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.

Warhammer 40,000: Into the Maelstrom

Into the Maelstrom (Black Library, 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. 

Dracula by Bram Stoker: Deluxe Edition with Illustrations by Edward Gorey

Dracula has been on my to-read list for such a long time. I intended to get to it soon after reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein years ago but then as is often the case, life got in the way, and I was distracted by other books. I’m happy to say that I finally read it. 

Dracula is a gothic horror masterpiece, but I think it’s a masterpiece with flaws. I have mixed feelings about the writing and the pacing. Told epistolary style in the form of letters, journal entries, articles, and telegrams, it’s engaging and atmospheric at times but then overwritten and dull at others. The first four chapters set in Transylvania really drew me in. But the story really slows down after those chapters and although things pick up again in the middle, some chapters are still filled with repetition and long-winded passages. 

Flaws aside, the book is incredibly atmospheric as well as an interesting look at Victorian society. I grew to like the characters as they worked together to investigate and fight Dracula, and the finale was a page turner. 

I’m glad that I read the Deluxe Edition (from Union Square & Co., formerly Sterling Publishing) with illustrations by Edward Gorey. It’s a gorgeous hardcover that includes printing in black and red ink, fore-edge painting of bats, a black ribbon bookmark, and red velvet cover. It was a pleasure to hold and read. 

This edition also includes “Dracula’s Guest,” the chapter that was cut from the original printing of the novel as well as an introduction and appendices by editor Marvin Kaye. Based on what I’ve read, I’ve always thought that “Dracula’s Guest” was intended to be the first chapter of Dracula, but Kaye makes a good argument that it was supposed to be chapter two. In any case I’m glad that it’s included as an extra at the beginning of the book. It can be enjoyed on its own, but it also makes for a good prologue. 

Now I’m curious about Dracula, the Rare Text of 1901, which I learned about from the appendices. It’s an author-abridged version which is about 20 percent shorter. I’d like to see if the passages that were cut help with the pacing at all.

After finishing the book, I rewatched Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The striking visuals, sets, costumes, and performances all combine to create an amazing dream-like quality. I love that Coppola kept the film set bound and used lots of practical effects like miniatures and matte paintings. Also, most of the costumes designed by Eiko Ishioka are amazing. 

Gary Oldman was great as Dracula, but his ginormous white hairdo pulled me out of the story faster than Keanu Reeves’ attempt at a British accent. I like how the film follows the book closely in many ways as well as trying new things, but then it just goes off the rails and becomes a fan fiction version of the novel. I have mixed feelings about the ending as it changes aspects of some of the characters and makes a certain loss kind of meaningless. Oh well, when it comes to Dracula, mixed feelings seem to be a theme with me. 

Unless it’s the author's abridged version I doubt I’ll ever re-read the novel, but I’ll definitely re-watch the film. It's fast paced, over the top, and a visual feast. 

Next on my gothic novel to-read list: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. 

Song for a Dark Queen by Rosemary Sutcliff

 “It was in two books of T.C. Lethbridge’s, Witches and Gog-Magog, that I first came upon the theory that the Iceni were a matriarchy: the royal line, and with it the lifeline of the tribe, descending from mother to daughter. So that Boudicca was their Queen in her own right, and Prasutagus their King only because he was her husband. 

That was often the way, among the older Iron-Age peoples. And if it was so in this case, then, to the tribe’s way of thinking, it would turn the Romans’ treatment of the Queen and princesses from brutal tyranny into something much worse, into sacrilege against the Life itself. And it would turn what followed from tribal revolt into Holy War; which of all wars is the most savage and merciless kind. 

Also, in some odd way, it seemed to me to turn Boudicca into much more of a real person. And real people, lost behind legends, have always fascinated me.”

— Rosemary Sutcliff, Song for a Dark Queen Author’s Note 

In Song for a Dark Queen Rosemary Sutcliff gives Queen Boudicca a fictional harper who narrates the story of her life, from age six to her failed rebellion against Roman oppression. (Sutcliff spells the name with two c’s, whereas I’ve seen it spelled elsewhere with one.) The author mixes the fictional life story well with what little is actually known about the historical Boudicca, telling an exciting and moving story. The writing is beautiful. It’s lyrical and poetic, whether describing nature, quiet moments, or scenes of violence. 

Sutcliff does not write down to her readers. I really enjoyed the combination of poetic writing and the descriptions of battle. I was surprised to learn that this is a children's book considering the level of writing as well as the amount of violence that’s included. The scenes of violence are based on what is known about her life, the attack on her and her and her daughters, the brutal Iceni attacks against Roman outposts, and the final battle against a Roman army. But those scenes don’t occur until we get to know the characters. The story is ultimately tragic and heartbreaking, but it’s told so well. I was holding back tears when I read the final paragraphs. A sublime masterpiece. This was my first Rosemary Sutcliff book; it won’t be my last.

After finishing Song for a Dark Queen, I decided to watch Boudica: Queen of War (2023) starring Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Oblivion, Extraction 2). Peter Franzén, who played King Harold Finehair in Vikings, one of my favorite shows, also shows up. Unfortunately, this film was a big step down from Sutcliff’s book. Olga Kurylenko and a few great fight scenes couldn’t save this.

In this version, the Queen doesn’t become Boudica until she’s given the name Boudica and a magic sword, events happen randomly, and characters make decisions that don't make much sense. The story was a real mess. I didn’t mind the low budget at first, but it became more and more noticeable as the movie progressed, with Boudica often wearing what looked like a blue sweatshirt when fighting, and only a few extras and one chariot showing up in the final battle. We don’t see Boudica from the poster until the last few minutes. Overall, a disappointing watch.

Here’s hoping for a big budget film adaptation of Rosemary Sutcliff’s Song for a Dark Queen someday. It would be epic. 

Gardens of Fear: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, Volume 6

“So, avid reader, prepare yourself for the journey you are about to embark upon, and read a mythology that Howard painted with broad strokes from a palette which held a spectrum of history, philosophy, and imagination.” — Benjamin Szumskyj from his introduction.

Gardens of Fear is the sixth volume of a series that collects the fiction and poetry of Robert E. Howard as it originally appeared in Weird Tales magazine. This volume (Kindle version) has six short stories and one poem. Most of the stories are Conan the Barbarian stories. The poem first appeared in The Fantasy Fan fanzine.

Queen of the Black Coast (Conan) (5/5)

(Weird Tales, May 1934) 

This chronicles how Conan met and joined a pirate crew headed by Bêlit, the Queen of the Black Coast, developed a reputation as they raided the coast, and then searched for a lost city. This story had action, adventure, romance, and a thrilling final battle with a melancholy ending. For a short story it felt epic. 

One passage in particular stood out to me. When Belit asks Conan what he thinks about “the worlds beyond the river of death,” he responds:

“Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content.”

On a side note, the 2011 Conan the Barbarian movie includes a scene where Jason Momoa’s Conan has lines based on this passage. 

The Haunter of the Ring (John Kirowan) (3/5)

(Weird Tales, June 1934)

Professor Kirowan investigates after a friend believes that his wife has been trying to kill him. A standard pulp tale with a connection to Conan. The ring in this story is Thoth-Amon’s Serpent Ring of Set which was introduced in “The Phoenix on the Sword,” the very first Conan story. 

The Garden of Fear (James Allison) (3/5)

(Marvel Tales, July-August 1934)

James Allison tells a story of one of his past lives as Hunwulf of the Æsir tribe while he travels with his love, Gudrun. After a winged man, the last survivor of an ancient race kidnaps Gudrun, Hunwulf tracks them down to a tower surrounded by strange blood red flowers.

The Devil in Iron (Conan) (3/5)

(Weird Tales, August 1934)

A beautiful, enslaved woman is used to lure Conan to a deserted island in order to ambush him, but the island turns out to have a recently re-awakened demon dwelling there. While it relied a little too much on coincidence and echoed some of what has come before in previous stories, it still had its moments.

The Voices Waken Memory (Poem) (5/5)

(The Fantasy Fan, September 1934)

I really liked this dark poem. A step up from the poems in the previous volume. 

The People of the Black Circle (Conan) (5/5)

(Weird Tales, September-October-November 1934)

On the borders of Vendhya, the Hyborian version of India, Conan’s scheme to save some of his men doesn’t go as planned and he winds up having to face a group of sorcerers in their mountain fortress. Howard is on fire here. Action, plot twists, a great cast of characters, and new setting make for a thrilling novella. Speaking of characters, because of the decisions she made and the way she handled herself in the face of adversity, by the end of the story Yasmina the Devi of Vendya became one of my favorite side characters written by Howard. 

A Witch Shall Be Born (Conan) (4/5)

(Weird Tales, December 1934)

After a witch replaces her twin sister as queen of Khauran, she comes into conflict with Conan. Although there’s lots of exposition and the ending is a little anticlimactic, it was still an exciting read. This story has the iconic crucifixion scene with the vulture that was included in the 1982 Conan the Barbarian film. The scene and how things play out afterwards in this story do a fantastic job of showing Conan’s determination to survive and his brutal philosophy on life in the Hyborian age. 

Howard's final Conan tales are spread out through the next three volumes of the Weird Works series. Volume 7 has three stories, Volume 8 has The Hour of the Dragon novel, and Volume 9 has the last published story. I've already read The Hour of the Dragon which I have in paperback and in the second Del Rey collection, so I'll be skipping it. As much fun as it's been reading Howard's Weird Tales work in publication order I'm going to put off the other Weird Works volumes for now and jump into the third Del Rey collection. It has the final four stories from Weird Tales plus a story that wasn't published until after his death. Now that I'm getting to the last of the Conan tales, I really want to read them all together.

Valley of the Worm: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, Volume 5

“He was a complex writer with many interests, and he was also a highly skilled professional with the ability to mold entertaining fast-moving stories out of many different sorts of clay.” — James Reasoner from his introduction.

Valley of the Worm is the fifth volume of a series that collects the fiction and poetry of Robert E. Howard as it originally appeared in Weird Tales magazine. This volume (Kindle version) has nine short stories, as well as two poems. Most of the short stories are Conan the Barbarian stories. The poems first appeared in Modern American Poetry as Howard had stopped submitting poetry to Weird Tales at this point. 

Black Colossus (Conan) (5/5)

(Weird Tales, June 1933)

In this story Conan is a mercenary captain and gets put in command of an army by princess Yasmela whose kingdom is in danger from a sorcerer. Howard packs a lot into this tale, an ancient evil, complex characters including a princess who makes quick decisions, and an epic battle between two large armies. I liked how Conan’s character is really fleshed out. James Reasoner explains in his introduction:

“ ‘Black Colossus’ is an important story, as well, because although in previous stories we have seen Conan as both a king and a young thief, in “Black Colossus” we see him take the first steps in metamorphosis between those two stages in his life, a change profound enough to be commented upon by his comrade in arms Amalric.”

A number of scenes stood out to me. The opening with the master thief Shevatas which sets things up really well, the humor of the scene when the princess reveals Conan to her men, Conan’s interactions with the men he winds up leading, and the climactic battle between two large forces.

Reading this story and the ones in the previous volume really hit home the difference between the general public’s perception of Conan and how he’s actually portrayed in the stories: smart, cunning, and thinking like a leader. When one of the men rushes off leading men into what Conan feels is a trap, a character points out that Conan would have probably done the same thing in his younger days. Conan's response tells us something about where he is at this stage of his life.

“You grow sober with authority,” quoth Amalric. “Such madness as that was always your particular joy.”

“Aye, when I had only my own life to consider,” answered Conan. 

As in an earlier published story “The Scarlet Citadel,” Conan wears armor in some scenes. When Yasmela meets Conan he’s wearing chain mail, a hauberk, greaves, and a helmet. Afterwards he gets suited up in full plate armor. I find it interesting that Howard wrote Conan wearing armor in some stories but it’s not a look really associated with the character.

“Black Colossus” is the first Conan story to be featured on the cover of Weird Tales. The cover by Margaret Brundage depicts a scene at the beginning where princess Yasmela asks the god Mitra for help. In the story when she plans on approaching the statue in the nude to show humbleness, her maid convinces her to keep her clothing on. It's not hard to believe that editor Farnworth Wright might have thought the maid's idea would make for a better cover and sell more copies.

 

The Man on the Ground (3/5)

(Weird Tales, July 1933)

A weird western about a shootout between two lifelong enemies with a twist ending. Short and sweet. 

The Slithering Shadow (Conan) (4/5)

Howard’s original title title: Xuthal of the Dusk

(Weird Tales, September 1933)

On the run from enemies after a large battle, Conan and a young woman named Natalia enter a mysterious city in the desert. There they encounter a Stygian woman named Thalis who explains that the people of the city spend all their time dreaming while Thog the Ancient wanders the city taking human sacrifices when it grows hungry. I liked the Lovecraftian aspect of Thog, how the story highlights one of Howard’s favorite themes of civilization vs. and barbarism, and the intense battle at the end.

This story is featured on the cover of the issue it appears in but the scene it depicts feels forced. Thalis who seemed pretty smart before this scene, puts herself in danger in order to take time to whip Natalia. In any case it got Howard another cover by Margaret Brundage. Editor Farnsworth Wright changed the title for this story. As much as I like Howard’s original title, I think “The Slithering Shadow” is actually pretty good.

The Pool of the Black One (Conan) (3/5)

(Weird Tales, October 1933)

Conan joins a pirate crew and after they stop at an island, he goes from fighting their captain to fighting strange creatures among mysterious ruins. Fast paced with lots of action. Not bad but not a favorite. 

One Who Comes at Eventide (Poem) 

(Modern American Poetry, 1933)

To a Woman (Though fathoms…) (Poem) 

(Modern American Poetry, 1933)

I enjoyed the two poems, but not nearly as much as Howard's poetry in the previous volumes.

Old Garfield’s Heart (4/5)

(Weird Tales, December 1933)

After he is injured breaking in a horse, delirious Old Jim Garfield tells the story of how a Lipan Indian chief saved his life many years ago. A weird western with some interesting references to Texas history and geography. 

Rogues in the House (Conan) (4/5)

(Weird Tales, January 1934)

A tale from a time when Conan was a thief. After the corrupt aristocrat Murilo is threatened by Nabonidis, known as the Red Priest and actually the shadow ruler of the city, Murilo turns to Conan for help. Things don’t go as planned. Not only do all three wind up in the Red Priest’s dungeon, they have to deal with a creature that the Red Priest trained but is now on the loose. Intriguing adventure ensues. 

I liked the character of Murilo. In the beginning of the story Howard tells us:

“But Murillo, for all his scented black curls and foppish apparel, was no weakling to bend his neck to the knife without a struggle.” 

Howard then spends the rest of the story backing up the description by showing us Murilo’s actions. I also liked how Howard once again brings up the theme of civilization vs. barbarism. Howard does this after the final battle but also in an earlier scene. My favorite exchange is when Nabonidis tells Murilo he should be ashamed for his corruption and Murilo responds: 

“I have no more cause for shame than you, you vulture-hearted plunderer,” answered Murilo promptly. “You exploit a whole kingdom for your personal greed, and, under the guise of disinterested statesmanship, you swindle the king, beggar the rich, oppress the poor, and sacrifice the whole future of the nation for your ruthless ambition. You are no more than a fat hog with his snout in the trough. You are a greater thief than I am. This Cimmerian is the most honest man of the three of us, because he steals and murders openly.” 

Powerful stuff.

The Valley of the Worm (James Allison) (4/5)

(Weird Tales, February 1934)

James Allison narrates a tale of one his past lives.  After fighting with a group of Picts, he hunts a mysterious creature, a god of The Old Ones, that wiped out a group of his people. The battles and the Lovecraftian creature make for an exciting read. This quote from the beginning explains the story pretty well: 

“It is the adventure of Niord Wormbane of which I speak — the root stem of a whole cycle of hero-tales which has not yet reached its end, the grisly underlying reality that lurks behind time-distorted myths of dragons, fiends, and monsters.”

Gods of the North (5/5) 

(The Fantasy Fan fanzine, March 1934)

Originally an early Conan story titled “The Frost Giant’s Daughter,” it was rejected by Weird Tales editor Farnsworth Wright. Howard changed Conan’s name to Amra (a name Conan went by as a pirate) and the story was retitled and published in The Fantasy Fan. The original version of the story wasn’t published until after Howard’s death.

After a battle on a frozen tundra, Amra of Akbitana encounters the beautiful Atali. After she taunts him, Amra pursues her and she lures him into an ambush where he winds up fighting frost giants. Possibly inspired by the myths of Atalanta and Daphne and Apollo, the story has a very mythological feel with some beautiful descriptions and poetic language. 

There is debate on whether Amara/Conan acts of his own free will or has been put under a spell when he lustfully pursues Atali. I agree that there appear to be clues that point to a spell, but I can understand not everyone being convinced.

Shadows in the Moonlight (Conan) (5/5)

Howard’s original title: Iron Shadows in the Moon

(Weird Tales, April 1943)

Conan winds up protecting Olivia, the daughter of a king, encounters mysterious ruins on an island, and then has to deal with pirates. The story starts with a bang and keeps going until the end. I loved Conan’s entrance, how we observe Conan from Olivia’s perspective, and how civilization vs. barbarism comes up again. While this story has similarities to “The Pool of the Black One” (beautiful woman, pirates, mysterious island), I liked the characters, action, and obstacles, in this one much more. As for the title, I prefer Howard’s original title.

As with the previous volumes, it was interesting reading Robert E. Howard’s Weird Tales work in publication order. I’m looking forward to reading the next volume.