Tag Archives: Ultramarines

RAPID FIRE: Robbie MacNiven Talks Blood of Iax

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to Robbie MacNiven about tackling the Ultramarines in his latest 40k novel Blood Of Iax, which is available to order right now in hardback, ebook and audiobook formats.

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RAPID FIRE: Ian St Martin Talks Of Honour and Iron

In this instalment I spoke to Ian St. Martin about his new 40k novel Of Honour and Iron, which is available to order right now!

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QUICK REVIEW: The Armour of Fate – Guy Haley

Set between the events of the Rise of the Primarch background book and his novel Dark Imperium, Guy Haley’s short story The Armour of Fate is a rare action-free 40k story, but an absence of fighting allows for plenty of insight. When he was restored to life by the combined skills and knowledge of Belisarius Cawl and Yvraine, Roboute Guilliman was told that if he ever removed the life-giving Armour of Fate, he would die. After years of confinement within the armour, and long study of its workings, Guilliman is determined to remove it anyway, and reclaim his own fate.

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Crusade – Andy Clark

Essentially an introductory story for readers new to Black Library’s Warhammer 40,000 fiction, Andy Clark’s Crusade is a straight-up action tale of Ultramarines taking on Death Guard in the still-new surroundings of the Dark Imperium. Forced into real space by a harrowing warp storm, Lieutenant Cassian’s strike force of Primaris Space Marines reach the Imperial world of Kalides Prime only to find it besieged by the Death Guard. Determined to rejoin the Indomitus Crusade, the Ultramarines aim to fight their way through the traitor lines to a vital Imperial emplacement and get word out about the plight of Kalides.

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Warhammer 40,000 Legends Issue Ten – Ultramarines

Issue ten of Hachette’s Warhammer 40,000 Legends Collection is the first instalment that’s an anthology of short stories, rather than a novel – in this case Ultramarines, or to give it its full, original title Legends of the Dark Millennium: Ultramarines. One of a number of anthologies in the Legends of the Dark Millennium series, it’s a collection of short stories from five different authors, all featuring the boys in blue. It’s not the first 40k Legends book to feature the Ultramarines – that would be Warriors of Ultramar – but considering the enduring popularity of this faction it’s not surprising that we should see a second book crop up so soon.

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QUICK REVIEW: Veil of Darkness – Nick Kyme

Following on from his Space Marine Battles novel Fall of Damnos, Nick Kyme’s short story Veil of Darkness sees Captain Cato Sicarius of the Ultramarines return to Macragge in defeat after his humbling by the necrons. Waking from a sus-an coma to find he’s been summoned before the Chapter Master to account for his actions, he wrestles with both his anger at having been defeated, and a strange sense of darkness that lingers on the edge of his perception. Preparing for his audience with Marneus Calgar, he begins to wonder whether anything else returned from Damnos with him.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Atonement of Fire – David Annandale

Warning: there may be spoilers in this review, and the story itself, if you haven’t read Ruinstorm.

Originally available only in the Black Library Events Anthology 2017/18, David Annandale’s An Atonement in Fire is billed as a Primarchs short story, although it’s a pretty direct follow-on from Ruinstorm. With the Blood Angels making for Terra, Guilliman launches an all-out attack on a World Eaters fleet threatening both Sanguinius’ path and a loyal Imperial system. Never one to make it easy on himself, Guilliman is determined to protect Diavanos, allow the Blood Angels safe passage, and atone for the sin he feels he committed in creating Imperium Secundus.

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QUICK REVIEW: A Brother’s Confession – Robbie MacNiven

A Brother’s Confession by Robbie MacNiven acts as a prequel short story to the forthcoming novel Blood of Iax and introduces the characters of Kastor and Polixis (geddit?), two Ultramarines Primaris Marines whose bond of brotherhood goes deeper than Chapter ties alone. Apothecary Polixis comes before Chaplain Kastor to make a confession, relating to his brother the tale of his last mission, and the sin he committed.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Laurel of Defiance – Guy Haley

Available as a standalone e-short or within the Sedition’s Gate and War Without End anthologies, Guy Haley’s The Laurel of Defiance sees Ultramarines Captain Lucretius Corvo honoured by Guilliman for his role in the defence of Ultramar. As he mingles with the great and good of the realm, uncomfortable with the esteem in which he’s held and the message behind his recognition, he recalls the events which led there. Events, on the world of Astagar, which saw him lead his men against the forces of the Word Bearers and World Eaters, and their horrific allies.

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Legends of the Dark Millennium: Ultramarines

Collecting together stories about the boys in blue from five different authors, Legends of the Dark Millennium: Ultramarines features two novellas, prose versions of two audio dramas, and five further short stories. The emphasis is on named characters, with such Ultramarines luminaries as Marneus Calgar, Chaplain Cassius, Cato Sicarius, Torias Telion and Varro Tigurius shared out across four stories by Graham McNeill, two by Nick Kyme, and one each from Steve Lyons, Josh Reynolds and Gav Thorpe. Lyons’ novella Knight of Talassar is exclusive to this collection, while the remaining stories are available elsewhere as well.

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