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The Horus Heresy #Short Story
Forgotten Sons
The planet Bastion must decide whether to remain loyal to the Emperor, or side with the rebel Horus. The Warmaster's case is presented by an iterator, a master of persuasion. The Imperium has sent the Space Marines. Heka'tan and Arcadese must set aside their warlike natures and learn to be diplomats, or risk losing the world. But Horus wants the world, and a plan is in motion to ensure that the Space Marines fail in their task...
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Intrigue and mystery abound as two Space Marines with abandonment issues try to keep a world loyal. But something lurks in the darkness beneath the planet, and it threatens to consume them all...
77 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
4 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kyme
280 books161 followersNick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 11, 2023
Dažādajiem Horusa atbalstošajiem leģioniem ar pārsteiguma elementa palīdzību ir izdevies gūt neskaitāmas uzvaras, brutālas un nežēlīgas Imperatora lojālistu sakāves, bet pēc vairākiem stāstiem no ‘’slikto’’ tēlu nometnes, rodas jautājums, vai nesaskaņas un neuzticība pašu rindās nenovedīs uzurpatora Horusa centienus pie nozīmīgākās sakāves.
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February 26, 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.
I have really mixed feelings about this one.
An Ultramarine who was wounded at Ullanor and has awoken to a galaxy in flames and a Salamander who managed to escape the horrors of Isstvan V are sent on a diplomatic mission to a neutral world as representatives of the Imperium. They must make their case opposite delegates from the Warmaster, including an Iterator.
I love the concept and intent of this story, which is probably why I am so critical about it. I really appreciate and admire Kyme for taking a swing with telling a very different kind of story, something that is a real strength of anthology entries in the series, but the execution, while definitely great by a general Warhammer standard, is unfortunately somewhat lacking in depth and subtlety.
The odd couple of the XIII fresh from serious injuries at the height of the Great Crusade, before the Emperor had even made Horus Warmaster, let alone the outbreak of the Heresy, and the XVIII traumatised from the treachery and slaughter of his brothers, not knowing the fate of his Primarch, are a great pitch, especially with the Smurf being a bit of a callous bastard and the Sally grasping his Legion's trademark empathy with trembling fingers. The Warrior of Ultramar struggling to accept the change to his capacity from his physical injuries and the Dragon Warrior seeming to be suffering PTSD--something I do want to call out as something I think is handled really well for a mental health condition so often portrayed so poorly and that genuinely means a lot to me as something with debilitating C-PTSD. The Son of Vulkan is actually portrayed really rather well, while the Son of Guilliman is a bitter, wounded Astartes who happens to be in blue and could easily be swapped out for an Imperial First or an equally poorly rendered Angel of Death. It is important that he's an Ultramarine for the references to Monarchia to land, but we are only told he's War-Born reborn.
The central thesis and debate being the comparison between the Imperium and the Warmaster's forces is usually something I adore, but this needed more and to go harder, especially with the narration falling into the age old Games Workshop and Black Library problem of pretty much toeing the line of the Imperium by nearly always being from their perspective and not presenting any dissent in the seemingly passive narration and not enough in the text itself. Yes, Monarchia is brought up as an atrocity, but the representative from Ultramar brushes it aside with the wild and tragically presient limply vile claim of them being given 'adequate time to evacuate'. Even the Warmaster's Iterator doesn't press the point home enough--there genuinely seems to be a divide between creators over how bad Monarchia actually was and/ or how it compares with the Dropsite Massacre. Measuring the evil of atrocities, like comparing individuals' suffering for the sake of ranking, is a moot and vacuous endeavour, but still Monarchia is hand-waved. I totally understand this from an Ultramarine's perspective or the official line from the Imperium, but a narrative shouldn't allow that to be so.
For me, this story needed more cooking and sitting at nearly two hours in audio it's very much on the longer side of the majority of short stories and audio dramas in this series. This might be another case of this story either needing to be trimmed, tightened, and focused into a shorter story, or better yet, a shorter full cast audio drama, or, and this would be my preference, extending this story into a novella that has the time to breathe and reflect (and completely overhaul the opening part which felt like a soupy morass of action). Getting a better look at who these Space Marines were before Isstvan, during Ullanor, and following the outbreak of Heresy, with room for scenes of the Ultramarine being told what's going on and struggling, which are potentially brilliant dramatic moments just left on the table.
I think my cental issue is the lack of reflection, emotional engagement, and weight given to the proceedings and events discussed, both in the fiction and the text itself. The difficulty in handling deeper, more political and/or philosophical aspects is that they are harder to wrangle and more easily don't go well. I really do appreciate Kyme having a crack at this and it is a fine story and worth a read, despite not being essential to the series, but would have loved to see Abnett, French, or Farrer's take on this.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 11 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 25 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.
I have really mixed feelings about this one.
An Ultramarine who was wounded at Ullanor and has awoken to a galaxy in flames and a Salamander who managed to escape the horrors of Isstvan V are sent on a diplomatic mission to a neutral world as representatives of the Imperium. They must make their case opposite delegates from the Warmaster, including an Iterator.
I love the concept and intent of this story, which is probably why I am so critical about it. I really appreciate and admire Kyme for taking a swing with telling a very different kind of story, something that is a real strength of anthology entries in the series, but the execution, while definitely great by a general Warhammer standard, is unfortunately somewhat lacking in depth and subtlety.
The odd couple of the XIII fresh from serious injuries at the height of the Great Crusade, before the Emperor had even made Horus Warmaster, let alone the outbreak of the Heresy, and the XVIII traumatised from the treachery and slaughter of his brothers, not knowing the fate of his Primarch, are a great pitch, especially with the Smurf being a bit of a callous bastard and the Sally grasping his Legion's trademark empathy with trembling fingers. The Warrior of Ultramar struggling to accept the change to his capacity from his physical injuries and the Dragon Warrior seeming to be suffering PTSD--something I do want to call out as something I think is handled really well for a mental health condition so often portrayed so poorly and that genuinely means a lot to me as something with debilitating C-PTSD. The Son of Vulkan is actually portrayed really rather well, while the Son of Guilliman is a bitter, wounded Astartes who happens to be in blue and could easily be swapped out for an Imperial First or an equally poorly rendered Angel of Death. It is important that he's an Ultramarine for the references to Monarchia to land, but we are only told he's War-Born reborn.
The central thesis and debate being the comparison between the Imperium and the Warmaster's forces is usually something I adore, but this needed more and to go harder, especially with the narration falling into the age old Games Workshop and Black Library problem of pretty much toeing the line of the Imperium by nearly always being from their perspective and not presenting any dissent in the seemingly passive narration and not enough in the text itself. Yes, Monarchia is brought up as an atrocity, but the representative from Ultramar brushes it aside with the wild and tragically presient limply vile claim of them being given 'adequate time to evacuate'. Even the Warmaster's Iterator doesn't press the point home enough--there genuinely seems to be a divide between creators over how bad Monarchia actually was and/ or how it compares with the Dropsite Massacre. Measuring the evil of atrocities, like comparing individuals' suffering for the sake of ranking, is a moot and vacuous endeavour, but still Monarchia is hand-waved. I totally understand this from an Ultramarine's perspective or the official line from the Imperium, but a narrative shouldn't allow that to be so.
For me, this story needed more cooking and sitting at nearly two hours in audio it's very much on the longer side of the majority of short stories and audio dramas in this series. This might be another case of this story either needing to be trimmed, tightened, and focused into a shorter story, or better yet, a shorter full cast audio drama, or, and this would be my preference, extending this story into a novella that has the time to breathe and reflect (and completely overhaul the opening part which felt like a soupy morass of action). Getting a better look at who these Space Marines were before Isstvan, during Ullanor, and following the outbreak of Heresy, with room for scenes of the Ultramarine being told what's going on and struggling, which are potentially brilliant dramatic moments just left on the table.
I think my cental issue is the lack of reflection, emotional engagement, and weight given to the proceedings and events discussed, both in the fiction and the text itself. The difficulty in handling deeper, more political and/or philosophical aspects is that they are harder to wrangle and more easily don't go well. I really do appreciate Kyme having a crack at this and it is a fine story and worth a read, despite not being essential to the series, but would have loved to see Abnett, French, or Farrer's take on this.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 11 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 25 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.
September 2, 2025
Interesting side-story during post Istvaan HH. The story of a Salamander survivor and an Ultramarine awakening to a world in turmoil he didn't recognize, this largely revolves around a senate session to try and sway a world to either side with Horus or the Emperor.
The main story turns into a small thriller that ultimately leads to planetary destruction, cementing that any world that does not side with the Warmaster will be destroyed.
Interesting but not critical. Liked both the primary characters in this story and their companionship toward one another
The main story turns into a small thriller that ultimately leads to planetary destruction, cementing that any world that does not side with the Warmaster will be destroyed.
Interesting but not critical. Liked both the primary characters in this story and their companionship toward one another
April 15, 2022
Yet another HH story where I feel they try to take the story too far, too make things too bombastic. What begins as an interesting and new angle for a 40k story ends up in yet another cataclysm of disproportionate scale losing the depth the new approach had brought.
The above being said, an innovative premise for a space marine story and further exploration of the culture of the Salamanders legion. Non-essential for comprehension of the HH.
The above being said, an innovative premise for a space marine story and further exploration of the culture of the Salamanders legion. Non-essential for comprehension of the HH.
April 23, 2025
Salamander and blueberry bash heads and you get a shallow glimpse into the difference in ideology at the beginning of the Horus Heresy.
Suffers from being a tad wide in scope for its run time. The writing itself was serviceable and all in all a good entry for fans of Salamanders or Ultramarines.
Suffers from being a tad wide in scope for its run time. The writing itself was serviceable and all in all a good entry for fans of Salamanders or Ultramarines.
May 14, 2022
At first I didn't care at all, didn't even know what is going on. By the end, I started to like the two marines, which is not bad from a short story.
The fight with scenes were also good.
I didn't care much for the story though, felt contrived.
The fight with scenes were also good.
I didn't care much for the story though, felt contrived.
July 3, 2024
The PTSD is legit. My poor Salamandar boy. I wasnt a fan of the Ultramarine at first. But he really grew on me in the short time he was there. I hope to see him again in another story. This story really pulled on my feelings at parts
October 22, 2021
Was not really interested much in the Salamanders before this story but now I think I need to check out more on that legion.
December 13, 2024
A fun grimdark short story giving a rare view of the Astartes that are left behind. My first story of a salamander, Captain Heka'tan, was a great one to start on, I rather enjoyed it.
January 19, 2025
If your a fan of the salamanders then you will enjoy this, features vulkan quite a bit too which was cool.
Collected in age of darkness anthology.
Collected in age of darkness anthology.
August 20, 2025
Not gonna lie I thought this one was very good surprisingly. It was rather dramatic but this is 30k so, yeah good stuff.
July 31, 2025
Two veterans injured beyond battlefield capacity now serve as diplomats, seeking to ensure loyalty to the Imperium.
Really the best part of this story isn't the diplomatic mission, but the focus on the Salamander veteran Heka'tan. Up to this point in the Heresy the Salamanders haven't gotten much focus, so this story helps flesh them out, demonstrating their gentle nature and kindness to standard humans that sets them apart from the other Astartes Legions. Heka'tan is haunted by Istvaan V. So many of his brothers were slain and his Primarch lost, the darkness of that day haunts him. I found it well written and compelling.
Heka'tan actually previously featured in the story "Promethean Sun" so he has a bit more backstory to discover for readers interested in doing so. The Ultramarine "Arcadese" appears later in the series in "The Gates of Terra". I personally really enjoy how minor characters pop up and cross paths across the Heresy. It creates a big connected universe which is fun to explore.
Really the best part of this story isn't the diplomatic mission, but the focus on the Salamander veteran Heka'tan. Up to this point in the Heresy the Salamanders haven't gotten much focus, so this story helps flesh them out, demonstrating their gentle nature and kindness to standard humans that sets them apart from the other Astartes Legions. Heka'tan is haunted by Istvaan V. So many of his brothers were slain and his Primarch lost, the darkness of that day haunts him. I found it well written and compelling.
Heka'tan actually previously featured in the story "Promethean Sun" so he has a bit more backstory to discover for readers interested in doing so. The Ultramarine "Arcadese" appears later in the series in "The Gates of Terra". I personally really enjoy how minor characters pop up and cross paths across the Heresy. It creates a big connected universe which is fun to explore.
March 21, 2016
Forgotten Sons follows a Ultramarine and a Salamander following Calth and Istvaan V. The short was extremely interesting as both legionares were forgotten by the legions because of their injuries in battle. So they are sent to do an ambassador's work and debate the allegiance of a planet. Riveting stuff. A fun, interesting read. I really liked the portrayal of the Salamander as a more human legion. And how he was affected by the Dropsite Massacre. Good stuff from Nick Kyme, though it had a slow beginning.
February 24, 2022
Solid entry into the Horus Heresy. A different take to complying a world and a story that opens up some interesting developments for further progression. Strongly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews