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The soldiers of the Astra Millitarum are mankind's first line of defence against its many foes. With numbers, tanks and brave heroes, they protect the worlds of the Imperium. Collected here are stories of some of those heroes, including Commissar Yarrick and Lord General Creed.

For ten thousand years, the massed armies of the Astra Militarum have defended the Imperium from the multitudinous horrors that seek to overwhelm it. With guns and tanks, determination and courage, these human soldiers fight across a thousand war zones, in a war that has no ending. This anthology showcases some of the most famous regiments of the Astra Militarum along with their charismatic commanders, heroes such as Commissar Yarrick and Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken.

Commissar Yarrick, Colonel Straken and Lord Castellan Creed take centre stage in eight tales of the ordinary men and women of the Imperium's armies - including a trilogy of tales featuring Creed and his Cadian Eighth, leading up to the Battle of Tyrok Fields, where the general took command and forged his legend. See exactly what he did to earn the title of Lord Castellan as he saves Cadia from disaster and ruin.

368-page hardback collecting the following stories:

Yarrick: Chains of Golgotha , Evil Eye and Yarrick: Sarcophagus by David Annandale
Straken: A Hero's Death by Toby Frost
Bloodlord by Braden Campbell
Ursakar Creed: Last Step Backwards, Lost Hope and The Battle of Tyrok Fields by Justin D Hill

Hardcover

Published November 28, 2015

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David Annandale

264 books220 followers

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Matt TB.
157 reviews3 followers
December 31, 2023
Nice collection of short stories from life in the imperial guard.

Love the last 3 though, Justin Hill’s prequels to the Cadia series.
Profile Image for Victor Ward.
Author 2 books2 followers
August 7, 2018
Probably the best representation of the Astra Militarum in the 40k universe. Stories containing the desperate, often over the top struggle of the average human in a universe full of things that are more dangerous than themselves. The commissar Yarick stories in particular are probably the best rendition of Orks I've ever seen while the most over-heroic instance of a single human turning into a monster I've ever read.
40 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2018
Some great stories from the Hammer of the emperor! enjoyable and fast paced.
Profile Image for Jean-Luc.
278 reviews36 followers
March 9, 2022
Here are 8 stories about the organization formerly known as the Imperial Guard.


* Chains of Golgotha by David Annandale - Even the Imperium's mightiest heroes have a nasty habit of underestimating Orks. This one was a bit of a head scratcher as I couldn't figure out why Commissar Yarrick so angry with Rogge when it was Yarrick who outpaced his support and allowed himself to get so badly flanked? Oy

* Evil Eye by David Annandale - Commissar Yarrick only has one eye.

* Sarcophagus by David Annandale - Commissar Yarrick needs a ride, so his good buddy Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka gives him a lift.

* Straken: A Hero's Death by Toby Frost - Catachan jungle fighters are meant to fight within jungles. They're not really meant for urban combat, but a general from the Mordian Iron Guard who everyone thought was dead just sent a distress signal. Into the hive they go...

* Bloodlord by Braden Campbell - Black Templars get lost. Luckily there are Cadian shock troopers that they can ask for directions.

* Last Step Backwards by Justin D. Hill - Creed!

* Lost Hope by Justin D. Hill - Creed! needs to replenish his troops after the previous fight.

* The Battle of Tyrok Fields by Justin D. Hill - Creed! finally takes command on Cadia just in time for Abaddon the Despoiler to show up! Everyone knows how the 13th Black Crusade ended. This story shows the beginning of the crusade from Creed! and his Cadians' point-of-view.


Toby Frost's Straken short story felt like the most memorable one. Uncomplicated with an unexpected but satisfying resolution. The rest of the stories aren't bad either. The perfect palate cleanser to take a break from space marines before going back!
Profile Image for Adam Sinclair.
21 reviews
October 24, 2025
Wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did!

A collection of short stories and novella that somewhat tie together satisfyingly.

By the end,I'm pricing up an Astra Militarum army up on GWs website and screaming "For Cadia".
392 reviews8 followers
April 8, 2018
All in all, a nice little collection of stories. Nothing extraordinary, but this collection is still a pleasant companion for long bus rides.
Profile Image for Steve.
350 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2019
Some new, some old, a good read.
11 reviews
July 30, 2020
Some of the stories in it were fun, but in general I didn't find it to be a great introduction to warhammer 40K when I read it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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