What do you think?
Rate this book
The Horus Heresy #Short Story
Imperfect
A simple game of Regicide between Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus is far more than it seems. Especially since Ferrus Manus is dead... What's going on, and what part does Fabius, Apothecary of the III Legion, have to play in it?
Read it because
Primarch Fulgrim seeks to understand his failure in turning his brother Ferrus Manus to Horus's banner. This story shows the depths to which the lord of the Emperor's Children has fallen, and a glimpse into the madness that is consuming him.
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2015
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kyme
279 books161 followersNick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 25, 2024
February 2024 Re-Listen using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus IV Shattersong (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
...I just realised I was supposed to listen to this after Angel Exterminatus lol I was wondering why Fulgrim was like that before. I'm definitely glad I had previously listened to this and read Angel Exterminatus when it came out. Simple, less than ten entry list one, my reading comprehension and ability to follow simple tasks nil.
I generally stand by my previous review, but I feel much more involved in the story and bought in, which made me enjoy it so much more than when I previously listened to it in a random binge of Warhammer audio dramas. I also enjoyed Stephen Perring's performance more this time round and feel like it fits the story and situation well.
I added a star and was tempted to go to full marks as its wonderful and does the job it sets out to do really well, but, despite not feeling as strongly as before, I do think there are some levels the dialogue, dramatic irony, and emotional core could unlock.
An interesting element that stood out to me after re-reading the Reflection Crack'd recently is that this has a more obvious, but in being so much more clear and satisfying delineation and relationship between the Fulgrims, opposed to the *twist*(?) ending of the novella*. They're stuck together and pretty much left brain/ right brain at this point and, even if it is the original him that's in control, Fulgrim is clearly not doing at all well with his trauma play he's set up for himself that is literally one of the definitions of insanity. I can't speak to how their coexisting is portrayed in AE, but Fulgrim is definitely a chap with fraternal issues.
I don't think I'll listen to this again after AE, but that's less on this than how many times in as many months, but I'll try and remember to reflect on it and whether it makes me have anything else to say*
Creepy cool audio drama is creepy cool, but I'm still out here feeling for people who got hornswoggled by the "start here" sticker on Lupercal's War and listened to this and so many others in that epic collection that will make so little sense and just spoil so very much lmfao.
*EDIT: If this is actually the first time we see Fulgrim after Angel Exterminatus it does actually hit kinda different with his exalted angelic apotheosis...not being that and him going from his most mercurial and verbose to stuck in a seemingly endless loop of the same tortured moment with another brother he did dirty.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 10 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 19 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:
Fulgrim and Ferrus Mannus play a game of Regicide, while exchanging brotherly barbs that escalate to the point of no return. There are a couple of interesting pull back and reveals, the second of which is really something and in a stronger, more emotionally weighted story would have had serious impact. I'll talk about that more below after a spoiler warning.
Similar to The Last Church, Imperfection had so much potential to absolutely knock it out of the park, but a weakness in the dialogue and tone lets it down somewhat. It's still a good story that adds some depth to the Phoenician and the Gorgon, as well a look at Professor Creepy's experiments with a post credits scene alluding to the future/ present of the 30/ 40K universe.
It was nice to actually discover more of the pieces and rules that make up Regicide, after so very many references to it throughout the series. It's been clear for a long time that it's this universe's chess, but getting more of a breakdown of the terminology was interesting at least.
This was my first Stephen Perring narration, which was competent and I could see being effective with other works, but lacked the tone and vibe of the Horus Heresy/ Black Library regulars like Longworth, Armstrong, and Keeble. The voice of Fulgrim was interesting (read: not so great) at certain times and I really didn't like the obsequiousness and weakness they imbued in Fabius Bile's voice. He's a total creep and a wonderful character to hate, but that guy gives no shits about anything.
I also think it's absolutely wild that this story is the third one in the Lupercal's War anthology that is advertised as a good place to start... This story and these versions of these characters would make zero sense to anyone unaware of who they are and their history. Significant events in at least three different Horus Heresy novels are referenced or alluded to for goodness sake! -- Obviously this isn't a criticism of the story itself, more its inclusion in and the marketing of Lupercal's War.
Ultimately, as bullet points this is one of the best Horus Heresy short stories, but the actual story doesn't match that energy. It's still a good story and worth a listen, I just can't help seeing a version of this that emotionally destroyed me.
***SPOILERS***
It is cool to see Daemon Prince Fulgrim just doing Fulgrim stuff as a nightmare snake monster, but with the history between him and Ferrus it's so frustrating just how dry and uninteresting their conversation is until the climax and reveal. This wouldn't be as much of an issue, but the build up takes most of the length of the story. It's also fun to see Ferrus Clonnus brawling with Nightmare Fulgrim, and the reveal of the absolute stacks of dead clones was great and really speaks to where Fulgrim's head is at, but without richer dialogue and/ or a look into his tortured, obsessive mind it becomes a minor 'whoa' when I would have wanted it feel more like a mass reactive shell detonating in my chest.
...I just realised I was supposed to listen to this after Angel Exterminatus lol I was wondering why Fulgrim was like that before. I'm definitely glad I had previously listened to this and read Angel Exterminatus when it came out. Simple, less than ten entry list one, my reading comprehension and ability to follow simple tasks nil.
I generally stand by my previous review, but I feel much more involved in the story and bought in, which made me enjoy it so much more than when I previously listened to it in a random binge of Warhammer audio dramas. I also enjoyed Stephen Perring's performance more this time round and feel like it fits the story and situation well.
I added a star and was tempted to go to full marks as its wonderful and does the job it sets out to do really well, but, despite not feeling as strongly as before, I do think there are some levels the dialogue, dramatic irony, and emotional core could unlock.
An interesting element that stood out to me after re-reading the Reflection Crack'd recently is that this has a more obvious, but in being so much more clear and satisfying delineation and relationship between the Fulgrims, opposed to the *twist*(?) ending of the novella*. They're stuck together and pretty much left brain/ right brain at this point and, even if it is the original him that's in control, Fulgrim is clearly not doing at all well with his trauma play he's set up for himself that is literally one of the definitions of insanity. I can't speak to how their coexisting is portrayed in AE, but Fulgrim is definitely a chap with fraternal issues.
I don't think I'll listen to this again after AE, but that's less on this than how many times in as many months, but I'll try and remember to reflect on it and whether it makes me have anything else to say*
Creepy cool audio drama is creepy cool, but I'm still out here feeling for people who got hornswoggled by the "start here" sticker on Lupercal's War and listened to this and so many others in that epic collection that will make so little sense and just spoil so very much lmfao.
*EDIT: If this is actually the first time we see Fulgrim after Angel Exterminatus it does actually hit kinda different with his exalted angelic apotheosis...not being that and him going from his most mercurial and verbose to stuck in a seemingly endless loop of the same tortured moment with another brother he did dirty.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 10 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 19 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:
Fulgrim and Ferrus Mannus play a game of Regicide, while exchanging brotherly barbs that escalate to the point of no return. There are a couple of interesting pull back and reveals, the second of which is really something and in a stronger, more emotionally weighted story would have had serious impact. I'll talk about that more below after a spoiler warning.
Similar to The Last Church, Imperfection had so much potential to absolutely knock it out of the park, but a weakness in the dialogue and tone lets it down somewhat. It's still a good story that adds some depth to the Phoenician and the Gorgon, as well a look at Professor Creepy's experiments with a post credits scene alluding to the future/ present of the 30/ 40K universe.
It was nice to actually discover more of the pieces and rules that make up Regicide, after so very many references to it throughout the series. It's been clear for a long time that it's this universe's chess, but getting more of a breakdown of the terminology was interesting at least.
This was my first Stephen Perring narration, which was competent and I could see being effective with other works, but lacked the tone and vibe of the Horus Heresy/ Black Library regulars like Longworth, Armstrong, and Keeble. The voice of Fulgrim was interesting (read: not so great) at certain times and I really didn't like the obsequiousness and weakness they imbued in Fabius Bile's voice. He's a total creep and a wonderful character to hate, but that guy gives no shits about anything.
I also think it's absolutely wild that this story is the third one in the Lupercal's War anthology that is advertised as a good place to start... This story and these versions of these characters would make zero sense to anyone unaware of who they are and their history. Significant events in at least three different Horus Heresy novels are referenced or alluded to for goodness sake! -- Obviously this isn't a criticism of the story itself, more its inclusion in and the marketing of Lupercal's War.
Ultimately, as bullet points this is one of the best Horus Heresy short stories, but the actual story doesn't match that energy. It's still a good story and worth a listen, I just can't help seeing a version of this that emotionally destroyed me.
***SPOILERS***
It is cool to see Daemon Prince Fulgrim just doing Fulgrim stuff as a nightmare snake monster, but with the history between him and Ferrus it's so frustrating just how dry and uninteresting their conversation is until the climax and reveal. This wouldn't be as much of an issue, but the build up takes most of the length of the story. It's also fun to see Ferrus Clonnus brawling with Nightmare Fulgrim, and the reveal of the absolute stacks of dead clones was great and really speaks to where Fulgrim's head is at, but without richer dialogue and/ or a look into his tortured, obsessive mind it becomes a minor 'whoa' when I would have wanted it feel more like a mass reactive shell detonating in my chest.
December 25, 2025
A grim look at the aftermath of Istvaan V, Fulgrim's thoughts on that battle, and hints at some of the atrocities masquerading as science our dear Fabius Bile does so well...
November 6, 2022
Fulgrim and Ferrus play a game of regicide, so much foreshadowing.
April 3, 2024
The tragedy that even after Fulgrim had ascended as a Chosen Daemon Prince of She Who Thirsts, he still had Fabius Bile create clones of Ferrus to try and convince him that Horus' path was the right one. The obsession of Fulgrim trying, clone after clone, to make Ferrus see the Primordial Truth, is poetic, as Slaanesh's clutch is perfection to the point beyond madness. The tragedy of despite falling so far, Fulgrim truly loved the Gorgon and it pained him that the entity within the Laer Blade was unable to bring Ferrus to the Warmaster's side; so he tries, again and again and again, to make Ferrus see.
But he can't. And he doesn't. And he never will.
But he can't. And he doesn't. And he never will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2025
Unreviewable without spoiling.
March 23, 2025
Reading in preferred HH reading order
This is an interesting development following Angel Exterminatus and shows that Fulgrim is working through some regret on his end, despite being fully committed to the action he committed on Istvaan
Pacing felt a little slow with what I felt was a bit of unnecessary descriptives throughout the Regicide match, but was more interesting towards the end
This is an interesting development following Angel Exterminatus and shows that Fulgrim is working through some regret on his end, despite being fully committed to the action he committed on Istvaan
Pacing felt a little slow with what I felt was a bit of unnecessary descriptives throughout the Regicide match, but was more interesting towards the end
June 30, 2022
Esto es algo totalmente inesperado, pensaba que era un recuerdo de antes de Isstvan y la muerte de Ferrus, pero que loco esta Fulgrim. No sabía sabía se pudiera hacer clones de los primarcas, pero lo más tétrico es que Ferrus recordaba lo que había pasado en Isstvan. Su muerte.
February 8, 2024
The clone Ferrus story I'd heard so much about, it did not disappoint.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 11, 2024Forgot to log this when I read it because it made me feel batshit insane 😃👍 Happy Pride Month to Fulgrim Warhammer
June 24, 2024
Space chess with a clone of the Brother you killed.
Good times.
Good times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
It's really short, but really good. Definitely requires previous books to fully grasp what's going on but I thoroughly enjoyed this quick 40 or so page short story.
December 27, 2024
This is a short story where Fulgrim still feels super bad about killing his brother Ferrus so he has Fabius make him clones to hang out with, but the clones aren't good. Fine little story.
February 13, 2025
Collected in war without end anthology.
December 22, 2025
4.5 stars!
August 16, 2025
A game of regicide between two brothers, the Phoenician and the Gorgon.
This story did more to invest me in Ferrus and Fulgrim than almost any other story in the Heresy. Their flaws and strengths fully on display, as well as their close bond. No two brothers shared more love for one another among the Primarchs Ferrus and Fulgrim. Tragic but also a lot of fun.
This story did more to invest me in Ferrus and Fulgrim than almost any other story in the Heresy. Their flaws and strengths fully on display, as well as their close bond. No two brothers shared more love for one another among the Primarchs Ferrus and Fulgrim. Tragic but also a lot of fun.
March 20, 2016
Imperfect by Nick Kyme:
Very interesting short story on what Fulgrim and Fabius have kind of been up to. Not a whole lot happened in the short story, but it was a fun read. Fulgrim was his usual glorious self, and Fabius was as mad as ever. I am really looking forward to where they go with this whole cloning thing, and if they ever get it right.
Very interesting short story on what Fulgrim and Fabius have kind of been up to. Not a whole lot happened in the short story, but it was a fun read. Fulgrim was his usual glorious self, and Fabius was as mad as ever. I am really looking forward to where they go with this whole cloning thing, and if they ever get it right.
February 22, 2016
The idea of cloning one of the Emperor's sons, its well, full-blown heresy :O
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2022
This was fun. Barely anything happens, but it is really enjoyable nonetheless, and is why short stories can be so valuable in a series as big as this.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews