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Black Library Celebration 2019 #5
Ghost of Nuceria
A Primarchs story
Angron, former gladiator and slave, and now leader of a rebellion against the High-riders of Nuceria, prepares to sell his life dearly in the name of freeing his people from torture. But fate has other plans…
READ IT BECAUSE
Angron's time after being plucked from Nuceria has been explored, as has the scars it left with him, both physical and emotional. Now, for the first time, witness the day his life changed forever.
THE STORY
On the world of Nuceria, the last day of the slave rebellion is nigh. From the hundreds freed by Angron, barely more than fifty remain, hiding in the mountains, feeding on the rich blood of their saviour in lieu of real food. As the High-riders, the so-called nobles who tortured the slaves and made them fight for their own amusement, gather their forces to bring the rebellion down once and for all, Angron prepares to sell his life dearly. But other forces are moving. In the skies about Nuceria, the Emperor of Mankind is preparing to meet one of his long-lost sons. And that meeting will be a fateful one…
Written by Ian St. Martin
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2019
9 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 1, 2019
+What have they done to you?+
The voice was thunder and ice in his brain. Angron’s Nails bit deep, punishing him and the invasion, demanding that he kill the speaker, and then everything else.
‘Who– hnng,’ whispered Angron, finding that he could still speak. ‘Who are–’
+I am the Emperor, and you are coming with me.+
‘Where?’
+Beyond this place. To the stars.+
‘My brothers,’ gasped Angron. ‘My sisters. I won’t abandon them.’
+They, and this planet, are no longer your concern.+
‘No. Whatever it is you want of me, I refuse. My place is here, with my true kin. I fight here. I die here.’
The voice was silent for a moment. Angron almost sensed regret in the thunder that echoed through his mind when it spoke again.
+Then I am sorry.+
Ian St. Martin's first take on Angron is a very good short story about his last moments on Nuceria, his first meeting with the Emperor and the first captain that started the lomg sequence of War Hounds, the precursors to the World Eaters, dead officers before Khârn ended it. Just perfect prequel to the After Desh'ea story by Matthew Farrer, my most favourite tale in the Tales of Heresy anthology, and to the upcoming Angron: Slave of Nuceria novel.
March 22, 2024
March 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus X Shadow Crusade III Chosen of Chaos (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
A story about Angron and Nucreria you say? And it made me cry you say? Surely not, I blub in response, smiling widely through the tears.
St. Martin recommends this and my favourite Horus Heresy short story, Matthew Farrer's After Desh'ea, as prequels to his Primarchs Novel, Angron: Slave of Nuceria, so I have battled my groggy fibro fogged brain to read one of the few entries in this series without audio, so I can listen to the novel that is glint to hopefully continue my love and heartbreak over my favourite angry boy.
This very short story that was originally part of the Black Library Celebration 2019 covers the incredibly brief amount of time before, during, and immediately after the Battle of Desh'ea between the Eater of Cities and his siblings from the gladitorial slave pits and their former masters, the High Riders. We are given a bit more detail of the young Jochura and the wickedly quick Klester with her remaining leg and chained shriek spear that Angron remembers fondly in other stories, as well as the hardships and losses they suffered in their brief and brutal freedom. The story dovetails perfectly into After Desh'ea, playing out the opening of conflict with the High Riders, the Emperor teleporting him away, their brief exchange, and finally him being teleported to the Adamant Resolve and his first contact with the War Hounds.
This story does a lot with so little and is really rather effective with it. The essence of Nuceria and the awful slavery and blood sports that are used to quell the masses by the privileged and cruel High Riders, the palpable sense of freedom and willingness and assuredness to die free, among kith who have become kin, and the heartbreaking, apoplectic despair-rage that Angron feels being stolen from his one chance for peace exude from the page, as does the contemptuous cold of the Emperor. It's interesting to see how the Emperor and Angron interact, how Angron has always viewed his father as another tyrant enslaving him to simply a new form of exploitative blood sport.
I give this story full marks and it makes me hopeful and afraid for Slave of Nuceria next, but this isn't perfect. I think this is more me being an absolute glutton for emotional punishment, but this serves as a perfect lead up and part one of a pair that the exquisite After Desh'ea makes up part two.
There's no doubt this is high tier of the super short stories and goes in my to return to pile of Horus Heresy goodies. I truly wish there was audio for it though. I need to hear Toby Longworth or Jonathan Keeble belting out these lines!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 11 novellas, 53 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 9 Primarchs novels, 4 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.
A story about Angron and Nucreria you say? And it made me cry you say? Surely not, I blub in response, smiling widely through the tears.
St. Martin recommends this and my favourite Horus Heresy short story, Matthew Farrer's After Desh'ea, as prequels to his Primarchs Novel, Angron: Slave of Nuceria, so I have battled my groggy fibro fogged brain to read one of the few entries in this series without audio, so I can listen to the novel that is glint to hopefully continue my love and heartbreak over my favourite angry boy.
This very short story that was originally part of the Black Library Celebration 2019 covers the incredibly brief amount of time before, during, and immediately after the Battle of Desh'ea between the Eater of Cities and his siblings from the gladitorial slave pits and their former masters, the High Riders. We are given a bit more detail of the young Jochura and the wickedly quick Klester with her remaining leg and chained shriek spear that Angron remembers fondly in other stories, as well as the hardships and losses they suffered in their brief and brutal freedom. The story dovetails perfectly into After Desh'ea, playing out the opening of conflict with the High Riders, the Emperor teleporting him away, their brief exchange, and finally him being teleported to the Adamant Resolve and his first contact with the War Hounds.
This story does a lot with so little and is really rather effective with it. The essence of Nuceria and the awful slavery and blood sports that are used to quell the masses by the privileged and cruel High Riders, the palpable sense of freedom and willingness and assuredness to die free, among kith who have become kin, and the heartbreaking, apoplectic despair-rage that Angron feels being stolen from his one chance for peace exude from the page, as does the contemptuous cold of the Emperor. It's interesting to see how the Emperor and Angron interact, how Angron has always viewed his father as another tyrant enslaving him to simply a new form of exploitative blood sport.
I give this story full marks and it makes me hopeful and afraid for Slave of Nuceria next, but this isn't perfect. I think this is more me being an absolute glutton for emotional punishment, but this serves as a perfect lead up and part one of a pair that the exquisite After Desh'ea makes up part two.
There's no doubt this is high tier of the super short stories and goes in my to return to pile of Horus Heresy goodies. I truly wish there was audio for it though. I need to hear Toby Longworth or Jonathan Keeble belting out these lines!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 11 novellas, 53 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 9 Primarchs novels, 4 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.
February 24, 2019
Poor Angron. :(
March 13, 2019
In his final days on Nuceria, Angron leads a ragtag army of fellow slaves in a hopeless battle against the overwhelming forces of the High Riders, the Nucerian nobles. He’s come to terms with his inevitable death and the chance to find peace at last, but fate and the father he never wanted conspire against him.
There’s perhaps more impact if you’ve read Slave of Nuceria, but either way it’s an interesting little character study and a welcome reminder that there’s more to this character than just the Butcher’s Nails.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/02/...
There’s perhaps more impact if you’ve read Slave of Nuceria, but either way it’s an interesting little character study and a welcome reminder that there’s more to this character than just the Butcher’s Nails.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/02/...
August 24, 2019
A really great short set just before Angron is abducted by the Emperor, leading to the events witnessed in Tales of Heresy.
April 30, 2024
The origin story of Angron, my favorite of the primarchs. Should be read first before the Angron collection.
August 1, 2025
“For there was no camaraderie between master and slave, between tyrant and rebel. There was only hate, the letting of blood and a vengeance dreamt of after a lifetime languishing in the pits.”
We witness the very end of Angron’s slave-rebellion, seeing a noble side of him we haven’t witnessed before. Alongside his brothers and sisters of the Pits, he is kind, loyal, a genuine leader, even with the Nails digging into his head.
Angron died on Nuceria. What the Emperor “saved” was little more than a ghost. A vengeful, furious ghost. Angron saw his “father” as being no different from the High-Riders of Nuceria, his chains of bondage had merely passed from one master to another.
This story went along with pre-established lore without adding much, but it is the atmosphere of the story and experiencing it through Angron’s eyes that adds value to the Heresy series.
We witness the very end of Angron’s slave-rebellion, seeing a noble side of him we haven’t witnessed before. Alongside his brothers and sisters of the Pits, he is kind, loyal, a genuine leader, even with the Nails digging into his head.
Angron died on Nuceria. What the Emperor “saved” was little more than a ghost. A vengeful, furious ghost. Angron saw his “father” as being no different from the High-Riders of Nuceria, his chains of bondage had merely passed from one master to another.
This story went along with pre-established lore without adding much, but it is the atmosphere of the story and experiencing it through Angron’s eyes that adds value to the Heresy series.
April 3, 2024
Angron did nothing wrong
February 19, 2025
you know how they say: poor idiot angron
I believe you will fulfill your meaning as a enemy of the bigger idiot than you - The Emperor
I believe you will fulfill your meaning as a enemy of the bigger idiot than you - The Emperor
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews