Brothers of the Snake by Dan Abnett

Brothers of the Snake (Black Library, 2007) follows Priad of Damocles Squad as he rises through the ranks of a Space Marine chapter known as the Iron Snakes of Ithaka. Each chapter is basically a short story or novelette about Priad and his brothers in arms fighting against aliens and other agents of Chaos in the Warhammer 40K universe. Some good character development in between the action, and I liked the use of Greek and pseudo-Greek names which brought to mind Greek mythology. The final chapter, the longest in the book, had an epic feel to it and I liked how it tied into the first story. I really enjoyed how I learned more about the characters and their world as each story progressed, something I see in the sword & sorcery genre but not often in other genres. 

Part One: Grey Dawn - Undertaking to Baal Solock 

After something crash lands on their planet, the inhabitants reach out to the legendary Iron Snakes, who have not been needed for 600 years. When help arrives it’s not what they were expecting. As a reader new to Warhammer, I liked how we follow from the perspective of people who don’t know much about these legendary warriors. A suspenseful start that held my attention, which moved to gradual revelations and an explosive finale. 

Rating: 5/5

Part Two: Black Gold - Undertaking to Rosetta 

Damocles Squad is sent to a planet to liberate an oil refinery from invaders. A straightforward and well done “men on a mission” and “things don’t go as planned” story with lots of action. 

Rating: 4/5

Part Three: White Heat - Undertaking to Eidon 

Chapter Librarian Petrok is introduced as he joins Damocles Squad during a mission to retake a city from the Dark Eldar. It’s an okay “men on a mission” story but I didn’t get a handle on Petrok or his role as Chapter Librarian. 

Rating: 3/5

Part Four: Red Rain - Undertaking to Ceres 

Four squads of Iron Snakes investigate towns that may have been taken over by Chaos forces on the agricultural world of Ceres. I enjoyed the build-up of tension and the creepy folk horror-like atmosphere.

Rating: 4/5

Part Five: Crimson Wake - Ithaka 

The squad returns to their home planet to honor team members lost in battle and to decide on replacements. Priad investigates when one of his choices is refused. An excellent “between missions” story with some great world building. I loved getting to see Ithaka up close after hearing about it in the previous stories.

Rating: 5/5

Part Six: Blue Blood - Undertaking to Iorgu 

The squad is sent to a planet as emissary guards for the coronation of a new king. Priad is disappointed about being sent on a non-combat mission but then Chaos ensues. I liked the fast pace and the introduction of the mysterious Inquisitor, a kind of intelligence agent in the Warhammer 40K universe.

Rating: 4/5

Part Seven: Green Skin - Undertaking to Ganadarak 

The longest story in the book brings more character development, more world building, and adds conflict within the squad. The story then moves on to an epic battle with the realization that brawn and force of arms alone isn’t always enough to lead to victory in battle. There are so many things I liked about this novella, including the reintroduction of Chapter Librarian Petrok, as I got a much better handle on his character this time, how the story eventually ties into the first story, and how the conflict within the squad was eventually resolved.  

Rating: 5/5

This was my second Warhammer 40K read and I found it to be a fantastic introduction to the 40K universe. Looking forward to reading more.

Books I Read in June 2025

Besides the short stories I wrote about in my previous post I read three books and three comic book trades this month.

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber (Ace Books, 1970)

I finished my reread of the second Fafhrd and Gray Mouser book which I posted about here: We Learn by Writing: Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber

Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Book of the Month Club, 1994. Originally published in 1894)

While I enjoyed all the stories in this collection, a few in the beginning came across as weak compared to most of the later ones, which I found to be more interesting and complex. Still, it was great spending time with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson again and I loved the introductions of Sherlock’s brother Mycroft and Sherlock’s nemesis Professor Moriarity.

Brothers of the Snake by Dan Abbnet (Black Library, 2008)

After reading the Warhammer 40K anthology Into the Maelstrom recently, I was wondering what to read next, so I watched some YouTube videos that recommend 40K books for newcomers. This book showed up on a number of lists and sounded right up my alley. Like a lot of Black Library books, the paperback is out of print, but the Kindle version is available. 

Brothers of the Snake follows Priad of Damocles Squad, part of a Space Marine chapter known as the Iron Snakes, as they defend the Reef Stars against aliens and other agents of Chaos. Each chapter is basically a short story, but they all build upon each other which makes for a good mix of world building and character development. A very enjoyable read. I’ll be posting a longer review soon. 

Comics

Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 1: Ronin (Fantagraphics Books, 1987)

Usagi Yojimbo (Rabbit Bodyguard) Volume 1 collects the early appearances of Stan Sakai’s anthropomorphic rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi, based on the historical figure Miyamoto Musashi. While the stories are primarily historical adventure, there’s humor as well as action and one of the stories includes a supernatural creature. They’re exciting and fun with wonderful art. 

I’ve been a fan since the character's first appearance in the 1980s. Somewhere along the line I stopped reading, but I kept buying the trade paperbacks as they were released. I finally decided to jump back in from the beginning. It was interesting revisiting these early stories as Sakai hadn’t quite settled on Usagi’s character design yet, but the situations and themes presented here are a great taste of what he explores even more deeply in later volumes.

Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 2: Samurai (Fantagraphics Books, 1989)

Most of this volume is devoted to telling Usagi’s origin story, how he goes from student, to samurai, to ronin. Also included are stories where he meets a kappa, a young kaiju, and helps defend a village of silk workers from bandits. A great mix of action and humor with a variety of interesting characters and excellent art.

Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 3: The Wanderer’s Road (Fantagraphics Books, 1989)

Seven more adventures as Usagi wanders Japan and meets some returning characters like the mercenary rhino Gen and the blind swordspig Zato-Ino. There’s also the introduction of the demon-like Jei, a tribute to Groo the Wanderer, and a quick crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Some of the stories are dark, some are humorous, all are excellent.

Some Cosmic Horror Short Stories

I was in the mood to read some cosmic horror recently, so here are three stories by three of my favorite authors. 

The Voice on the Beach by Ramsey Campbell 

From Alone with the Horrors (Arkham House, 1993)

A man who lives by a beach has strange visions while a friend is visiting. Atmospheric and a good example of cosmic horror but this was too much of a slow burn for me. It has a creepy ending that packs some punch, it just took too long to get there. 

Rating: 3/5

The Onion by Caitlin Kiernan

From Bradbury Weather (Subterranean Press, 2024)

A young man who saw something mysterious in his childhood is now married to a woman who is attending meetings to try to come to terms with something unusual in her life. Interesting characters and gradual revelations kept my attention, leading to an open-ended ending that worked for me.

Rating: 4/5

Hallucigenia by Laird Barron

From The Imago Sequence and Other Stories (Night Shade Books, 2007)

Oh wow, this was good. A mysterious location, a tragedy, an investigation, and strange visions. Cosmic horror with a dash of noir. Outstanding. This novella is the second thing I’ve read by this author, and I loved it. I really need to read more Laird Barron. 

Rating 5/5 

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber

While the previous volume features later written prequels about the sword & sorcery characters Fafhrd (barbarian) and the Gray Mouser (thief), Swords Against Death (Ace Books, 1970) begins collecting the original stories mixed in with some stories that were written at a later date. They’re exciting, creative, and I love Leiber’s prose and use of vocabulary. 

The Circle Curse (4/5)

(First appearance in this volume)

A direct sequel to “Ill Met in Lankhmar” from the previous volume, serving as an epilogue to that story and as prologue to the stories that follow. The pair travel the world, meet some strange characters, and eventually return to Lankmar. A nice introduction to the twain that gets the reader up to speed. 

The Jewels in the Forest (5/5)

(Unknown, Aug 1939 as Two Sought Adventure)

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser attempt to find treasure in a mysterious tower. What begins as a simple quest becomes more complicated and quite interesting when the characters reach the location of the treasure. 

Thieves’ House (5/5)

(Unknown Worlds, Feb 1943)

The twain are tricked into recovering the bejeweled skull of a master thief. A wonderful mix of fast paced action and supernatural shenanigans. I can see how this story and the previous one influenced the creation of Dungeons & Dragons. 

The Bleak Shore (4/5)

(Unknown Fantasy Fiction, Nov 1940)

After gambling with a mysterious man in the Silver Eel, the pair become bewitched and set out for a place called the Bleak Shore. Short and sweet.

The Howling Tower (4/5)

(Unknown Fantasy Fiction, June 1941)

Fafred disappears after the pair hear howling in the distance. Mouser then tracks him to an old tower. A well-done ghost story.

The Sunken Land (4/5)

(Unknown Worlds, Feb 1942)

Things take a bad turn after Fafhrd finds a ring while the pair are at sea. I enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and the Lovecraftian vibe. 

The Seven Black Priests (4/5)

(Other Worlds Science Fiction Stories, May 1953)

The pair fight off priests as they attempt to steal a treasure, which turns out to be more than it seems. A well-done mix of action and dark humor. 

Claws from the Night (1951) (4/5)

(Suspense Magazine, Fall 1951, as Dark Vengeance)

Fafhrd and Mouser attempt to steal a large jewel while at the same time jewelry is disappearing from wealthy people’s homes. A fun mystery with action and horror elements. 

The Prince of Pain-ease (1970) (3/5)

(First appearance in this volume)

After stealing a house, yes, a house, the twain deal with being haunted by the memories of their former lovers. It was okay but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the others.

Bazaar of the Bizarre (1963) (5/5)

(Fantastic Stories of Imagination, Aug 1963) 

After Mouser falls prey to a sinister bazaar, Fafhrd, armed with an “invisible cloak of invisibility” and a “blindfold of true seeing,” attempts to save him. A creative adventure that throws in cosmic danger, humour, and satire of consumerism. My favorite story in this collection.

Some Final Thoughts 

I first bought this book and the previous volume in my school days from my favorite bookstore of all time, The Science Fiction & Mystery Bookshop, which was located in Atlanta, GA. Sadly, it went out of business years ago, but I still have very fond memories of the place. I no longer have those copies, but I managed to replace them during the last few years. Now I have three copies each.

First, I have the Kindle versions which I bought when they were on sale. Next, they’re included in Three of Swords, the first hardcover omnibus from the Science Fiction Book Club, which I found at Half-Price Books. Finally, I have vintage editions (the second one is pictured at the top of the page) which I discovered at Atlanta Vintage Books. 

This finishes my reread of the first two books. I didn’t enjoy them so much when I first read them in my younger days but now Fafhrd and Mouser are two of my favorite characters and Fritz Leiber is one of my favorite authors. Looking forward to reading more as from the next book the stories will be all new to me. 

Books I Read in May 2025

I didn’t actually finish any books this month, but I have been reading, so here’s a quick pic of the books and comics that I’ve been dipping in and out of.  I'll have more to say about these in upcoming posts.

My Second Published Short Story

Well, it took a while, but I just had my second short story published. It’s titled “Into the Void” and can be found in Waystation: Amateur Magazine of Space Opera, issue 2. Included are 12 stories, a poem, and artwork. It’s available free to read online or as a free PDF download at the link below. Hope you like it!

Waystation: Amateur Magazine of Space Opera: Waystation (Issue 2) now available (free PDF)

Books I Read in April 2025

 Three books and one large volume of manga this month.

The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy. (Vintage International, 1993. First published in 1965 by Random House)

Cormac McCarthy’s first published book is about the lives of three people in a rural community in the mountains of Tennessee who are linked by an act of violence. There are some absolutely beautiful descriptions but overall, it was a challenging read. Especially in the first half, many passages just go on for too long with the use of vocabulary becoming overwhelming. Add in that it’s often not immediately clear who the point-of-view character is or who is speaking during conversations. All these things contributed to making the narrative difficult to follow. Things became a little clearer in the second half but the plot, what little of it there was, felt pretty unfocused. I still plan on reading more McCarthy though, as from the reviews I’ve read it only gets better from here. 

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare (HarperCollins, 2020) 

What’s worse than moving to a small town and having to make new friends? Moving to a small town with a killer clown. The first 100 pages set things up well and then the mayhem begins. Like an 80s teen slasher movie with likable characters, an engaging story, and some biting social commentary. Although I guessed part of the mystery early on, there were still plenty of surprises throughout. This was a fun read and exactly what I needed after struggling through the McCarthy book. Looking forward to the film adaptation.

After the People Lights Have Gone Off: Stories by Stephen Graham Jones (Open Road Media, 2024. Originally published in 2014 by Dark House Press)

I’ve been a fan of horror author Stephen Graham Jones ever since reading his novellas Mapping the Interior and Night of the Mannequins, so I grabbed this collection of short stories when I saw it in my local Barnes & Noble. I got halfway through when I realized that I already had a copy on my Kindle. Oh well!

While the stories are short, quick reads, and each one is quite creative, some of them were just too ambiguous for me. On the other hand, I was still thinking about some of those stories afterwards and I enjoyed the writing in all of them. I also enjoyed reading the afterward, in which Jones discusses how each story came about. Reading this collection reminded me that I have a few of his novels that I still need to get to. 

The Legend of Kamui by Shirato Sanpei. Translated by Richard Rubinger. (Drawn and Quarterly, 2025)

History, class struggle, and discrimination in feudal Japan. Originally serialized in the monthly gekiga (a style of manga that emerged in the 60s/70s with more mature themes) magazine Garo between 1964 and 1971, Legend of Kamui tells the story of a young outcast as well as other characters struggling to survive. Kamui will eventually become a ninja but this 600 plus page volume is mostly set up for that. It’s a blend of adventure and social commentary with historical notes and comments from the author spread throughout. I loved the art, which is a mix of old school cartoony art in the Osamu Tezuka style and the more detailed modern style. The story is told at a very leisurely pace, but the reader’s patience is rewarded as things gradually come together. As this is volume one of a planned ten volumes, the story is just getting started.