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The Horus Heresy #Novella
Tallarn: Executioner
As one of the many staging grounds for the forces serving in the Great Crusade, the verdant world of Tallarn has long served as a transfer point for the personnel and war machines of the Imperial Army. Now, destroyed by a deadly virus-bomb attack launched by the battered Iron Warriors fleet, the entire world is reduced to a toxic wasteland where the survivors must fight to defend what little remains of their home. The remnants of the once mighty Jurnian 701st armoured regiment emerge from their underground shelters, and the opening movements of the Battle of Tallarn begin... even as more clandestine powers seek to manipulate events on both sides of the conflict.
This audio tells the story of the opening of what will become the largest tank battle in Imperial history. This story includes a poignantly tragic glimpse at the paradise world of Tallarn, before the blow that turned the planet into a apocalyptic wasteland, and the grim conditions the survivors are faced with in the aftermath.
Narrated by Peter Wickham
Running Time 3 hours 58 Minutes
Produced by Black Library
This audio tells the story of the opening of what will become the largest tank battle in Imperial history. This story includes a poignantly tragic glimpse at the paradise world of Tallarn, before the blow that turned the planet into a apocalyptic wasteland, and the grim conditions the survivors are faced with in the aftermath.
Narrated by Peter Wickham
Running Time 3 hours 58 Minutes
Produced by Black Library
Audiobook
First published November 14, 2013
8 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
John French
154 books298 followersJohn French is a writer and freelance game designer from Nottingham, England. His novels include the Ahriman series from Black Library, and The Lord of Nightmares trilogy for Fantasy Flight. The rest of his work can be seen scattered through a number of other books, including the New York Times bestselling anthology Age of Darkness. When he is not thinking of ways that dark and corrupting beings could destroy reality and space, John enjoys talking about why it would be a good idea... that and drinking good wine.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 12, 2018
A bleak Horus Heresy novella that is essentially a WWI war tale set in a sci-fi setting with global scale use of lethal gases, action, thrills, betrayal and Space Marines Terminators and Titans added to the warring tanks.
Loved the grimdark storyline and the focus on human soldiers against the IV Legion Iron Warriors, sadly the brutal and abrupt ending arrived just when I was getting more and more fond of the Lantern, Silence and Talon crews characters.
Not at all a disappointment, but with a few more pages of characters fleshing and development this could have been a 5 stars top review.
April 3, 2014
One thing you can always count on in the Horus Heresy series is that they won't hold back on the action, and that's what 'Tallarn: Executioner' delivers. In spades.
Quite a lot of action actually for such a short novella. John French did a great job with the research that must have been necessary to create such realistic tank battles. The exhaustion, the claustrophobia, the thrill and terror of combat. What I enjoyed just as much was the character building between battles. Getting to know these tank crews that had basically been abandoned by the Great Crusade; left behind on a planet that had since lost it's strategic value. Some of whom had combat experience, some were completely inexperienced, all of whom are completely out of their depth when first thrown into combat with Adeptus Astartes.
I enjoyed this book. Not many of the Horus Heresy book focus on the more human characters, choosing to instead to focus on the Space Marines instead. When you think about it the Horus Heresy was a life changing event for everyone (and everything) within that universe. Seeing that affect from the perspective of human characters is one that I think should be explored further. Be that from ordinary citizens or the Imperial Army.
I look forward to the next episode in the Horus Heresy series.
Quite a lot of action actually for such a short novella. John French did a great job with the research that must have been necessary to create such realistic tank battles. The exhaustion, the claustrophobia, the thrill and terror of combat. What I enjoyed just as much was the character building between battles. Getting to know these tank crews that had basically been abandoned by the Great Crusade; left behind on a planet that had since lost it's strategic value. Some of whom had combat experience, some were completely inexperienced, all of whom are completely out of their depth when first thrown into combat with Adeptus Astartes.
I enjoyed this book. Not many of the Horus Heresy book focus on the more human characters, choosing to instead to focus on the Space Marines instead. When you think about it the Horus Heresy was a life changing event for everyone (and everything) within that universe. Seeing that affect from the perspective of human characters is one that I think should be explored further. Be that from ordinary citizens or the Imperial Army.
I look forward to the next episode in the Horus Heresy series.
December 20, 2013
Some people - a lot, it seems - complain when a book focuses on any non-Astartes faction. I do not. The Horus Heresy was a galactic civil war that involved everyone it touched in any way, and that includes the Imperial Army, the Mechanicum, civilians - and yes, even xenos at times. Tallarn: Executioner focused on the Imperial Army, and I believe is the first book to do so. John French did a rather brilliant job with them, doing considerable research into armoured warfare in order to make sure his book sounded as it should, and adding twists and hints of other things happening beneath the surface of the story. While I did not burn through it in a single sitting, the way I did "Aurelian", I found it an astoundingly good book. It does not, in any way, represent the whole story of the Battle of Tallarn (and nor should it; that was far too huge a battle for a single novella to fairly cover), but focuses on the early stages and the actions of particular tank crews. It also came with a cool little timeline of the battle as a whole, which was quite fun to go over, given the relative lack of detail we've been provided with up 'til this point.
I hope John French continues to focus his efforts on the Battle of Tallarn, whether in novel or novella or short story format, or any combination of the above. He's certainly done a fantastic job thus far.
I hope John French continues to focus his efforts on the Battle of Tallarn, whether in novel or novella or short story format, or any combination of the above. He's certainly done a fantastic job thus far.
February 16, 2015
Awesome claustrophobic tank war in a desolation of nuclear winter, phosphex slug and fires of treachery! Plus the covert ops and suspence. Well done John French, well done
March 21, 2016
By the Holy Pantheon this book was grim!
I really liked that it was shown from the human perspective. It really added a level of despair to see the whole world virus bombed then have the beginnings of the massive tank battles on it. The story told from the inside of the tanks was phenomenal, and I really hope we get to see more stuff like this(It makes me want to read Guy Hayley's newish novel Baneblade!). The character interaction was great, and while reading, you couldn't help but fall in love with the crews of the Lantern, Silence, and Talon.
The only thing I didn't like was how well the barely trained and well out of practice tank crews just destroyed the Iron Warriors. I mean, they are Space Marines! Don't get me wrong, a lot of those tactics worked wonders and were amazing to read about.
And the whole Tank vs. Tank thing evens up the odds. But just on reaction time, a superior mind, and COUNTLESS years of experience, I thought the Iron Warriors would do a little better against the Tallarn Raiders.
All in all, a damned good read, and I cannot wait until the next installment in the Tallarn series of novellas, or if they get a full novel or an audio drama or something.
I really liked that it was shown from the human perspective. It really added a level of despair to see the whole world virus bombed then have the beginnings of the massive tank battles on it. The story told from the inside of the tanks was phenomenal, and I really hope we get to see more stuff like this(It makes me want to read Guy Hayley's newish novel Baneblade!). The character interaction was great, and while reading, you couldn't help but fall in love with the crews of the Lantern, Silence, and Talon.
The only thing I didn't like was how well the barely trained and well out of practice tank crews just destroyed the Iron Warriors. I mean, they are Space Marines! Don't get me wrong, a lot of those tactics worked wonders and were amazing to read about.
And the whole Tank vs. Tank thing evens up the odds. But just on reaction time, a superior mind, and COUNTLESS years of experience, I thought the Iron Warriors would do a little better against the Tallarn Raiders.
All in all, a damned good read, and I cannot wait until the next installment in the Tallarn series of novellas, or if they get a full novel or an audio drama or something.
February 9, 2015
Ten million tanks! Or maybe one million tanks. Whatever the number, the Battle of Tallarn is famed for the vast numbers of armoured vehicles that were deployed. In his Horus Heresy novella Tallarn : Executioner, John French chronicles the opening sequence of this infamous battle, from the initial virus bombing of the once-verdant world to the early engagements that demonstrated to the Iron Warriors that Tallarn’s population wasn’t going to let them have their world without a fight. Originally available only as a Limited Edition novella, it’s now been re-issued in standard format to coincide with the release of Tallarn : Ironclad, the next in the Tallarn arc.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
March 15, 2015
Over too quick for me.
February 27, 2018
The Horus Heresy series has been one long tale of betrayal, and this book is no different. Great story, you really feel as if you are in the tanks with them.
March 29, 2025
Reading through Horus Heresy from Daunt's HH Timeline, this was the first story I've read that was solely focused on events playing out from the perspective of a group of normal humans
There were alot of names and Tanks and groups to follow at the start of the story, which made things slightly confusing, but by the end it was a good story portraying the challenges those who are on the receiving end of these cataclysmic events are left to face
This one was dark and filled with cold realities, but enjoyed it more than I anticipated I would be the end of it
There were alot of names and Tanks and groups to follow at the start of the story, which made things slightly confusing, but by the end it was a good story portraying the challenges those who are on the receiving end of these cataclysmic events are left to face
This one was dark and filled with cold realities, but enjoyed it more than I anticipated I would be the end of it
July 25, 2021
Para empezar la traducción es bastante mala, al final he preferido leer la versión original, de tantos errores que había.
La trama no me ha parecido gran cosa, muy confuso desde el principio, muchos nombres y lugares que no tiene una buena introducción, aquí no puedo sacar conclusiones porque no conozco nada de la trama y haces como que debería saber todo ya?
Los guerreros del hierro son unos pringaos.
La trama no me ha parecido gran cosa, muy confuso desde el principio, muchos nombres y lugares que no tiene una buena introducción, aquí no puedo sacar conclusiones porque no conozco nada de la trama y haces como que debería saber todo ya?
Los guerreros del hierro son unos pringaos.
November 20, 2024
Pretty solid story from the viewpoint of survivors of a virus bomb on Tallarn. Mostly tank action from the Imperial Guard but seeing the true horror that astartes can bring to the table when they are the enemy is refreshing. Quick read with fast action. Would recommend.
May 6, 2019
Short, snappy novella. Tank battles and betrayal amid the remains of a virus-bombed world. A bit of fun on the daily commute!
October 14, 2022
A short story with a lot of heart and gut wrenching moments.
Always a nice refresher to see how your standard military regements see it all and the almost mythical nature of astartees to most.
Always a nice refresher to see how your standard military regements see it all and the almost mythical nature of astartees to most.
November 14, 2022
Tense, unnerving, claustrophobic, brilliant.
December 29, 2023
Hugely fun. A well written, full contact short with a great twist. Claustrophobic and tense. Lovely, lovely tank death.
May 14, 2024
May 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XX Shadows of the Warmaster IV The Dead and the Dying (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.
Something very different, but hauntingly real. From John French? Never!
This novella begins the story of how a world of people and armour forgotten after Compliance suddenly became the battleground of titanic warmachines and cyclopean columns of armour through an incredibly intimate and disturbingly realised experiences of a tank unit made of discarded soldiers, small time gangsters, and local volunteers. Forced underground by deadly virus bombs that ravaged the once blossoming surface and thrown into the thick of it, barely trained humans have to hold their own against Traitor Astartes with only their metal boxes and heavy payloads keeping them alive for even a moment above ground.
I have to be honest and say I know absolutely nothing about Tallarn beyond it's a place that was once beautiful and ends up being the site of colossal warmachines blasting lumps out of each other.
What I do know is that I pretty much adore anything French writes and this is no different, while being radically different to almost anything in the Horus Heresy. With the focus on human soldiers and the relatively accessible nature of tank warfare, this is a story that is far more personal and lacking the fantastical distance of armoured transhumans and Daemons punching on with one another, and French really made me feel that. There really is something so familiar about the characters and scenes, the camaraderie and terror within the stifling confines of a tank that I can't think of another word to say than intimate. It felt like I was there with these people and experiencing their emotions in a way that is more difficult with an eight foot tall killing machine.
This is very obviously part of a wider story, being collected with another novella and short stories in Tallarn, so I can understand why the abruptness of the ending and essentially being all set up could be frustrating for some.
Personally, I loved it and I can't wait for more of this narrative to unfold.
There's one element I'm not touching on in this review, but I will say that after reading this and my major issues with just how weird and unnecessary the misogyny and other issues in Legion that I would truly love to see what a John French version of that book would look likes.
Great stuff!
Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read 43 Horus Heresy novels (inc. 1 repeat and 5 anthologies), 24 novellas (inc. 2 repeats), 130 short stories/ audio dramas (inc. 10+ repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 3 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).
Something very different, but hauntingly real. From John French? Never!
This novella begins the story of how a world of people and armour forgotten after Compliance suddenly became the battleground of titanic warmachines and cyclopean columns of armour through an incredibly intimate and disturbingly realised experiences of a tank unit made of discarded soldiers, small time gangsters, and local volunteers. Forced underground by deadly virus bombs that ravaged the once blossoming surface and thrown into the thick of it, barely trained humans have to hold their own against Traitor Astartes with only their metal boxes and heavy payloads keeping them alive for even a moment above ground.
I have to be honest and say I know absolutely nothing about Tallarn beyond it's a place that was once beautiful and ends up being the site of colossal warmachines blasting lumps out of each other.
What I do know is that I pretty much adore anything French writes and this is no different, while being radically different to almost anything in the Horus Heresy. With the focus on human soldiers and the relatively accessible nature of tank warfare, this is a story that is far more personal and lacking the fantastical distance of armoured transhumans and Daemons punching on with one another, and French really made me feel that. There really is something so familiar about the characters and scenes, the camaraderie and terror within the stifling confines of a tank that I can't think of another word to say than intimate. It felt like I was there with these people and experiencing their emotions in a way that is more difficult with an eight foot tall killing machine.
This is very obviously part of a wider story, being collected with another novella and short stories in Tallarn, so I can understand why the abruptness of the ending and essentially being all set up could be frustrating for some.
Personally, I loved it and I can't wait for more of this narrative to unfold.
There's one element I'm not touching on in this review, but I will say that after reading this and my major issues with just how weird and unnecessary the misogyny and other issues in Legion that I would truly love to see what a John French version of that book would look likes.
Great stuff!
Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read 43 Horus Heresy novels (inc. 1 repeat and 5 anthologies), 24 novellas (inc. 2 repeats), 130 short stories/ audio dramas (inc. 10+ repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 3 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).
April 2, 2014
A real good story always good to read about Iron Warriors and huge mechanised battles but the story was too short.
September 25, 2014
A good little story about an oft mentioned campaign but rarely detailed.
July 1, 2014
the little nod at the end was lovely.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews