It has been a point on this website for years that I will not review collection books. Short stories are essential to Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar, and I have tried to point out a fair few of the great ones in the past. However, when it came to these, I just ended up avoiding them. Part of it was due to sheer laziness, as there were often a dozen titles to cover rather than just one. Part of it was, however, also due to a concern that I wouldn't give the book a proper treatment. Unless they each had a good thousand to two thousand words, it felt as if I was doing it wrong. In addition to that, it's easier to pick apart minor flaws in a short tale than in a full novel.
So, this is an experiment to change that. This format will be a series of micro-reviews, largely offering very general ideas and a basic listing of its positives, negatives and the like. These will also be very spoiler free, so this won't be diving too deep into story synopsis or details within the narrative. Some of these do rely upon people going in cold for effective twists, and it would be wrong to ruin that quality.
So, let's get on with this one and start breaking them down one by one.
Nepenthe by Cassandra Khaw
The story follows an Adeptus Mechanics explorator group hunting a space hulk to grab the goodies inside. They soon realise that they have bitten off far more than they can chew and things start going wrong.
This was a pretty damn great one and an excellent opener to Warhammer Horror as a whole. It offers the sorts of terror and tension based drama that is often all too easily forgotten in some stories, and balances it with a sense of dread. While there is a good deal of action at the midway mark, it serves largely to help speed the story along and promote conflict among the protagonists. What's more, while this is admittedly delving a little closer to Aliens territory than some might like, it takes such a dramatic twist that it overcomes this fact.
The main limitation within this tale stems from the main characters, as most are either unlikable or serve to drive the story along. Until a very strong ending, I personally felt that their best quality stemmed from character chemistry than how well they stood out on their own. Furthermore, it did dabble in a few Mechanicus and technology tropes which have become irksome over the years. So, if you're not a fan of the constant "Mechanicus have no idea what they are doing, they just happen to press the right button while praying to people" this might cut a little close to your pet peeves.
Still, out of all the stories here, this is one of the two that I would show to anyone wanting to see the possibilities this range offers.
Verdict: 8.5 out of 10
The Widow Tide by Richard Strachan
Katalina, a woman making a life for herself on a small fishing village and haunted by the loss of her husband at sea, finds a wounded stranger on the shore. She soon finds that the greatest act of kindness can be rewarded by the worst act of betrayal.
While there's a good deal of predictability which can be forgiven in horror stories, this one missed its mark by a bit. If you even know the basics of the major races within the setting and their lifestyles, you know exactly how this is going to end. Sadly for the first Age of Sigmar tale, what we get is less horror and more a tragedy which would fit into most complications of short stories than a horror dedicated one.
While it certainly has a few promising elements in showing life among the realms and helps with world building, it simply doesn't have enough scares. It's all hinging on one big ending twist, but you know exactly how this will go down. It's also not helped by the fact that outside of Katalina herself, most of the characters are easily forgettable.
On a more positive note, I will say that Strachan's writing style does partially save the story. His poetic descriptions, the emotion he crafts into the narrative and the vividness of his scenes are simply brilliant. Writing short tales such as this can often be a challenge in more mundane environments, but his ability to bring them to life shows serious skill on his part.
Overall, the story is worth reading once or twice, but it's not that great. However, I would definitely keep an eye open for this writer's other works.
Verdict: 4.0 out of 10
No Good Deed by Graham McNeill
In the lower reaches of a hive city, the young boy Cor manages to help drag a stranger free from certain death. Wounded and with no memory of his past life, he sets to work helping Cor's people survive a blight which has beset them. Unfortunately, none of them see the looming horror which follows in this man's wake until it is too late.
In contrast to the previous tale, No Good Deed serves as a perfect example of how predictability does not wholly undermine a story. In this case, you know things are going to be bad and who is the cause. However, even after counting that factor, it not only still offers a shocking swerve but has such a sense of quiet dread and human horror that it works brilliantly. Also, yes, your first guess as to who this man is will be wrong, trust me.
The environment of the hive city itself serves to show just how downtrodden and terrible life is for humans there. There is little joy, love or hope, and an ongoing sickness is only making life worse. It creates a sense of just how bad things are, which makes a later twist of the knife all the worse. Cor, his friends, the Sister who handles the local hospital and Oskyr, the man he rescues, all have very distinct personalities. Even when they have very short appearances, but McNeill's writing gives the moments to make seem like people in a much wider world. Combined with some of the conversations they have, it makes for a real gut punch when things go wrong.
If there is one major criticism to level against the story, it's that the horror part is once again reserved primarily for the ending. What's more, the story does dabble a little too deeply into old cliches when it comes to the nature of its horror. Both are somewhat justified with the direction. However, this could be a serious irritation if you're an hold hand when it comes to the genre.
Verdict: 7.0 out of 10
Crimson Snow by Lora Gray
A Sylvaneth Wargrove wages a war for survival in a frozen forgotten part of the realms. Beset by Chaos on all sides, their constant fighting against the enemy without leaves their numbers dwindling by the day. Unfortunately, few are ready to face the enemy within their ranks.
This is a rather difficult story to judge, as it seems to get one thing wrong for every two right. Plus, even with some of those successes, there is a "but" attached to the odd one or two of them. As the story follows the less human-like members of the Sylvaneth race, this was brimming with opportunities for stories, and Gray took full advantage of that fact. The Wargrove itself has many nonhuman details and inflections which helps both its protagonist, Kalyth, and other members stand out from their more typical counterparts. What's more, it offered an interesting example of how Chaos would react to such a species if it was bent upon fighting them.
However, the story's direction was somewhat muddled overall. It tried to juggle too many events at once and offered up an overly long timeframe for the story. Gray seems to work best when she is working with the mental state of her characters, and the story is easily at its strongest when it is delving into Kalyth's predicament. As such, the horror we get is good at those points, but it feels like a story with extraneous parts. Combined with a mixed ending and a few unclear details (which sadly clashes with the intentionally unclear ones) and it ends up as a middling story.
Overall, it's a solid one-and-done read, but it's probably going to be the one you'll only look at once or twice in this collection.
Verdict: 5.0 out of 10
Last of the Blood by CL Werner
Now, this was a difficult one to judge. CL Werner is one of those authors how is always willing to throw everything out of the window when it comes to setting conventions, for better or worse. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but this proved to be a bizarre turn which was nevertheless engaging.
A new suitor is brought to wed the daughter of a family, only to unwittingly stumble upon his own doom. The family is cursed, and the patriarch seeks a means to finally break it once and for all. Yet he will stop at nothing in order to achieve that very goal.
The big surprise which will stem from this one is its influence. Warhammer in every setting has always been western inspired, but this one goes full Japanese in every detail. It's a welcome surprise, but it might seem so distances from the rest of Age of Sigmar that it cane seem like it's a part of its own mythology. What's more, is that it's very "traditional" in a Hammer Horror sense, meaning your enjoyment of the tale will hinge heavily on that point. If you're not a fan of complex plots, skullduggery, and bizarre conventions when it comes to cultural standings, this can easily fray the nerves.
Another problem lies in one simple fact - It's certainly horror, but it's not exactly scary. The moments of tension, violence and plotting all work, but there's little here which makes it seem as if it fully fits into the horror label for this setting. It's not bad at all, and the entertainment factor helps to justify future re-reads, but it's difficult to shake the question of just why it's in here.
Verdict: 5.6 out of 10
Predation of the Eagle by Peter McClean
This is easily a personal favourite of the bunch, and it's probably the strongest story in this lot for justifying the Horror label. While it doesn't delve too deep into Chaos or the trippier angles of the setting, there's a sense raw dread and terror that benefits the story.
The world of Vardan IV is a death sentence to all Imperial Guard troops stationed there. As the Imperium tries to win the war by sending more meat into the grinder, their war against the Orks is ground to a bloody stalemate. Among the jungles only the strongest survive. Yet as men and women start to die mysterious deaths, some suspect a new faction has joined the war. The truth is far worse than anyone could imagine.
While comparisons to 'Nam of 67 are easy to make, the tale uses the guerilla war in the jungle angle as a starting point. It serves to both reinforce certain mentalities while completely rejecting other predictions, which makes its second half all the more effective. Equally, it uses a variety of storytelling devices to quickly evoke a real sense of horror at the body count, even if they are often people who didn't even get a line.
The big complaint here is that this deserved more. You get to know a few core characters, and even the fodder rapidly bumped off stick in your mind due to the use of nicknames. However, what could have elevated an excellent story further would have been another fifty to a hundred pages to further flesh out the characters. Really though, what we get is nevertheless a brilliant short tale.
Verdict: 9 out of 10
The Last Ascension of Dominic Seroff by David Annandale
Following one of the minor characters from Annandale's Yarrick series, the story follows Seroff and his partners in crime as they are left facing a plague unlike any other. Unfortunately, neither fully realise just who and what is out to unleash this creation in the name of revenge.
While Annandale is an obvious choice for a horror writer in the Warhammer setting, this one proved to be a very odd story overall. Like a few other examples here, it never really managed to get across the horror angle properly. The subject matter, the ideas and vivid descriptions all work in its favour. However, it never really pushed far enough to feel as if it was taking full advantage of this new brand. Plus, it's difficult at the best of times to write up a story as a spin-off with another character at the helm or tying into broader works. This one felt as if it relied far, far too heavily on knowledge of the Yarrick books to get you invested.
The actual closing scenes and a few of the more terrifying moments of the plague taking effect really play towards Annandale's strengths. These points show why he is a great author in his own right, but there's just not enough of it here to really work. As a result, it's a story which is relatively forgettable overall.
Verdict: 4.0 out of 10
Triggers by Paul Kane
Tobias Grail is a wealthy man. Living in a life of opulence, his successes have afforded him a level of luxury that few people will ever see in their lives. Defended by his elite bodyguard Russart, he seems set in life. Yet constant dreams of doom and loss haunt his every night, and they seem to be slowly slipping into reality.
Dreams make up a major part of this tale, and this is very much a downfall story above all else. We see someone gradually slipping into growing insanity thanks to events surrounding their lives, and how they are gripped by paranoia because of them. This becomes the crucial horror factor within the tale, as you know something bad is coming, but just what it is remains in question. Combined with Grail's madness growing to dominate the prose, it makes for a brilliantly terrifying tale.
The main flaws here stem from how directionless the story becomes despite an obvious avenue to follow. Grail seems to have no real journey to follow or more method to his actions other than waiting for his end, and outside of the ending there isn't much to help better build upon this in some way. I certainly like the story, but it almost reads like something where the ending was decided first and the rest was built up later on.
Overall, it's a good one in its general execution. A quite unconventional take on these sorts of stories, but helps to show the sort of horror that haunts every part of this setting. Namely in how its tendrils latch onto any mind too weak to resist them.
Verdict: 6.0 out of 10
A Darksome Place by Josh Reynolds
Now, this is what we needed more of. The story is almost mundane in following the lives of people in the Age of Sigmar setting. They're everymen in some regards, rather than golden armoured sentinels or warlords, and they aren't even fighting a massed horde of Chaos followers. However, instead, it helps to show the high horror which accompanies the best kind of high fantasy settings.
The story rapidly drifts back and forth between lucid reality, the thoughts of beings about them and the minds of the mortal workers. You see each contrasting and conflicting against one another, to the point of seeming totally detached. Yet like in the best cases of this, you realise just what it was outlining at the very end, and how it works with the wider message of the narrative.
Another factor is that the story contrasts the epic fantasy elements with more mundane tasks. This might sound bizarre, and in some cases it does seem like something better suited to a Discworld book. However, it expresses the sheer danger and highlights how the fantastical so often intrudes upon the more basic parts of character lives, even in this setting.
If there is a major criticism to level at the story, it's that everyone outside of the main character, Tooms, is fairly superfluous. We learn little about them, and for the most part, Tooms himself is the only person with any significant depth to him beyond a basic archetype. Still, overall, it's a very engaging entry in the collection.
Verdict: 8.0 out of 10
The Marauder Lives by J C Stearns
The story here follows a former Dark Eldar captive, Sister Monika, held for years on a corsair raiding ship to be abused at every turn. Having finally made her way off of the vessel, she remains haunted by the experience. Yet the lord of this raiding kabal, the mysterious Marauder, rarely allows his prey to slip through his fingers. The question now remains if Monicka's fear of his return was justified or not.
Much like the previous story, this one uses a contrasting narrative to great effect. As Monicka's very psyche begins to disintegrate, you see more and more of how terror grips her. Worse still, is how it always leaves enough hints that her paranoia might be right. It's vague to be sure and you can see that she is certainly hallucinating at key moments, but nevertheless, there's a great deal left in question.
Another detail which works to the story's benefit is how it continually shows how close Monicka previously was to freedom in her time with the Marauder. You can see very easily how she reached this state, and just how even the more controlled torture inflicted by the Dark Eldar can wear down even the strongest person.
Overall, another great tale and a fantastic example of how deep psychological scars can run. It's a great example of how even the "victors" in such situations can still be left as little more than damaged survivors due to their experiences.
Verdict: 7.5 out of 10
The Nothings by Alex Worley
The world is small for Cade and Abi. Isolated within their small vale and with only a relative few huts to contain the small populace, it is as far from civilization as it is possible to be. Yet each of the youths question what lies beyond their small realm, and what the standing stones on each corner are keeping at bay.
Unfortunately, this one can barely be explored at all without ruining it. Honestly, the best you can know is this: It delves deep into a major question that people have asked for a long time, and uses both hope and curiosity as a means to explore horror. You can easily see how this would be an optimistic tale in any other setting, but the fact that this is M42 only shows how twisted the galaxy truly is.
The use of vague meanings, a lack of identifiable names and even familiar imagery all combine to make the world feel extremely alien. Because of this, it is far more unsettling to the most devoted Warhammer lore fanatic than many other examples in this list.
Really, this was an excellent closing tale overall, and a great way to explore a much discussed but rarely examined aspect of the setting.
Verdict: 7.0 out of 10
Final Verdict:
Overall, this was a good mix of stories for a first attempt. While most show definite flaws, they nevertheless express a great deal of promise when it comes to future books. If you're at all interested in tales which focus less on action than brief but focused character examinations with brutal endings, definitely take a look at this one.
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