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The Sum of Its Parts
An Astra Militarum Short Story
The Astra Militarum stands as an ever-redoubtable bulwark against the unending assault of the darkness. From Cadia to Catachan, Krieg, Mordian and Armageddon, the Emperor protects.
READ IT BECAUSE
Follow the history of one of the Guard’s finest weapons.
THE STORY
Through a series of vignettes, we learn the history of the Leman Russ tank Sebastian's Lance over hundreds of years of Imperial warfare.
The Astra Militarum stands as an ever-redoubtable bulwark against the unending assault of the darkness. From Cadia to Catachan, Krieg, Mordian and Armageddon, the Emperor protects.
READ IT BECAUSE
Follow the history of one of the Guard’s finest weapons.
THE STORY
Through a series of vignettes, we learn the history of the Leman Russ tank Sebastian's Lance over hundreds of years of Imperial warfare.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2023
7 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 20, 2023
What a fantastic short story. With such a short word count it is impressive how much I keep on thinking about this a few days later. Any 40k fan should pick this up.
February 3, 2023
A very impressive debut story by Black Library newcomer Rhuairidh James (it's actually his second published BL story, but the first one by him I've read).
James uses the history of a particular tank engine - "Sebastian's Lance" - as the thread that strings together several vignettes which together deliver on the creative premise with an elegant and surprisingly moving combination of grim darkness and heartfelt sentiment peppered with beautiful touches. It's an exploration of humanity in the 41st millenium, about how the human spirit can flicker and burn even amidst the systemic injustices and inhuman horrors of the far future, a skilful balancing act in which light and darkness accentuate each other without taking away from each others essence.
Well worth the price of admission, and I will definitely keep my eye out for more of his author in the future.
James uses the history of a particular tank engine - "Sebastian's Lance" - as the thread that strings together several vignettes which together deliver on the creative premise with an elegant and surprisingly moving combination of grim darkness and heartfelt sentiment peppered with beautiful touches. It's an exploration of humanity in the 41st millenium, about how the human spirit can flicker and burn even amidst the systemic injustices and inhuman horrors of the far future, a skilful balancing act in which light and darkness accentuate each other without taking away from each others essence.
Well worth the price of admission, and I will definitely keep my eye out for more of his author in the future.
February 4, 2023
Rhuairidh James has been one of my favorite up and coming authors for a few years now and I'm tremendously excited to see him moving to longer form fiction.
His worlds and stories are inspired and transporting, and he has a cheeky, dark approach to 40K that you rarely see done so well - as well as a real love and in-depth knowledge for the setting that shows through in his writing. Everytime I read one of his pieces, I fall in love with a new part of it - and Sum of its Parts is a perfect example. Please treat yourself.
His worlds and stories are inspired and transporting, and he has a cheeky, dark approach to 40K that you rarely see done so well - as well as a real love and in-depth knowledge for the setting that shows through in his writing. Everytime I read one of his pieces, I fall in love with a new part of it - and Sum of its Parts is a perfect example. Please treat yourself.
February 5, 2023
Of all the sub-genres of 40K fiction, tank stories are perhaps my favourite. I guess then, that I was predisposed to liking this, but I didn’t anticipate quite how much I would. Following a single Leman Russ tank from it rolling from the production lines across a ridiculous span of years, this short fits a lot in and still manages to pack an emotional heft. A really promising 40k debut and, oddly enough, like it’s title- greater than the sum of it’s parts.
February 9, 2025
An outstanding short story, charting the life of the Sebastian’s Lance, a tank in service to the Astra Militarum. Even in just a few short words (45 mins to read) this story hits hard emotionally, with each crew leaving behind some kind of mark on the vehicle. It’s deep, engaging, and the vehicle becomes another of the characters. It’s outstanding.
February 4, 2023
Full disclosure : I'm a complete sucker for stories like this.
A fun little story about a Leman Russ from the beginning as it rolled off the assembly line to it's very end. No major battles, just little glimpses of the lives of it's occupants over the years/decades
A fun little story about a Leman Russ from the beginning as it rolled off the assembly line to it's very end. No major battles, just little glimpses of the lives of it's occupants over the years/decades
May 13, 2023
such an interesting perspective, essentially making the tank the focal point throughout the book. It makes me think of the Stryker I was assigned to in the army, and where it has been after I moved on.
January 29, 2023
Excellent story
I loved this short story, the author (who I freely admit to not having read before) did a superb job, more please
I loved this short story, the author (who I freely admit to not having read before) did a superb job, more please
September 21, 2024
So good it made me well up with tears at the end.
"No bold act is too small to be without consequence."
"No bold act is too small to be without consequence."
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews