Packin' Heat

Black Library Advent 2022 #4

by Mike Brooks

A Snaggi Littletoof Short Story

READ IT BECAUSE
Get a glimpse into the inner workings of grot politics in an ancient aeldari ruin.

THE STORY
When Ufthak's top grot Nizkwik slips away from the group to investigate something, Snaggi sees an opportunity to ingratiate himself… and realises that Nizkwik's a lot simpler than he bargained for, as the two plumb the depths of an exodite ruin.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Short Stories

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2022

About the author

Mike Brooks was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and moved to Nottingham when he was 18 to go to university. He’s stayed there ever since, and now lives with his wife, two cats, two snakes and a collection of tropical fish. When not working for a homelessness charity he plays guitar and sings in a punk band, watches football (soccer), MMA and nature/science documentaries, goes walking in the Peak District or other areas of splendid scenery, and DJs wherever anyone will tolerate him.

And, y’know, writes.

Reviews

[Tjalli Óðins · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Arrgh! It’s a ghost, it’s a ghost!" Nizkwik wailed
"Nah, ya just can’t shoot!" Snaggi snarled


It is hard to be the weakest of a species, but it's even harder to the smartest grot. Especially one with the ambitions of a Warboss.

Can Snaggi find allies to help him to become the first Grotboss or will he just be killed out of boredom?


We need more grot lead stories, and hopefully a full length Snaggi story brimming with kunnin'

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one but I would have found it a four star read if Nizquik had revealed a slight inkling of cunning at some point. I felt we were building to that but it just never came.

[Ian Waddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny. Brooks's grots are always a good read.

[AA_Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Mike Brooks short story to date has had me hoping that it’s a prequel to a full novel, and this is no exception. Tying together Brutal Kunnin and Warboss, this grot-centred tale is as fun as you’d expect as well as (hopefully) setting up further conflict between the TekWaaaagh (how am I only *just* getting that joke?) and Eldari of several stripes.

Read it.