but when I first heard this upon release, my mind was absolutely blown!

All of which elevate this to a bloody brilliant listen that, like most of the audio dramas, novellas, and short stories, aren't essential to the main plots of the Horus Heresy saga, but certainly colours and contextualises some things, including a the most epic and (again, probably just for me) unexpected call back to the opening trilogy.

The production is great and Toby Longworth absolutely kills it as usual. He seems like he is having so much fun with Cerberus and I love that for him!

A solid audio drama however you slice it, but the emotional and narrative impact, especially the first time I heard this, make it so much more!

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't say I enjoyed this one as much as Oath of Moment. The bad guys were pretty lame (just generic Zombies) and the return to Isstvann III, the setting for the bloody climax of the first Horus Heresy trilogy, didn't possess the gravitas that it should have had.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiodrama. Much better than the first audiodrama. Tons of action! And the ending? A hell of a shocker... but in a good way!

[Patt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just like most audio books very short and not the best story.

[Sarah McNally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhhhh shiiiiiit

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Quote: "He fought as if he craved the embrance of death itself."
- Thoughts: The second part of the introduction of Garro's Team, It's a little better than the last one, but it's still too short.
A too rich and deep (and expensive) setting for such a short story to cause any real impact (again).
▶◀
These are my personal opinions, you may discord, my final rating of the book is not necessarily linked to this system and may diverge from it.
Book Storyline
- Originality: 3/5 stars
- Development: 4/5 stars
- Enjoyment: 4/5 stars
- Writing stile: 4/5 stars
- Funnyness: 1/5 stars
- Epicness: 3/5 stars
- Scaryness: 1/5 stars
- Smartness: 3/5 stars
- Addictiveness: 3/5 stars
- Plot twists: 3/5 stars
- Pace: 4/5 stars
- Storyline planning: 4/5 stars
- Ending: 4/5 stars
- Holes: 1/5 negative stars
- Self contained (Y/N): ✓
- Cliffhanger (Y/N): ✓
- Adult (Y/N): ×
- Mystery (Y/N): ×
- Treasure Hunting (Y/N): ×
- Violence level: War
- Tech level: Power Armor, Starships
- Religion level: Fictional Religion fanatism
- Main genre: War
- Subgenre: Warhammer 40K
- Point of view: 3
- Best of it: It's a good shortstory, the new recruit has a good storyline
- Worst of it: Very expensive universe
- Aftertaste: Nice
Narration
- Quality: 4/5 stars
- Style: 4/5
- Sound effects ✓
- Multiple voices ✓
- Background music ✓
- In a few words: Exagerated accentuations like old comic books. Each phrase is spoken as a great epic poem in itself.
World
- Originality: 4/5 stars
- Variety: 4/5 stars
- Consistency: 4/5 stars
- Impact on the story: 2/5 stars
- Maps: -/5 stars
- Real world (Y/N): ×
- Fantasy based on real world (Y/N): ×
- Journey (Y/N): ×
- Main scenario: Barren place in the afterwar with radioactive and chemical weapons
Characters
No growth, very clichè characters, placed in the right positions. The new crazy recruit is interesting.
- Consistency: 4/5 stars
- Connection: 4/5 stars
- Dialogs: 4/5 Stars
- Interactions: 4/5 Stars
- Underworld Crew (✓/×): ×
- Training (✓/×): ×
- Romance: Nothing nearly alike
Setting
A gargantuan setting, also a very expensive one.
- Setting overall score: 5/5 Stars
- Tension: 2/5 Stars
- Atmosphere: 3/5 Stars
- Geneforge ✓
- Powerarmor ✓
- Psy Powers ✓
Rules
- Devised system: 5/5 stars
- System complexity: 3/5 stars
- System explanation: 2/5 stars
- Impact on storyline: 3/5 stars
- Rulebreaker (Y/N): ×
- Type of Rule: Advanced Tech, Mind Powers

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garro and Co revisit the wartorn landscape of Istvan. The joy of this story was the slow revelations it provides, without spoiling anything, it was a great discovery, that has me excited at this last edition to the Garro team.

Like many of the audio dramas, this one is lighter on actual character development and change (how much can you realistically do in 1 hour and 1/2), but the production value, and what progression there is makes it a lot of fun. Plus the action is paced just right with the descriptions to be really evocative.

Hands down the best audiodrama by the Black Library I have listened to, to date!

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isstvan III was where brother slew brother and the bonds of loyalty were shattered. Almost a year later, Nathaniel Garro sets foot on this ruined planet alongside Rubio and Varren, Knight Errants all. Each of the Knight Errants has a strong voice and feel distinct.

While Isstvan III was devastated by munitions and virus bombs, a small portion of the population managed to survive in underground bunkers, the truly lucky died instantly, while the unluckiest of all did not die at first, instead their bodies became vectors of disease, a sort of living undeath, and so they ceaselessly make their way across the ashen wastelands. But there is a great and terrible beast out there. A beast called Cerberus.

I really enjoyed the angst and pain of this short story. It really captures the horror of Isstvan and the shattered psyche of Cereberus. Heartbreaking and poignant in equal measure.

I can appreciate that bringing back Garviel Loken was controversial. He was the Ned Stark of the Horus Heresy, protagonist that is brutally killed off early on to show that nobody is safe. So while I do feel like maybe he should have been left dead, I also think James Swallow brought him back in a way that still felt satisfying. Cereberus is racked with pain and guilt, driven by mania and rage. And the voice acting was incredible.

[Martti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently there is a whole set of Garro short stories produced as well produced audio dramas. He seems to be a somewhat free and secret agent. This time he's going to the beginning of it all - Isstvan III. Trying to recruit a man turned into a beast.

Part of the Horus Heresy Humblebundle a while back https://www.humblebundle.com/books/ho...

[Erik Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good.
I wondered what happened to Lokin.

[Periklis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. Action-packed, featuring my two favorite characters from the HH saga so far...

[Carl Grider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great listen. Immersive over the top 40k action!

[David Dunbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t hate it. It gave me back my favorite character. It wasn’t as good as the previous drama but I love this character too much.

[Danny Saines · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strongest of the Garro audios so far with a return to an old world and old characters. The production and voice acting were also stronger in comparison to earlier entries.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the best of the first three Garro audio dramas, I have to say. Still doesn't rise above three stars. Maybe if the twist had been a little harder to spot, it would have been more satisfying.

[Rutger Gerrits · Rating 3 out of 5]

the return of Loken! incredible!

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthology series was pretty fire

[Gamer Gamersson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this better than Oath of Moment. Still a little forgettable, but Cerberus adds another really compelling character to a book that desperately needs them. With Garro in tow, there's a reason to read it until the end at least. Decent.

EDIT: Upon re-reading after finishing the opening trilogy of the Horus Heresy, I have to talk about the sheer awesomeness that is seeing Garviel Loken, alive and (not quite) well, in action again. Hell yes.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that even though it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone story of madness, fights and chaos. I may not have realised it when starting but it really brought into focus some of the darkness of the Heresy and yet it provided a good story. Great background information that shows the strength of the minds and the power of the marines even as their equipment fails.

[Abhinav · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read the full review over at my blog

https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...

Shadowhawk reviews the first two Garro audio dramas by James Swallow, Oath of Moment and Legion of One, part of the Horus Heresy series by Black Library.

“Some of the most well-written and highly enjoyable audio dramas, Oath of Moment and Legion of One are among James Swallows’ best work for Black Library.” ~Shadowhawk, The Founding Fields

The two Garro audios were the first Black Library audio dramas I ever listened to. It came after a long, long don’t-care attitude because in that time period, I was pretty indifferent to audio dramas. Basically, I was totally fine with missing out on them, mostly because of the price. But I finally gave in last year in August and bought both Oath of Moment and Legion of One in a single go. James Swallow is one of my favourite authors for Black Library and I was expecting them to be quite good therefore. I was more than surprised to find out that these two are really, really good, especially Legion of One.

I listened to Oath of Moment first of course, since it is the first of the Garro audio dramas. The plot focuses on the on-going battle for Calth, where the Word Bearers have launched a surprise attack on the Ultramarines and the latter are reeling and trying to consolidate and repel the unexpected invasion. The setting of the audio drama is very memorable therefore, as it marks the third biggest Astartes versus Astartes conflict in the history of the Imperium up until that point, the first two being the battles on Isstvan III and later, Isstvan V. Jim has definitely succeeded in creating an atmosphere that is just as epic and memorable as the Betrayal on Isstvan and the Dropsite Massacre.

The really short format prevents him from going in-depth of course but then again, that’s why we got Dan Abnett’s Know No Fear which serves beautifully in explaining all that has happened before the events in Oath of Moment.

The pacing of Oath of Moment is pretty good because the audio keeps you involved from the get go with Garro’s arrival to Calth and all the way to the climactic ending. There is action and dialogue and drama and tension aplenty throughout and Jim never really lets you go. The atmosphere that is created by Jim’s words and Toby Longworth’s excellent voice-acting is simply enjoyable. You are really drawn into the narrative.

[Eulercauchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little side story.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves the Emperor's praise! It's very well-written, as Garro continues his search for recruits for his merry band of "misfits". He's on his quest to find the last guy...and he ends up visiting familiar territory. The buildup is good but the twist near the end is astounding, something I didn't expect after reading and listening to how many books in the WH40k universe. I highly recommend listening to this (these is no e-book or actual book for this series) and going through the succeeding installments just the same. I still don't like Nathaniel Garro but the story and the characters around him are getting better and better.

[Fabian Scherschel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it has everything you'd expect, this one is not as good as its prequel. The reveal of the pivotal character is just dragged out way too long. If you've read previous stuff in the Heresy, it is, after all, quite obvious what the planet and who the man is. The whole "we will not say his name" thing just made the final confrontation scene very unrealistic.

Still, a fun listen. As usual, good stuff from James Swallow.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, lots of action and generally well done. However I found the voice actor for Garro a bit irritating. Garro is supposed to be this legendary battle hardened icon in the Horus Heresy but the voice used for him just makes him sound very pompous and self-aggrandizing.

Another thing I dislike is with Cerberus being pronounced with a soft C.

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

By and far the best audio drama to date. Garro, Rubio, and Varren make for interesting company on the blighted world of Istvaan III. The action was intense, the twist phenomenal, and I really look forward to where it goes from here!
Cerberus was amazing, and I really don't know how I feel about that bit. I love it, because it is him. But it ruins the sacrifice of his death at the same time.

[Calyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me some time to listen to this one. I knew what chronology Garro's audiobooks go, and i listened them in such order, I know the characters so it was great story, and for me it gave good dialogues. For all the narrative i respect James Swallow and his abilities, great intrigues and some nice foreshadows, one of best reads I've had

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a cheap, fanservicey story, to be honest. Garro goes back to Isstvan III to recruit someone else for his burgeoning team of paramilitaries, and it's someone who everyone thought was dead. This is like something right out of a cape comic, to be honest.

But I can't hate it. I liked the character too, and I'm happy they're back.

[nooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a great depiction of the insanity of the war and the problems of taking things at face value (as to a lot of Horus). Very interesting final message that seems antithetical to the 40k universe's message of "There is only war."

[Cloak88 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quality, but not really to my liking.

Garro formerly of the Death Guard legion is send with two fellow marines to a world completely burned to ash by the ravages of the Horus Heresy.

A short story the would probably be more interesting if I had read most of the other HH novels.

[Khae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been wary about listening to audiobooks as I was not sure how I would feel listening to someone read the story to me, rather than reading it myself. Therefore, I was rather disappointed when I discovered that the continued adventures of Nathanial Garro, the protagonist of James Swallow's amazing Flight of the Eisenstein was only present in audio format.

I am glad I took the time to purchase and listen to this audiobook as it was quite enjoyable. It is just under 70 minutes long, so stands at a longer short story length, and has a simple to the point story. I listened to it while doing some paperwork and found it was a nice change to music or one of the youtube channels I sometimes watch.

The story was written by James Swallow and performed by Toby Longworth. The performance is very nicely done with clear articulation and different voices for each character, although I must admit I did get slightly lost at times, but this may be due to me not paying close enough attention. The narration is supported by sound effects and music that helps to set the mood and atmosphere of the story.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to listening to more of the Garro audiobooks and maybe more.