Ghazghkull Thraka is one of the most enduring and iconic characters in the 40k universe, having made many appearances as an antagonist across Black Library fiction but he’s had to wait until he was pushing 30 to be the focus of a novel. Thankfully, Nate Crowley’s first BL novel is wholly worthy of such a storied character.
Stylistically it owes a debt to Guy Hayley’s Warhammer novel, Skarsnik, sharing a broad narrative device but while there are some similarities between the greenskins of the World-That-Was and the Grim Darkness of the Far Future™, it is a distinct and original piece. It is absolutely a labour of love; Crowley absolutely *gets* the ork (and grot!) mindset, and viewing the Imperium of Man through that prism is really telling; at one point the mindset of devout servants of the Throne is shown to be especially orkish. Nate’s other writing is always shot through with a vein of grim humour and this suits a book about Orks perfectly; it’s funny, incredibly in places, but there is always a reminder of the horrific, bestial and fundamentally alien nature of the greenskins looming behind every joke. As well as Ghazghkull and Makari, this book introduces us to a cynical, disillusioned and radical Ordo Xenos Inquisitor and her retinue- principally a Deathwatch Wolf Priest and (the only known?) Ogryn Psyker. Each of these characters is an awful lot of fun to read and would perhaps be deserving of more focus, but it’s the Orks who are deservedly and undoubtedly stars of the show.
Via a Blood Axe interpreter we hear Makari’s account of Ghazghkull’s origins, apotheosis and various attacks on Armageddon. We get fascinating looks at Orkish Kultur, language, philosophy, language and theology as well as how the greenskin subspecies interact and in a beautifully meta touch, we see how Ghazghkull’s tabletop representation has changed over time as well as explaining Makari’s periodic absences from his side. Obviously there is self-aggrandisement in the story, but it is clear why Orks have been such a persistent and troublesome foe for the Imperium, who , by persistently underestimating them make matters worse for themselves.
The book is short enough that it’s in no danger of outstaying it’s welcome, but long enough that it manages to cram in all of the above and more. It’s fantastic, and, to my mind, a perfect introductory text to 40k as well as a must-read for all existing fans of the universe.