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The Horus Heresy #Short Story
Lost Sons
The Blood Angels were lured into a trap at Signus Prime by the most vile treachery imaginable, but not all of them went with Sanguinius on that fateful journey. Keeping the home fires burning on Baal, the remaining honour guard are brought news of their primarch’s death and must decide upon the final course for their Legion themselves.
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First published November 3, 2012
2 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
James Swallow
210 books1,076 followersJames 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 28, 2017
Re-read in The Silent War anthology
An amazing follow-up/coda to Fear to Tread with the origin of the Blood Angels' Death Company.
And the ending was just awesome.
A must-read for all fans of the never lost sons of Sanguinius
February 29, 2024
February 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus V Shadow of the Warmaster I Knives in the Dark (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
Ah, what I fool I was before I discovered a love for James Swallow!
This is one of those stories that has such a different impact read within the context and, more importantly the tone of Horus Heresy Series. I am shocked at how negative and flippant I have been on reviews in the last four or five months compared to now. The epochal, mythological, and legendary timbre of the series make what I previously referred to as an "arts and crafts project" and "Andy turning up in a black t-shirt" far more significant and symbolic, but you have to been engaging with it on its level and terms, which I absolutely wasn't doing before.
The very idea that the Blood Angels and Sanguinius could have been completely wiped out, beyond the 200 holding down the fort on Baal is absolutely wild, as is just how quickly Malcador moves to capitalise on it and make use of the 'Astartes resources'.
This story is a wild little moment renderdered impressively. However, I can help but feel this is the kind of scene that would be better served as part of a larger story with some history and backstory for the major Blood Angels players. I know I am always saying a story should be a novella, but this has such untapped potential that I can't help but say it again.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 12.41 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 32 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 6 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. 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 really went back and forth on this. I have a mixed history with James Swallow and the Blood Angels. He is generally better in his Horus Heresy and audio drama offerings, but I will never forget the sheer okayness of the Blood Angels Saga books. If they had been awful, that would be one thing, but they are so unbelievably meh, though space submarine is a pretty cool moment I will grant you. This is definitely better than them and is definitely an interesting chaser to go with Fear to Tread, but I think it's one of those stories in which the significance of the lore seems to convince people that the story is equally as good. I may be being a bit too harsh, but I don't know how much less moving the bullet point outline of this story is that the story itself, especially when certain aspects are included with as much context and weight as a bullet point.
Sanguinius and every single Blood Angel, save the 20 left in charge of a the Baal system, are lost in the maelstrom after Horus, entirely unsuspiciously, ordered the whole legion deploy into the the middle of nowhere space. Assumptions have been made and brutal pronouncement and requisitions are deemed necessary to serve the Imperium's cause. The home on Blangels are understandably sad, but all might not be lost.
I really thought this was going to be something, and at times it definitely was, but on the whole this was an example of the garment wearing you, not your wearing the garment.
***Spoilers Below***
Look, I love sad Astartes, Knights Errant, and the potential for those actually on the same side to have to come to blows and/ or epically fuck everything up for themselves because of honour and whatever, but this story just didn't really sell any of it. It's not helped by the fact that, while Swallow is the go to guy for Team Edward, he's never been able to make them feel like Blood Angels as a distinct legion with their own character and personality, maybe a little in Fear to Tread, maybe. Swap out the names of the planets, legion, and Primarch and this story could be about any legion with no changes.
I saw another review being hype about the beginnings of the Death Company, which, yeah, is a really significant moment and an incredible and unique aspect of the Blood Angels in Warhammer 40K. I understand feeling hype for that. But, a couple of dudes had a little arts and crafts session on their armour offscreen for no reason that was explained or acknowledged in this story. Am I missing something? All I got was 'Andy rocked up with a black shirt with red colour, rather than his usual all red shirt'. I get that it's likely we would get the reference, but this isn't a modern Star Wars property with stuff too recognised sprinkled about the place. One of my favourite things about the Horus Heresy is seeing how characters and aspects from 40K came to be, but this wasn't it.
Was the POV character the actual chaplain who is the Death Company babysitter in 40K? I'm guessing so, but at this point I don't care enough to look it up.
I know this can literally be the answer to pretty much all fuck ups in the Heresy, but more often than not it's easy enough to wave off with a, 'oh yeah, the Emperor's a massive dickhead. Don't worry about it', but what the fuck were Malacdor and his Grey Librarian thinking in their approach to the Blood Angels? Like, this was always going to be bad and need to be saved by the bell (Baal?). At least, talk about the Imperium's need and how they and their vessels could serve the Emperor and honour their brothers and progenitor, rather than, 'Welp, everyone else is lost, so you're all fired and all your shit is going up for police auction'. It's really frustrating and absolutely blew up what could Be been a really emotionally weighty and difficult situation. I feel I have been robbed of tears I could have shed.
Anyways, this is story of a significant moment that can absolutely be skipped as it will almost certainly be referenced in a more interesting way whenever the events that took place are actually relevant. It really isn't bad and sometimes it's good, but overall decidedly meh and wasted potential.
Ah, what I fool I was before I discovered a love for James Swallow!
This is one of those stories that has such a different impact read within the context and, more importantly the tone of Horus Heresy Series. I am shocked at how negative and flippant I have been on reviews in the last four or five months compared to now. The epochal, mythological, and legendary timbre of the series make what I previously referred to as an "arts and crafts project" and "Andy turning up in a black t-shirt" far more significant and symbolic, but you have to been engaging with it on its level and terms, which I absolutely wasn't doing before.
The very idea that the Blood Angels and Sanguinius could have been completely wiped out, beyond the 200 holding down the fort on Baal is absolutely wild, as is just how quickly Malcador moves to capitalise on it and make use of the 'Astartes resources'.
This story is a wild little moment renderdered impressively. However, I can help but feel this is the kind of scene that would be better served as part of a larger story with some history and backstory for the major Blood Angels players. I know I am always saying a story should be a novella, but this has such untapped potential that I can't help but say it again.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 12.41 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 32 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 6 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. 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 really went back and forth on this. I have a mixed history with James Swallow and the Blood Angels. He is generally better in his Horus Heresy and audio drama offerings, but I will never forget the sheer okayness of the Blood Angels Saga books. If they had been awful, that would be one thing, but they are so unbelievably meh, though space submarine is a pretty cool moment I will grant you. This is definitely better than them and is definitely an interesting chaser to go with Fear to Tread, but I think it's one of those stories in which the significance of the lore seems to convince people that the story is equally as good. I may be being a bit too harsh, but I don't know how much less moving the bullet point outline of this story is that the story itself, especially when certain aspects are included with as much context and weight as a bullet point.
Sanguinius and every single Blood Angel, save the 20 left in charge of a the Baal system, are lost in the maelstrom after Horus, entirely unsuspiciously, ordered the whole legion deploy into the the middle of nowhere space. Assumptions have been made and brutal pronouncement and requisitions are deemed necessary to serve the Imperium's cause. The home on Blangels are understandably sad, but all might not be lost.
I really thought this was going to be something, and at times it definitely was, but on the whole this was an example of the garment wearing you, not your wearing the garment.
***Spoilers Below***
Look, I love sad Astartes, Knights Errant, and the potential for those actually on the same side to have to come to blows and/ or epically fuck everything up for themselves because of honour and whatever, but this story just didn't really sell any of it. It's not helped by the fact that, while Swallow is the go to guy for Team Edward, he's never been able to make them feel like Blood Angels as a distinct legion with their own character and personality, maybe a little in Fear to Tread, maybe. Swap out the names of the planets, legion, and Primarch and this story could be about any legion with no changes.
I saw another review being hype about the beginnings of the Death Company, which, yeah, is a really significant moment and an incredible and unique aspect of the Blood Angels in Warhammer 40K. I understand feeling hype for that. But, a couple of dudes had a little arts and crafts session on their armour offscreen for no reason that was explained or acknowledged in this story. Am I missing something? All I got was 'Andy rocked up with a black shirt with red colour, rather than his usual all red shirt'. I get that it's likely we would get the reference, but this isn't a modern Star Wars property with stuff too recognised sprinkled about the place. One of my favourite things about the Horus Heresy is seeing how characters and aspects from 40K came to be, but this wasn't it.
Was the POV character the actual chaplain who is the Death Company babysitter in 40K? I'm guessing so, but at this point I don't care enough to look it up.
I know this can literally be the answer to pretty much all fuck ups in the Heresy, but more often than not it's easy enough to wave off with a, 'oh yeah, the Emperor's a massive dickhead. Don't worry about it', but what the fuck were Malacdor and his Grey Librarian thinking in their approach to the Blood Angels? Like, this was always going to be bad and need to be saved by the bell (Baal?). At least, talk about the Imperium's need and how they and their vessels could serve the Emperor and honour their brothers and progenitor, rather than, 'Welp, everyone else is lost, so you're all fired and all your shit is going up for police auction'. It's really frustrating and absolutely blew up what could Be been a really emotionally weighty and difficult situation. I feel I have been robbed of tears I could have shed.
Anyways, this is story of a significant moment that can absolutely be skipped as it will almost certainly be referenced in a more interesting way whenever the events that took place are actually relevant. It really isn't bad and sometimes it's good, but overall decidedly meh and wasted potential.
October 29, 2022
Weaving together a few different strands of other works by this author whilst introducing the start of another. I quite enjoyed how this came together and explored what was happening for these few legionnaires whilst the bulk of the legion was elsewhere.
November 7, 2022
😭😭😭 Sanguinius!!!
January 19, 2025
Solid short story regarding Rubio fulfilling his role as a Knight Errant and some lone Blood Angels learning of the events happening to their legion
June 5, 2025
Amazing world building story about the few Blood Angels who had to stay on Baal during the Heresy
August 2, 2025
The sons of the Angel left behind the defend Baal have spent five years waiting to hear from their father, but the Ruinstorm has isolated them from the rest of their Legion. Now Malcador seeks to dissolve the Legion, sending one of his Errant Knights Tylos Rubio to carry out the deed.
I like short stories like this that fill in little gaps, showing all the different experiences of the Heresy.
I like short stories like this that fill in little gaps, showing all the different experiences of the Heresy.
November 10, 2015
On the orders of Warmaster Horus the Blood Angels Legion have disappeared in the Signus Cluster. The 30 Legionaires left behind to guard Baal are visited by one of Malcador the Sigilites Knights Errant with a plea... relocate to Terra with all their Legion's gene-banks and equipment to prevent them falling into the traitors hands.
A brief but excellent story, James Swallow gives the reader a glimpse of what will later become the much feared Death Company.
A brief but excellent story, James Swallow gives the reader a glimpse of what will later become the much feared Death Company.
February 5, 2015
It took a while for the Blood Angels to get involved in the Horus Heresy series, but when they did, in Fear To Tread, almost the entire legion got stuck in. In his ‘quick read’ story Lost Sons, James Swallow looks at what happened to those few legionaries who stayed behind on Baal, their home world.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
March 21, 2016
An interesting short following the Blood Angels left on Baal. It was cool to see their doubts and their beliefs when all was lost, and their pride as Sons of the Great Angel. And seeing Malcadors plot line in prose was a nice additiom!
January 20, 2015
Reveals the origin of the Death Company colors, as the remaining Blood Angels deal with the news of the death of their Primarch and the ordered dissolution of their Legion, and prepare to hunt down Horus.
July 27, 2013
The best 40K ebook I've read so far. The story has real value a mentions few other facts not mentioned before of the greater things currently happening within the Imperium.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews