Pestilence

Warhammer 40,000

by Dan Abnett

As war grinds on in the Genovingian sector, Imperial medicae Lemual Sark investigates Uhlren's Pox, a mysterious and deadly plague that is striking down the Imperial Guardsman who fight the war. As he narrows down the source of the contagion, Sark finds himself thrown into a plot by to wipe out the defenders of the sector and allow the Ruinous Powers their triumph.

Read it because
It's an intriguing look behind the lines at how the forces of Chaos fight in many different ways, and salvation sometimes comes from sources you don't expect.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Short Stories, Fiction, Fantasy

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Takezo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

"He had no eyes and yet he was terrified of the light."

[Lachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun to read during a pandemic lol

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pretty new to Warhammer 40k and wanted to start reading the books, many online suggested starting with the Eisenhorn series and this seems to be the first in the reading order.
I really liked this book a lot, it’s a short, sharp story, with a very grim setting. The characters all intrigued me, but my favourite part was the tone, which was dark and oppressive. The story follows a man of many who have been tasked with searching for a cure to a particularly nasty plague. The plot slowly unfurls and was really engrossing, as a new reader of Dan Abnett’s work I was impressed – the story felt much longer than its pages and his style is captivating and vivid.

[Jack Neighbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. Not sure why it was the magos as a short story as it has nothing to do with eisenhorn but enjoyed it nonetheless.

[L J Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in Abnett’s Inquisitor series. Eisenhorn does not appear in the story. He is not even mentioned. However, this story’s theme becomes important as you plunge through the entire set of the Inquisitor stories and novels.

In this story, High Administer Sark travels to a medical facility to do a recollection of facts pertaining to a disease that is destroying an Astra Militarum force that is also in active combat. The facts of the disease are found to be frightening.

[nooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story, not sure what it has to do with Eisenhorn

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in the 2001 reprint of the Deathwing anthology, this is a slowly-unfurling mystery set to the backdrop of an astonishingly virulent plague wracking Imperial worlds. As Uhlren’s Pox rampages through the Genovingia system, Lemuel Sark – a recollector, tasked with researching long-buried medical knowledge – is one of many sent out to look for a cure.

Published the same year as Xenos this feels almost like a proto-Inquisition story; Sark is more Aemos than Eisenhorn, but it’s a similar style overall. It’s a dark little story that's quietly satisfying, and well worth checking out.

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/03/...

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely post pandemic read.

I wasn't too sure where this one was heading at first as Abnett very much keeps us in the dark to begin with. He doesn't let us know who the main character is until about chapter 3.

But....in Abnett we trust.....and this tale eventually ends up being somewhat incredibly eery in a post pandemic world. The story follows an imperial medical investigator trying to thwart a viral out break that is currently killing thousands of people that shares similarities to a previous outbreak. I love the world building that is achieved here in so small a word count and I was truly absorbed into this great little mystery.

The whole thing is worth it for the messed up ending. It will stick with you.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, dark short read this one, as we delve into the mystery of the plague, and I found the outcome quite interesting - while guessed from the get go likely Nurgle behind it all, the actual method of transmission used here was quite clever really. Not directly linked to Eisenhorn, though reading this in the Magos collection, so I'm interested to see if there is an indirect link somewhere. Also shows well that even victory comes at quite a cost in the WH40k galaxy.

[Tom Firens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was told this was the first short story in the eisenhorn series (date wise). Not sure if it is (saruthi races is briefly mentioned) time and other books will tell, but a enjoyable story nonetheless

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

part of The Magos book

[Weekend Critic · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy to read engaging short warhammer story

[Igc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bão d+

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable and not terribly interesting or atmospheric. The weakest thing I've read by Abnett.

[Lyandros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little short story. Dan knows how to hook you immediately with a little story like this.

Reading this made me want to pick up a 40k horror story.

Has me excited for the Eisenhorn trilogy!

[Matthew Schiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid short story giving some background on the Eisenhorn universe.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick entertaining short story about a space detective. Enjoyed how it reached its resolution and the atmosphere was well done. First thing I've read related to Warhammer, better than I expected.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely among the best of the best warhammer short stories.