Denny Flowers makes his Black Library debut with The Hand of Harrow, a snappy, fast-paced Necromunda short story which looks back to some entertaining old lore for inspiration. His reputation as the ninth most dangerous man in the underhive preceding him, Caleb Cursebound takes on what appears, on the surface, to be a low-risk and high-reward job – stealing a family heirloom from the private museum of the elderly Lord Harrow. Concerned that something isn’t quite right, however, Caleb and his ratskin companion Iktomi proceed with caution which proves well-founded as the job starts off well, before spiralling out of hand.
Category Archives: Short Stories
QUICK REVIEW: A Tithe of Bone – Michael R Fletcher
The Black Library debut for both author Michael R. Fletcher and the Ossiarch Bonereapers as a faction, A Tithe of Bone is a cleverly thought-out and constructed Age of Sigmar short story which introduces something new to the setting without compromising on the quality of storytelling. Chaos champion Lord Markash has conquered the city of Knazziir at the edge of Nagash’s domain, in the name Tzeentch. Utterly loyal to his god, and with total confidence in himself and his destiny, when faced by the Ossiarch legions come to claim their bone tithe Markash strides out to confront them head on.
QUICK REVIEW: The Karsharat Abomination – George Mann
Marking the first prose appearance of Inquisitor Sabbathiel (who previously appeared in various comics from Titan), George Mann’s Black Library short story The Karsharat Abomination sees the inquisitor on the hunt for a renegade Mechanicus priest in possession of a dangerous weapon. Exploring an abandoned Ecclesiarchy outpost on the moon Karsharat, interrogator Bledheim wonders why Sabbathiel has included him in the group alongside her other, more militaristic, companions. As they get closer to the heart of the citadel, the specifics of what they face gradually become clearer, and Bledheim finds his mind being tested as much as his body.
QUICK REVIEW: The Serpent’s Bargain – Jamie Crisalli
In her second Black Library short story, The Serpent’s Bargain, Jamie Crisalli explores the consequences of making unwise alliances in the Mortal Realms. After her village is attacked by Slaaneshi raiders, Laila fears that the seekers aren’t done yet with Varna and will return to inflict even more damage. Against the wishes of the village elders, she sets out with just two companions to find the Valley of the Oracle’s Eye and petition the Fair Ones to come to their aid. Little does she realise, however, that the cost for their protection may be more than she’s willing to pay.
QUICK REVIEW: Runner – Alan Bao
Marking his Black Library debut, Alan Bao’s Warhammer Horror short story Runner takes a close look inside the head of a lone Guardsman faced with a long, dangerous journey. Taking his role in the regiment entirely literally, the unnamed runner races across the endless tundra of a frozen world, carrying a desperate message of warning to regimental command. Behind him lies a broken hive, the bodies of his comrades and things in the fog. As the journey takes its toll on his body, familiar voices pursue him and long-forgotten memories surface in his mind, but he knows he must endure.
QUICK REVIEW: Doom Flight – Cavan Scott
A high-octane aerial combat story, Cavan Scott’s Doom Flight sees Sergeant Kerikus of the Doom Eagles piloting his Stormtalon gunship in battle against the orks in the skies over the embattled Imperial world of Quadcana. Facing appalling odds after losing his entire squadron to the guns of the greenskins’ ramshackle dakkajets, the dour Kerikus is determined to sell his life dearly and make his death count for something. When hope returns and the opportunity arises to complete his mission after all, Kerikus prepares to strike a telling blow against the orks even if the prospect of survival remains unlikely.
QUICK REVIEW: Void Crossed – JC Stearns
Probably as close as we’ll ever get to a dark eldar love story from Black Library, JC Stearns’ Void Crossed deals with the fallout from the broken relationship between two ambitious drukhari corsairs. For Archon Melandyr, the chance to claim a webway gate on the world of Dunwiddian – abandoned after the humans died and the orks got bored – is of little interest until he hears who’s leading the force sent to take control of it by the craftworld Tir-Val. Sensing an opportunity for vengeance long sought-after, he pours all his spite into hunting down the person most important to him.
QUICK REVIEW: The Strong Among Us – Steve Lyons
Steve Lyons is one of the few Black Library authors to have tackled the Death Korps of Krieg, and he continues his exploration with the typically bleak short story The Strong Among Us. Blackfire Forge has fallen to Chaos, and been besieged by the implacable Death Korps. Ex-forge worker Jarrah mans an Earthshaker cannon on the ramparts, not in service of the invading cultists but simply as a means to stay alive. As the siege drags on and he does what he must to survive, he’s forced to consider whether the Death Korps are really the face of Imperial salvation.
QUICK REVIEW: The Emperor’s Grace – Nicholas Alexander
Nicholas Alexander’s Imperial Navy short story The Emperor’s Grace depicts the intense stress a rookie Marauder bomber crew are placed under during an all-out attack on an ork air base. Part of a huge squadron tasked with striking a decisive blow in the war for Balle Prime, Captain Mikal and the crew of the Emperor’s Grace wrestle with a complex cocktail of emotions as they embark on their first mission. Tensions are high within the Marauder, but once they reach the target all their focus is on surviving long enough to complete the mission and return home in one piece.
QUICK REVIEW: The Warden in the Mountain – Eric Gregory
Eric Gregory’s Age of Sigmar short story The Warden in the Mountain – his second Black Library release – is billed as a Warhammer Underworlds story, although it’s much more than a straight tie-in to the game. Upon the slopes of the Beastgrave, a vast mountain in the Realm of Ghur, Greatwarden Tythrae leads five aspirants to the Ruinhorn for their final challenge before being ordained as Wardens-in-the-Wild. The test is to endure the whispered voice of the Ruinhorn for a full night, but for Maethys, Laeren and Weheol the mountain’s voice is only the beginning of their trials.