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Imperial Guard
Dead Men Walking
An Astra Militarum novel
The Death Korps of Krieg arrive at a mining world overrun by necrons, determined to win this brutal war at any cost
READ IT BECAUSE
The Death Korps are unlike any other Astra Militarum unit – batch-bred, born to fight and completely indoctrinated to their cause. See how effective that can be in this storming story.
THE STORY
When the necrons rise, a mining planet descends into a cauldron of war and the remorseless foes decimate the human defenders. Salvation comes in an unlikely form - the Death Korps of Krieg, a force as unfeeling as the Necrons themselves. When the two powers go to war, casualties are high and the magnitude of the destruction is unimaginable.
The Death Korps of Krieg arrive at a mining world overrun by necrons, determined to win this brutal war at any cost
READ IT BECAUSE
The Death Korps are unlike any other Astra Militarum unit – batch-bred, born to fight and completely indoctrinated to their cause. See how effective that can be in this storming story.
THE STORY
When the necrons rise, a mining planet descends into a cauldron of war and the remorseless foes decimate the human defenders. Salvation comes in an unlikely form - the Death Korps of Krieg, a force as unfeeling as the Necrons themselves. When the two powers go to war, casualties are high and the magnitude of the destruction is unimaginable.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 30, 2010
184 people are currently reading
1061 people want to read
About the author
Steve Lyons
186 books104 followersSteve Lyons is a science fiction writer, best known for writing television tie-ins of Doctor Who for BBC Books, and previously, Virgin. The earliest of these was Conundrum in 1994, and his most recent was 2005's The Stealers of Dreams. He has also written material for Star Trek tie-ins, as well as original work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 15, 2012
This book is intense. The Death Korps are cold, nihilistic and utterly alien and this book ends up being insanely brutal when all is said and done. A good story, and almost entirely devoid of war glorification. This is akin to WWI in the depiction of thankless meat grinder campaigns. Again, another nod at the Death Korps troopers who are observed from many angles, but could never provide their own voice.
February 16, 2012
This was the best description of Necrons and the Death Korp of Krieg as an invading/defending forces. What an excelent work of fiction. Lyons really can write about them. A word or two for each party:
Resolution for Korps, Desperation and later Realization for the PDF and people and Innevitable for Necrons
This tale is set on Hieronymous Theta, a mining hive world. If you follow 40k you know what I am talking but if you are not then a brief introduction. An Hive World is a world with several scyrappers several miles up wide. A city within a buidling. There can be milions of people living in it, with the higher tiers with the highborn, rich and goverment. The middle tiers the working class with factories and such and the lower are usually the habitat of mutants or other strange beings and the scum of society.
Strange artefacts are being found with a greenish glow and after some disturbing mining operartions they awake the Necrons who have only one goal. "Leave or we will destroy you." The battle begins and no matter how much the defenders destroy there are more each day and so they battle a inevitable defeat. These tale follows one Commissar attached to the Krieg who was portrayed almost perfectly. What a Commissar can do in a army of souless devoted to the death beings? There is no retreat, there is no surrender. There is sacrifice to the Greater Good (understood the pun?). This Commissar most of the time acts as a bridge between the Army and the PDF and Planet and to try to humanize the Krieg officers. We also follow a girl lost in the lower parts of the Hive and a Miner Overseer who is draft first to the PDF and then attach to the Krieg.
About the ending. Brillant. I won't say more but it was very nice. From the beginning of the book you realize that there can be only one way. The innevitable win for the Necrons but how Lyons does it is... Ahh there's the rub..
I never knew they care for diplomacy. Besides the Eldar or Tau I thought that every other race just wanted to destroy humankind. Of course the Necrons are displayed almost as a myth since there have been few reports with necron encounters.
Now the title: Dead Men Walking. Who are these Dead Men? Are these the inhabbitants pov because they will surely perish at the hands of the Necrons? Are these the Death Korp of Krieg because they are almost as machine as the Necrons? Or are the Dead Men Walking the Necrons themselves?
The Death Korp of Kried are almost souless. Each and everyone of them have no feelings, no fear, no honor... almost nothing that can say they are human underneath their garments and their masks. They are bred for war and devoted to the Emperor. At that's they way the live. In the book, at several instances a character pov talks about them or about the battle and as I read it I think "who the hell are worse? The necrons or the Krieg's?"
Lyons can really depict book parties. He shows us that there isn't really a lot of difference between both opposing forces. They both see everything expendable for exploitation. As we learn more about Death Korps background we begin to feel empathy almost sorry for the lot.
This was one of my favourite reads of the year of 2011. I really enjoy it. Alongside Deathworld (by the same author) and Fifteen Hours are the best of IG books. Steve Lyons is a great writer and really knows how to write about the IG. I really hope he continues to write more novels. There are nothing from him until January 2013. And that's a shame. I really hope it means nothing.
Resolution for Korps, Desperation and later Realization for the PDF and people and Innevitable for Necrons
This tale is set on Hieronymous Theta, a mining hive world. If you follow 40k you know what I am talking but if you are not then a brief introduction. An Hive World is a world with several scyrappers several miles up wide. A city within a buidling. There can be milions of people living in it, with the higher tiers with the highborn, rich and goverment. The middle tiers the working class with factories and such and the lower are usually the habitat of mutants or other strange beings and the scum of society.
Strange artefacts are being found with a greenish glow and after some disturbing mining operartions they awake the Necrons who have only one goal. "Leave or we will destroy you." The battle begins and no matter how much the defenders destroy there are more each day and so they battle a inevitable defeat. These tale follows one Commissar attached to the Krieg who was portrayed almost perfectly. What a Commissar can do in a army of souless devoted to the death beings? There is no retreat, there is no surrender. There is sacrifice to the Greater Good (understood the pun?). This Commissar most of the time acts as a bridge between the Army and the PDF and Planet and to try to humanize the Krieg officers. We also follow a girl lost in the lower parts of the Hive and a Miner Overseer who is draft first to the PDF and then attach to the Krieg.
About the ending. Brillant. I won't say more but it was very nice. From the beginning of the book you realize that there can be only one way. The innevitable win for the Necrons but how Lyons does it is... Ahh there's the rub..
I never knew they care for diplomacy. Besides the Eldar or Tau I thought that every other race just wanted to destroy humankind. Of course the Necrons are displayed almost as a myth since there have been few reports with necron encounters.
Now the title: Dead Men Walking. Who are these Dead Men? Are these the inhabbitants pov because they will surely perish at the hands of the Necrons? Are these the Death Korp of Krieg because they are almost as machine as the Necrons? Or are the Dead Men Walking the Necrons themselves?
The Death Korp of Kried are almost souless. Each and everyone of them have no feelings, no fear, no honor... almost nothing that can say they are human underneath their garments and their masks. They are bred for war and devoted to the Emperor. At that's they way the live. In the book, at several instances a character pov talks about them or about the battle and as I read it I think "who the hell are worse? The necrons or the Krieg's?"
Lyons can really depict book parties. He shows us that there isn't really a lot of difference between both opposing forces. They both see everything expendable for exploitation. As we learn more about Death Korps background we begin to feel empathy almost sorry for the lot.
This was one of my favourite reads of the year of 2011. I really enjoy it. Alongside Deathworld (by the same author) and Fifteen Hours are the best of IG books. Steve Lyons is a great writer and really knows how to write about the IG. I really hope he continues to write more novels. There are nothing from him until January 2013. And that's a shame. I really hope it means nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2021
I'd never read a book based on the Krieg soldiers before, nor had I seen one which I thought was weird with how popular they are. Now I get why, emotionless soldiers who are happy to die are incredibly dull characters. Admittedly, there really is only one Krieg soldier who had any real amount of attention given to him. It was only when I started typing this that I realised there are really only 4 main characters in this novel. The Krieg Colonel who is totally without character. The Commissar of the regiment who has the most character as a man worn down by years of service and seeing so much death but he has the least amount of time. The last two are lovebirds separated by the war, they had a tiny fraction of character before the war but quickly lose it once the combat starts.
The story is very stock for an Imperial Guard book and ticks most of the boxes. Hive World? Check. Terror of the war just beginning? Check. Dozens of minor, mostly nameless characters who die within a page of being introduced? Check.
It also struggles with the same issue that the every Necron book I've read so far suffers from. Necrons are pretty boring combat wise. They teleport in, walk towards you and kill you in one shot. Rinse and repeat. In most books if the character has 30 soldiers at his command, you'd base a full book on that. Basically every minor conflict in this book starts with a new platoon and by the end there will be 3 people left. There are a very large number of minor conflicts that happen within a page or two and about 2 major battles, both of which are incredibly underwhelming and just enlarged version of the minor skirmishes.
The ending is also pretty awful. Most of the main characters were together for what seemed like a final conflict, I saw we had about 30 pages left, would be a decent amount of time to wrap things up. That's not what happened though. Everything was wrapped up within 10 pages in an incredibly unsatisfactory way and then the remaining 20 pages is just nonsense and fluff. I was stunned that the last 5-6 pages is basically just describing someone walking around an area by himself, just discussing what had happened in the story with himself.
I wouldn't recommend it. I finished it in two days so it isn't unreadable but when I finally closed the book I wondered how they could fit so little into 410 pages. There have been numerous 60 page novellas with more story in them with much richer characters.
The story is very stock for an Imperial Guard book and ticks most of the boxes. Hive World? Check. Terror of the war just beginning? Check. Dozens of minor, mostly nameless characters who die within a page of being introduced? Check.
It also struggles with the same issue that the every Necron book I've read so far suffers from. Necrons are pretty boring combat wise. They teleport in, walk towards you and kill you in one shot. Rinse and repeat. In most books if the character has 30 soldiers at his command, you'd base a full book on that. Basically every minor conflict in this book starts with a new platoon and by the end there will be 3 people left. There are a very large number of minor conflicts that happen within a page or two and about 2 major battles, both of which are incredibly underwhelming and just enlarged version of the minor skirmishes.
The ending is also pretty awful. Most of the main characters were together for what seemed like a final conflict, I saw we had about 30 pages left, would be a decent amount of time to wrap things up. That's not what happened though. Everything was wrapped up within 10 pages in an incredibly unsatisfactory way and then the remaining 20 pages is just nonsense and fluff. I was stunned that the last 5-6 pages is basically just describing someone walking around an area by himself, just discussing what had happened in the story with himself.
I wouldn't recommend it. I finished it in two days so it isn't unreadable but when I finally closed the book I wondered how they could fit so little into 410 pages. There have been numerous 60 page novellas with more story in them with much richer characters.
June 8, 2025
This is a great book. The Necrons are a terrific enemy. The story was grim and dark and throughout I heard the laughter of the thirsty gods.
December 28, 2011
Stories set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe often become quite gothic in style, which I sometimes find a harder reader and less of an enjoyment. I think that there is a greaer tendancy towards the gothic when stories are exclusively about the Astartes Space Marines. In Dead Men Walking, however, Steve Lyons has managed a nice balance between the slower gothic style and faster contemporary.
Hieronymous Theta is a mining world, its cities clustered around mining centres ascending high into the sky. But ruins are increasing about strange arrtefacts being found deep underground.
The lower levels of the city are inhabited by mutants although something has begun moving them to higher levels. Then other stranger, goulis things being appearing.
The miners have unwittingly distrubed the strangely entombed necrons. And now the necrons have arisen, their intentions made very clear.
'The words emerged in a flat, mechanical monotone in perfectly accented Gothic. “This world is mine,” they said. “I am its lord and master. My people trod this soil millenia before you upstart race was born. You built your cities over ours as we slept, but we have woken now to reclaim what was outs. Leave this world now, or we will destroy you.”'
Gunthar is a mine supervsior, safely exconced in a desk job. He is in love with the Governor's daughter and she seems to be returning his affection. But they are seperated during the first of the upheavals accompaying the appearance of the necron.
The Death Korps of Krieg are despatch to the planet to deal with the necron. Always wearing their full-face breathing units and nameless apart from numerical designation, members of the Korps are almost as big an enigma as the necron. They may be able to defeat the necron, but at what cost?
Along with thousands of other survivors, Gunthar is drafted into the PDF, given the most rudimentary training and turned out in support of the Kreig, but how can any of them survive?
This is a well-paced novel, featuring one of the most elementary of sci fi themes: man vs alien. We see an interesting character development in Gunthar as he faces the reality of the cost of facing this necron incursion. The Krieg are also an interesting facet of the novel, shown to be as near inhuman as their opposition.
Dead Men Walking is a good read and an excellent addition to the ranks of The Black Library.
Hieronymous Theta is a mining world, its cities clustered around mining centres ascending high into the sky. But ruins are increasing about strange arrtefacts being found deep underground.
The lower levels of the city are inhabited by mutants although something has begun moving them to higher levels. Then other stranger, goulis things being appearing.
The miners have unwittingly distrubed the strangely entombed necrons. And now the necrons have arisen, their intentions made very clear.
'The words emerged in a flat, mechanical monotone in perfectly accented Gothic. “This world is mine,” they said. “I am its lord and master. My people trod this soil millenia before you upstart race was born. You built your cities over ours as we slept, but we have woken now to reclaim what was outs. Leave this world now, or we will destroy you.”'
Gunthar is a mine supervsior, safely exconced in a desk job. He is in love with the Governor's daughter and she seems to be returning his affection. But they are seperated during the first of the upheavals accompaying the appearance of the necron.
The Death Korps of Krieg are despatch to the planet to deal with the necron. Always wearing their full-face breathing units and nameless apart from numerical designation, members of the Korps are almost as big an enigma as the necron. They may be able to defeat the necron, but at what cost?
Along with thousands of other survivors, Gunthar is drafted into the PDF, given the most rudimentary training and turned out in support of the Kreig, but how can any of them survive?
This is a well-paced novel, featuring one of the most elementary of sci fi themes: man vs alien. We see an interesting character development in Gunthar as he faces the reality of the cost of facing this necron incursion. The Krieg are also an interesting facet of the novel, shown to be as near inhuman as their opposition.
Dead Men Walking is a good read and an excellent addition to the ranks of The Black Library.
June 2, 2018
"Gunthar Soreson was dead. Along with everything he had valued in his meaningless life."
Easily my favorite standalone guard story in Black Library's arsenal. This was the bleak, hopeless attrition war of 40k at its finest, and neither the enemy Necrons who Gunthar and Arex were trying to survive from, or their "saviors" in the form of the Death Korps of Krieg could relent and showed us the readers how far from human they really are.
Which only serves to highlight the human side of our characters well. Hanrik's panic at learning of his niece's fate, Commisar Costellin as he bid the Krieg grenadier goodbye as he was rushing to his "deserved death"... Arex's fear of a new life away from the one she had gotten used to... and Gunthar Soreson. The titular "Dead Man Walking" (at least for me), casting away all what it meant to be a human and being filtered down to a being of purpose, a soldier.
The book isn't for everyone, especially if you are a big fan of DKoK, since they were depicted here as cruel, unwavering and ultimately lacking in common tactical sense... which they are in the fluff. Their goal is to die for the Emperor and make that count towards something.
As for me, since it didn't delve into the confusing lore aspects of 40k, I can recommend this as a perfectly good (and dark) entry into the universe of Warhammer 40k.
Easily my favorite standalone guard story in Black Library's arsenal. This was the bleak, hopeless attrition war of 40k at its finest, and neither the enemy Necrons who Gunthar and Arex were trying to survive from, or their "saviors" in the form of the Death Korps of Krieg could relent and showed us the readers how far from human they really are.
Which only serves to highlight the human side of our characters well. Hanrik's panic at learning of his niece's fate, Commisar Costellin as he bid the Krieg grenadier goodbye as he was rushing to his "deserved death"... Arex's fear of a new life away from the one she had gotten used to... and Gunthar Soreson. The titular "Dead Man Walking" (at least for me), casting away all what it meant to be a human and being filtered down to a being of purpose, a soldier.
The book isn't for everyone, especially if you are a big fan of DKoK, since they were depicted here as cruel, unwavering and ultimately lacking in common tactical sense... which they are in the fluff. Their goal is to die for the Emperor and make that count towards something.
As for me, since it didn't delve into the confusing lore aspects of 40k, I can recommend this as a perfectly good (and dark) entry into the universe of Warhammer 40k.
March 22, 2022
One of the more grim offerings from the brutal world of Warhammer 40k. Things are bad, and then they get worse. There is no salvation or any other hope in this book, but the final chapter of the book is tour de force that creeps into your soul and breaks your heart in the process.
His name was Gunthar Sorenson.
His name was Gunthar Sorenson.
November 14, 2023
Aren’t we all just dead men walking?
July 15, 2025
One of my personal favorite 40k stories.
It shows the wanton destruction of the awakening of a Necron Tomb World in such horrifying detail.
The Kriegers are personified perfectly, they have no personality and only exist to repent for their supposed sins committed by their ancestors millennia ago.
The ending encapsulates what a Death Korps book is supposed to end like. Instead of a shoehorned happy ending, it’s realistic (in 40k terms) for what would actually happen especially in regard to Commissar Costellin whose death hit me.
If you’re able to find a copy of this book and have a basic understanding of 40k I cannot recommend this enough.
It shows the wanton destruction of the awakening of a Necron Tomb World in such horrifying detail.
The Kriegers are personified perfectly, they have no personality and only exist to repent for their supposed sins committed by their ancestors millennia ago.
The ending encapsulates what a Death Korps book is supposed to end like. Instead of a shoehorned happy ending, it’s realistic (in 40k terms) for what would actually happen especially in regard to Commissar Costellin whose death hit me.
If you’re able to find a copy of this book and have a basic understanding of 40k I cannot recommend this enough.
October 16, 2025
Imperial propaganda undersells how badass the average guardsman is. Steve Lyons does not.
December 9, 2021
Picked this up on a whim and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Deceptively simple yarn from a few perspectives about a planet being beset by necrons. However the real meat of the story is when "help" arrives in the form of the Death Korps of Krieg - nihilistic warriors who are more heartless than their living metal foes.
Good set up, solid action, surprisingly emotional conclusion and a lot of pew pew. Good stuff.
Good set up, solid action, surprisingly emotional conclusion and a lot of pew pew. Good stuff.
July 13, 2025
This book was low-key quite scary i've read two other books about the Krieg both very gruelling stories but ultimately had a victory at the end. This book made me fill this feeling of dread throughout a lot of times with books about the imperial guard it shows them in a almost homework and victorious lights. I feel like this book highlights more what most everyday fights are like it also brings in many questions about morality
June 30, 2024
There is no remorse when it comes to imperium law. This book is all about sacrifice which left me appreciating much more about the characters journey. It made the end result satisfying knowing that all they did was all the could.
July 29, 2018
Great if you're looking for something involving the Necron
I bought this book because I was looking for something that involved the Necron. This definitely has that, and tells the story of various interesting characters with different backgrounds. Would reccomend for any fan of Warhammer 40K, or even those looking for a gritty, almost horror sort of novel.
I bought this book because I was looking for something that involved the Necron. This definitely has that, and tells the story of various interesting characters with different backgrounds. Would reccomend for any fan of Warhammer 40K, or even those looking for a gritty, almost horror sort of novel.
November 21, 2012
Probably the worst warhammer book i have read.
June 6, 2015
Awful. Absolutely no resolution to any of the major plot points. Complete waste of time.
July 14, 2025
Yeah, this is "pulp", not "literature". But it scratches an itch you may not have even realized you have. This is the grimmest and darkest grim dark.
A delicate balancing act. Between so obviously over-the-top ridiculousness that even the worst that life has to offer becomes oddly enjoyable to read about. Satire. Parody, Mockery. And brutal, sober, realism, a reflection on existence as fight for survival and procreation.
This is what really makes 40K so great. It showcases nihilism - the philosophical sickness that plagues our Zeitgeist - for what it is: The belief that we live in a cold, dead universe that by chance created life. Life that can only be sustained by taking life, just to continue a cycle of life taking life.
That is, here it is mask off: Nihilism not as the libertine license for an endless "summer of love", or "sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll", as it is usually portrayed and sold. No. Nihilism as it really is: Amoral disregard for anything but "survival of the species". Or worse, "survival of my in-group".
Warhammer 40K books (and especially this one) are nothing but someone repeating themselves over and over about how a wasp lays an egg inside an innocent living being that becomes paralyzed by the sting and now has to agonizingly witness how it becomes food for the wasp's offspring, inside-out. Again and again, making this nihilistic assertion: that this is all there is. That "the universe does not care". That your ethics, musings, morals do not matter. That they are a thin veneer that is propped up by a brief period of peace and prosperity. That deep down life is just a fight. That you delude yourself thinking otherwise.
And yet, it is presented with ridicule. An endless portrait of violence where people somehow rarely swear, never laugh, or sing - all the things that humans do during the most dire of circumstances. The things that make us... human. There is no love, romance, or friendship. Camaraderie at best, if at all. There are no meals, enjoyed together. No brief moments of enjoying the magnificence of nature. No deep curiosity into why things are the way they are. No discussions, debates. No lofty goals. No doing things for the sake of doing them. Nothing that makes humans so interestingly human.
And that is why this is so great. It's a gripping, fascinating, and not unappealing glimpse into a world of limited virtues. Bravery, sacrifice. Subordination of the self below the collective. But without the love that is meant to drive that. Yes, it is a parody. And it is more than that. It is a critique. It is a question. A challenge. A task.
These books of grimmest, darkest grim dark do one thing really well. They make you realize that "this cannot be right". That there is something off with conflating the human condition with the human spirit. They make you horrified and amused at the same time about the ABSURDITY of nihilistic denial of that which makes us human. But not to endorse it. To tear it apart. To make fun of the current Zeitgeist's stupidity, shallow philosophical underpinnings, and shortsightedness.
A delicate balancing act. Between so obviously over-the-top ridiculousness that even the worst that life has to offer becomes oddly enjoyable to read about. Satire. Parody, Mockery. And brutal, sober, realism, a reflection on existence as fight for survival and procreation.
This is what really makes 40K so great. It showcases nihilism - the philosophical sickness that plagues our Zeitgeist - for what it is: The belief that we live in a cold, dead universe that by chance created life. Life that can only be sustained by taking life, just to continue a cycle of life taking life.
That is, here it is mask off: Nihilism not as the libertine license for an endless "summer of love", or "sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll", as it is usually portrayed and sold. No. Nihilism as it really is: Amoral disregard for anything but "survival of the species". Or worse, "survival of my in-group".
Warhammer 40K books (and especially this one) are nothing but someone repeating themselves over and over about how a wasp lays an egg inside an innocent living being that becomes paralyzed by the sting and now has to agonizingly witness how it becomes food for the wasp's offspring, inside-out. Again and again, making this nihilistic assertion: that this is all there is. That "the universe does not care". That your ethics, musings, morals do not matter. That they are a thin veneer that is propped up by a brief period of peace and prosperity. That deep down life is just a fight. That you delude yourself thinking otherwise.
And yet, it is presented with ridicule. An endless portrait of violence where people somehow rarely swear, never laugh, or sing - all the things that humans do during the most dire of circumstances. The things that make us... human. There is no love, romance, or friendship. Camaraderie at best, if at all. There are no meals, enjoyed together. No brief moments of enjoying the magnificence of nature. No deep curiosity into why things are the way they are. No discussions, debates. No lofty goals. No doing things for the sake of doing them. Nothing that makes humans so interestingly human.
And that is why this is so great. It's a gripping, fascinating, and not unappealing glimpse into a world of limited virtues. Bravery, sacrifice. Subordination of the self below the collective. But without the love that is meant to drive that. Yes, it is a parody. And it is more than that. It is a critique. It is a question. A challenge. A task.
These books of grimmest, darkest grim dark do one thing really well. They make you realize that "this cannot be right". That there is something off with conflating the human condition with the human spirit. They make you horrified and amused at the same time about the ABSURDITY of nihilistic denial of that which makes us human. But not to endorse it. To tear it apart. To make fun of the current Zeitgeist's stupidity, shallow philosophical underpinnings, and shortsightedness.
March 30, 2024
Rating of 4.75.
Two relentless foes face off in the intense Warhammer 40,000 novel, Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons.
Hieronymous Theta is a small and relatively young world in the Imperium of Man. Populated by nearly nine billion people, it is slowly becoming an important industrial hub, as its cities and massive spires build up. But as the inhabitants of the capital, Hieronymous City, expand their mining operations deeper they encounter something unexpected and terrifying, the Necrons. Unfeeling and inhuman ancient xenos encased in living metal, the Necrons are an unrelenting force determined to exterminate the human pests they find inhabiting their world by any means necessary.
As the citizens of Hieronymous City begin to panic, unable to stand against the encroaching Necrons and their deadly technology, their apparent salvation lands on the planet in the most unlikely of forms, the Death Korps of Krieg. One of the most feared and mysterious regiments of the Astra Millitarum, the Death Korps of Krieg come from a world destroyed by civil war which seeks to redeem itself by producing soldiers solely dedicated to the Emperor and his victory.
As the Death Korps land on Hieronymous, they take the war to the Necrons and begin a determined siege to retake Hieronymous City from the outside. But as the Krieg regiments push forward, the people of the planet soon begin to realise that the Death Korps might not be the salvation they hoped for. The soldiers of Krieg’s only goal is to defeat the Emperor’s foes, and they are willing to sacrifice anything to achieve victory, including the citizens of Hieronymous. With battle joined, the fate of Hieronymous hangs in the balance. But does anyone truly win when two implacable and unrelenting armies go to war?
This was an extremely interesting, intense and dark novel from Steve Lyons, who follows up his previous Krieg novel in a big way with this outstanding read. Featuring a moving, action-packed and highly cynical story, Dead Men Walking was probably one of the better Warhammer 40,000 books from last year, and I had an exceptional time getting through it.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/03/30/...
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Two relentless foes face off in the intense Warhammer 40,000 novel, Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons.
Hieronymous Theta is a small and relatively young world in the Imperium of Man. Populated by nearly nine billion people, it is slowly becoming an important industrial hub, as its cities and massive spires build up. But as the inhabitants of the capital, Hieronymous City, expand their mining operations deeper they encounter something unexpected and terrifying, the Necrons. Unfeeling and inhuman ancient xenos encased in living metal, the Necrons are an unrelenting force determined to exterminate the human pests they find inhabiting their world by any means necessary.
As the citizens of Hieronymous City begin to panic, unable to stand against the encroaching Necrons and their deadly technology, their apparent salvation lands on the planet in the most unlikely of forms, the Death Korps of Krieg. One of the most feared and mysterious regiments of the Astra Millitarum, the Death Korps of Krieg come from a world destroyed by civil war which seeks to redeem itself by producing soldiers solely dedicated to the Emperor and his victory.
As the Death Korps land on Hieronymous, they take the war to the Necrons and begin a determined siege to retake Hieronymous City from the outside. But as the Krieg regiments push forward, the people of the planet soon begin to realise that the Death Korps might not be the salvation they hoped for. The soldiers of Krieg’s only goal is to defeat the Emperor’s foes, and they are willing to sacrifice anything to achieve victory, including the citizens of Hieronymous. With battle joined, the fate of Hieronymous hangs in the balance. But does anyone truly win when two implacable and unrelenting armies go to war?
This was an extremely interesting, intense and dark novel from Steve Lyons, who follows up his previous Krieg novel in a big way with this outstanding read. Featuring a moving, action-packed and highly cynical story, Dead Men Walking was probably one of the better Warhammer 40,000 books from last year, and I had an exceptional time getting through it.
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May 29, 2019
You know, Deathworld is one of my favorite 40K novels, but I never really think of Lyons as a favorite author of mine. Maybe just because he's not as prolific as others? I dunno. In any case, I liked DMW just as much as Deathworld.
This novel is essentially a riff on the tale of how war affects everyone, almost a War & Peace sort of vibe here, except during a necron ... is invasion the right word? I mean, they get dug up & they retake the planet. So ... reclamation? Oh, also, this novel is ostensibly a Death Korps of Krieg novel, though Lyons obviously very early in the planning stages realized that the DKK works MUCH better as background characters, just being creepy as all hell during most scenes. The few scenes where DKK members speak/interact, it's almost more unnerving than them just staying silent.
Our three protagonists are Gunthar, and I can't even remember what he was originally, but I see him as kind of middle management: his position in the world isn't GREAT, but he's got a hab unit, he's doing OK for himself. He's secretly dating Arex, who's the governor's daughter. She's out of his league, but they love each other, and he's not like the guys her uncle tries to set her up with.
Her uncle Hanrik is also a fairly main character, as is Commissar Costellin, who's leading a regiment or whatever of the DKK. He doesn't really fit in with them, and often has clashes with Colonel ... 182? 186? They go by numbers. But he's determined to be a good commissar for them.
Lyons approaches this story in an intriguing way. He deals more with the human fallout & the emotional impact of the battles, rather than showcasing the battles themselves. He goes into the thick of it for a couple of important battles, but this is mostly about the emotional arc of each of the characters. Since it's 40K, obviously you've got to adjust expectations fairly quickly.
I really enjoyed this book & hope Lyons did more in the world.
This novel is essentially a riff on the tale of how war affects everyone, almost a War & Peace sort of vibe here, except during a necron ... is invasion the right word? I mean, they get dug up & they retake the planet. So ... reclamation? Oh, also, this novel is ostensibly a Death Korps of Krieg novel, though Lyons obviously very early in the planning stages realized that the DKK works MUCH better as background characters, just being creepy as all hell during most scenes. The few scenes where DKK members speak/interact, it's almost more unnerving than them just staying silent.
Our three protagonists are Gunthar, and I can't even remember what he was originally, but I see him as kind of middle management: his position in the world isn't GREAT, but he's got a hab unit, he's doing OK for himself. He's secretly dating Arex, who's the governor's daughter. She's out of his league, but they love each other, and he's not like the guys her uncle tries to set her up with.
Her uncle Hanrik is also a fairly main character, as is Commissar Costellin, who's leading a regiment or whatever of the DKK. He doesn't really fit in with them, and often has clashes with Colonel ... 182? 186? They go by numbers. But he's determined to be a good commissar for them.
Lyons approaches this story in an intriguing way. He deals more with the human fallout & the emotional impact of the battles, rather than showcasing the battles themselves. He goes into the thick of it for a couple of important battles, but this is mostly about the emotional arc of each of the characters. Since it's 40K, obviously you've got to adjust expectations fairly quickly.
I really enjoyed this book & hope Lyons did more in the world.
September 25, 2024
Wow this book was good! The world building, the characters, the plot, the visuals. Just everything about it was so well written!
Its a slow start initially getting introduced to all the characters and the world they live in. All very business as usual in this universe. Once the intended main plot gets going, it goes all out. Like right away upon the introduction of the Necrons things go as you'd expect. It's intense right away and everything that the slow build up introduced you to gets completly turned upside down to this entirely new chaotic situation.
The characters are easily identifiable with their goals, motivations and personalities. Not a lot of history on them to get attached completly, which I could have used more of, but enough to care that you care about their safety.
The descriptions this author used were just so well done, easily I could picture what was going on in my mind like it's a movie. The author didn't skimp on detail of the world and managed to really capture the mood and chaos.
The plot had a lot of moving parts to it, it initially gives the impression it's going to be political intrigue, romance maybe, then switches to a story with a military focus, survival, cults, personal growth into being brave to be able to handle the situation, sacrifices and the usual doom/gloom of 40k. I loved it.
Its been a while I got to experience such good writing as there is a sea of books in this universe that are hit and misses. This is definetly a hit.
Its a slow start initially getting introduced to all the characters and the world they live in. All very business as usual in this universe. Once the intended main plot gets going, it goes all out. Like right away upon the introduction of the Necrons things go as you'd expect. It's intense right away and everything that the slow build up introduced you to gets completly turned upside down to this entirely new chaotic situation.
The characters are easily identifiable with their goals, motivations and personalities. Not a lot of history on them to get attached completly, which I could have used more of, but enough to care that you care about their safety.
The descriptions this author used were just so well done, easily I could picture what was going on in my mind like it's a movie. The author didn't skimp on detail of the world and managed to really capture the mood and chaos.
The plot had a lot of moving parts to it, it initially gives the impression it's going to be political intrigue, romance maybe, then switches to a story with a military focus, survival, cults, personal growth into being brave to be able to handle the situation, sacrifices and the usual doom/gloom of 40k. I loved it.
Its been a while I got to experience such good writing as there is a sea of books in this universe that are hit and misses. This is definetly a hit.
December 3, 2023
Another Krieg book where there are no POV Krieg characters. It's a shame because I feel like a lot could be done with a Krieg character, being in their mindset instead of them constantly being regarded as "odd" but other characters. Still, the book was good for what it was and I won't harp too much more on what it wasn't.
Little surprise, Krieg vs. Necrons doesn't make for joyful reading and it was pretty bleak in most parts. The tragedy of the main character was particularly sad, but 40k books aren't particularly happy for the most part. I thought the tragedy of what happens to the characters and the fate of the world was well done and appropriately grim. Occasionally longwinded, but which Warhammer books aren't.
The humans of the world being invaded by Necrons looking for Imperial Guard to be their saviors only for it to be the merciless Death Korp was a nice twist on the usual, especially when the citizens begin to turn against the Korp for their conscription of the local populace and little consideration of human life. For a 40k book, the themes of humanity, dehumanization, and sacrifice were well done and pretty poignant, probably because there were no space marines around. Not a slam on space marines, seeing the everyday life of Imperial citizens and soldiers before and during a war is a bit of fresh air.
I'd recommend it for Krieg fans looking to get a fix, but to me "Krieg" by Steven Lyons is a better Krieg story overall.
Little surprise, Krieg vs. Necrons doesn't make for joyful reading and it was pretty bleak in most parts. The tragedy of the main character was particularly sad, but 40k books aren't particularly happy for the most part. I thought the tragedy of what happens to the characters and the fate of the world was well done and appropriately grim. Occasionally longwinded, but which Warhammer books aren't.
The humans of the world being invaded by Necrons looking for Imperial Guard to be their saviors only for it to be the merciless Death Korp was a nice twist on the usual, especially when the citizens begin to turn against the Korp for their conscription of the local populace and little consideration of human life. For a 40k book, the themes of humanity, dehumanization, and sacrifice were well done and pretty poignant, probably because there were no space marines around. Not a slam on space marines, seeing the everyday life of Imperial citizens and soldiers before and during a war is a bit of fresh air.
I'd recommend it for Krieg fans looking to get a fix, but to me "Krieg" by Steven Lyons is a better Krieg story overall.
September 20, 2021
For a Warhammer 40K novel, this is something else. It's a war story, of course, because in the 41st Millennium there is only war. But it's also a story about dehumanization and stubbornness, and going too far, all these things without the usual Warhammer silliness. It's almost a serious novel that has the right to stand apart from the games and tell its own story.
You will witness character development to the extreme. And a very bleak story all around, without a ray of hope. Grimdark all the way.
The only criticism will probably come from fans of the game lore because there are many inconsistencies here regarding how Imperial Army operates, as well as the enemy, the Necrons should act. As I am not interested in that, I treat each book as a separate entity with separate rules that I have yet to discover. Unless of course, it's a series written by the same author.
In this novel, there is only one thing you should know about the Necrons. They are alien unstoppable creatures that we know nothing about, that we cannot reason with, and that will destroy everything in their path. The focus is not on them, but on the human troops fighting a losing war.
You will witness character development to the extreme. And a very bleak story all around, without a ray of hope. Grimdark all the way.
The only criticism will probably come from fans of the game lore because there are many inconsistencies here regarding how Imperial Army operates, as well as the enemy, the Necrons should act. As I am not interested in that, I treat each book as a separate entity with separate rules that I have yet to discover. Unless of course, it's a series written by the same author.
In this novel, there is only one thing you should know about the Necrons. They are alien unstoppable creatures that we know nothing about, that we cannot reason with, and that will destroy everything in their path. The focus is not on them, but on the human troops fighting a losing war.
July 15, 2024
Spoilers ahead. Don’t let the 3 stars fool you, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down once I started it. It was one gut punch after another and was a welcome break from my Horus Heresy read through. The plot was gripping and the characters, even the Kriegsmen, were compelling. The Kriegsmen were enough to lose 2 stars though. Maybe it’s my own bias, and Emperor forgive me if it is, but I was under the impression that the Death Korps simply does not retreat. Even in the face of certain death, my impression was that they would always hold the line and preferred death to withdrawal. I don’t understand why the Kriegsmen left. It was such a shattering moment for me when they revealed they were leaving the planet. It was emotionally devastating because it meant certain death for my favorite character, but it also killed my immersion for a moment. Now, maybe I don’t know enough about Krieg, but I always understood that they would fight until the last gas mask wearing bastard was dead. I guess I need to read more krieg lore to understand this regiment better. Great book overall. One of the better 40K stories I’ve read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2024
In the grim darkness of the far future, the Death Corps of Krieg march ever in penance and in their eternal duty to the God Emperor. There is no happy endings, there is no sweet release, there is only darkness and death.
Hieronymus Theta is a relatively rich mining planet. A Necron tomb rises out of the deepest mining pits. Four regiments of Krieger are trying to out attrition the Necron. Cultists and Mutants and Heretics deserve the rope. Also Gunther did nothing wrong, he did his duty, and got fucked over for it all. Also all the lords deserve the rope.
Arex is evil, and all she did consigned Gunther to death. There is nothing that she deserves more than imprisonment or being turned into corpse-starch for the Ad Mech. Or she deserves to have her Gellar Field fail while in transit. Or she deserves to be food for the ritz.
Next book I read hopefully uses cyclonic torpedoes or something fun like that to get rid of the Xenos and the Foul.
Five stars, because it's fun to read Warhammer 40k. And also because this is where hopes come to die.
Hieronymus Theta is a relatively rich mining planet. A Necron tomb rises out of the deepest mining pits. Four regiments of Krieger are trying to out attrition the Necron. Cultists and Mutants and Heretics deserve the rope. Also Gunther did nothing wrong, he did his duty, and got fucked over for it all. Also all the lords deserve the rope.
Arex is evil, and all she did consigned Gunther to death. There is nothing that she deserves more than imprisonment or being turned into corpse-starch for the Ad Mech. Or she deserves to have her Gellar Field fail while in transit. Or she deserves to be food for the ritz.
Next book I read hopefully uses cyclonic torpedoes or something fun like that to get rid of the Xenos and the Foul.
Five stars, because it's fun to read Warhammer 40k. And also because this is where hopes come to die.
August 2, 2022
Good story. The big overall plot ends about 3 chapters before the end of the book, so those chapters kind of drag on a little, but that doesn't ruin the story at all. It's like 3 chapters of what happens afterwards.
The book centers around a planet that unknowingly unearths a Necron tomb underneath their city (think Terminator, but it's an entire army lol). The rest of the book is about two groups of Humans fighting against the Necrons: The military which includes soldiers native to the planet and from a different planet called Krieg, and also civilians who get wrapped up in the conflict. There's a small sub plot about love existing across social classes (nobility vs commoner) that operates as a big motivation for these civilians to keep pushing. For the military, it's a nameless and statistical battle to be won. The Krieg don't care who they have to sacrifice as long as it wins the day...
The book centers around a planet that unknowingly unearths a Necron tomb underneath their city (think Terminator, but it's an entire army lol). The rest of the book is about two groups of Humans fighting against the Necrons: The military which includes soldiers native to the planet and from a different planet called Krieg, and also civilians who get wrapped up in the conflict. There's a small sub plot about love existing across social classes (nobility vs commoner) that operates as a big motivation for these civilians to keep pushing. For the military, it's a nameless and statistical battle to be won. The Krieg don't care who they have to sacrifice as long as it wins the day...
April 26, 2025
A hive city becomes overrun from a buried threat. Necrons emerge to reclaim their planet after centuries of slumber beneath its surface, and an important hive city. The population is scattered, and the elite class is cast down along with the lowliest inhabitants, as the city becomes a battleground between the metallic skeletal aliens and the Imperium’s most intriguing siege specialists, the always gas masked, unflinching, Death Korps of Krieg.
Love, duty, and sacrifice are explored through these catastrophic events. Dead Men Walking is brutal, harrowing and gripping as it switches between large scale warfare, and the individual will to survive.
⚠️Parental Warning ⚠️
-War violence
-Damnit used once
-Two characters find themselves hiding overnight and struggle with finding physical comfort for one night during all the chaos, and has a fade to black scene described as, “their bodies melting into each other this one lonely night.” The next morning he “fastens her top for” her.
Love, duty, and sacrifice are explored through these catastrophic events. Dead Men Walking is brutal, harrowing and gripping as it switches between large scale warfare, and the individual will to survive.
⚠️Parental Warning ⚠️
-War violence
-Damnit used once
-Two characters find themselves hiding overnight and struggle with finding physical comfort for one night during all the chaos, and has a fade to black scene described as, “their bodies melting into each other this one lonely night.” The next morning he “fastens her top for” her.
July 15, 2025
I've seen this talked about constantly but only got round to reading it now - I really wish I had read it much sooner! I was looking for something to tide me over while I decided what other book to read and ended up finishing this in a day or two, I just kept getting drawn in.
Commisar's are usually my favourite characters in a 40k story and Costellin is no exception. The contrast between his story and Soresen was brilliant, and I loved the little bits of history and personality we got about the Death Korps in his chapters. I liked the Krieg just fine before reading this but definitely felt like they lacked personality when compared to other IG units (not just the Tanith) - How wrong I was!
Arex and some other more minor characters don't really end up with much to do but are still good enough at delivering flavour and context as the story goes on.
Soreson's story was brilliantly tragic, it really did live up to idea at the heart of 40k: There is only war.
Commisar's are usually my favourite characters in a 40k story and Costellin is no exception. The contrast between his story and Soresen was brilliant, and I loved the little bits of history and personality we got about the Death Korps in his chapters. I liked the Krieg just fine before reading this but definitely felt like they lacked personality when compared to other IG units (not just the Tanith) - How wrong I was!
Arex and some other more minor characters don't really end up with much to do but are still good enough at delivering flavour and context as the story goes on.
Soreson's story was brilliantly tragic, it really did live up to idea at the heart of 40k: There is only war.
July 21, 2022
There is a complete lack of humanity, there are monsters on the battle lines. The question is which is worse; the recently awakened metallic terminator aliens, or the faceless soldiers who have arrived to stop them? While the Necrons serve as the antagonist to a degree, their motivations are only ever thinly touched upon, instead just going about their business in a truly alien fashion. The true conflict is between the residents of a world who are caught between this unknown threat and their "saviors", who are only able to value a life in how meaningfully it can be sacrificed in service of the cause. Among the handful of protagonists we are given, time and again, we watch them sacrifice their humanity and then be asked to sacrifice even more, all for the glimmer of hope that seems to fade even faster by the moment.
November 4, 2024
I actually enjoyed this a lot more than the later Krieg focused books, like Krieg and Siege of Vraks. The Krieg actually play a background role in this book, and even serve as a point of friction at some points. Following the POVs of more "normal" Imperial citizens, we get to see how alien and unnerving the Krieg really are.
This pairs well with having Necrons as the villain in this book; the most stoic, unfeeling regiment of the Imperial Guards vs. literal robots. I loved the moment where someone, and also the reader, was unsure if a patrol were Krieg or Necron. They just see a squad of soldiers walking along, wearing skull masks, standing ramrod straight, and attentively scanning around.
All in all, an excellent read for Warhammer fans, especially those of the Death Korp of Krieg.
This pairs well with having Necrons as the villain in this book; the most stoic, unfeeling regiment of the Imperial Guards vs. literal robots. I loved the moment where someone, and also the reader, was unsure if a patrol were Krieg or Necron. They just see a squad of soldiers walking along, wearing skull masks, standing ramrod straight, and attentively scanning around.
All in all, an excellent read for Warhammer fans, especially those of the Death Korp of Krieg.
September 6, 2025
This is an excellent inclusion in the grimdark universe of "Warhammer 40,000" (W40k), one of my favourite SF worlds.
There are several factions in the W40k world; this story focuses on humans, represented by the Imperial Guard and the Necrons, a technologically advanced robotic alien race. The stories (from books to the games, which I play) around humans tend to be brutal affairs. The Imperial Guard fights with quantity more than quality, and the losses they suffer in W40k's endless battles and wars are downright horrifying. "Dead Men Walking" is straight up along these lines.
We are in Hieronymous Theta, a mining colony run by humans. Miners inadvertently wake up a Necron tomb, and all hell breaks loose. An elite Imperial Guard corps, the Death Korps of Krieg - fanatical, emotionless, and suicidal shock troopers - are on the planet, and they take the Necrons head-on. In true W40k fashion: the Necrons initially roll over the human defenders of the colony (with their decimation told in graphic detail). Just in case you're wondering: there are no happy endings in this universe and very few of H. Theta's civilians and defenders make it out.
What I appreciate with Steve Lyons' work in this book is how he portrays war and how dehumanizing it can be. The Krieg troopers, proud but emotionless, represent this dehumanization best; they are an effective fighting force, but at the cost of their freedom, individual personalities, and human traits like mercy, compassion, and love.
There are several factions in the W40k world; this story focuses on humans, represented by the Imperial Guard and the Necrons, a technologically advanced robotic alien race. The stories (from books to the games, which I play) around humans tend to be brutal affairs. The Imperial Guard fights with quantity more than quality, and the losses they suffer in W40k's endless battles and wars are downright horrifying. "Dead Men Walking" is straight up along these lines.
We are in Hieronymous Theta, a mining colony run by humans. Miners inadvertently wake up a Necron tomb, and all hell breaks loose. An elite Imperial Guard corps, the Death Korps of Krieg - fanatical, emotionless, and suicidal shock troopers - are on the planet, and they take the Necrons head-on. In true W40k fashion: the Necrons initially roll over the human defenders of the colony (with their decimation told in graphic detail). Just in case you're wondering: there are no happy endings in this universe and very few of H. Theta's civilians and defenders make it out.
What I appreciate with Steve Lyons' work in this book is how he portrays war and how dehumanizing it can be. The Krieg troopers, proud but emotionless, represent this dehumanization best; they are an effective fighting force, but at the cost of their freedom, individual personalities, and human traits like mercy, compassion, and love.
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