Crucible of War (Warhammer 40,000 Stories)

Rating:
Summary: Anthology of mostly good Warhammer 40k stories
Review: There have been several anthologies of Warhammer 40k short stories released in the last few years, most originating in Inferno magazine. While there have been low points and high ones, this book is definitely a high point.

Farrer and Rusk's "Liberation Day" is one of the lesser stories in my opinion. On a space hulk, orks have enslaved a number of humans. Among these is a man who leads a slave revolt in the hopes of rescue. The ending is rather lifeless (no pun intended) as what seemes it might be a pyrrhic victory turns into a terrible ending.

Dan Abnett's "The Curiosity" is one of the better stories in this book. A zoologist has nearly completed a total planetary survey of all life forms, when reports arrive of a new top level predator. Forced to investigate or have his life's work ruined, the timid scholar joins a hunt for a truly savage beast. There is not really any great surprise, but Abnett's writing has always impressed me (and his two stories in this collection motivated my purchase -- I was not let down), combining mood, exposition, interesting characters, death, violence -- all the great parts of a Warhammer 40k story.

Graham McNeill's "Payback" is a pretty good story of the backbiting between criminal partners. There are some pretty good passages in this story that are very memorable, as the protagonist attempts to avenge himself upon his traitorous partner.

David Charters' "The Emperor's Will" is a very good story about an army of Space Marines returning home from a long campaign. They are diverted at the last minute to deal with some civil unrest on a nearby world. The leader of the Marines wishes to preserve the lives of those that survived the campaign, despite their own bloodthirsty desire to eradicate the traitors. The solution is pretty well-deserved upon its victim, as a realtively bloodless victory is secured. Nice story that puts me in mind of some of the actions of WWII soldiers just trying to survive the conflict.

Sandy Mitchell's "Fight or Flight" (A Ciaphas Cain story) is a great, fun story. Weaving self-deprecating humor with his own cowardice, the narrator tells of his first assigment as a commissar, one of those entrusted with bolstering morale in the Imperial forces. Sometimes people just get what they deserve, and this is a good example. Really enjoyable reading.

"On Mournful Wings" by Si Spurrier tells a tale of two orphans forced to join a contingent of other boys their age to undergo a rite of passage. This journey is a test for joining a Space Marine force, and utter survival is not the only qualification. I was not really taken with this story, though it tried to reveal something of the mindset of the Marine selection process at the end.

"Backcloth for a Crown Additional", an Inquisitor Eisenhorn story, is Abnett's second contribution to this book. Another great episode in Eisenhorn's long life, I think it did a better job than a lot of the Eisenhorn trilogy. Much more entertaining and pretty well-conceived, Abnett delivers a story of sleuthing and spirituality, friendship and temerity, that is worth the read.

Jonathon Green's "Firestarter" was another of the low points. Another gangster-oriented tale, this story simply never interested me. Poor exposition and characters, save for the bounty hunter Creed, who is actually fairly prototypical, disjointed switching if viewpoint, I was not satisfied with this one.

Matt Ralphs' "Warp Spawn" was another so-so effort. While the ending was nicely orchestrated, as some raiding Eldar are set to get theirs, I was mostly not impressed. Still an able work, I rank it as being near the middle of the scale among those presented therein.

McNeill's second contribution, "Leviathan", an Ultramarines Story, details the incursion of the Marines into a Space Hulk threatening a world their chapter was long ago committed to protect. Reminiscent of another Space Marine penetration of a Space Hulk from an earlier anthology, I was not terribly impressed. Also, some kinda loose threads left me expecting more, only to be disappointed. Not as good a story as his other in this book.

Overall I rate this collection as a great buy. More of the stories are worth reading than not, in my opinion, and they give a good range of foci for Warhammer 40k stories, giving a good feel for the game universe. The fiction of this setting is really getting good, and this book demonstrates that ably.

Rating:
Summary: Anthology of mostly good Warhammer 40k stories
Review: There have been several anthologies of Warhammer 40k short stories released in the last few years, most originating in Inferno magazine. While there have been low points and high ones, this book is definitely a high point.

Farrer and Rusk's "Liberation Day" is one of the lesser stories in my opinion. On a space hulk, orks have enslaved a number of humans. Among these is a man who leads a slave revolt in the hopes of rescue. The ending is rather lifeless (no pun intended) as what seemes it might be a pyrrhic victory turns into a terrible ending.

Dan Abnett's "The Curiosity" is one of the better stories in this book. A zoologist has nearly completed a total planetary survey of all life forms, when reports arrive of a new top level predator. Forced to investigate or have his life's work ruined, the timid scholar joins a hunt for a truly savage beast. There is not really any great surprise, but Abnett's writing has always impressed me (and his two stories in this collection motivated my purchase -- I was not let down), combining mood, exposition, interesting characters, death, violence -- all the great parts of a Warhammer 40k story.

Graham McNeill's "Payback" is a pretty good story of the backbiting between criminal partners. There are some pretty good passages in this story that are very memorable, as the protagonist attempts to avenge himself upon his traitorous partner.

David Charters' "The Emperor's Will" is a very good story about an army of Space Marines returning home from a long campaign. They are diverted at the last minute to deal with some civil unrest on a nearby world. The leader of the Marines wishes to preserve the lives of those that survived the campaign, despite their own bloodthirsty desire to eradicate the traitors. The solution is pretty well-deserved upon its victim, as a realtively bloodless victory is secured. Nice story that puts me in mind of some of the actions of WWII soldiers just trying to survive the conflict.

Sandy Mitchell's "Fight or Flight" (A Ciaphas Cain story) is a great, fun story. Weaving self-deprecating humor with his own cowardice, the narrator tells of his first assigment as a commissar, one of those entrusted with bolstering morale in the Imperial forces. Sometimes people just get what they deserve, and this is a good example. Really enjoyable reading.

"On Mournful Wings" by Si Spurrier tells a tale of two orphans forced to join a contingent of other boys their age to undergo a rite of passage. This journey is a test for joining a Space Marine force, and utter survival is not the only qualification. I was not really taken with this story, though it tried to reveal something of the mindset of the Marine selection process at the end.

"Backcloth for a Crown Additional", an Inquisitor Eisenhorn story, is Abnett's second contribution to this book. Another great episode in Eisenhorn's long life, I think it did a better job than a lot of the Eisenhorn trilogy. Much more entertaining and pretty well-conceived, Abnett delivers a story of sleuthing and spirituality, friendship and temerity, that is worth the read.

Jonathon Green's "Firestarter" was another of the low points. Another gangster-oriented tale, this story simply never interested me. Poor exposition and characters, save for the bounty hunter Creed, who is actually fairly prototypical, disjointed switching if viewpoint, I was not satisfied with this one.

Matt Ralphs' "Warp Spawn" was another so-so effort. While the ending was nicely orchestrated, as some raiding Eldar are set to get theirs, I was mostly not impressed. Still an able work, I rank it as being near the middle of the scale among those presented therein.

McNeill's second contribution, "Leviathan", an Ultramarines Story, details the incursion of the Marines into a Space Hulk threatening a world their chapter was long ago committed to protect. Reminiscent of another Space Marine penetration of a Space Hulk from an earlier anthology, I was not terribly impressed. Also, some kinda loose threads left me expecting more, only to be disappointed. Not as good a story as his other in this book.

Overall I rate this collection as a great buy. More of the stories are worth reading than not, in my opinion, and they give a good range of foci for Warhammer 40k stories, giving a good feel for the game universe. The fiction of this setting is really getting good, and this book demonstrates that ably.