Deathwing

Warhammer 40,000

by Neil Jones (Editor), David Pringle (Editor), Ian Watson

This classic anthology of dark and gothic SF was first published in the late 1980s and richly deserves its cult reputation. It includes work by blistering talents such as Ian Watson, Storm Constantine, Dan Abnett, Charles Stross, William King, Neil McIntosh, Gav Thorpe and Graham McNeill.

Deathwing, a Warhammer 40,000 anthology, is a gripping collection of the darkest science fiction stories set in the stark and brutal universe of Warhammer 40,000, stretching from the exploits of the lethal agents of the Officio Assassinorum to the babbling of incarcerated lunatics, their minds broken by the insanity of Chaos.

The Deathwing are the secretive inner circle of the most vigilant and zealous of the Emperor's warriors, the Dark Angels. They alone bear the truth of the hidden shame that taints them and each one of their fellows, and their ancient disgrace is just one in a galaxy of mysteries. In the nightmare future of the 41st Millennium, humanity must fight for survival againt a myriad heretical alien races – but the most dangerous enemies of all are the former champions of mankind, now corrupted by the foul taint of Chaos!
Contents:
8Deathwing [Warhammer 40,000] (1990) / novella by Bryan Ansell, William King
*Devil's Marauders [Warhammer 40,000] (1990) / novelette by William King
*Pestilence [Warhammer 40,000] (2001) / novelette by Dan Abnett
*Lacrymata [Warhammer 40,000] (1990) / novelette by Storm Constantine
*The Alien Beast Within [Inquisition War] (1990) / novelette by Ian Watson
*Seed of Doubt [Warhammer 40,000] (1990) / novelette by Neil McIntosh
*Suffer Not the Unclean to Live [Warhammer 40,000] (2001) / novelette by Gav Thorpe
*Warped Stars [Inquisition War] (1990) / novella by Ian Watson
* Monastery of Death [Warhammer 40,000] (1990) / novelette by Charles Stross
* Unforgiven [Warhammer 40,000] (2001) / short story by Graham McNeill

.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories, Ebooks, Military Science Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The short stories in this collection vary in quality from excellent to embarassingly awful, but if you find a copy it's worth picking up just for Storm Constantine's Lacrymata, one of the best stories ever set in the WH40k universe.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very decent short stories in here (though a few that aren't so good, namely the first one) but then you have to remember that this is from the beginning of 40K and back when it first started so some inconsistencies in the stories are to be expected.

Otherwise, very good.

[Jason Hoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way for new fans to get a little background on the 40k universe. Dan Abnett, Ian Watson, Gav Thorpe, and Graham McNeill's stories were outstanding!

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books don’t really need a review from me. My Goodreads friends aren’t thinking about reading them and I wouldn’t recommend them. I got into why I pick them up in review of Ravenwing (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) when I read that one last summer and it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing.

I read these occasionally because I want to do something else: the second nerdiest thing I can think of. But it’s impracticable so I try to live vicariously through these books and immerse myself briefly in the lore of Warhammer.

These ones are all short stories and they evoke the ‘grim dark’ Warhammer universe. They’re fine if that’s what you want, but will be of zero interest if you don’t want to be interested. The books are made to sell little toys – to make you invested in the worlds that these little toys come from.

The truth is though, that Warhammer 40K first came out in 1987. It’s been around nearly as long as I have. They’ve been developing this whole mythology for more than thirty years, and there are dozens of factions or races or armies that all have their own histories and religions and goals. I have read a handful of these books (primarily ones that seem to be based around the army I picked for myself: the Dark Angels) and I’m still pretty confused about what this universe looks like and how all the pieces interplay. I saw somewhere that there are over 400 books set in this universe. I could read nothing but this trash for years and there would still be things I don’t know. Just a few here or there ought to be enough to give me the flavor though.

I wrote most of the above on the day I started the book – already sort of having formed my opinion before I started – but today I’m feeling more generous in my praise for it. Not that anything I said isn’t true. I’m just sort of awed at the shear size of the mythology built around what is essentially a board game. I mean, Star Wars has twelve or so movies and 400 or so novels. Warhammer has just as many and it’s practically unheard of outside it’s own nerdiverse. And really –if you’re aware of the game at all – you think of the little army men, but the game itself IS books. It’s like DnD in that way. The rules are the game (maybe that’s true of all games), the figures and the dice are just there to represent what’s on the page. It’s an impressive amount of lore and they’ve created a very detailed universe for anyone who wants to be part of it – even if they’re not pumping out Pulitzer caliber (or even Hugo award) fiction.

[Christopher Nilssen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a break after Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-62. As it was my “nightly” read, and therefore consumed on the Kindle so as not to disturb anyone who I might be sleeping next to, I needed a light read that was in digital form. There are several Warhammer 40K books that I’d picked up in the Humble Book Bundle “Tales of the Space Marine Chapters” in May of 2022 that live on my Kindle. I’d started reading Deathwing as part of a plan to read a short story or essay every day. My daily reading volume now far surpasses that modest goal, but setting and following that challenge laid the foundation for the current capacity.

The stories in this collection are of uneven quality, though they do the job of illuminating the lore surrounding the elite 1 Company of the Dark Angels Space Marines Chapter. I quite enjoyed Graham McNeill’s tale, Unforgiven, that closes the anthology. It’s the most blood ‘n guts entry and encapsulates all that I’ve come to appreciate from Warhammer 40K: dark gothic alien heresy and brutal sacrifices made in the name of the God Emperor of Mankind. Cheesy, macho stuff, I know, but as far as pulpy, pleasurable reading goes it cleansed my palette after all the pages of unspeakable real-world horrors I’d read in researching Mao’s Great Leap Forward.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't necessarily like how the last story ended, the last line to be precise, and one of the stories felt a bit too uninteresting to me (the doomed romance didn't do it for me), but every story has something to give you.

Don't go in thinking you're gonna get canon — there's a lot here, but one of the authors is officially excluded from canon and, quite strangely, there are two Dark Angels stories that seem to operate in different lores (but I could be wrong and it's just old lore for both).

Still, it's all interesting. I don't love all the writing styles, some stories have writing issues, and Ian Watson is disgusting, but none of these stories is truly poorly written. They all have their qualities.

I think both Ian Watson stories (not canon at all) are a highlight for how bonkers they are (there's even a random Astartes Chapter that doesn't exist); Damn Abnett, you wrote the best story; and Deathwing (I think it's canon only as a legend of the Deathwing, but basically not canon) is incredible: Two Heads Talking became my favourite character in 40k somehow, and the ending made me cry.


I wouldn't read this for canon.

«Both Space Marine 2 and Dawn of War 2 have exactly 0 Zoats in them.»

That's the best mindset to engage with these stories, I think...

These stories are fun, they pose interesting questions, they're haunting and disgusting, but also beautiful when they have to be. If you read them, you'll be reading the history of 40k in a way, and that's what makes this special.

[Jonathan LaMagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Anthology and Entry Point into WH40K

I can say that all of these stories were very pleasant to read through as a new fan to Warhammer. The one thing that drew me to a 3-star rating is there didn't feel like there were any real stakes. [[SPOILERS FROM HERE ON]]
Any time an Astartes was involved it felt like they just miraculously attained victory depsite unrealistic odds. Probably my favorite story in the book was about the astra militarum soldier on the forest planet, which ended with the actions taken in the story basically being for naught. This is the 'grim-dark,' but it didn't feel satisfying for the good guys to always win. That's my personal opinion, and I don't see why anyone would outright dislike this book. I give this three stars because it's not very spectacular in my opinion. However, it's a perfectly good liesure read in the universe of WH40K to enjoy once, and then probably forget all about.

[Βασίλειος · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first 40k book ever published. The original edition (pub. 1990) included 7 short stories, each featuring a different faction of the Imperium of Man. The updated edition (pub. 2001) includes 3 additional stories.

All stories were surprisingly good, but the two stories by Ian Watson (which are connected to his Inquisition Wars trilogy) were a bit too weird for me and didn't really fit in 40k.

Highlights:
Devil's Marauders William King
Lacrymata by Storm Constantine
Pestilence by Dan Abnett

[Arthur B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first Warhammer 40,000 short story anthology might be hit-and-miss, but it's delightfully, deliriously gonzo and includes contributions from several writers you'd be surprised to see contributing to a 40K anthology, like Storm Constantine. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/200...

[Jack Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories from the earlier days of 40K lore. Most I didn't find too engaging, but I did particularly like Dan Abnett's Pestilence and Ian Watson's Warped Stars. I am very excited to start Dan's Eisenhorn series.

[BlacKHeaDSg1 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh god, this was o bad to read. I have no clue what i read, i don't even remember the start or even the finish. There were no red line or some main story to grasp on it. It took me so long to read because it is that bad, i might remember one story and even that was half memorable.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent short stories. I wildly recommend! =)

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of short stories, only one of which I had read before.

[Leo H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of early Warhammer 40K short stories, back when the 40K world was a bit more fun and loose, rather than serious and Grimdark.

[Pontus Doverstav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable glimpses into the Warhammer 40K universe from many different perspectives. The stories vary in quality (as can be expected), but none of them were too bad.

[Maciek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some older stories from the 90s. Few about Deathwing, some genestealers, imperium specialists.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best collection of Warhammer 40k short stories that I've found so far. Perfect introduction for anyone looking to explore the setting and required reading for fans.

[Tom Fishwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of stories set in the Warhammer 40k universe. Only the first and last were about the Dark Angels. But despite that surprise they were good.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had two printings. First by Boxtree in 1990 with only seven stories and the latter with nine. Those two short shories I reviewed here

This was an anbiguous book with great stories and some who I didn't enjoy. Some die-hard fans would say I am heretic and who cares, right?

1) Deathwing by Bryan Ansell & William King - This tale is where Deathwing company was born. Here we learn what Deathwing is all about*. Here we also learn that the Dark Angels were based on the american indians. This particular tale involves Genestealers infesting on one recruiting feral world and how they cope with it. It's quiet good and gave me another perspective from the Dark Angels. Later fluff the Dark Angels are presented as consumed with the pursuit of their fallen brothers called Fallen Angels, even sometimes putting them in the path of other chapters or the Inquisition. Because of it they are eyed with suspiction. Top notch story. 8/10

*Info: Deathwing and Ravenwing are two companies within the Dark Angels

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2) Warped Stars by Ian Watson - This tale was possible one that I must read in later time to fully compreehend. In this tale we set of as Inquisition, with Grimm (the squat that is part of the retinue of Jaq in the Inquisition Trilogy) and a Ogrynn bodyguard with the help of loyalist chapter Grief Bringers are set against The Enslavers (a psychic sentient beings). Interesting tale. I won't give any rating since I am waiting to read it again.

3) Lacrymata by Storm Constantine - This tale is about the perils of the Warp as a Navigator and an Astropath deal with the calling of the warp. There are something that draw them to it. It's like that phrase that we are Children of Light but we are drawn to Darkness because deep inside we are chaos. This phrase says it all and if you don't get the meaning as Nietsche "if you stare into the abyss long enough the abyss stares back at you". Maybe with time the writer could have developed more this story. 7/10

4) Monastry of Death by Charles Stross - I didn't knew he wrote a story for black library and it was a good story with a great plot and twist in the end. This tale we follow a invasion/colonization from a Imperial Fleet to bring another planet back to Terra's dominion. Of course, the planet residents don't want that but a frontal war is foolish so a compromisse must be met. 8/10

5) Seed of Doubt by Neil McIntosh - This tale is the weakestof the collection. I really didn't understand what was happening and I didn't care. It was the main reason I stop reading these tales. 3.5/10

6) Devil's Marauders by William King - It was one of the best tales of the anthology. Almost worth reading the book because of it. In a jungle wars a group of imperial soldiers led by an Commissar are fleeing from an area that is going to be torched from the fleet above. After some minor conflicts they arrive to an area knowing that their work is not done. With a short story, King made a good character development. Great interaction betweeen the characters. This is another example of why William King is the best writer in BL. 9.5/10

7) The Alien Beast Within by Ian Watson - In this tale we follow Meh'Lindi before she was integrated within Draco team. This tale we learn how and why she was morphed with a genestealer DNA. Meh'Lindi. To anyone who read the Inquisitor War Trilogy I would reccomend reading these two short stories becasue will give depth to the characters even if it's not required to do. 7/10

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favourite of the Warhammer books that I read. The short stories were mostly very good. Deathwing by Bryan Ansell and William King was an interesting look at a Space Marine squad that all came from one primitive planet and how they had to go back and save their planet from Genestealers and factories. It was very well done with lots of stories inside stories and had interesting world building. Warped Stars was an Ian Watson story about a young boy with psychic abilities who had been contacted by an alien/demonic force who was trying to take him over. It was also very well done with lots of different perspectives and actually had a happy ending! It also introduced Grimm the dwarf/squat from the inquisition series and made him more interesting. Lacrymata by Strom Constantine seemed more sedate, and thankfully had female characters! It was a story of over indulgence, and love and psychic powers and I enjoyed it a lot too. Monastary of Death by Charles Stross was probably the tamest of the stories, a monastary hid secret knowledge from the Imperials. It was a fairly simple story but done quite well. Seed of doubt by Neil McIntosh was alright. I don't remember much of the story except there was something that needed wiping out and the happy ending involved a woman having to shoot her commander as there was a chance he was infected/possessed. Devil's Mauarader's by William King was the only story I didn't care for. It was marines stuck in the jungle fighting to get out. It just felt like it was a Vietnam war story and nothing to do with 40k except the weapons had been scaled up. I found it very dull. The last story The alien beast within by Ian Watson was the pre-story of his character Meh'lindi the assassin from the inquisitor wars. It was a good background piece and I can't have imagined having read the other books without having read this first, particularly in the 2nd book when they make so many references to the events within this story. Overall the stories were very good and this was my favourite of the Warhammer books I read.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Warhammer 40k fiction. I borrowed this from a friend and read it mainly to get into the mindset to play Deathwatch but it's fairly enjoyable pulpy scifi. If you really dig the universe or want to learn more, worth a read. If scifi (particularly the grim far future xenophobia type) then you're better passing this up. I might go back and read more WH40k sometime...

EDIT: Dan Abnett is a good write in this universe and I really like another of Charles Stross's books (Accelerando). O, and I love the short story format. It really has grown on me, especially for these types of stories, and looking back this reminds me of Pump Six (or perhaps vice versa since I read that later) by Paolo Bacigalupi (which is phenomenal!)

[Robert McCarroll · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this when I was ignorant of the 40K canon, and the immediate result was disappointment, followed by an extreme dislike for the Dark Angels. The stories were not that interesting in of themselves, and assumed a greater knowledge of the setting than I had at the time. It was a lackluster first impression for the otherwise engrossing 40K franchise.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can't remember many of the other stories in this short story collection, but Ian Watson's "Warped Stars" is one of my favourite science fiction short stories of ALL TIME.

I regularly re-read this book just for that one story.

Fantastic pacing and such a vivid and heroic struggle.

[David Hellstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

some good short stories.

[Steve]

Warhammer 40K

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice background for the origins of the deathwing. and other short stories.

[Taddow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories based in the Warhammer 40,000 world. Some are better than others.

[Christian]

A collection of earlier 40K stories that are short and sweet. I like it best when these stories are not overthought. I mean, it's 40K. Give the readers what they expect and this collection delivers.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, good as far as Warhammer 40k goes.

[Jp Nespral · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically an anthology of stories surrounding the Dark Angels Chapter of the space marines

Four stars goes to the short story of the same title