Tag Archives: Inferno! 1

QUICK REVIEW: At the Sign of the Brazen Claw – Guy Haley

The first instalment in a five part serial, At the Sign of the Brazen Claw sees Guy Haley continue the saga of Prince Maesa and Shattercap with a story within a story. Atop a lonely mountain in Shyish there lies an inn called the Brazen Claw, where Maesa and Shattercap shelter from a storm and wait for a Kharadron airship, alongside the innkeeper, his family and other guests. To fill the time the innkeeper suggests the telling of tales, and proceeds to regale his guests with the story of how he came to build the inn of the Brazen Claw.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Firstborn Daughter – Filip Wiltgren

Another Black Library debut in the pages of Inferno! Volume 1, Filip Wiltgren’s The Firstborn Daughter is a tale of prejudice and treachery amongst the Vostroyan Firstborn, and a warning against idolising your heroes. Lieutenant Ekaterina Idra leads her light platoon against the traitor forces on Tovoga, despite the grumbling of men not used to being led by a woman. When she joins forces with the renowned Major Haskel, at first she’s happy to be fighting alongside a hero of the Imperium. As Haskel grows increasingly erratic, however, Idra finds herself viewing the man in an increasingly negative light.

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QUICK REVIEW: How Vido Learned the Trick – Josh Reynolds

The second of two Warhammer Chronicles short stories written before the End Times happened and eventually featured in Inferno! Volume 1, Josh Reynolds’ How Vido Learned the Trick is a Zavant Konniger story featuring characters originally created by Gordon Rennie. Returning from an errand for his master, the halfling Vido finds an assassin in Zavant’s study, but no sign of the sage himself. With his own life on the line, Vido must put into practice everything he’s learned from working with Zavant and figure out where his master can be found. All without allowing the assassin to complete his mission.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Enemy of My Enemy – Nate Crowley

A Black Library debut for Nate Crowley, The Enemy of My Enemy is a classic pairing of Imperial Guard versus orks, albeit turned on its head. For ten years the Mystras VIII, the Golden Eighth, have been locked in battle with orks on the nowhere world of Cavernam Tertius, with General Pyrrhus unable to break the deadlock and salvage his career. When word arrives of a tyranid hive fleet heading in-system, the only option appears to be to evacuate and flee, until Pyrrhus conceives of a desperate plan to salvage victory. Can a human and ork alliance ever succeed, though?

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QUICK REVIEW: Waking the Dragon – Josh Reynolds

Billed as a Warhammer Chronicles story, Josh Reynolds’ Waking the Dragon is a previously unreleased tale of the World-That-Was, and which was originally written as part of the End Times series. The once-powerful Heinrich Kemmler, otherwise known as the Lichemaster, is in dire need of allies. Harried at every turn by the tenacious Duke Tancred, and accompanied only by the ancient wight Krell, Kemmler turns in desperation to the cursed Blood Keep where he hopes to raise an army and gather his strength. The ancient fortress is no longer abandoned, however, and Kemmler’s destiny might not be what he expected.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Emperor’s Wrath – Steven B Fischer

Steve B Fischer’s debut Black Library story, The Emperor’s Wrath is a story of three civilians caught between their world’s corrupt local militia and the vengeful Imperial Guard. As a child, Caius watched the Emperor’s Wrath murder his parents during a brutal rebellion. Growing up in the ruins of his world, trying to look after his younger siblings, he’s become embittered by what he sees as the Imperium’s abandonment of his world. When Imperial forces return he sees little distinction between them and the militia, but it’s not long before he finds himself forced to choose a side.

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QUICK REVIEW: A Common Ground – Mike Brooks

Mike Brooks’ first Necromunda story for Black Library, released before his novella Wanted: Dead, the short story A Common Ground is a tale of pit fighters and blood-sport brutality, but also of careful planning and lasting legacies. Jaxx is a member of House Goliath, and has chosen to make a name for himself fighting in the arena of impresario Drost Khouren rather than work in the foundries. Shortly after discovering that Khouren rigged his last contest, costing him a shot at a lucrative fight, Jaxx is offered an opportunity to claim one last paycheck, but at a high cost.

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QUICK REVIEW: No Hero – Peter McLean

Peter McLean returns to the Reslian 45th for his third Black Library short story, No Hero. Abandoning the jungle world of Vardan IV to the rampaging orks, Imperial forces are pulling out and redeploying elsewhere. The troopers of One Section, D Company are finally on their way to being evacuated when their Valkyrie is hit, and the survivors must slog through the jungle on foot to try and reach the landing fields before the orks do. For one young Guardsman keeping a journal of events, it’s a journey that tests him body, mind and soul.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Unsung War – David Annandale

Available as a standalone e-short or as the first story in Inferno! Volume 1, The Unsung War sees David Annandale tackling Ultramarines Primaris Marines in a story of pragmatism and sacrifice. Deep in the bowels of the freighter Summons of Faith, two Ultramarines Intercessors are being held captive by drukhari raiders, in the wake of a disastrous mission to cleanse the ship of its tainted crew. A resourceful human stowaway offers them hope of fighting back, but in order to have any chance of victory, and avert a great tragedy, the Ultramarines may have to turn to the lesser of two evils for aid.

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Inferno! Volume 1 – Tales From the Worlds of Warhammer

Way back in 1997, issue 1 of Inferno! magazine was the first publication from a newly-created Black Library, featuring short stories, artwork and comic strips exploring the Warhammer settings. Fast forward to 2018 and Inferno! Volume 1 is the first in a new series of short story anthologies which promise to breathe new life into the Inferno! name. The eleven featured short stories cover Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Necromunda and even Warhammer Chronicles (tales from the Old World), and come from the keyboards of Black Library authors both old and new – including three never-before-seen stories from Black Library debutants (not to be confused with debutantes).

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