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Primarchs: Heirs Of The Emperor
A Horus Heresy Anthology
A collection of three anthologies, bringing together 26 tales centred around the primarchs, the sons of the Emperor of Mankind and de facto generals of the Legiones Astartes.
READ IT BECAUSE
This book is absolutely loaded with stories from three previous anthologies, as well as five additional short stories. You will not find a more comprehensive view of the Horus Heresy in one volume anywhere else.
THE STORY
Bringing together three separate anthologies from the Primarchs Series in one place, plus five additional short stories, this volume offers a comprehensive and in-depth view of the primarchs who led the Legiones Astartes – warriors of legend, brothers torn asunder, heirs of the Emperor.
This anthology includes the following short
– The Passing of Angels, by John French
– The Abyssal Edge, by Aaron Dembski-Bowdwn
– Mercy of The Dragon, by Nick Kyme
– Shadow of the Past, by Gav Thorpe
– The Emperor's Architect, by Guy Haley
– The Ancient Awaits, by Graham McNeill
– Misbegotten, by Dan Abnett
– A Lesson in Iron, by David Guymer
– The Atonement of Fire, by David Annandale
– Lantern's Light, by James Swallow
– Canticle, by David Guymer
– The Verdict of the Scythe, by David Annandale
– A Game of Opposites, by Guy Haley
– Better Angels, by Ian St. Martin
– The Conqueror's Truth, by Gav Thorpe
– The Sinew of War, by Darius Hinks
– The Chamber at the End of Memory, by James Swallow
– First Legion, by Chris Wraight
– Embers of Extinction, by Brandon Easton
– Lupus Daemonis, by Graham McNeill
– Skjalds, by Nick Kyme
– The Sixth Cult of the Denied, by David Guymer
– The Will of The Legion, by Andy Clark
– Council of Truth, by Mike Brooks
– Terminus, by Chris Wraight
– Grandfather's Gift, by Guy Haley
A collection of three anthologies, bringing together 26 tales centred around the primarchs, the sons of the Emperor of Mankind and de facto generals of the Legiones Astartes.
READ IT BECAUSE
This book is absolutely loaded with stories from three previous anthologies, as well as five additional short stories. You will not find a more comprehensive view of the Horus Heresy in one volume anywhere else.
THE STORY
Bringing together three separate anthologies from the Primarchs Series in one place, plus five additional short stories, this volume offers a comprehensive and in-depth view of the primarchs who led the Legiones Astartes – warriors of legend, brothers torn asunder, heirs of the Emperor.
This anthology includes the following short
– The Passing of Angels, by John French
– The Abyssal Edge, by Aaron Dembski-Bowdwn
– Mercy of The Dragon, by Nick Kyme
– Shadow of the Past, by Gav Thorpe
– The Emperor's Architect, by Guy Haley
– The Ancient Awaits, by Graham McNeill
– Misbegotten, by Dan Abnett
– A Lesson in Iron, by David Guymer
– The Atonement of Fire, by David Annandale
– Lantern's Light, by James Swallow
– Canticle, by David Guymer
– The Verdict of the Scythe, by David Annandale
– A Game of Opposites, by Guy Haley
– Better Angels, by Ian St. Martin
– The Conqueror's Truth, by Gav Thorpe
– The Sinew of War, by Darius Hinks
– The Chamber at the End of Memory, by James Swallow
– First Legion, by Chris Wraight
– Embers of Extinction, by Brandon Easton
– Lupus Daemonis, by Graham McNeill
– Skjalds, by Nick Kyme
– The Sixth Cult of the Denied, by David Guymer
– The Will of The Legion, by Andy Clark
– Council of Truth, by Mike Brooks
– Terminus, by Chris Wraight
– Grandfather's Gift, by Guy Haley
- Genres40kScience Fiction
700 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2022
31 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
John French
154 books294 followersJohn French is a writer and freelance game designer from Nottingham, England. His novels include the Ahriman series from Black Library, and The Lord of Nightmares trilogy for Fantasy Flight. The rest of his work can be seen scattered through a number of other books, including the New York Times bestselling anthology Age of Darkness. When he is not thinking of ways that dark and corrupting beings could destroy reality and space, John enjoys talking about why it would be a good idea... that and drinking good wine.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 5, 2023
SONS OF THE EMPEROR
The Passing of Angels by John French ☆☆☆☆
The Abyssal Edge by Aaron Dembski-Bowden ☆☆☆☆
Mercy of the Dragon by Nick Kyme ☆☆☆☆
Shadow of the Past by Gav Thorpe ☆☆☆1/2
The Emperor’s Architect by Guy Haley ☆☆☆☆☆
Prince of Blood by L J Goulding ☆☆☆☆☆
The Ancient Awaits by Graham McNeill ☆☆☆☆☆
Misbegotten by Dan Abnett ☆☆☆☆☆
A Lesson in Iron by David Guymer ☆☆☆
The Atonement of Fire by David Annandale ☆☆☆☆1/2
Lantern's Light by James Swallow ☆☆☆☆☆
SCIONS OF THE EMPEROR
Canticle by David Guymer ☆☆☆
The Verdict of the Scythe by David Annandale ☆☆☆☆☆
A Game of Opposites by Guy Haley ☆☆☆1/2
Better Angels by Ian St. Martin ☆☆☆☆1/2
The Conqueror’s Truth by Gav Thorpe ☆☆☆☆☆
The Sinew of War by Darius Hinks ☆☆☆☆1/2
The Chamber at the End of Memory by James Swallow ☆☆☆☆☆
First Legion by Chris Wraight ☆☆☆☆☆
Embers of Extinction by Brandon Easton ☆☆☆
BLOOD OF THE EMPEROR
Lupus Daemonis by Graham McNeill ☆☆☆
Skjalds by Nick Kyme ☆☆☆
The Sixth Cult of the Denied by David Guymer ☆☆☆☆
The Will of the Legion by Andy Clark ☆☆☆☆
Council of Truth by Mike Brooks ☆☆☆☆
Terminus by Chris Wraight ☆☆☆☆☆
Grandfather's Gift by Guy Haley ☆☆☆☆
February 7, 2023
This is such a book of disparately bad and good stories it’s almost impossible to give above a 3 to. The stories go from the banal to the excellent and you really are taking pot luck with this anthology. I literally found myself skipping whole pages of drivel in some cases.
September 17, 2025
Is every story in here a 5-star read? No, but this one epic volume contains over twenty short stories that span the Heresy and provide more depth and development to the series as a whole. Well worth the read.
The Passing of Angels +++++
‘If gods did not exist mankind would conjure them into being. If god did exist He would will monsters into life and cloak them in the light of heaven.’
The great and terrible rage of the Blood Angels is unleashed as Sanguinius lets loose his Destroyer Host. The Destroyers are a weapon of last resort, used not to conquer, but to leave nothing alive and salt the earth. Here Sanguinius becomes an angel of ruin in his father’s name, his sons wear silver dead faces as they unleash nuclear weapons to exterminate a world. They are dark and terrible, they are death.
Wonderful prose by John French, as well as great characterisation of Sanguinius and his Legion. The story is dripping with drama and deep emotional turbulence.
The Abyssal Edge +++++
‘And so it comes to be that we stand here in the ashes, sifting through the powdery remains of revelation. It is too late to change a thing. Too late to do anything but mourn what was lost. Everything is gone. All is dust.’
Honestly an amazing short story. An ace-pilot, horrifically injured now works as an archivist. Finding a damning tale of the Night Lords from an officer of the Thousand Sons, he heads for the Night Lord’s flagship to find the truth.
Sevetar and the Night Lords are refreshingly different from the other Legionnaires of the Heresy. Honour is a foreign concept to them, they joke and chide, speaking with sarcastic venom and their words drip with sadistic violence. So of course there would be tensions when they must work with the Thousand Sons, who pride themselves in being honest and strive to act with integrity in all matters.
ADB’s writing is addictive, his characters can be the most flawed, cruel monsters, but you can’t help but root for them. His characters have a sort of humanity baked into them that makes you connect with them.
Mercy of the Dragon ++++
A story of Vulkan’s first meeting with the Emperor, intercut with a story of Vulkan waging war for the first time with his brother Ferrus.
An interesting insight into Vulkan’s nature and personality. He comes across as significantly humbler and more grounded than most of his brothers. A builder unsure of taking on the role of general. He speaks to his father the Emperor in a manner that is straightforward and honest but not without insight and thought.
The action points to the terrifying strength of Vulkan, that stands at odds with his kind and gentle nature. Overall a fun story that serves as a strong introduction to Vulkan as a character.
Shadow of the Past ++++
It is difficult to explain the appeal of this story without spoiling it entirely, but suffice to say this is very very cool. Like bashing two action figures against each other but with a satisfying back-story to explain the emotional depth of the combat.
The Emperor’s Architect +++++
The protagonist is a dissatisfied remembrancer, travelling with his wife who he has grown to depise, as they chronicle the lives of the Primarchs. The protagonist was notably different than the standard human presented so far in the Heresy. He is resentful of the Primarchs, feeling that they make him appear inadequate. His wife’s admiration for them only makes him feel smaller and has turned him into a bitter creature who looks upon his wife disdainfully.
The story begins as the pair of remembrances arrive on Olympia to chronicle the life of Perturabo. The story gives more depth to the world and politics of Olympia, while the protagonist acts as a foil to the Primarch. Perturabo is a bitter man, looking down on others, and is quick to anger. That the protagonist is so similar in temperament, highlights Perturabo’s humanity, even if it is the uglier side of humanity.
Perturabo’s Primarch novel already did a fantastic job developing his character, and that continues with this short story.
Prince of Blood +++++
“We will walk the Eightfold Path. We will wear the mantle of the caedere remissum, even though the primarch forbade it. We will rebel, just as he rebelled. We will kill not because we are ordered to, but because we live for it. Blood, and pain, and nothing more.”
Following the events of “Betrayer” the crew of the Conqueror struggle to carry on, the Warp growing heavy around them and the ship. Lotara, one of the coolest human characters in the Heresy has to fight to keep the bridge together as Kharn feels the nails grow tight in his mind.
A great story detailing the fall of the World Eaters. Kharn is clad in the red and bronze with a kill-counter in the top left corner of his visor, and the Legion makes war for the pure reason of slaughter. A broken Legion falls deeper into madness.
The Ancient Awaits +++++
“I once knew all the things that mattered – names, dates, places. Things of moment. The oaths taken. The oaths broken. The litanies of the faithless. I am he who remembers. I am the Ancient of Rites.’”
A son reunites with his father after centuries have passed. One of my favourite short stories from the Heresy.
Misbegotten +++++
“Years later, long after the Triumph of Ullanor, and the great bloodshed of the Heresy, and the darkness of the Fall that ended it, men forgot the hope they had once shared.”
Dan Abnett opened the series with “Horus Rising” painting the Warmaster as a noble, intelligent man capable of charm and guile. All that changed on the Moon of Davin, and from that point on Horus was ruthless and ferocious.
This story takes place before Horus Rising, before Ullanor and the title of Warmaster, when Horus was still honourable. Sejanus favoured son of Horus is dealing with a difficult compliance, and his father comes to aid him.
The conclusion to the story is perfect, drawing not just this story, but the entire book to a satisfying close.
Canticle ++++
“If there was a sun around which this black world turned then it was alien to the boy. If there was a season then it was winter. Its changelessness was a black cloak over a landscape where each blast of wind was an apocalypse. There was no day. There was no night.”
A look at Ferrus Manus’ earliest days, as he does battle with cyborg zombies, data ghosts and other technological abominations that infest his home world of Medusa. The world of Medusa is a bizarre post-apocalyptic technological hellscape, like Mad-Max on steroids. Honestly this short story gave me more reason to be interested in Ferrus Manus than most other stories he’s appeared in.
The Verdict of the Scythe +++++
“The liberation we bring is death. There is nothing here to conquer. There is nothing to give to this world except death.”
The depiction of Mortarion is one of Death, long and slender, pale and hooded, scythe in hand. Given the chance to accept a planet’s surrender, he orders his men to stand down and participates in the compliance ceremonies. But finding it all hollow he seeks to find the truth of it. I found this story creepy and chilling.
A Game of Opposites ++++
An action heavy short story, but the action is particularly interesting as the Iron Warriors try to out-plan the White Scars, setting up an elaborate plan using the White Scars doctrines against them.
Better Angels +++++
‘There are endeavours,’ says Sanguinius, ‘that can bind you to the race you once belonged to, that remind you of your purpose and the beauty of what we protect. That is why each brother of the Ninth is to practise an art of their own choosing. For as much as we are a force of destruction, we must never forget that we also have the ability to create.’
Jehoel of the Blood Angels is not just a warrior but also an artist. His gene-father Sanguinius sought to uplift his Legion to a greater state of being, encouraging art and creation amongst his sons.
The story takes place over decades, as Jehoel and the Legion changes. His father comes to him, speaking of art, the legion, and the spirit. This story perhaps best shows the quiet dignity and honour of Sanguinius, making the pain of his fate all the worse.
The Conqueror’s Truth +++++
‘This is the conqueror’s truth. The weak pretend there is compromise, that morality gives rise to the grey of acceptance and equivocation. They are misguided. I do the Emperor’s work here. Life is binary. Truth or lie. Guilt or innocence.’
A remembrancer assigned to the 382nd Expeditionary Fleet, which followed in the wake of the Legions, resettling worlds, suddenly gets her chance to see war up close as she joins the Night Lords as they make planetfall.
There is always a threat of unpredictable violence with the Night Lords, every scene dripping with tension. There is a visceral cruelty to everything they do that is terrifying.
The Sinew of War ++++
Long before the Emperor arrived, Guilliman united Macragge. This is the very beginning of that story, as we are exposed to a young Guilliman and the profound impact his father had on the man he would become.
The Chamber at the End of Memory +++++
Revelation comes to Rogal Dorn at a heavy cost. The secrets of the lost must remain so, even as secrets are undermining the Imperium and causing the remaining loyalists on Terra to come into conflict. Dorn and Malcador are both really interesting, spending the bulk of the Heresy on Terra preparing for the siege they must be like Atlas carrying the weight of the Earth on their backs. It is a heavy burden, almost impossible to bear and you can see how it is draining Dorn in this story.
First Legion +++++
‘Then what do you wish to be known for, my liege?’ the knight asks, a final plea. ‘When the annals are written, what do you wish them to say of you?’ He keeps walking. He never looks back. ‘That I was ever, and only, thus,’ he says, tasting the raw, frigid air of another Caliban dawn. ‘The hunter. The slayer of beasts.’
The Dark Angels are fighting a brutal war against the Rangdan and the cost is high. When the Alpha Legion suddenly appear, will the Dark Angels take their offer?
An interesting look at Lion El’Jonson and how he sees himself and his Legion.
Lupus Daemonis +++++
“He was the runt of the clan, a freak of scars. A survivor of wounds no child could possibly survive. A boy whose body refused to grow and develop like the others. Some called him a curse, a changeling left by the evil spirits at Cthonia’s heart to torment them. They all wished him dead, but the Overlord had forbidden it.”
A fascinating look at the culture of Cthonia, the homeworld of the Luna Wolves (later the Sons of Horus). Cthonia is a dying world inhabited by brutal cut-throat gangs, fighting over the scraps that remain. We see echoes of the Luna Wolves in their culture. Blooded warriors with topknots, knife-fights, tight-knit brotherhoods, moon shaped cuts into the flesh.
As well as depositing a lot of interesting lore, the story itself is really entertaining, following a mysterious young boy trying to survive in the underground warrens chock-full of reivers and bandits.
I had my suspicions about where the story was headed, but I was really satisfied with the conclusion. Also so much foreshadowing for what is to come, its fantastic.
Skjalds ++++
On Fenris, four men hunt down a ferocious beast that has laid waste to multiple settlements. Along the way they stop in a cave to hide from a storm. Swapping tales, they each play the role of Skjald, telling their stories of the Russ, an old Fenrisian legend.
The Sixth Cult of the Denied +++++
The five cults of Prospero seek to develop their mastery and control over the Warp, but one of the Legion seeks the induction of a sixth Cult, to delve deeper into the Great Ocean than any before.
Really great look at the internal culture of the Thousand Sons, while also providing some compelling character drama that foreshadows the events of Nikkea.
The Will of the Legion ++
I didn’t really vibe with this particular short story. Set during the Great Crusade the Imperial Fists are bringing compliance to a human world. I found this story a bit too heavy on action without any compelling drama. The non-compliant humans are pretty standard, and the main protagonist isn’t notable.
There is a somewhat interesting tread where the protagonist wonders if he is capable of going against his Primarch, wondering if he could disobey an order. But it didn’t feel developed enough.
Council of Truth +++++
Alpharius faces interrogation by three of his own Legion, over a recently achieved Compliance. Facing harsh questioning, he must defend the his rationale and justify his Legions doctrines and way of war.
Really enjoyed this story, getting a closer look at how the Alpha Legion wins a war, and Alpharius’ philosophy and view of his brothers and father.
Terminus +++++
“For an outsider to the Death Guard, they were a morose band of grime streaked plodders, despised even by their allies. For an insider, they were merely as the universe had made them. They were hard steel, alloyed fast, tempered in the furnaces of disdain. The rust was only a surface illusion, or had been, something to hide their power and make an enemy underestimate them.”
Finally arriving on Terra, the Death Guard are experiencing rapid changes to their physiology, as sickness and disease ravages their bodies, making them into something new. A story about how you can never go back, the past is a foreign land after all. There is only the present.
Very character focused short story, reminded me of the Chris Wraight’s “Lords of Silence” book that focuses on the Death Guard in 40k.
Embers of Extinction ****
‘Iron is the nature of our existence. We are but soldiers in a grand game of territorial expansion and conquest. We face threats never seen or imagined by humankind. We can inflict terrible damage upon each other without nary a cry for mercy. The galaxy is malleable, containing an array of indescribable and undomesticated forces, and if we expect to tame this unpredictable expanse we must be equally as malleable. Ready at all times to shift and rearrange our strategies to contain whatever we encounter.’
Set shortly after the events of the short story “The Crimson Fist” but before the events of “Angel Exterminatus”.
Perturabo’s philosophy on the universe and the nature of strength is laid bare in this story as he sets out to reforge the hammer of his deceased brother, Ferrus Manus.
A Lesson in Iron ***
“Let them face their nightmares, endure and emerge the stronger, or else fail and strengthen the collective by their expulsion.”
Ferrus Manus and his legion came across a derelict iron Hands ship, only they don’t recognise it as one of their own. The mystery is pretty obvious for fans with a general knowledge of 40k but it was a somewhat fun story even if there were no particular revelations within.
The Atonement of Fire ****
“In the strategium of the battleship Ultimus Mundi, the Lord of Ultramar contemplated the fragility of dreams, and the nightmare of force needed to preserve them.”
Imperium Secundus is no more. Guilliman is weighed down with guilt over the creation of Imperium Secundus, fearing that he has failed his father. Now he seeks to protect the Blood Angel fleet so that Sanguinius may reach Terra before their treacherous brother Horus.
I enjoyed the characterisation of Guilliman, a loyal son who fears the destruction of the Heresy will bring darkness to the Imperium even if the Loyalists succeed.
Lantern's Light *****
I haven’t seen much of Mortarion since I finished reading “Flight of the Eisenhorn” so it was great to spend more time with the character. Mortarion harbors doubts and resentments. He has no tolerance for pomp and ceremony. And while he seems to want to know the Emperor and his brothers, there is resentment. The Emperor upstaged him, slew the Warlord that ruled his homeworld of Barbarus, and now Mortarion must serve him. There is a strain to there relationship that I find quite interesting.
The highlight of the story were the scenes between Mortation and his father. The Emperor has many facets to him, and it’s hard to tell what is genuine and what is a façade. To each of his sons he shows a different face, how much of it is true and how much is an act to win them over is unclear. Here the Emperor is a concerned father, empathetic to his son’s hardships, openly emotional.
There was also some really interesting lore about the Emperor's flagship, Bucephelas. As well as a tradition of the Emperor gifting his sons unique armour and weapons before they join the great Crusade.
Grandfather's Gift *****
"There once was a being who was divided by himself. Opposed in all he was, contrary and doomed. This being was a man who was not a man. He was a sorcerer who despised magic. He was a saviour who had turned to damnation. He was a treasures son who hated his fathers."
A man awakens in the Garden of Nurgle, memory lost to him. He is one of the Emperor's sons, a Primarch.
Fantastic short story exploring Mortarion's nature and his desire for revenge and brutal nature.
"Misery was the natural state of man. It should not be denied and certainly could not be washed away with tears."
There is an almost Alice in Wonderland-vibe to the story. Mortarion has gone down the rabbit hole and stumble across the daemon Khu'gath. The story is both whimsical and grotesque, full of joy and revenge and torture.
It also functions as a teaser for Plague War in the 40k setting.
The Passing of Angels +++++
‘If gods did not exist mankind would conjure them into being. If god did exist He would will monsters into life and cloak them in the light of heaven.’
The great and terrible rage of the Blood Angels is unleashed as Sanguinius lets loose his Destroyer Host. The Destroyers are a weapon of last resort, used not to conquer, but to leave nothing alive and salt the earth. Here Sanguinius becomes an angel of ruin in his father’s name, his sons wear silver dead faces as they unleash nuclear weapons to exterminate a world. They are dark and terrible, they are death.
Wonderful prose by John French, as well as great characterisation of Sanguinius and his Legion. The story is dripping with drama and deep emotional turbulence.
The Abyssal Edge +++++
‘And so it comes to be that we stand here in the ashes, sifting through the powdery remains of revelation. It is too late to change a thing. Too late to do anything but mourn what was lost. Everything is gone. All is dust.’
Honestly an amazing short story. An ace-pilot, horrifically injured now works as an archivist. Finding a damning tale of the Night Lords from an officer of the Thousand Sons, he heads for the Night Lord’s flagship to find the truth.
Sevetar and the Night Lords are refreshingly different from the other Legionnaires of the Heresy. Honour is a foreign concept to them, they joke and chide, speaking with sarcastic venom and their words drip with sadistic violence. So of course there would be tensions when they must work with the Thousand Sons, who pride themselves in being honest and strive to act with integrity in all matters.
ADB’s writing is addictive, his characters can be the most flawed, cruel monsters, but you can’t help but root for them. His characters have a sort of humanity baked into them that makes you connect with them.
Mercy of the Dragon ++++
A story of Vulkan’s first meeting with the Emperor, intercut with a story of Vulkan waging war for the first time with his brother Ferrus.
An interesting insight into Vulkan’s nature and personality. He comes across as significantly humbler and more grounded than most of his brothers. A builder unsure of taking on the role of general. He speaks to his father the Emperor in a manner that is straightforward and honest but not without insight and thought.
The action points to the terrifying strength of Vulkan, that stands at odds with his kind and gentle nature. Overall a fun story that serves as a strong introduction to Vulkan as a character.
Shadow of the Past ++++
It is difficult to explain the appeal of this story without spoiling it entirely, but suffice to say this is very very cool. Like bashing two action figures against each other but with a satisfying back-story to explain the emotional depth of the combat.
The Emperor’s Architect +++++
The protagonist is a dissatisfied remembrancer, travelling with his wife who he has grown to depise, as they chronicle the lives of the Primarchs. The protagonist was notably different than the standard human presented so far in the Heresy. He is resentful of the Primarchs, feeling that they make him appear inadequate. His wife’s admiration for them only makes him feel smaller and has turned him into a bitter creature who looks upon his wife disdainfully.
The story begins as the pair of remembrances arrive on Olympia to chronicle the life of Perturabo. The story gives more depth to the world and politics of Olympia, while the protagonist acts as a foil to the Primarch. Perturabo is a bitter man, looking down on others, and is quick to anger. That the protagonist is so similar in temperament, highlights Perturabo’s humanity, even if it is the uglier side of humanity.
Perturabo’s Primarch novel already did a fantastic job developing his character, and that continues with this short story.
Prince of Blood +++++
“We will walk the Eightfold Path. We will wear the mantle of the caedere remissum, even though the primarch forbade it. We will rebel, just as he rebelled. We will kill not because we are ordered to, but because we live for it. Blood, and pain, and nothing more.”
Following the events of “Betrayer” the crew of the Conqueror struggle to carry on, the Warp growing heavy around them and the ship. Lotara, one of the coolest human characters in the Heresy has to fight to keep the bridge together as Kharn feels the nails grow tight in his mind.
A great story detailing the fall of the World Eaters. Kharn is clad in the red and bronze with a kill-counter in the top left corner of his visor, and the Legion makes war for the pure reason of slaughter. A broken Legion falls deeper into madness.
The Ancient Awaits +++++
“I once knew all the things that mattered – names, dates, places. Things of moment. The oaths taken. The oaths broken. The litanies of the faithless. I am he who remembers. I am the Ancient of Rites.’”
A son reunites with his father after centuries have passed. One of my favourite short stories from the Heresy.
Misbegotten +++++
“Years later, long after the Triumph of Ullanor, and the great bloodshed of the Heresy, and the darkness of the Fall that ended it, men forgot the hope they had once shared.”
Dan Abnett opened the series with “Horus Rising” painting the Warmaster as a noble, intelligent man capable of charm and guile. All that changed on the Moon of Davin, and from that point on Horus was ruthless and ferocious.
This story takes place before Horus Rising, before Ullanor and the title of Warmaster, when Horus was still honourable. Sejanus favoured son of Horus is dealing with a difficult compliance, and his father comes to aid him.
The conclusion to the story is perfect, drawing not just this story, but the entire book to a satisfying close.
Canticle ++++
“If there was a sun around which this black world turned then it was alien to the boy. If there was a season then it was winter. Its changelessness was a black cloak over a landscape where each blast of wind was an apocalypse. There was no day. There was no night.”
A look at Ferrus Manus’ earliest days, as he does battle with cyborg zombies, data ghosts and other technological abominations that infest his home world of Medusa. The world of Medusa is a bizarre post-apocalyptic technological hellscape, like Mad-Max on steroids. Honestly this short story gave me more reason to be interested in Ferrus Manus than most other stories he’s appeared in.
The Verdict of the Scythe +++++
“The liberation we bring is death. There is nothing here to conquer. There is nothing to give to this world except death.”
The depiction of Mortarion is one of Death, long and slender, pale and hooded, scythe in hand. Given the chance to accept a planet’s surrender, he orders his men to stand down and participates in the compliance ceremonies. But finding it all hollow he seeks to find the truth of it. I found this story creepy and chilling.
A Game of Opposites ++++
An action heavy short story, but the action is particularly interesting as the Iron Warriors try to out-plan the White Scars, setting up an elaborate plan using the White Scars doctrines against them.
Better Angels +++++
‘There are endeavours,’ says Sanguinius, ‘that can bind you to the race you once belonged to, that remind you of your purpose and the beauty of what we protect. That is why each brother of the Ninth is to practise an art of their own choosing. For as much as we are a force of destruction, we must never forget that we also have the ability to create.’
Jehoel of the Blood Angels is not just a warrior but also an artist. His gene-father Sanguinius sought to uplift his Legion to a greater state of being, encouraging art and creation amongst his sons.
The story takes place over decades, as Jehoel and the Legion changes. His father comes to him, speaking of art, the legion, and the spirit. This story perhaps best shows the quiet dignity and honour of Sanguinius, making the pain of his fate all the worse.
The Conqueror’s Truth +++++
‘This is the conqueror’s truth. The weak pretend there is compromise, that morality gives rise to the grey of acceptance and equivocation. They are misguided. I do the Emperor’s work here. Life is binary. Truth or lie. Guilt or innocence.’
A remembrancer assigned to the 382nd Expeditionary Fleet, which followed in the wake of the Legions, resettling worlds, suddenly gets her chance to see war up close as she joins the Night Lords as they make planetfall.
There is always a threat of unpredictable violence with the Night Lords, every scene dripping with tension. There is a visceral cruelty to everything they do that is terrifying.
The Sinew of War ++++
Long before the Emperor arrived, Guilliman united Macragge. This is the very beginning of that story, as we are exposed to a young Guilliman and the profound impact his father had on the man he would become.
The Chamber at the End of Memory +++++
Revelation comes to Rogal Dorn at a heavy cost. The secrets of the lost must remain so, even as secrets are undermining the Imperium and causing the remaining loyalists on Terra to come into conflict. Dorn and Malcador are both really interesting, spending the bulk of the Heresy on Terra preparing for the siege they must be like Atlas carrying the weight of the Earth on their backs. It is a heavy burden, almost impossible to bear and you can see how it is draining Dorn in this story.
First Legion +++++
‘Then what do you wish to be known for, my liege?’ the knight asks, a final plea. ‘When the annals are written, what do you wish them to say of you?’ He keeps walking. He never looks back. ‘That I was ever, and only, thus,’ he says, tasting the raw, frigid air of another Caliban dawn. ‘The hunter. The slayer of beasts.’
The Dark Angels are fighting a brutal war against the Rangdan and the cost is high. When the Alpha Legion suddenly appear, will the Dark Angels take their offer?
An interesting look at Lion El’Jonson and how he sees himself and his Legion.
Lupus Daemonis +++++
“He was the runt of the clan, a freak of scars. A survivor of wounds no child could possibly survive. A boy whose body refused to grow and develop like the others. Some called him a curse, a changeling left by the evil spirits at Cthonia’s heart to torment them. They all wished him dead, but the Overlord had forbidden it.”
A fascinating look at the culture of Cthonia, the homeworld of the Luna Wolves (later the Sons of Horus). Cthonia is a dying world inhabited by brutal cut-throat gangs, fighting over the scraps that remain. We see echoes of the Luna Wolves in their culture. Blooded warriors with topknots, knife-fights, tight-knit brotherhoods, moon shaped cuts into the flesh.
As well as depositing a lot of interesting lore, the story itself is really entertaining, following a mysterious young boy trying to survive in the underground warrens chock-full of reivers and bandits.
I had my suspicions about where the story was headed, but I was really satisfied with the conclusion. Also so much foreshadowing for what is to come, its fantastic.
Skjalds ++++
On Fenris, four men hunt down a ferocious beast that has laid waste to multiple settlements. Along the way they stop in a cave to hide from a storm. Swapping tales, they each play the role of Skjald, telling their stories of the Russ, an old Fenrisian legend.
The Sixth Cult of the Denied +++++
The five cults of Prospero seek to develop their mastery and control over the Warp, but one of the Legion seeks the induction of a sixth Cult, to delve deeper into the Great Ocean than any before.
Really great look at the internal culture of the Thousand Sons, while also providing some compelling character drama that foreshadows the events of Nikkea.
The Will of the Legion ++
I didn’t really vibe with this particular short story. Set during the Great Crusade the Imperial Fists are bringing compliance to a human world. I found this story a bit too heavy on action without any compelling drama. The non-compliant humans are pretty standard, and the main protagonist isn’t notable.
There is a somewhat interesting tread where the protagonist wonders if he is capable of going against his Primarch, wondering if he could disobey an order. But it didn’t feel developed enough.
Council of Truth +++++
Alpharius faces interrogation by three of his own Legion, over a recently achieved Compliance. Facing harsh questioning, he must defend the his rationale and justify his Legions doctrines and way of war.
Really enjoyed this story, getting a closer look at how the Alpha Legion wins a war, and Alpharius’ philosophy and view of his brothers and father.
Terminus +++++
“For an outsider to the Death Guard, they were a morose band of grime streaked plodders, despised even by their allies. For an insider, they were merely as the universe had made them. They were hard steel, alloyed fast, tempered in the furnaces of disdain. The rust was only a surface illusion, or had been, something to hide their power and make an enemy underestimate them.”
Finally arriving on Terra, the Death Guard are experiencing rapid changes to their physiology, as sickness and disease ravages their bodies, making them into something new. A story about how you can never go back, the past is a foreign land after all. There is only the present.
Very character focused short story, reminded me of the Chris Wraight’s “Lords of Silence” book that focuses on the Death Guard in 40k.
Embers of Extinction ****
‘Iron is the nature of our existence. We are but soldiers in a grand game of territorial expansion and conquest. We face threats never seen or imagined by humankind. We can inflict terrible damage upon each other without nary a cry for mercy. The galaxy is malleable, containing an array of indescribable and undomesticated forces, and if we expect to tame this unpredictable expanse we must be equally as malleable. Ready at all times to shift and rearrange our strategies to contain whatever we encounter.’
Set shortly after the events of the short story “The Crimson Fist” but before the events of “Angel Exterminatus”.
Perturabo’s philosophy on the universe and the nature of strength is laid bare in this story as he sets out to reforge the hammer of his deceased brother, Ferrus Manus.
A Lesson in Iron ***
“Let them face their nightmares, endure and emerge the stronger, or else fail and strengthen the collective by their expulsion.”
Ferrus Manus and his legion came across a derelict iron Hands ship, only they don’t recognise it as one of their own. The mystery is pretty obvious for fans with a general knowledge of 40k but it was a somewhat fun story even if there were no particular revelations within.
The Atonement of Fire ****
“In the strategium of the battleship Ultimus Mundi, the Lord of Ultramar contemplated the fragility of dreams, and the nightmare of force needed to preserve them.”
Imperium Secundus is no more. Guilliman is weighed down with guilt over the creation of Imperium Secundus, fearing that he has failed his father. Now he seeks to protect the Blood Angel fleet so that Sanguinius may reach Terra before their treacherous brother Horus.
I enjoyed the characterisation of Guilliman, a loyal son who fears the destruction of the Heresy will bring darkness to the Imperium even if the Loyalists succeed.
Lantern's Light *****
I haven’t seen much of Mortarion since I finished reading “Flight of the Eisenhorn” so it was great to spend more time with the character. Mortarion harbors doubts and resentments. He has no tolerance for pomp and ceremony. And while he seems to want to know the Emperor and his brothers, there is resentment. The Emperor upstaged him, slew the Warlord that ruled his homeworld of Barbarus, and now Mortarion must serve him. There is a strain to there relationship that I find quite interesting.
The highlight of the story were the scenes between Mortation and his father. The Emperor has many facets to him, and it’s hard to tell what is genuine and what is a façade. To each of his sons he shows a different face, how much of it is true and how much is an act to win them over is unclear. Here the Emperor is a concerned father, empathetic to his son’s hardships, openly emotional.
There was also some really interesting lore about the Emperor's flagship, Bucephelas. As well as a tradition of the Emperor gifting his sons unique armour and weapons before they join the great Crusade.
Grandfather's Gift *****
"There once was a being who was divided by himself. Opposed in all he was, contrary and doomed. This being was a man who was not a man. He was a sorcerer who despised magic. He was a saviour who had turned to damnation. He was a treasures son who hated his fathers."
A man awakens in the Garden of Nurgle, memory lost to him. He is one of the Emperor's sons, a Primarch.
Fantastic short story exploring Mortarion's nature and his desire for revenge and brutal nature.
"Misery was the natural state of man. It should not be denied and certainly could not be washed away with tears."
There is an almost Alice in Wonderland-vibe to the story. Mortarion has gone down the rabbit hole and stumble across the daemon Khu'gath. The story is both whimsical and grotesque, full of joy and revenge and torture.
It also functions as a teaser for Plague War in the 40k setting.
April 15, 2023
Short stories about the Primarchs. I think the Word Bearers come out worst and oddly the Death Guard get the bumper crop here.
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