What do you think?
Rate this book
Warhammer 40,000
Let the Galaxy Burn
By popular demand, we've gathered up the best sf short stories ever written for the Black Library into one massive volume, and added some brand new tales! Warhammer 40,000 fans will be keen to get their hands on classic stories that have been unavailable for a while, and all readers will enjoy the range and variety on offer in this high-value volume.
765 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2006
23 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Marc Gascoigne
101 books61 followersPublisher, editor, designer – a lifetime in books. Previously publisher of Aconyte, Angry Robot, Black Library, and Solaris. Before that, responsible for a whole bookcase worth of books, both fiction and non-fiction, tie-ins and original works, as well as games design, journalism, computer game scripting, etc. Winner of both the World Fantasy Award and British Fantasy Award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 25, 2013
Definitely for fans of the Warhammer 40K universe, but a fun and pulpy collection of
sci-fi/fantasy stories. The best are by Dan Abnett, who writes military thrillers with vivid and descriptive action sequences. There are a few that make a good effort but did not keep my interest, but most stories here are entertaining enough to whittle time away without committing to a full blown novel.
sci-fi/fantasy stories. The best are by Dan Abnett, who writes military thrillers with vivid and descriptive action sequences. There are a few that make a good effort but did not keep my interest, but most stories here are entertaining enough to whittle time away without committing to a full blown novel.
June 4, 2012
Almost of these stories were presented on the first anthologies they printed (Dark Imperium, Words of Blood and Into the Maelstrom. I have yet to read Words of blood but I won't be reading it from here because the font is too small for my feeble eyes. Of course they added a few so everyone needed to buy. They are divided not in books but on themes which is nice.
Unforgiven - Graham McNeill is another story about the neverending hunt for the fallen dark angels. As you all know they hunt their fallen brethern fervoulsy and above about anything else. That's what make them interesting. This story is nice but it's nothing from out of this world 6.5/10
The Fall of Malvolion - Dan Abnett - Now this is a story. It's one of those stories that can make you buy a book just for it. It's a story about some imperial forces who are trying to evacuate the world of Malvolion. The last two pages are one of the best written pages I've read from 40k. 30 space marines from the Lamenters chapter fall on the planet to help the imperial guard and if in the beginning they start to turn the tide the end if beautifully portraited. Nothing can stop the Great Devourer. It was nice to see the image that the IG have of Space Marine. God-like unstopabble killing machines. The ending is perfect. This is another story that tells us why Dan Abnett is the best writer in Black Library and shouldn't never stop writing fiction for it. 10/10.
The Tower - C S Goto - This tale as odd but suprising good. In one part we follow a sanitiser in his day by day at the tower where he works. It's another good detective/psycological story. It was interesting to see the daily life and also how the system works. 8/10
Pestilence - Dan abnett - Another great tale by Mr Abnett. In these tale we follow Higher Administrator Medica Lemual Sark as he travells to an asylum hoping to find a cure to a plague. This is another great tale and I don't know why but as I read it I was reminded of Shutter Island. 9.5/10
Suffer Not the Unclean to Live - Gav Thorpe - This was an different story. We follow the life of a preacher in a world were slaves are mutants. This preacher goes to the settlements to help the needed and there he makes aquaintence with an rebel who wants to make a revolt because they are dying of a plague. It's quite nice story and the ending was also quite good. One think that I wonder is that all other books the preachers, holy man of the Imperium, are always distrustful of mutants and even ogryn are seen with suspicious. It's nice to see that here that don't apply. In the end this story was nice reading. 7.5/10
Playing Patience - Dan Abnett (Whem I read Ravenor)
Summary
Would I advice this book to anyone? Yes. This book is a good start to anyone who want to enter the warhammer 40k world. It's got Imperial Guard, space marines, chaos marines, inquisitors, eldars, tyranids, orks etc... Almost ever single race is presented here. And one thing is for sure... you can make your own asset if the Imperium of Man are the good guys, bad guys or... grey. That's the real treat to anyone reading warhammer 40k. Everyone thinks something different of it....
Unforgiven - Graham McNeill is another story about the neverending hunt for the fallen dark angels. As you all know they hunt their fallen brethern fervoulsy and above about anything else. That's what make them interesting. This story is nice but it's nothing from out of this world 6.5/10
The Fall of Malvolion - Dan Abnett - Now this is a story. It's one of those stories that can make you buy a book just for it. It's a story about some imperial forces who are trying to evacuate the world of Malvolion. The last two pages are one of the best written pages I've read from 40k. 30 space marines from the Lamenters chapter fall on the planet to help the imperial guard and if in the beginning they start to turn the tide the end if beautifully portraited. Nothing can stop the Great Devourer. It was nice to see the image that the IG have of Space Marine. God-like unstopabble killing machines. The ending is perfect. This is another story that tells us why Dan Abnett is the best writer in Black Library and shouldn't never stop writing fiction for it. 10/10.
The Tower - C S Goto - This tale as odd but suprising good. In one part we follow a sanitiser in his day by day at the tower where he works. It's another good detective/psycological story. It was interesting to see the daily life and also how the system works. 8/10
Pestilence - Dan abnett - Another great tale by Mr Abnett. In these tale we follow Higher Administrator Medica Lemual Sark as he travells to an asylum hoping to find a cure to a plague. This is another great tale and I don't know why but as I read it I was reminded of Shutter Island. 9.5/10
Suffer Not the Unclean to Live - Gav Thorpe - This was an different story. We follow the life of a preacher in a world were slaves are mutants. This preacher goes to the settlements to help the needed and there he makes aquaintence with an rebel who wants to make a revolt because they are dying of a plague. It's quite nice story and the ending was also quite good. One think that I wonder is that all other books the preachers, holy man of the Imperium, are always distrustful of mutants and even ogryn are seen with suspicious. It's nice to see that here that don't apply. In the end this story was nice reading. 7.5/10
Playing Patience - Dan Abnett (Whem I read Ravenor)
Summary
Would I advice this book to anyone? Yes. This book is a good start to anyone who want to enter the warhammer 40k world. It's got Imperial Guard, space marines, chaos marines, inquisitors, eldars, tyranids, orks etc... Almost ever single race is presented here. And one thing is for sure... you can make your own asset if the Imperium of Man are the good guys, bad guys or... grey. That's the real treat to anyone reading warhammer 40k. Everyone thinks something different of it....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2010
While not the kind of book that will open your eyes and redefine your conceptions about the reality around you, It certainly will sate your blood lust for battle and all around Epicness.
"The principle is that what the enemy cannot see he cannot kill. This is not the way of the Adeptus Astartes. A Space Marine’s armour is bright with heraldry that proclaims his devotion to his Chapter and the beloved Emperor of Mankind. Our principle is that what the enemy can see, he will soon learn to fear…"
Burn the Heretic! Kill the Mutant! Purge the Unclean! <3
"The principle is that what the enemy cannot see he cannot kill. This is not the way of the Adeptus Astartes. A Space Marine’s armour is bright with heraldry that proclaims his devotion to his Chapter and the beloved Emperor of Mankind. Our principle is that what the enemy can see, he will soon learn to fear…"
Burn the Heretic! Kill the Mutant! Purge the Unclean! <3
August 19, 2019
Excellent collection of short stories.
March 15, 2021
38 wonderful WH40K short stories. Did one a day and really enjoyed most.
July 22, 2021
Mixed array of stories, some better than others. Worth a read but I wouldn't rush to purchase the full book at a full price
November 7, 2021
This book is huge. Quite a mixture of stories, several I liked , several I didn't and many in the middle.
August 5, 2022
Extremely hit-and-miss short story collection from the early Black Library days. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/200...
March 22, 2025
I thought I needed this much 40K fiction...
August 16, 2025
Wonderful collection of shot stories!
August 28, 2009
I managed to get through this book. It took me a bit longer than usual. I tend to read more than one book at once, so when it comes to anthologies, reading a bit here and a bit there is normal for me. However, this took me a bit longer than usual. Part of the reason is that it did have some stories that were just average.So those did not keep my attention as well. Since I was aiming to read all the book, rather than skipping, it took me a bit longer. After reading the Ciaphas Cain volume, which I enjoyed immensely (it is still one of my all time favorites, and I gave it five stars here), this was just not as engaging. But I still liked this volume overall because it had some very good stories, which make the volume worth reading. Some of the stories that stuck with me include: "Know Thine Enemy" about the chaplain; the one about the lucky tank soldier; the story of the ork hunter; and the tale of the memory collector. The Ravenor tale is one I may revisit when I get ready to read the new Ravenor omnibus volume. Overall, this was an entertaining volume. I think that fans of WH40K will definitely enjoy it. For the casual reader of scifi or military scifi, I think they will skim and find the stories they like, skipping the others. Overall, I liked it, but I get the feeling there are better works in the WH40K series.
September 4, 2011
There's something that's just mindless fun about the dire severity of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Unfortunately a little bit of it goes a long way and this book is an endless pasta bowl of harsh manly carb-loaded future war. I set this collection of short stories on my bed stand, erratically reaching for it anytime I wanted an escape from the subtle nuance of literary prose.
This is where it sat for a few years, as my hands periodically perused this manifold collection of pulp fiction. The sporadic visiting of the future dark millennium yielded a few gems in this rough-hewn volume. To be honest there was something wearying about seeing this seemingly inexhaustible tome sitting on my reading pedestal, stoically waiting for me to complete it.
At the very least I learned that, despite the economy of it, buying diverting genre fiction in such a massive omnibus format can be a burdensome commitment.
This is where it sat for a few years, as my hands periodically perused this manifold collection of pulp fiction. The sporadic visiting of the future dark millennium yielded a few gems in this rough-hewn volume. To be honest there was something wearying about seeing this seemingly inexhaustible tome sitting on my reading pedestal, stoically waiting for me to complete it.
At the very least I learned that, despite the economy of it, buying diverting genre fiction in such a massive omnibus format can be a burdensome commitment.
June 26, 2017
Nowhere near as many victories for the Imperium as the first story advertises, but still an astonishingly good anthology. One of the blurbs says "Games Workshop must be doing something right if they have so many talented artists and writers working for them." Such high praise doesn't come anywhere near doing this collection justice. It's difficult to read this and walk away without thinking, muttering, or even screaming "FOR THE EMPEROR!" before every action you take but, with this much quality fiction in one volume, you won't mind one bit.
February 16, 2009
Based in the universe of the popular wargame, these stories focus primarily on the activities of the Space Marines in the far future. Full of battle, glory and gore, they make me think of the pulp war novels of the Second World War, in which everything was war, and war was hell.
If you like science fiction and reading war stories, this is FOR YOU. 38 stories in easily-manageable lengths. Sacrifice, betrayal, trickery, and plenty of gun-totin' action.
If you like science fiction and reading war stories, this is FOR YOU. 38 stories in easily-manageable lengths. Sacrifice, betrayal, trickery, and plenty of gun-totin' action.
January 19, 2010
If you love Warhammer 40K and want to delve into that twisted universe when you're not painting your miniatures, this is the omnibus for you. It is a collection of the Black Library's established authors doing various short stories from around the Warhammer 40K universe. I've only gone halfway through the book, but it's a gripping read for any fan of pulp sci-fi.
August 6, 2011
Any one who is a fan of the Warhammer universe is sure to love this installment. The diversity of the authors and the stories makes it a fun read that evolves after each story. Its also very time friendly to read when you have a short break.
June 3, 2014
A very entertaining collection of short stories from the world of Warhammer 40,000. Took me a while to read because I would read a story about every month or so, but fun to pick up every so often. Great place to start for WH40K newbies...
June 1, 2014
as a short stories compilation it's pretty standard. Some great, some very Sub par. If you Like Warhammer 40,000 you'll like some of the short stories. If you're unfamiliar to Warhammer 40,000, more than likely you'll be lost on a lot of the references.
December 30, 2010
For a collection of 38 or 39 stories, there were very few stinkers. A nice collection with a wide variety of the Imperium of Terra represented.
August 26, 2011
Absolutely great collection of warhammer short stories, most of which i found very insightful into the amazingly vast tufts of warhammer40k fluff :D
November 8, 2012
An awesome collection of short stories from all different perspectives and authors. It includes one of my favorites by Dan Abnett (he's awesome) called Ork hunter.
May 1, 2016
Read this WH40K short story collection some years back and enjoyed it. GrimDark Military SciFi sliced up into small hard hitting bits.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews