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Black Library Advent Calendar 2017 #12
Dreams of Unity
A Thunder Warrior, fighting in the gladiatorial pits, is drawn into a deadly battle between two vicious predators – one of them a Custodian Guard.
It has been many long years since the fall of the Thunder Warriors. After the last battles of Unity, the legions of genhanced warriors were slaughtered by the Emperor's Custodian Guard on the Master of Mankind's orders. But a handful survived… Now one of the last few Thunder Warriors gets caught up in dangerous events that engulf the Throneworld – even as he is hunted by one of the Emperor's praetorians.
It has been many long years since the fall of the Thunder Warriors. After the last battles of Unity, the legions of genhanced warriors were slaughtered by the Emperor's Custodian Guard on the Master of Mankind's orders. But a handful survived… Now one of the last few Thunder Warriors gets caught up in dangerous events that engulf the Throneworld – even as he is hunted by one of the Emperor's praetorians.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2017
5 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.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 29, 2019
We are the thunder,
we are the lightning,
We were His first,
but now amongst the last,
We lived too long,
and now we wish to die,
The only death that matters,
the Honoured Death.
– Dahren Heruk, hymn of the Honoured Death
Read in the Heralds of the Siege anthology
After fighting besides the Master of Mankind long time ago in the war to unify Terra under His rule, the proto-Astartes Thunder Warriors were discarded like broken toys and slaughtered by the Custodian Guard on Emperor's orders.
But an handful of these old warriors still live, broken in body and mind, fighting as gladiators in the underbelly slum of the Imperial Palace, looking for an Honoured Death.
A great short story adding insight about the Thunder Legion and how much the Emperor really cares about His creations, after The Outcast Dead and The Master of Mankind that left me craving for a new series about the war for Terra's Unity, and now that the Horus Heresy is close to its end that is no more just a remote possibility I guess.
May 10, 2024
May 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVIII Omnissiah II End of Empires (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.
A bitter and bloody tale about the last echoes of thunder in the dying dreams of Unity first released as part of the Black Library Advent Calendar.
Thunder Warriors were once seen as the pinnacle of martial menace and carved a bloody swathe across Terra to unite it under the rule of the Emperor. The tales tell of how they died to a man in the last battle, but the truth is they were purged by a creator who no longer had any use for them because of his new and equally disposable, if greater genewrought weapons with which to conquer the stars. Few survived the purge, a ganglord here, mercenaries and gladiators there.
This story follows the latter as they cling to life by taking it, while their minds decay with memories and hallucinations of the War for Unity, eeking out life amongst the blood and grime of the Terran Underhive. When Terra is threatened again, a discarded warrior might have one last opportunity to serve...
This is unbelievably bleak and shows a grimy side of Terra not seen before, as well as building on Thunder Warrior lore. Maybe I'm feeling generous because of the novelty, but taking into account this being a Black Library Advent Calendar short, I'm giving it full marks.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 38 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat and 4 anthologies), 22 novellas (including 2 repeats), 120 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats, but not including a number of additional repeats for clarity), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, All 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t...). 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.
A bitter and bloody tale about the last echoes of thunder in the dying dreams of Unity first released as part of the Black Library Advent Calendar.
Thunder Warriors were once seen as the pinnacle of martial menace and carved a bloody swathe across Terra to unite it under the rule of the Emperor. The tales tell of how they died to a man in the last battle, but the truth is they were purged by a creator who no longer had any use for them because of his new and equally disposable, if greater genewrought weapons with which to conquer the stars. Few survived the purge, a ganglord here, mercenaries and gladiators there.
This story follows the latter as they cling to life by taking it, while their minds decay with memories and hallucinations of the War for Unity, eeking out life amongst the blood and grime of the Terran Underhive. When Terra is threatened again, a discarded warrior might have one last opportunity to serve...
This is unbelievably bleak and shows a grimy side of Terra not seen before, as well as building on Thunder Warrior lore. Maybe I'm feeling generous because of the novelty, but taking into account this being a Black Library Advent Calendar short, I'm giving it full marks.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 38 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat and 4 anthologies), 22 novellas (including 2 repeats), 120 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats, but not including a number of additional repeats for clarity), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, All 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t...). 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.
December 29, 2017
A great little story that gives some much needed depth to the Thunder Warriors and adds to the lore laid down by Graham McNeil in The Outcast Dead.
The story is well written, albeit a little predictable. Thoroughly enjoyable though and well worth a read.
The story is well written, albeit a little predictable. Thoroughly enjoyable though and well worth a read.
December 22, 2017
In the poverty-stricken underbelly of the Imperial Palace, a handful of surviving Thunder Warriors – the tattered remnants of the proto-Astartes legions with whose help the Emperor unified Terra – eke out a brutal existence as gladiators despite their ageing bodies and troubled minds, forever defined by their loyalty to an old notion.
Fans have wanted more Thunder Warriors since The Outcast Dead, and while this focuses on a character named Heruk rather than Arik Taranis it should go some way to scratching that itch. It’s only a brief glimpse into these characters’ lives, but it’s fascinating nonetheless.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/12/...
Fans have wanted more Thunder Warriors since The Outcast Dead, and while this focuses on a character named Heruk rather than Arik Taranis it should go some way to scratching that itch. It’s only a brief glimpse into these characters’ lives, but it’s fascinating nonetheless.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/12/...
March 7, 2019
A short story from the Horus Heresy when one of the last Thunder Warriors in embattled on Terra following the Heresy of Lupercal. His end is near... but it is an honourable death he seeks.
A little difficult to follow at times, the book starts in the Gladitorial ring and advances to the hero hunting for an honourable death... one which is long overdue. This is - in the end - a fun little story but certainly not a good introduction into the Horus Heresy for the casual reader. I'm slightly surprised it was included in a Humble Bundle recently.
A little difficult to follow at times, the book starts in the Gladitorial ring and advances to the hero hunting for an honourable death... one which is long overdue. This is - in the end - a fun little story but certainly not a good introduction into the Horus Heresy for the casual reader. I'm slightly surprised it was included in a Humble Bundle recently.
April 1, 2019
Compared to the other short stories I've read recently, certainly more action in this book, as we see more of the melancholy state of the Thunder Warriors after their discarding by the Emperor. An interesting twist in this book as well, building to a satisfying finish for the main character.
December 23, 2019
A surprisingly vivid story through so few pages. I haven't read anything about the thunder warriors before and liked it a lot. I think I'll have to read more short stories next year.
January 30, 2020
Excellent. Good Military SciFi always raises questions and this one certainly does that and delivers a stunning story.
January 27, 2021
One of my new favorites amongst the entirety of short stories set during the times of The Heresy. Thunder Legion!!
November 15, 2025
Por fín un relato sobre los guerreros del trueno. Lleno de desesperación y abandonados por el querido emperador. Es muy triste como se los utilizó y como acabaron.
July 31, 2025
A bleak and grim tale of a broken warrior, discarded by the Emperor he once served.
The Thunder Warriors were proto-Astartes warriors, used by the Emperor to conquer Terra. But they were not made to last and were discarded in favor of the Space Marine Legions. The few survivors are wracked with health problems physical and mental. They eke out a meager existence in the slums of Terra, fighting over scaps. This story is about one such Thunder Warrior.
An interesting tale that gives a few little tidbits of lore about the pre-Unfication era. The writing is superb, very atmospheric and tense, with intrigue and mystery propelling the plot along.
The Thunder Warriors were proto-Astartes warriors, used by the Emperor to conquer Terra. But they were not made to last and were discarded in favor of the Space Marine Legions. The few survivors are wracked with health problems physical and mental. They eke out a meager existence in the slums of Terra, fighting over scaps. This story is about one such Thunder Warrior.
An interesting tale that gives a few little tidbits of lore about the pre-Unfication era. The writing is superb, very atmospheric and tense, with intrigue and mystery propelling the plot along.
August 22, 2019
Fascinating insight to a forgotten period.
I really enjoyed this insight into the badly underwritten Thunder Warriors and the Unification Wars.
We follow a fugitive Thunder Warrior trying to survive on Terra from a cunningly handled opening as he tries to find what has been killing his friends and brother Warriors. At the same time,one of the Emperor's Custodians, the ones who had purged his brothers is also on the hunt.
The novella does a decent job of conveying the pathos of a being designed only for war, without a war to fight and hoping for an honourable death..
I really enjoyed this insight into the badly underwritten Thunder Warriors and the Unification Wars.
We follow a fugitive Thunder Warrior trying to survive on Terra from a cunningly handled opening as he tries to find what has been killing his friends and brother Warriors. At the same time,one of the Emperor's Custodians, the ones who had purged his brothers is also on the hunt.
The novella does a decent job of conveying the pathos of a being designed only for war, without a war to fight and hoping for an honourable death..
October 17, 2019
Nick Kyme is not the best writer in BL, his plots are generally not that clever, his stuff is not that interesting and his writing is not that articulated. But some of his stuff really resonated with me, and stirred my heat so much so that it was difficult to suppress. This is a fine example of such instances. For unity!
December 21, 2017
A melancholy Thunder Warrior, who knows he's "lived too long," ekes out an existence as a cheap gladiator while his remaining battle-brothers slowly die around him. Makes you wonder about the intended fate of the Emperor's other "tools" after they served their purpose.
September 6, 2018
Grear shorty story
It's a story set on terra about some of the few ramianing thunder warriors. Great action scenes and a tantalizing view of the underbelly of terra.
It's a story set on terra about some of the few ramianing thunder warriors. Great action scenes and a tantalizing view of the underbelly of terra.
June 18, 2018
Fantastic novella
They really need to do a series about Unity and the Thunder Warriors. I'm sure its on the cards, it'd better be.
Good job Nick, cracking little short.
They really need to do a series about Unity and the Thunder Warriors. I'm sure its on the cards, it'd better be.
Good job Nick, cracking little short.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews