Category Archives: Short Stories

QUICK REVIEW: The Darkling Hours – Rachel Harrison

This short story is available in the Black Library Events Anthology 2018/19 or as a standalone e-short.

A dark and folklore-tinged tale featuring Commissar Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles, Rachel Harrison’s Scribe Award-nominated short story The Darkling Hours pits Raine, Captain Andren Fel and his Duskhounds against an unseen foe able to tap directly into their fears. Dispatched by aerial insertion into the sinister depths of a vast open-pit mine controlled by the Sighted, the small squad’s mission is clear – to infiltrate the mine complex, find the witch lurking at its heart, and kill it. Down in the cold darkness however, the witch’s power grows as they draw closer, and their strength is sorely tested.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: In the Mists of Chaos – Rik Hoskin

This story is currently only available within Inferno! Volume Three.

The Black Library debut for Rik Hoskin, Age of Sigmar short story In the Mists of Chaos is a grim little story of human bravery and faith in the face of the twisting nature of the Ruinous Powers. Having played a crucial role in the defence of his village against a Chaos warband led by the sorcerer Ty’Gzar, Freeguild soldier Uffo Weisz finds himself with a legend to live up to. When the forces of Ty’Gzar return, Weisz leads his men in a confident defence of the village and its people, but the influence of Chaos can be dangerously subtle.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: Bossgrot – Eric Gregory

Eric Gregory’s first Black Library short story, Bossgrot is an anarchic Age of Sigmar tale of loyalty and treachery amongst the Gloomspite Gitz. Bossgrot Gribblak knows his inspirational leadership gives him the unqualified adoration of his skrap…or at least their grudging respect. After taking a beating at the hands of some particularly violent ‘umies, however, he needs to give his gitz something to really fire them up, so he hatches a plan to give them a big win…he’ll lead them in a glorious assault on the heavily-defended Glinty Crown, and both reaffirm their loyalty and win himself great renown.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: Anarchy’s End – Rob J Hayes

The Black Library debut for fantasy author Rob J Hayes, Anarchy’s End is an Imperial Guard short story set almost entirely within the confines of a Baneblade super-heavy tank – the titular Anarchy’s End. Battling the endless hordes of a tyranid swarm, loader Vi Modine and the rest of the crew of Anarchy’s End struggle to keep the ageing tank operational long enough to strike a decisive blow. As the longest-serving member of the crew Vi knows the history of the vehicle well, but as the battle grinds bloodily on she starts to wonder at the nature of its ancient machine-spirit.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: The Unlamented Archpustulent of Clan Morbidus – David Guymer

A tale of scheming skaven in the Age of Sigmar, David Guymer’s wonderfully-titled The Unlamented Archpustulent of Clan Morbidus reimagines the political maneuvering of a papal conclave as the vicious, backstabbing process of electing the new spiritual leader of Clan Morbidus. As the voting draws nearer, several candidates for the position of Archpustulent employ bribery, cunning and violence to ensure they, and only they, are elevated to this vaunted – and dangerous – position of power. In typical skaven fashion, however, each candidate’s devious schemes clash, backfire and generally get in each other’s way causing carnage in the depths of Blight City.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: Dismember the Titans – Graeme Lyon

This story is currently only available within Inferno! Volume Three.

A much-deserved sequel to the excellent Mazlocke’s Cantrip of Superior Substitution, Graeme Lyon’s Blood Bowl short story Dismember the Titans returns to the characters of Juliana and Johann, now the Talabheim Titans’ star Blitzer/Catcher duo. Death is a workplace hazard for Blood Bowl players, but it usually happens on the pitch and in front of a crowd, not in secret. When their fellow players start turning up very dead, and minus some body parts, it falls to Juliana and Johann to investigate and try to find out who it is that has a grudge against the Titans, and why.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: City of Blood – Matt Smith

This story is currently only available within Inferno! Volume Three.

Matt Smith’s short story City of Blood is a Necromunda-esque tale of fast-paced underhive action in the 41st millennium, just not set on Necromunda. In the labyrinthine slums beneath Obergard Secundus, Jesca Veil – deserter, formerly of the 151st Hadran Rifles – has made a deal to get herself off-world. If she’s to see the deal through and make it to safety, however, she’ll have to contend with not just the untrustworthy nature of her shady contact but also the vengeful presence of the Officio Prefectus and the many and varied dangers lurking in the darkness of the underhive.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: The Prince’s Tale (At the Sign of the Brazen Claw Part Three) – Guy Haley

This story is currently only available within Inferno! Volume 3.

The third instalment of At the Sign of the Brazen Claw, Guy Haley’s serialised story of a group of strangers swapping stories while waiting out a storm, The Prince’s Tale sees aelven Prince Maesa tell the tale of how he met Shattercap. As the storm rages, Maesa relives a time of heartache and loneliness as he wandered the Mortal Realms aimlessly, haunted by the loss of his beloved Ellamar. Only when he finally encountered a match for his own grief did the exiled prince find himself drawn back into the lives of mortals, and set against the pitiless sylvaneth.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: The Price of Duty – Matt Smith

A standalone Imperial Guard short story by Matt Smith, The Price of Duty takes a familiar setup – a straight-laced commissar serving with an ill-disciplined regiment of Catachan Jungle Fighters – and delivers a slightly different take to usual. For young Commissar Jasper Nevin, serving under a Lord-Commissar whom he idolises is a dream come true, however the soldiers of the Catachan 64th don’t seem to hold him in much regard. Surrounded by warriors of strength and fortitude, Nevin finds his own skill and bravery lacking, but to survive he’s going to have to find a way to earn at least someone’s respect.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: The Spirit of Cogs – John French

A short story in John French’s ongoing Horusian Wars series, The Spirit of Cogs is a sinister little ghost story told by Glavius-4-Rho to Severita while the ex-magos is working on a repair. Casting his machinic mind back to his first experience on a true forge world, Glavius-4-Rho tells a tale of his younger self being recruited into a mysterious project, swathed in secrecy, which requires his expertise. He and another magos throw themselves into their work, despite the strange phenomena plaguing their efforts, but before long they start to question the consequences of the Mechanicus’ thirst for knowledge at all costs.

Keep reading…