Warhammer 40,000: Into the Maelstrom

Into the Maelstrom (2000) edited by Marc Gascoigne and Andy Jones includes twelve stories set in the Warhammer 40,000 gaming universe, which is a wild mix of military science fiction, dangerous aliens, bioweapons, psychic powers, and supernatural monsters. As I mentioned last month, I bought this and two Warhammer fantasy books (see pic at the end of this post) around fifteen years ago and didn’t read this one until last month. I’m glad that I finally got to it as I enjoyed most of the stories.

Salvation by Johnathan Green (3.5/5)

An Ultramarine who lost his memory helps out villagers after they are attacked. I enjoyed how the story felt a little like a western. 

Into the Maelstrom by Chris Pramas  (2.5/5)

Two Space Marines take on Huron Blackheart, leader of the Red Corsairs. Lots of action and betrayals but I never got into the characters. 

Emperor’s Grace by Alex Hammond (4/4)

A Commissar and a group of Imperial Guardsmen are outnumbered on a jungle planet. The action scenes didn’t hold my interest at first but once the conflict between the Commissar and the leader of the Guardsmen got started, I was all in. 

The Raven’s Claw by Jonathan Curran (4/5)

A man with no memory finds himself part of a penal legion sent to a planet with a rebel governor. I liked how everything is revealed and comes together in the end. 

Children of the Emperor by Barrington J. Bayley (5/5)

After an Imperial Guardsman troopship is ambushed, a lone Guardsman finds himself on a planet with dangerous creatures. An old school space opera adventure with interesting characters and a great balance of action and world building. While all the previous stories hinted at the world of Warhammer 40K, I felt like I learned more from this page turner of a story. Outstanding. 

The Black Pearl by Chris Pramas (4/5)

An Interrogator-Chaplain leads Space Marines on a search for a relic that has been lost for ten thousand years. Good set up, action, and ending. 

Acceptable Losses by Gav Thorpe (5/5)

After a flight commander takes charge of a motley crew of bomber pilots, they are sent on a dangerous mission. An excellent example of military SF with a great mix of characters, action, and conflict. 

Tenebrae by Mark Brendan (2.5/5)

A governor, a former soldier, reflects on his life as his planet is invaded by agents of Chaos. I didn't get into the characters again.

Ancient Lances by Alex Hammond (5/5)

After fighting in one hundred battles for the Imperium, the leader of the Attilan Rough Riders returns to the desert tribe of his home planet to find that things have changed. Maybe it’s because I’ve been listening to the Genghis Khan episodes of the Hardcore History podcast, but I was fascinated by the Rough Riders, characters based on the Hun and Mongol hordes of Eurasia. 

Hell in a Bottle by Simon Jowett (2.5/5)

The overseer of a virtual reality training facility begins to suspect there’s something wrong with the simulations. I could see where the story was going pretty much from the start. 

Unthinking Justice by Andras Millard (4/5)

Space Marines sent to stop a rebellion find that things are not what they appear to be after they engage the rebels. A good mix of interesting characters, action, and mystery. 

In the Belly of the Beast by William King (5/5)

A Space Marine chapter known as the Space Wolves are sent on a mission to investigate a mysterious object the size of a small asteroid. Trouble ensues. Excellent buildup of tension which then switches to all out action. Another outstanding story. 

The only author I was really familiar with was Barrington J. Bailey. I remember seeing his SF paperbacks in bookstores in my university days, but I never read any of them. He has three more stories in another 40K anthology, Dark Imperium (2001) and one novel, Eye of Terror (1999). Unfortunately, they’re out of print and aren’t available as e-books. I enjoyed both stories by Alex Hammond and would like to read more, but his three other 40K stories are also in an out-of-print anthology, Status: Deadzone (2017). Luckily Gav Thorpe and William King both have lots of work still available. I’m looking forward to diving deeper into the worlds of Warhammer. 

Books I Read in February 2025

 Two books and one comic this month.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Book of the Month Club, 1994. Originally published in 1892)

Although I liked some of the stories more than others, I enjoyed reading about the characters and their adventures so much that I have to give this collection five stars. It's a big step up from the first two novels which I re-read a few years ago. I think Sherlock Holmes works best as short stories. Now I’m in the mood to re-watch the Granada TV series starring Jeremy Brett.

Into the Maelstrom edited by Marc Gascoigne & Andy Jones (Black Library/Games Workshop, 2000)

When I buy a book there’s no guarantee that I’ll get to it anytime soon. For example, I think I bought this anthology of stories set in the Warhammer 40K gaming universe around fifteen years ago! Well, I finally read it and enjoyed most of the stories. The 40K universe is a wild mix of military SF, dangerous aliens, bioweapons, psychic powers, and supernatural monsters. My favorite stories were by Alex Hammond, Barrington J. Bayley, Gav Thorpe, and William King. 

When I bought this, I picked up two Warhammer fantasy books as well. Now that I’ve finally jumped in, I’ll probably read more soon. Look for a more detailed review of this anthology next month. 

The Savage Sword of Conan, Vol.1 by Various (Titan Comics, 2025)

This collects the first three issues of Titan’s black & white magazine sized Conan comic. Besides the stories there’s a map, an essay, and pinups. I really enjoyed this even though I didn’t care for the art in the first story at all. I thought that it was so wildly inconsistent and so weirdly photoshop-like in places that it kept pulling me out of the story. On the other hand, I loved the combination of story and art in every single one of the other stories. I’ll definitely keep reading Savage Sword, but I’ll probably stick to the trades. 

Books I Read in January 2025

One book and some manga this month. 

Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Lieber (Ace Books, 1970)

Swords and Deviltry collects four stories about Leiber’s sword & sorcery characters Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, prequels written after Leiber had already written many of their adventures. Full review here:

We Learn by Writing: Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber

H.P Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu illustrated by Gou Tanabe. Translation by Zack Davisson. (Dark Horse Manga, 2024)

A fantastic adaptation of one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. Tanabe’s detailed art style captures Lovecraft’s story incredibly well.

H.P Lovecraft’s at the Mountain of Madness Deluxe Edition illustrated by Gou Tanabe. Translation by Zack Davisson. (Dark Horse Manga, 2024)

Gou Tanabe’s artwork brings Lovecraft’s novella to the next level. His style fits perfectly, and his pacing, use of panels, and use of stunning two-page spreads all work together to draw the reader into Lovecraft’s world of cosmic dread. Looking forward to reading his other adaptations, "The Shadow Over Innsmouth” and the upcoming “The Color Out of Space.”

Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber

Swords and Deviltry (1970) collects four stories about Leiber’s sword & sorcery characters Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, prequels written after Leiber had already written many of their adventures.

Induction 

(Two Sought Adventure, 1957)

This is listed as a short story that first appeared in the 1957 collection, Two Sought Adventure, but at not even a page and a half, it feels more like a quick intro than a story. 

The Snow Women (2/5) 

(Fantastic, April 1970)

A coming-of-age tale about Fafhrd when he was a young barbarian and member of the Snow Clan led by his mother. He has to deal with memories of his father, a controlling mother, and his longing for the civilized word. I liked the ideas presented in this story but not the execution. I have a strong memory of it putting me to sleep when I first read it as a student, and I have a similar experience whenever I re-read it. The story has its fans, but I thought it was too slow moving until the end. I love Leiber’s prose and use of vocabulary, but there are times like this where the story doesn’t work for me. 

The Unholy Grail (4/5)

(Fantastic Stories of Imagination, October 1962)

The Gray Mouser’s origin, a story of when he was called Mouse and was an apprentice to an exiled wizard. Mouse is wavering between black and white magic when events put him into a position where he has to choose.

Ill Met in Lankhmar (5/5)

(The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1970)

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser’s first adventure together as freelance thieves in the city of Lankhmar. After they rob a pair of professional thieves, they find themselves targeted by a sorcerer working for the Thieves Guild. An excellent mix of adventure, humor, and darkness. Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 1970 and the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1971.

I couldn’t get into Lieber’s prose in my younger days but now he’s one of my favorite authors.