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.