Top 5 Black Library Short Stories

Yep, that's right folks - it's another Top 5 post, this time looking at my favourite short stories set in either the Warhammer 40,000 Universe (Horus Heresy), or the Warhammer Fantasy Battles Universe (Time of Legends), published by Black Library.

And without further ado, here they are, out of five.  (Note, these are only the ones that are currently available as eBooks on Black Library's Website.)

#5 - Bloodraven by Sarah Cawkwell - Time of Legends Anthology. 

THE STORY
For many long years, the remote dwarf hold of Karak Ghulg has stood against the attacks of Chaos-touched human marauders. But now the last assault is coming. With the women and children sent to safety, King Skaldi Ironjaw and his stalwart warriors prepare to sell their lives dearly to stop the crazed killers, led by the greatest of Khorne’s champions, Valkia the Bloody.

ABOUT THE BOOK 

A short story from the Age of Legend anthology.
You can download the short story individually here.












#4 - The Beast of Calth by Graham McNeill - The Iron Warriors Omnibus. 

THE STORY

Calth has been saved and the Iron Warriors defeated, but rumours spread of a vicious beast haunting the tunnel-cities, a beast that may still have the power to destroy the world…

ABOUT THE BOOK

A short story from Iron Warriors: The Omnibus.

You can download the short story individually here. 

#3 - At Gaius Point by Aaron Dembski-Bowden - Legends of the Space Marines Anthology.

THE STORY

Emerging from the wreckage of a crashed Thunderhawk gunship, Brother Zavien of the Flesh Tearers embarks on a desperate hunt. His quarry is more dangerous, more vicious and more deadly than any other in the jungles of Armageddon. Zavien knows this, because he hunts Jarl, his own battle brother, taken by the Black Rage and a threat to friend and foe alike.

ABOUT THE BOOK 

A short story from the Legends of the Space Marines anthology. 

You can download the short story individually here. 

#2 The Iron Within by Rob Sanders - Age of Darkness Anthology. 

THE STORY

Years ago, the Iron Warriors left Barabaras Dantioch, a crippled warsmith, on the world of Lesser Damantyne. Now, having declared their allegiance to the traitor Horus, they have returned. As the planet’s garrison prepares for war, Dantioch must choose between loyalty to his legion or to the Emperor.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A short story from the Age of Darkness anthology.

You can download the short story individually here.

#1 Savage Weapons by Aaron Dembski-Bowden - Age of Darkness Anthology.

THE STORY

For two years, the Dark Angels have battled the Night Lords on the worlds of the Aegis sector, and they are no closer to victory. When the traitor’s Primarch – the Night Haunter – issues a challenge, Lion’El Johnson of the Dark Angels descends to an abandoned world for a final confrontation with his treacherous brother. But the Night Haunter has a darker purpose...

ABOUT THE BOOK 

A short story from the Age of Darkness anthology.

You can download the short story individually here. 

So, now that's out of the way, what do you think? Do you think my choices are any good? Would you choose differently? Let me know by commenting below! 

Books in the Post (26.03.2012)

Now, I know I didn't receive these books today, in fact - I received them the other day, but I've neglected to put them up in a post until now, so yeah - my apologies. Again, this is pretty much all Black Library related stuff, so enjoy.

Bloodsworn by Nathan Long (Ulrika the Vampire #3)

Returning to Nuln after her adventures in Praag, Ulrika finds the Lahmian vampires preparing for war. Across the Old World, their rivals, the sinister von Carsteins, attack their strongholds and lead the witch hunters to their hidden lairs. Spurned by her sisters, Ulrika forms an uneasy alliance with the von Carsteins in a plot to destabilise the Empire by striking at its very heart – they plan nothing less than the assassination of Emperor Karl Franz. With enemies on all sides and the Empire in flames, Ulrika must decide whether her future will see her living among the humans, or as their enemy.

The Ultramarines Second Omnibus (Ultramarines #4,5,6) 

The Ultramarines have been the honourable cornerstone of the Adeptus Astartes throughout their ten thousand year history. Captain Uriel Ventris fights to prove that he is worthy to return to the hallowed ranks of the Chapter after his exile to the Eye of Terror, and that he is free of the insidious taint of Chaos. But as the Iron Warriors move against Ultramar, a grim premonition comes to light: Ventris will have a part to play in the coming war, for good or ill.

The ongoing story of the Ultramarines continues in this omnibus edition, featuring the novels The Killing Ground, Courage and Honour and The Chapter’s Due, as well as exciting short stories from New York Times best selling author Graham McNeill.

The Emperor's Gift by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (Grey Knights #1)

The Grey Knights are all that stands between mankind and the ravages of Chaos. Since their secretive beginnings during the Horus Heresy, these legendary Space Marine daemon hunters have journeyed into the dark realms of the warp – and beyond – in pursuit of their supernatural enemies. Through an intensive regime of psychic training, new recruits are brought to the clandestine fortress of Titan to join the hallowed and vaunted ranks of the 666th Chapter. More than ever, these legendary battle-brothers must be vigilant and ever ready to defend the Imperium for the forces of Chaos are never truly defeated, and Armageddon beckons…

Butcher's Nails by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (Horus Heresy Audio Drama)

The primarch Angron: gladiator-king and Horus’s lunatic attack dog. Never having hidden his resentment for his brothers, he now carves a bloody swathe through the galaxy in the Warmaster’s name, with the Heresy providing a convenient excuse to indulge his love of brutal warfare. When they are tasked with a secretive mission alongside the Word Bearers Legion, the World Eaters’ violent tendencies soon attract the attention of xenos raiders, troubled by the portents surrounding the primarch’s berserk fury and his ultimate destiny as ‘the Blood God’s son’...

I also got a copy of The Primarchs by Various Authors in the post as well, but I already picked up a copy of that at Black Library Live 2012. If you're looking for reviews of some of these titles, by fellow members of TFF who were present at BLL2012 and/or got their novels in the post, check below:

The Emperor's Gift by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (Lord of the Night's Review)
Butcher's Nails by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (EJ Davies' Review)

Right, that's all for now folks. Stay tuned for more, eventually.

Bane of Kings Out.

Books In The Post (11.03.2012)

Okay, I'm sure, if you're a regular book blog follower, you'll know what the score is by now when somebody posts something titled Books In The Post, In My Mailbox or something else along those lines. And anyway, I thought I might as well jump on the bandwagon. This'll be an odd feature, basically appearing every-time some books I get through my door. Sometimes I'll get five separate deliveries within one week, whilst other times there'll be weeks without one of these posts. This is pretty much an All-Black Library Haul today, so yeah. Hope you enjoy. 


First off, we have the novel Void Stalker, by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, the third and final instalment in the popular Night Lords Trilogy:

VOID STALKER by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (Night Lords #3)

Published by Black Library. 

The hunters have become the hunted. The Night Lords flee to the dark fringes of the Imperium to escape their relentless pursuers – the Eldar of Craftworld Ulthwé. Their flight takes them to the carrion world of Tsagualsa, where their Primarch died and their Legion was broken. There, history will repeat itself as a deadly assassin stalks the shadows, and the Night Lords are drawn into a battle they are destined to lose.

Find out more here.

ARCHITECT OF FATE by Various Authors (Space Marine Battles #10)

Published by Black Library.

Collected for the first time, all four parts of the Architect of Fate novella series are presented in a single printed volume. The infamous Kairos Fateweaver, greater daemon of Tzeentch and master of manipulation, has discovered the limits of his power – even one so prescient as he cannot divine beyond the event horizon at the end of the 41st Millennium.

The Space Marines stand against the darkness, and yet on countless battlefields they play unwitting roles in the schemes of Fateweaver. From the doomed world of Ilissus, through the embattled corridors of the Endeavour of Will, to the borders of the Eye of Terror itself – friend and foe alike follow the great plan that he set in motion many thousands of years ago. But not even the Architect of Fate himself can foresee the destiny that lies in wait for him...

Find out more here. 

TIME OF LEGENDS: DEAD WINTER by CL Werner (The Black Plague #1)

More than a thousand years after the Age of Sigmar, the Empire he struggled to create rests on the edge of destruction – the reign of the greedy and incompetent Emperor Boris Goldgather has shaken down the great and prosperous edifice of his erstwhile realm. Without warning, a terrible and deadly plague strikes, wiping out entire villages and leaving towns eerily silent through the long frozen months. As the survivors struggle to maintain order and a worthy military presence, vermin pour up from the sewers and caverns beneath the cities, heralding a new and unspeakable threat – the insidious skaven!

Find out more here. 

EYE OF VENGEANCE by Graham McNeill (An Ultramarines Audio-Drama) 
Published by Black Library.

When the twisted Dark Mechanicus priests of the Bloodborn descend upon Quintarn, the Ultramarines are quick to move in defence of their prized agri-world. However, it soon becomes apparent that the planet’s fate will not be decided by the massed battle companies of the Space Marines, but by the actions of just one lowly sergeant – Torias Telion. A master marksman and Scout with a long history of service to the Chapter, Telion must now face the worst of the Bloodborn’s technological terrors and secure the city of Idrisia from the enemy advance, if the Ultramarines are to have any hope of prevailing against an enemy whose numbers swell with every victory.

Find out more here. 

PROSPERO BURNS by Dan Abnett (Horus Heresy Unabridged Audio-Book) 

Published by Black Library.

The Emperor is enraged. Primarch Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons Legion has made a terrible mistake that endangers the very safety of Terra. With no other choice, the Emperor charges Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves, with the apprehension of his brother from the Thousand Sons home world of Prospero. This planet of sorcerers will not be easy to overcome, but Russ and his Space Wolves are not easily deterred. With wrath in his heart, Russ is determined to bring Magnus to justice and bring about the fall of Prospero.

Find out more here. 

A THOUSAND SONS by Graham McNeill (Horus Heresy Unabridged Audio-Book) 

Published by Black Library.

Censured at the Council of Nikea for his flagrant use of sorcery, Magnus the Red and his Thousand Sons Legion retreat to their homeworld of Prospero to continue their use of the arcane arts in secret. But when the ill-fated Primarch foresees the treachery of Warmaster Horus and warns the Emperor with the very powers he was forbidden to use, the Master of Mankind dispatches fellow Primarch Leman Russ to attack Prospero itself. But Magnus has seen more than the betrayal of Horus and the witnessed revelations will change the fate of his fallen Legion, and its Primarch, forever.

Find out more here.