Wolf Hunt

The Horus Heresy #Audio Drama

by Graham McNeill, Samuel Gunn (Director), Simon Slater (Composer)

A fugitive stalks the shadows of the Petitioner’s City. Though his fellow Outcast Dead are no more, the lone wolf Severian still intends to escape from Terra by any means possible – but the enigmatic hunter Yasu Nagasena is in pursuit. As news of the massacre on Isstvan V continues to spread and Severian’s trail doubles back to the place where it all began, both he and Nagasena must face some uncomfortable truths, and an even more uncertain future.

A Horus Heresy audio drama by Graham McNeill. Produced by Heavy Entertainment for Black Library. Directed by Samuel Gunn. Music specially composed by Simon Slater. Narrated by David Timson. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, Jane Collingwood, Jonathan Keeble and Luke Thompson.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, 40k

Audiobook

First published May 20, 2013

About the author

Hailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in The Silent War anthology

Far better than expected.

For a time ret-con is used for good, to fix the timeline continuity issues in The Outcast Dead, characters and storyline were really good (I already revalued Severian in Graham McNeill's Wolf Mother) and at last this time we have not unharmed Space Marines killing bare-handed fully armed/armored Custodes.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVIII Omnissiah II End of Empires (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.

It never ceases to amaze how a little context and a different day, and suddenly there's one audio drama you were enamoured with that you now think is definitely great, but have calmed down on, as I felt with The Sigillite earlier and one I was very ambivalent and tepid on I am feeling more positive towards.

I mostly stand by my previous review. I don't know how strong the concerns of Orientalism are, but I truly wish whoevef is encouraging or allowing Keeble to make some questionable choices when taking a swing at accents would stop. I adore Keeble's narration, but some of his accent work much less so.

Coming hot on the heels on The Outcast Dead and being shocked by how much I enjoyed returning to it after to so. Long set me up to have a better time, but I did find this to be rather charming listen.

I do wish the anguish and confusion of the Crusader Host had been played up and the knife twisted a bit more, but I'm an emotional pain pig.

I hadn't previously noticed McNeill doing the 'gasleak Community seasons' about the Isstvan/ Magnus timing, which I know really annoyed some people. It's strange, my autism really gets set off by some things, but so far continuity and canon across Horus Heresy and 40K just hasn't concerned me. With this particular one, the whole nature of warp time dilation would have been enough to explain it. It's all vibes where the warp is concerned.

Yeah, this was a nice way to wind down for bed. I'm going to take the star I stole from Malcador and give it to his new Knight Errant to be thar I'm meeting for the first time chronologically after already reading Vengeful Spirit, The Buried Dagger, and the various connections. Honestly, hats off to the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project for the continuity moments being so small and well worth the consolidation of storylines.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 38 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat and 4 anthologies), 22 novellas (including 2 repeats), 116 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats, but not including a number of additional repeats for clarity), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, All 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t...). I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

***

Initial Review 3/5

I feel extremely ambivalent about this audio drama, which is
definitely not helped by this being the last entry in the Endless War collection, following phenemonal pair, The Sigillite by Chris Wraight and Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium by L J Goulding.

Acting as a coda for the novel The Outcast Dead, also by Graham McNeil, Wolf Hunt follows the Lunar Wolf, Severian, trying make sense of the events that have taken place during the nearly 200 years he's been stuck on Terra to make his way off world, as he is hunted by Yasu Nagasena on the orders of Rogal Dorn.

The narrative itself is fine. It's interesting see Serverian blunder about getting in trouble and helping those in need like some Witcher on the run. Seeing more of the street view of the Petitioner's City and civilian life is a nice change and fits the Witcher metaphor, as does the assassin coming after the transhuman Lunar Wolf. It just didn't grab me. There's some interesting scenes and inner monologues, but for the most part it's competent, not particularly original, and for me, not very engaging.

The ending is a little more interesting and sets up further stories and potential for interesting interactions and tensions in the future, somewhat reminding me of some Space Wolves stories I'm vaguely aware of.

I don't know enough and I am not the person to be personally offended, but I can't help finding the character of Yasu Nagasena to seem like a stereotype of orientalism. There are quite a few elements to his design on the cover, description, and character, not to mention the extremely questionable choice of having David Timpson do a very uncomfortable 'Asian' accent for the character. Nagasena also has stereotypical music for background in the opening scenes in his home, which is not something I can recall happening for other characters It all adds up to what seems kinda yikes. Think this could have down with some sensitivity reading.

Ultimately, this is pretty good, but not great audio drama that brings the story of the Crusader Host from The Outcast Dead to a close and positions players to be important down the line. Not the most essential listening.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this audio drama is a direct sequel to The Outcast Dead. So go ahead, read my review of that book first... go on, I'll wait

...

All done ?
Because I said so in the previous review, I have to apologise because I was unhappy with the ending, thinking there would be no sequel to it... I hereby stand corrected.

Also, the temporal issue, the so-called Retcon I called in that review; guess what: it's been SOLVED \o/ (I'm so happy because of this). Also, it doesn't seem to be just a patch on the Warhammer 40K Lore because the solution also explains some other sketchy unclarities.

The story itself provides some closure to the original story of the Outcast Dead, also, because it's a Horus Heresy Audio Drama, it tends to be stuffed away in the Great Story of all Horus Heresy Audio Drama's (small spoiler: The Founding of the Grey Knights)

If you read the Outcast Dead, then you want... no, need... to experience this audio drama

[Darrel Vater von Katzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it and I am looking forward where this arc will lead. Personally I loved 'The Outcast Dead' (despite the nay sayers) and was keen to listen to the wrapping up of the hunt.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follow up to the novel "The Outcast Dead".

Sevarian the Luna Wolf haunts the Petitioners City and Nagasena has been tasked with tracking him down. Both characters are struggling to accept the changes being made to the galaxy that are far outside of their control. Sevarian cannot believe his gene-father would ever betray the Emperor, not after all that Horus had done to secure the Imperium. Nagasena can see the change on the horizon as the Imperial Palace is fortified for the Siege, the ideals of the Great Crusade being stripped away as secrecy and brutal authority are enforced in the name of security.

The story also provides new perspectives on the Heresy, as we get a chance to hear the inhabitants of the Petitioners City gossip and share rumours about the events at Isstvan and the treachery of the Primarchs. We also get to see Vadok Singh, the Warmason again, after he was introduced in "The Lightning Tower" as the architect behind the changes to prepare the Imperial Palace for the Siege.

The conclusion of the stroy draws in Malcador the Sigillite, as the story is revealed to tie into the Knight Errant plotline. Sevarian later appears in "The Vengeful Spirit", the short story "Wolf Mother" and "The Buried Dagger". Nagaesena returns in the story "The Crimson King".

[Lanfear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estaba totalmente equivocado, pensé que se trataba de un lobo espacial, no un lobo lunar, y después pensé que era un traidor que se había quedado aislado después de la batalla de terra y que intentaba huir al ojo después de la muerte del architraidor. Me ha gustado mucho descubrir que Severian es un lobo lunar, no un hijo de Horus, un marine leal que no se puede creer la traición de su primarca, además de que por fin vemos las opiniones de la gente de la calle sobre la masacre de Isstvan V y la traición del calvo. Muy interesante todo. La personalidad del cazador también merece una mención pero tampoco mucho porque usa una sucia katana. Eso es imperdonable para mi.

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collected in the silent war anthology.

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The samurai gimmick comes on a bit thick and distracts from an otherwise good character and story

[DarkChaplain · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing:
Yes, it "fixes" The Outcast Dead, as was promised.
Personally, I think the way it was done was reasonable and made a certain amount of sense.

Whether that will be enough for you is not for me to decide, but I am willing to accept it.

The drama itself was enjoyable, especially the small hints and subtle origin stories of certain well-known things from the 41st Millenium.
The Luna Wolf was interesting to hear about, Yasu Nagasena felt like a character who I'd like to hear more about (even though I'm not particularly fond of the whole Samurai-esque description).
The Hunt itself was short but eventful and filled the whole runtime of the drama.

One thing that really bothered me with the audio, however, was the choice of Malcador's voice. After hearing him so many times already, I'd have preferred him sticking with his voice. The actor used here felt a bit unsuitable for the character.

I definitely recommend this if you still feel sour over The Outcast Dead, and you shouldn't listen to this before having finished the novel, as it is a direct sequel.
If you want more info about Malcador and his plans, then this should be a no-brainer.

[Hawke Embers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The exciting and thoughtful sequel to The Outcast Dead that has a traditional Samurai; hunting a genetically-engineered-killing-machine-fugitive across a sprawling city.

I was rapt in this tales magnetic pros from the moment it started to the moment it ended, our protagonist; Yasu Nagasena is wise, gentle and lethal all at the same time. The Luna Wolf; Yasu's target; is cunning, attuned, dangerous and pitting these two in an exciting chase across Ancient Terra is not just exciting but surprisingly thoughtful and fleshed out.

It is unusual to see an Astarte employ these levels of creativity and stealth in order to outsmart his pursuer, it is simply delightful. Additionally, it is interesting it is to see Japanese martial culture, its lethality multiplied and adapted to such a dark and lethal sci-fi setting.

A 4.5 out of 5

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audio book continues the story line of Outcast Dead (the novel). Japanese-based character Nagasena hunts down the only survivor from the original Outcast Dead group, Luna Wolf legionnaire Severian and has the order to kill the Space Marine on the spot [and order comes from none other than Rogal Dorn].

I will not go into details (due to the spoilers) but I have a feeling that some very high-skill force is being prepped up to help the Imperium in it's conflict with Horus.

Highly recommended, especially for the W40K and Horus Heresy fans - albeit be forewarned, Knowing what took place in Outcast Dead will help you avoid scratching your head and going "humph, what did he mean with this".

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting audio drama that follows the events of The Outcast Dead(which feels like I read FOREVER ago). It was nice getting to see the Petitioner's City again, as well as Savarion and the hunter.
I always like to see how creative and ingenious a Space Marine can be when he is being hunted.
Though the best part was seeing how this played into Malcador's Grey Knights aspect of the series. I really hope that we get a definite end to all of that(or more so a definite beginning?).
Also seeing them fix the Magnus "timeline error" from The Outcast Dead was nice.

[Aleksi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot better than some of the other shit McNeill has written as of late.

[Patt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good wrap up to the outcast dead

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, a good follow up to The Outcast Dead, and with some very interesting plot points towards the end of the story...

[Periklis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The utterly satisfying conclusion of a loose thread from "The Outcast Dead"...

[Luis · Rating 3 out of 5]

entretenido y revelador. explica los problemas de línea temporal de su novela antecesora