Cypher: Guardian of Order

Black Library Advent Calendar 2013 #25

by Gav Thorpe

For a select few amongst the First Legion, the Northwilds of Caliban hold a particularly dark secret. At the command of Luther himself, young Librarian Zahariel accompanies the Lord Cypher on one of his mysterious forays into the unknown depths. But an ancient evil is stirring once more and, with rumours of galactic civil war creeping back to their home world, it may have already sunken its claws into the Dark Angels Legion...

A Horus Heresy audio drama by Gav Thorpe

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

Audiobook

First published December 25, 2013

About the author

Gav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.

He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.

Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.

Reviews

[RatGrrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVI Imperium Secondus II Gate's Ashes (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.

New omnibus and hitting 100 stories and audio dramas in this mammoth undertaking!

This is the most Black Library Advent Calendar teaser for a novel there has ever been with Zahariel and Cypher checking out the seemingly cursed grounds for a new fortress on Caliban for Luther.

I am nothing if not capricious, wanton, and at the utter mercy of the mercurial currents of my emotions, so the last time I listened to this it clearly got me ever so excited, but coming back to it I'm feeling less so and taking a a star because, while it clearly is well written and rather tantalising, it just didn't grab me in the same way.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 29 Horus Heresy novels, 16 novellas (including 2 repeats), 100 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 15 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...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 5/5


Gods damn! This is one of the super short Black Library Advent Calendar audio dramas and a colossal tease!

Cypher and Zahariel going poking around in a big scary hole on Caliban and get spooped!

This is like being in a supermarket and getting a sample of something incredible that makes you want to take the member of staff out and steal all the goods!

There's very little more I can say.

It's not even ten minutes long and nothing really even happens, but it got me all excited and wanting more!

[Quinn Stutz · Rating 2 out of 5]

short story with literally no clear purpose. should have been like a part of an actual book

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Descent of Angels” the Lion and the Order waged war in the Northwilds against the Knights of Lupus. An order that sought to use the dark powers of the Beasts of Caliban. The Knights of Lupus were destroyed and their fortress razed. Now Librarian Zahariel accompanies the Lord Cypher into the Northwilds, as an ancient evil begins to stir again.

I thought the story was atmospheric and spooky and the story sets out that things are turning dark on Caliban, and that not all is well under the rule of Luther. There is also a fan-theory that Lord Cypher is himself a former member of the Knights of Lupus, which I think is implied by this story.

[Matt Argueta · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This did little from a narrative perspective for me. These five pages can be summarized as "Ouroboros was returning". I get that this is a small five page vignette, but this doesn't seem like a required read in the HH anthology.

To be honest the small amount of characterization that we get of Cypher seemed odd based on how he was presented in Fallen Angels

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to see some returning dark angels charecters.
Collected in legacies of betrayal book.

[Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting scene, but completely without context. pointless as a short.

[Garry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revisiting Caliban and the Dark Angel Librarian Zahariel and The Lord Cypher, this audio revisits some of the plot from the novel Fallen Angels. Set quite some time later we see Zahariel and Cypher visiting the Northwilds looking for suitable locations to expand the Legions facilites to accomodate the ever growing numbers of Dark Angels recruits.

While on their travels they find that a previously defeated foe thought banished has returned and is growing in power. The actions of Cypher lead the listener is wonder just how powerful he is and to what extent and nature his powers are.

This audio tenuously ties-in with the other Dark Angels audio drama Grey Angel.

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting short that takes us back to Caliban for a glimpse into The Lord Cypher and Zaraheil's actions since we have last seen them, over 17 books ago. I am really curious as to where this short will lead, and look forward to finding out what the Ouroborus, is, and why the Cypher was so afraid of it.