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Black Library Advent Calendar 2014 #24
The Watcher
A shuttle returns to the Solar System bearing the sole survivor of a traitor attack – however, delirious and so close to death, his tale remains untold. Ison of the Knights Errant, formerly a Librarian of his Legion, delves into the mind of the warrior, and the truth of it will chill him to the core...
The Space Wolves once fancied themselves guardians over all Legions. Find out what happened to those sent to watch over the Night Haunter. Suffice to say, the Lord of the VIII Legion does not take well to guard dogs...
Performed by Gareth Armstrong, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth, Kris Milnes and Saul Reichlin
Sound design and music by Richard Fox and Lauren Yason
Running time 20 minutes
Produced by Black Library
The Space Wolves once fancied themselves guardians over all Legions. Find out what happened to those sent to watch over the Night Haunter. Suffice to say, the Lord of the VIII Legion does not take well to guard dogs...
Performed by Gareth Armstrong, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth, Kris Milnes and Saul Reichlin
Sound design and music by Richard Fox and Lauren Yason
Running time 20 minutes
Produced by Black Library
Audiobook
First published December 12, 2014
2 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Christian Z. Dunn
140 books62 followersChristian Dunn, sometimes credited as C.Z. Dunn, is a senior editor for Black Library.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 30, 2017
Read in The Silent War anthology
Ouch! That was brutal!
Sending Space Wolves as "observers" to Night Lords was just worst idea ever... And Curze was just as nice as always! XD
Ouch! That was brutal!
Sending Space Wolves as "observers" to Night Lords was just worst idea ever... And Curze was just as nice as always! XD
February 29, 2024
February 2024 Re-Listen 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 don't know who that callous Ratogre that wrote the initial review not so long ago...I recognize my failing and will be sure to correct it.
I can see that listening to this completely unconnected to the wider, ongoing narrative would make this hit different, and it is more of a mood piece than a full narrative, but I feel markedly different now.
One of the only things I stand by is the feeling of pride I have for the phrase "Curze stomped".
A Knight Errant with unexplained daddy issues for his Angelic Primarch recovers the abused and dying body of a Space Wolf that was sent by Malcador to check up on the Night Lords. Using his Sigillite sanctioned psychic abilities, he is able to playback the previous events.
Reading Prospero Burns changes a person. Yes, I had read it when I previously reviewed this, but not for many years. Having read it recently and the story about how much contention there was about doing the Sigillite's, frankly ludicrous, bidding, this hit a lot harder, especially with the details of the Rout being on their best behavior.
This is by no means mind-blowing, but it is great and an impressive vignette originally released as part of one of the Black Library Advent Calendars. It isn't essential, but it does have a lot of flavour and is worth checking out.
Regardless of quality, The Silent War is really not beating the Horus Heresy offcuts allegations.
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, 31 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 2/5
A Knights Errant story collected in Endless War, rather than Errant Knights?
Even More Annoying Magic Man made the absolutely genius decision to send some Knight Errant Space Wolves to act as official observers of Night Lords behaviour...and it went about as well as you might think.
Judging by other people's reviews, I seem to have a rather different experience of these audio dramas than most. I seem to love ones that others hate or feel indifferent and not emotionally engaged by ones find emotional and really like. This is one of them.
I've come to regard this as an audio drama I listened to. It's not good. It's not bad. It's just another very obvious story that literally does nothing to further the stories of the this period or show greater depths of anyone or anything. Maybe an injured Space Wolf will be a character another day and have a grudge against the Nighthaunter. We get the names of a couple of Errant Knights we haven't seen. Beyond these, it seems to confirm that the Imperium's dad's aren't on the same pages, which has already been made abundantly clear.
Honestly, this just didn't do anything for me, regardless of how competent it is. The only frisson of feeling I had was a little wry amusement at Space Wolves getting Curze stomped after what their Legion does to the Thousand Sons.
Truly can only recommend this for an utter Knights Errant completionist or someone who has listened to almost every other audio drama going.
I don't know who that callous Ratogre that wrote the initial review not so long ago...I recognize my failing and will be sure to correct it.
I can see that listening to this completely unconnected to the wider, ongoing narrative would make this hit different, and it is more of a mood piece than a full narrative, but I feel markedly different now.
One of the only things I stand by is the feeling of pride I have for the phrase "Curze stomped".
A Knight Errant with unexplained daddy issues for his Angelic Primarch recovers the abused and dying body of a Space Wolf that was sent by Malcador to check up on the Night Lords. Using his Sigillite sanctioned psychic abilities, he is able to playback the previous events.
Reading Prospero Burns changes a person. Yes, I had read it when I previously reviewed this, but not for many years. Having read it recently and the story about how much contention there was about doing the Sigillite's, frankly ludicrous, bidding, this hit a lot harder, especially with the details of the Rout being on their best behavior.
This is by no means mind-blowing, but it is great and an impressive vignette originally released as part of one of the Black Library Advent Calendars. It isn't essential, but it does have a lot of flavour and is worth checking out.
Regardless of quality, The Silent War is really not beating the Horus Heresy offcuts allegations.
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, 31 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 2/5
A Knights Errant story collected in Endless War, rather than Errant Knights?
Even More Annoying Magic Man made the absolutely genius decision to send some Knight Errant Space Wolves to act as official observers of Night Lords behaviour...and it went about as well as you might think.
Judging by other people's reviews, I seem to have a rather different experience of these audio dramas than most. I seem to love ones that others hate or feel indifferent and not emotionally engaged by ones find emotional and really like. This is one of them.
I've come to regard this as an audio drama I listened to. It's not good. It's not bad. It's just another very obvious story that literally does nothing to further the stories of the this period or show greater depths of anyone or anything. Maybe an injured Space Wolf will be a character another day and have a grudge against the Nighthaunter. We get the names of a couple of Errant Knights we haven't seen. Beyond these, it seems to confirm that the Imperium's dad's aren't on the same pages, which has already been made abundantly clear.
Honestly, this just didn't do anything for me, regardless of how competent it is. The only frisson of feeling I had was a little wry amusement at Space Wolves getting Curze stomped after what their Legion does to the Thousand Sons.
Truly can only recommend this for an utter Knights Errant completionist or someone who has listened to almost every other audio drama going.
February 2, 2025
Was a pretty short one but a good scrap between some space wolves against curze and the night lords.
Collected in the silent war anthology.
Collected in the silent war anthology.
January 5, 2015
The Watcher by C.Z. Dunn was definitely an interesting audio drama.
The events taking place closer to the start of the Horus Heresy, we get to see what happens to the Watch Pack of Space Wolves sent to watch the Night Lords.
Of all the bad ideas of that time, sending watch packs to the Night Lords, and to the Night Fall itself has to list pretty high up that damn list!
The story was great. The voice acting was solid(for the most part), and the action was a blast. Though very little really happens that you couldn't read in the little description.
Still though, the Night Lords were great, and it was awesome to see the Space Wolves shown that they aren't always the executioner or guard dog!
The events taking place closer to the start of the Horus Heresy, we get to see what happens to the Watch Pack of Space Wolves sent to watch the Night Lords.
Of all the bad ideas of that time, sending watch packs to the Night Lords, and to the Night Fall itself has to list pretty high up that damn list!
The story was great. The voice acting was solid(for the most part), and the action was a blast. Though very little really happens that you couldn't read in the little description.
Still though, the Night Lords were great, and it was awesome to see the Space Wolves shown that they aren't always the executioner or guard dog!
December 24, 2014
On the twenty-fourth day of Christmas, Black Library gave to us…a Horus Heresy audio drama by CZ Dunn. The final advent short, The Watcher sees one of Malcador’s Knights Errant receive a message in the form of a broken and bloodied Space Wolf. Using his psychic abilities the Knight watches through the eyes of the Wolf as he recalls his Sigillite-ordered mission to ‘observe’ the Night Lords, and the events that led up to his appalling wounding.
Read the rest of the review at http://trackofwords.wordpress.com/201...
Read the rest of the review at http://trackofwords.wordpress.com/201...
August 1, 2025
Ison is a Knight Errant, formerly a Librarian of the Legions, now a servant of the Sigillite. When a mutilated body is found, he discovers it to be none other than a fellow Legionary of the Vlkya Fenryka.
In the wake of Magnus’ treachery, the Space Wolves were tasked with watching the Primarchs for treachery, to be executioners if needs be. Those of the Rout who were sent to the Night Haunter would soon regret it.
Atmospheric and intense. A fantastic thriller.
In the wake of Magnus’ treachery, the Space Wolves were tasked with watching the Primarchs for treachery, to be executioners if needs be. Those of the Rout who were sent to the Night Haunter would soon regret it.
Atmospheric and intense. A fantastic thriller.
June 29, 2022
An enjoyable, dialogue heavy audio drama that tells us the fate of the Space Wolves sent to observe the Night Lords. These little snippets of lore just add to the texture of the Heresy as a whole, and when done this well, really add positively to it.
January 13, 2019
Oh! Was not expecting to meet Curze in this one. Lovely. Whoever thought it was a good idea to send a Space Wolves watch pack to the Nightfall needs to get fired though...
April 9, 2021
Esto no habría pasado si los primarcas no trabajasen para un señor humano de terra. Que desperdicio que los lobos mueran así, a traición. Pero la escena de Curze es memorable.
November 13, 2023
Pretty good but I have no idea what the word was. Was it Watcher?
August 6, 2024
Brutal
January 21, 2025
In a nice reversal, the Space Wolves have to play nicey nice with a fellow Legion with fairly terrible results.
Murder Batman really doesn't get the whole subtlety thing...
Murder Batman really doesn't get the whole subtlety thing...
June 6, 2025
There's not much to the story, but when the penny drops on who they've found and what his mission was, it sparks a genuine Oh Nooooo moment
March 22, 2020
This was a rather strange short story. I might be missing something (importance of the characters maybe and role they play in larger lore) but this one was as straight-forward veni-vidi-vici (although instead of vici one should say barely survived).
When shuttle with barely alive and heavily mutilated Space Wolves Space Marines onboard is intercepted by Knight Errant group. Using the powers of the Space Marines Librarian order Knight Errant will extract the memories from the survivor. To say Kurze's Space Marines acted as savage homicidal psychopaths (lots of redundant terms here right :)) would be under-statement. Survivors are sent to ensure terror spreads and fear starts to control the remaining Loyalist forces.
Three stars only because I cannot place the story in wider context and story was way too short to flesh out the characters.
Recommended to all fans of Warhammer 40k universe and especially Horus Heresy era stories.
When shuttle with barely alive and heavily mutilated Space Wolves Space Marines onboard is intercepted by Knight Errant group. Using the powers of the Space Marines Librarian order Knight Errant will extract the memories from the survivor. To say Kurze's Space Marines acted as savage homicidal psychopaths (lots of redundant terms here right :)) would be under-statement. Survivors are sent to ensure terror spreads and fear starts to control the remaining Loyalist forces.
Three stars only because I cannot place the story in wider context and story was way too short to flesh out the characters.
Recommended to all fans of Warhammer 40k universe and especially Horus Heresy era stories.
February 17, 2016
Just Curze being himself.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews