Only in Death

Gaunt's Ghosts #11

by Dan Abnett

As the crusade to liberate the Sabbat Worlds continues, Colonel-Commissar Gaunt leads the Tanith First-and-Only into an unforgiving new warzone - the fortress world of Jago. As the enemy assaults increase in fury, Gaunt and his regiment must face the terror of the present alongside the ghosts of their past, for only in death does duty end.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Fiction, Fantasy, Military Science Fiction, War, Horror

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Andrew Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. 11 books into a series about a homeless regiment of infantry and you would think that it would be just another rehash of old situations and similar plot lines. You would think that until you just put down this particular 11th book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series.

I was thinking about just leaving a one word review for this book because I was left speechless by how awesome it was, and how I instantly was saddened by the fact that it was over.

Abnett hit's another long ball out of the park with Only In Death, creating a new style in the military sci fi genre, the Horror Military Sci Fi novel. OID was a siege novel yes, it was full of action and drama, death and sadness as well, but it was also full of the unease of an old fashioned ghost story...and yes I understand the irony in that statement.

I highly recommend this book, but I strongly urge that anyone who wants to read it, read the first 10 before it. If that is you, about to embark on an epic journey spanning years and 1000's of pages...I am very jealous...but welcome to the club.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Remate notable, y con mucho sentido tanto general como particular, al arco narrativo de Los olvidados.-

Género. Ciencia ficción.

Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Solo en la muerte (publicación original: Only in Death, 2007) y durante el vigésimo tercer año de Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat, el coronel-comisario Gaunt y sus tropas son desplegados en Jago, un mundo fortaleza estéril, montañoso y polvoriento, con la orden de ocupar y mantener un antiguo bastión conocido como Hinzerhaus y situado en el flanco este de las tropas imperiales. Al poco de llegar al lugar, y además de ataques, los Fantasmas empiezan a sufrir extraños episodios, encuentros inexplicables y experiencias tan irreales como innegables. Décimo primer libro de la saga Los Fantasmas de Gaunt.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abnett finishes up the third story arc of the Gaunt's Ghosts with Only in Death and true to form, gives us yet another setting, the fortress world of Jago. The Crusade lays into Jago, ready for a long, protracted battle to liberate it. For Gaunt, however, along with his battered regiment, a special task is assigned. An abandoned, ancient mountain fortress, quickly deemed 'the house at the end of the world', is to be held by Gaunt's Ghosts, to protect the forces of chaos from using a mountain pass to flank the main Imperial offensive.

Right away, Gaunt and company know something is hinky about the place. Some ancient power source still works, providing a dim and pulsing light. Unfortunately, the well is bone dry and the regiment soon has to ration water. Jago is basically a dust bowl, and with a gusting wind often causing 'white outs'. Worse, while searching the fortress, they find evidence that the forces of chaos have been there recently and indeed, they start coming under attack almost right away. Military intelligence provided them with maps of the place, but each one is different! Finally, many of the members of the troop start having visions of dead friends, hearing things, etc., that suggest a haunting.

I loved the gothic feel Abnett created here with the spooky, ancient fortress and the action sequences are top notch for sure. Running low on water and ammo, resupply becomes problematic at the fortress is besieged by the forces of Chaos. Abnett has done it again! 4 dusty stars!

[Simon Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another 4 star review to close out The Lost arc of novels, Only in Death could have been something special. Unfortunately it was let down by a lack of detail in the antagonists typical for the series and, in contrast to The Saint arc, a lack of overarching story.

Only in Death was the first Gaunt's Ghosts book that I read when it came out, and that was a blessed way to read it. At the time it might have been the final book in the series, and when reading you could absolutely believe that this is the end of the line. Quite apart from the gradual loss of characters and general deterioration of their situation, Abnett does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere of horror and, frankly, impending doom. There were a few occasions when reading this book when I got legitimately creeped out and even physically shivered. While not overtly scary per se, the setting is just creepy. This is of course slightly undone by the knowledge that there are other books in the series, meaning that the main characters survive, and there is in fact a whole extra arc before the actual end. Try not to remember that while reading I guess, for maximum effect.

Where the novel falls down - because the typical praise applies to this one: great details, interesting characters, fantastic action - is an all-too-typical lack of detail in the antagonists. The previous few novels all featured opponents with relatively clear, specific motivations and even a mid-tier antagonist to defeat at the start of the third act. This book does neither of these things, and suffers for it. The Blood Pact have motivations and a geography which is confusing at best. When the end comes, as normally happens in Abnett's books, it comes all at once and doesn't carry huge weight. In addition to this though, by direct contrast with Sabbat Martyr finishing The Saint arc, Only in Death doesn't bring together plot threads left through The Lost with the exception of one dream sequence. Even the whole reason for the haunting at the house is completely unexplainable until the very end, though it is, I must concede, effective. It's a very damp squib to finish off the arc of books, and while quite effective in isolation doesn't do the overall series any favours.

[Daniel O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet mother of epic badassery. It's 4am. I just read this straight through. Abnett was touched by the Saint again and pulled off the story to end all stories. The series could end here and all would be right with the world. Fucking. Epic.

4½ stars. Because, let's be honest, it's still mil sci-fi trash :D

Even if it did make me tear up.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the saga at HinzerHaus. Sergeant Soric, what a legend. Only in death does duty end. Great installment.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only in Death

On the fortress-world Jago, Lord-General Van Voytz addresses the Tanith First personally. He 'asks' the Ghosts to secure an empty stronghold to the east of Elikon, the central Imperial bastion on the planet. It is clear from the start that Gaunt resents these orders. After six days of marching through Jago's desert-like terrain and enduring dust-storms, the Ghosts reach their objective: Hinzerhaus, dubbed the house at the end of the world.

As they attempt to secure the fortress, the Ghosts make numerous discoveries. There is no water source on site, the maps that they have been given of Hinzerhaus are inconsistent and incorrect, and strange echoes fill the halls. Many of the men become convinced that the place is haunted. These findings only cause more issues when the Blood Pact attempt to storm Hinzerhaus, and the Ghosts are forced to mount a defence against a superior foe. At the same time, strange apparitions begin to eat away at the courage and morale of the men...

The title of the novel is part of an old Imperial proverb; only in death does duty end. The beginning of each chapter opens with an extract from Commissar Viktor Hark's field journal, which is written in a font which resembles handwriting. This style changes slightly at points when Nahum Ludd scribes on Hark's behalf. The novel re-introduces Agun Soric, who was absent from the previous books in the 'Lost' arc.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perhaps the best book in the Gaunt's Ghost series since First and Only or Necropolis. I couldn't put it down. It was also a nice departure from the course of the last few books. Only in Death was a pleasurable mix of military science fiction, super-natural thriller, and survivalist thriller. It was definitely a high note to end this part of the Ghosts' story arc on.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly one of the best in an amazing series. A Gaunt's Ghosts ghost story featuring brutal tunnel warfare, siege warfare, warfare warfare. Grabs you from the start, and chills you like a wind over skulls....

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and his regiment, the Tanith First-And-Only, continues in this book. Abnett continues with the excitement level of his previous stories in the series. Abnett places the regiment in an apparently haunted fortress where, as usual, they have to hold the critical point of the campaign. The usual twists and turns are in place and lead to a series of (OK, the usual) climactic battles against the Blood Pact. With each chapter, the situation becomes more and more desparate. Abnett continues bringing forward new and minor characters into greater prominence within the story, with new trooper Dalin Criid and Cadet Commissar Ned Ludd featuring prominently. Only In Death matches up well to the standards set in the previous entries of the series.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Abnett has said that this might not be the last Gaunt's Ghosts novel but he is taking a break from the series. "Only in Death" doesn't disappoint. It is classic Abnett with page-turning action and he is able to bring it in yet another fresh plot with the Ghosts. As the 11th book in the series there is a lot of backstory from the previous novels that enriches the story here and is crucial to the very satisfying twist at the end.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one. A desert world, the Ghosts holed up in a deserted fortress in the mountains, screaming hordes of Blood Pact forces surrounding them, ghosts of Ghosts stirring, and Gaunt himself missing in action. There's a particularly shocking denouement, when we find out the origin of the ghosts that have been appearing to the beseiged men, and Abnett's trademark ability to write endlessly about battle and keep it interesting every time.

[Razael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 11 th instalment of the Ghosts series really made me cry into the end. A brilliant end of The Lost saga. Only in Death Duty ends.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best audiobooks I've listened to

Context: this is likely because of the time invested in the last 10 books.

Only in Death started slow. I honestly didn't think it was all that. Attempts be creepy and with haunted notions aren't my cup of tea to listen to. Sure, it's 40k and the mysterious can be very real in this setting, but it's not for me.

Then Dan amps things up. I teared up, twice. It wasn't just the losses inflicted, it was how it was described, the soft moments between the men, the recounting of stories and the sad conclusion of their inevitable demise. The book is brutal.

You fear for everyone, as is expected from gaunts ghost books, but this was all at a heightened level.

Then Dan expertly clicks all the pieces together to make a complete story. There's no left over pieces, the story threads all are entwined at the end and you're left feeling a little bit sick.

This is a perfect capture of how awful the Imperium is. After the ghosts watch the terrible choices of others inflicted on different units, it really comes to brunt on them and it leaves a permanent notion that things will now be different.

I look forward to the next three books, and yet fearful where we will now end up. At one point I thought perhaps we might get a happy ending (well, as happy as possible for 40k!) but I'm sensing that will not be the case.

Finally. Toby Longworth, the narrator, is absolutely phenomenal. He lifts this series up and this is some of his finest story telling from the gaunts ghost series.

[Chris Bowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 10 books in the Gaunt’s Ghost series, Dan Abnett does it again. He asks himself ‘How can I make this one interesting and different?’ and he delivers.

Only in Death has a really eerie feel throughout. Whilst the book is essentially a siege story with the Ghosts facing overwhelming odds, having to use all sorts of ingenuity to stay alive, much of it reads like a ghost story. It becomes quite clear very early on that something is very wrong with Hinzerhaus, the setting for most of the novel.

The book’s title is expertly used to keep the reader guessing. At first glance, it seems to just be a reference to the well-known phrase of the Imperium: “Only in death does duty end”. The phrase is used throughout the book in different contexts and acts as a theme.

Character development in Only in Death is absolutely outstanding; Merrt, Ludd, Hark, Rawne, Eszrah and Mkoll in particular get some real attention. The situations these characters find themselves in and how they respond have the reader rooting for them, all of them. Of particular note is the incredible story arc akin to Mad Max, with a lone wanderer seeking redemption in a hostile desert wasteland.

As good as (if not better than) Traitor General, Only in Death may be the best book in the series.

[Gordon Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 11 of the Gaunt's Ghosts series serves as an apt reminder of Dan Abnett's place among the preeminent 40k writers.

It would be easy at this stage to churn out another formulaic effort but Abnett freshens thins up wonderfully. The Ghosts are in a new setting. They're fighting a familiar foe, but Ghosts books aren't really about the external enemy, who exist as an overwhelming but impersonal threat. Abnett uses these books to explore the enemy within, this time playing on the juxtaposition of a fortress setting that should provide a sense of safety but instead is bedevilled with psychological threats.

Across the ensemble we have grimdark coming of age stories, a thorough exploration of grief and loss, and the idea of a haunted house tormenting our heroes with ghosts of the past.

Creepy, atmospheric and enjoyable from start to finish. I wish these books were better known outside 40k circles.

[Ronan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only in Death (does duty end) wraps up the The Lost arc of the series, and while I don't think it does a very good job of being a conclusion, partly since The Lost doesn't really have the narrative and thematic togetherness that The Saint books have, it's a much better written book than those. There's an extremely strong sense of eeriness and impending doom, and you could believe it was the last one in the series full stop. Again, the Ghosts are written greatly, but the Blood Pact fall back into facelessness, which is a shame as Traitor General gave such a face to our antagonists.

[Jack Neighbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just oh my god. That was the best gaunts ghosts book I’ve ever read. Crazy feels throughout. Bravo Dan Abnett.

[Daniel Shellenbarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what they say: "Location, Location, Location" (I don't know who THEY are or why they say it, but it is apparently something people say) and in the eleventh Gaunt's Ghosts novel, Dan Abnett has chosen a particularly memorable and effective location. Following their rather underwhelming and heart-wrenching return to Gereon, the Ghosts have been sent to Jago, a fortress-world infested with Chaos, and ordered to secure the remote and long-abandoned fortress of Hinzerhaus to secure the Imperial forces' flank. Note when I say fortress world, this is not a world that's been fortified to heck and back with massive weapons batteries and citadels, this is a world whose ancient unknown inhabitants crisscrossed their own world with fortifications, trying in vain to protect themselves from some unknown threat, until there was literally nothing else left but desolate dusty wind-wracked wilderness. The book takes place almost entirely within Hinzerhaus and its environs and the combination of remoteness, desolate lifeless wilderness, ever-present eerie whistling winds, and a twisty confusing ill-lit interior which doesn't seem to correspond to any of their maps (which themselves don't agree with each other) makes for a very creepy setting even before you add in the fact that from the moment that the Ghosts enter Hinzerhaus, it is clear that they are not alone, that SOMETHING else is active within the walls, and with every day, cut off and running short on supplies, the manifestations become more and more intense, bringing with them the faces of the dead. If that wasn't enough for anyone to deal with, Chaos's elite storm troops, the Blood Pack, are active in the area and it soon becomes clear that far from a stronghold, Hinzerhaus is an insidious trap and its haunted halls may become the final resting place of the Ghosts. (I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this book is basically the 40k version of the third act of Beau Geste but set in a haunted fortress on a long-dead alien world and that's a winning combo if ever I heard one)

I loved this book. The setting is just so well-realized and really really creepy and Abnett masterfully uses that to build tension both internally, with many of the Ghosts either thinking they're going mad or becoming obsessed with their own personal hauntings, and externally, with Hinzerhaus become a pressure-boiler where the Ghosts' isolation, losses, sleep-deprivation, thirst, and fears are pushing them to the very edge of desperation in the face of an unstoppable, implacable foe who not only knows the area better than them but outnumbers them, outguns them, and absolutely does not care how many of their own they have to lose to see the Ghosts dead. Abnett not only uses this pressure to push many old characters to their limits (and showcase how they've changed as the series has gone on, (for instance) with Larkin refusing to let the ghosts of the past distract him or to let fear rule him as it once did and Major Rawne stepping up to prove he can be a real leader when he's needed unlike the angry jerk he's often been in the past), but also uses it to push some new Ghosts to fill bigger shoes, particularly Dallin, who, even with all the stuff going down here is still having a far better time of it than in Armour of Contempt. There's some heart-breaking deaths here, as is often the case in Abnett's books, but unlike Armour of Contempt, it doesn't feel pathetic or useless. All in all, this was at least my second-favorite book in the series, right up there with Necropolis, and it's managed to reinvigorate my enjoyment of the series after Armour of Contempt threatened to end it. Also, Ghost or ghost, Bragg's still the best (come on Abnett, start calling him St. Bragg and resurrect him, you coward!).

[Jiří Pavlovský · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tohle už není válka. To jsou jatka.

Gauntova jednotka je vysazena na pevnostní planetě Jago, kde vítr před sebou ustavičně žene oblaka prachu a kolem se válí lebky s usekanými zátylky. Má za úkol obsadit starou pevnost a postarat se, aby hlavní armádě, která svádí válku o hlavní město, nikdo nevpadl do boku. Zdá se to jako jednoduchá mise, ovšem to se rychle změní a během chvíle je pevnost obklíčena mnohonásobnou přesilou. Gauntovi muži nemají vodu a dochází jim i munice. Každý další útok je zuřivější a zuřivější.

A aby to bylo ještě horší – pevnost, kterou brání, je prokletá.

Jedině smrtí je celkem jistě jedna z nejlepších knih celé Gauntovy řady. Už jen to bránění pevnosti by stačilo, ale k tomu je tu ponurá atmosféra obří tvrze, která je jedním velkým bludištěm, kdy ani jedna mapa není stejná a hrdinové tu potkávají jak své mrtvé přátele, tak ženu v černých šatech s obličejem sežraným červy. A postupně začíná všem čím dál víc hrabat.

Kombinace hororu s válečnou řežbou funguje skvěle. Postavy si najednou nemůžou být jisté samy sebou – což uprostřed války není zrovna to, co si člověk může přát. Je to intenzivní, je to napínavé, je to čtivé… dokonce ani konec není tak useklý, jak bývá u Abnetta zvykem. I když ano, jak stále graduje napětí a houstne atmosféra, tak by si to zasloužilo nějaké efektnější a monumentálnější finále, ale člověk nemůže chtít všechno.

Skoro si říkám, že je to knížka, která by mohla fungovat jako vstupenka do řady… ale zase už je tam nějaká znalost postav celkem důležitá (i když já si taky většinu z nich už moc nepamatoval), takže asi fakt začít od začátku a k tomuhle se až propracovat. Rozhodně to za to stojí.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Strong As Ever

This series carries on from The Saint omnibus with four new stories in the sabbat worlds crusade, starting off with a mission on Gereon where a general known to the ghosts has been taken captive, either that or he turned, a small team of Ghosts try to track him down to either rescue or assassinate him, and in the process have to deal with a chaos world in the making, whilst Gaunt is away the ghosts are disbanded and when he returns he has to bring them back together, His Last Command is probably the weakest of the 4 novels, with little action happening, it does build well for the Armour Of Contempt though when Gaunt and the Ghosts have to return to Gereon to liberate the world, at any cost, lastly we have Only In Death, the ghosts have been dispatched to the fortress world of Jago, they are trapped inside an abandoned fortress, and they not only have to face the chaos soldiers amassing outside, but a closer threat also, will Gaunt survive intact, you might be surprised, 5 stars for Traitor General, The Armour Of Contempt and Only In Death, 3 stars for His Last Command.

[GUS BUS! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great the latest addition to the gaunts ghosts series(At the time of writting this review). It had all of the things that are in every haunted house movie, gothic literature thing that you could think of. IT MADE IT GREAT. Each main character saw there own little things in the house and not to mention the blood pact knocking on their door. Plus many mysteries that you have to read to find out. sure as sure. Also many a blood pact meets Mr.Yellow. All in all this was one of the best gaunt novel i have read.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 11 of the Gaunt's Ghosts series and the last so far. Is it good? I read it in one day...
I only recommend it for fans of the genre though: Warhammer 40K players and anyone who likes non-stop insane sci-fi military action/adventure! Likewise with other books from the 40K universe. Others may find them a bit over the top.
Dan Abnett IS the master of war!

What did I learn from this book? Hmm. Never underestimate the power of ancient alien technologies to literally blast your opponents into bloody mist?

[Jona Marklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the last three books the ghosts return with a bang. I really enjoyed Only in Death (does duty end).

Whilst some parts were very predictable, a lot of... Just read it, if you've come this far into the Ghost's Saga, it's not as if you're going to stop, is it?

If you were going to however, this is the book which will make sure you don't stray from the path of righteousness.

[BrokenMnemonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having re-read this, I liked it more the second time around; while it's basically a haunted house story in a lot of ways, I found it stronger the second time when looking back at the characters the regiment had lost in the books preceeding this, and listening to the audiobook made the pacing work better for me.

[Cold Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to read this book, but I don't have to read it to know that it is a work of genius. The last book in the Gaunts Ghosts series, the title is enought to make the hairs on any Gaunts Ghosts fan stand on end.

"Men of Tanith, do you want to live forever?"

[Lindsay Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one feels like a bit of a dud, sadly. The premise is intriguing, but there wasn't the relentless narrative drive or epic scale of his best stories. It feels as though he thought of a fun setting but didn't really know what to do with it.

[Seth Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only in death does duty end. This is a close second to His Last Command as one of the greatest Black library novels released.

[Christian Robless · Rating 5 out of 5]

A military regiment. A haunted fortress. Thousands of enemies. Only time will tell how this will end.

[Jan Amza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has I nice horror story touch to it.