Planetkill (Warhammer 40,000) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Lindsey Priestley, Nick Kyme
Publisher: Games Workshop
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy New: $4.19
You Save: $3.80 (48%)
New (26) Used (4) from $4.19
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 20270
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 1844165507
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.0876208092
EAN: 9781844165506
ASIN: 1844165507
Publication Date: July 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new book! Delivered direct from our US warehouse by Expedited (4-7 days) or Standard (usually 10-14 days but can be longer). Expedited shipping recommended for speedier delivery. Over 1 million satisfied customers
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews:
Good to see new talent... October 3, 2008
My favorite story in this collection of short stories is "Mortal Fuel". That story provides an excellent back story of how such an empire spanning the galaxy can continue on for millenias and fits nicely into Warhammer 40K's "bloodiest regime imagineable".
I like seeing Black Library, the publishing company which publishes this genre of books, printing new author's works. These new writers are enthusiastic to fill out the gaming universe of Game Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 games.
For those avid gamers in search of inspiration to create forlorn hope missions for their table miniatures games or science fiction fans attracted to bleak, dystopian science fiction will find these stories fun to read before going to sleep.
I give it four out of five stars as not all stories are equal in quality. On the whole, a good effort that should be encouraged for a sequel.
Each story with synopsis and rated individually. September 29, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Voidsong by Henry Zou
Inquisitor Obodiah Roth is dispatched to Sirene Primal. His mission is to investigate the mild psychic disturbances emanating from the planet. Obodiah is on-world for close to a month before his group meet the female Blade Artisan named Bekaela. At first Obodiah believes Bekaela is guarding the ship behind her from intruders. Instead, Bekaela of the Blade is guarding against whatever lay within from getting out.
**** This is the first time I recall reading about an inquisitor being so new to his career. The author has done a pretty good job; however, Roth does not come across as being ready for a solo investigation, no matter how minor it was supposed to be. ****
Mortal Fuel by Richard Williams
The planet of Bahani has been depleted of all natural resources. The result is for the Imperium to evacuate and leave Bahani's people to their doom, except from some Bahani who are bonded to the Navy. Midshipman Dal Marcher is with Governor-Adept Kaizen when the area is attacked. His heroism under fire, which also saves Kaizen, gets Marcher promoted to Sub-Lieutenant. However, once aboard the Relentless> Marcher becomes a pawn. The ship's captain has been dead several months and First Officer Tomias Ward is acting Commander. Needing to put those beneath him back into line, Ward sets Marcher up to become an example. At the same time, there is a Bahani saboteur in hiding, waiting for the perfect time to dispense revenge on behalf of his people.
***** This story happens BEFORE the beginning of the novel "Relentless". If you have already read the novel, you will already know most of the characters. If not, the author has done a terrific job with minor explanations and you will have no trouble what-so-ever. More than one nice bout of irony comes into play as well. *****
The Heraclitus Effect by Graham McNeill
They wear a variety of Imperial uniforms, but are the opposite of what the uniforms stand for. The group consists of former members of the Raven Guard, Adeptus Mechanicus, and more. Warsmith Honsou is after revenge against one who had walked away from a fight. Ardaric Vaanes is the new champion of Honsou. It is Vaanes's duty to train the monster recently created, known only as the newborn. The newborn is a creature of Chaos. Biological hot-housing, demonic magic and debased tech of genetic theft has accelerated his growth with strands of geneseed from Uriel Ventris (a man Vaanes loathes). Their target is a planet well loved by Ventris. This is where they will leave a terrifying message.
*** Though very interesting as a whole, there is a lot of unnecessary scenes and information. The title of the story does not make any sense until close to the ending. This story reads as if it were a segment ripped out of a full-length novel. ***
The Emperor Wept by Simon Dyton
Life-Eater is what the Imperium of Man uses to administer Exterminatus. However, an evolved Life-Eater is about to be used for the planet's sterilization. It is named The Emperor's Tears. When the Doom Warriors use it for the first time they learn the true meaning of betrayal. "Doom ye!"
*** Fans of the Adeptus Mechanicus will get a very interesting glimpse into the chapter this time. ***
Phobos Worked in Adamant by Robey Jenkins
The Fabricator Lords, the Nine, hear that the Planet Killer is coming to Celare Artem. Desperately needing some sort of defense, the Nine allow Archmagos Ghuul to explore the ancient alien relics for possible salvation. Ghuul finds it in the form of a shield generator which can cover the entire world. However, the device requires one last element to work, life-force.
**** This story shows that many people will gladly make sacrifices to climb the corporate ladder. The author did a wonderful job. ****
Seven Views of Uhlguth's Passing by Matthew Farrer
The planet of Uhlguth misses its master and all the ones who once worked upon its back. Not content to sit and wait for a new master, Uhlguth begins to travel. Uhlguth will travel forever if that is what it takes. The rogue world's velocity dashes apart all in it path. Its travels will even go through the most chaotic of spaces. During its search, seven entities notice its passing.
** I simply did not like the writing style of this story. Squeezing seven different views, not including Uhlguth's, into such few pages only succeeded in making the story choppy. I would have rated this story even lower, except that I honestly enjoyed the sixth view about a captain, a seer, and a spirit revolting. The author should turn the main character, Ashya Drael, and the spirit revolting synopsis into a full-length novel. **
Mercy Run by Steve Parker
An ork warlord has sent seventeen massive asteroids hurtling through space on a collision course with the Imperial planet of Palmeros. Just before Sergeant Wulfe and his crew were scheduled for evacuation, they are pulled for one last mission. The Cadian 81st Armored (tanks) are ordered to escort Sister Superior Dessembra of the Adeptus Sororitas and two others from the Order of Serenity to the town of Ghotenz on a mission of mercy.
***** I would dearly enjoy seeing more of Sergeant Oskar Wulfe and his men in future novels. This leader understands the necessity of successfully completing the mission, but still has enough humanity to feel pain when forced to make extremely tough decisions with little or not hesitation. The author has done an outstanding job with this story. *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Awesome short story collection, true WH40K grit. September 19, 2008
This book was a pleasure to read, plain and simple.
I did not read the story, "Seven Views of Uhlguth's Passing" simply because it didn't catch me at all. The weird style, kind of overly wordy turned me off.
The remaining stories in this book are pure Warhammer 40,000 grit. Like the title of the collection, "Planet Kill", all the stories relate to the death of an entire planet. While the theme is the same through out all the stories, the way each story goes about relating the death of a planet is completely different. Each story has a different scope, setting, and execution -- but they all lead to the same result: Planetkill.
At first reflection, "The Emperor Wept", was by far my favorite story. As I write this review I am thumbing through the book and I realize how good each of the short stories is on their own. (The only exception is "Seven Views of Uhlguth's Passing", like I said above, I just couldn't get into.) I would give a brief synopsis of each short story but I think that would ruin it for anyone who will read it.
I will leave this review at this: This is a very good read, well worth the time, and I'm sure it will be a book you'll want to return to in the future to re-read. I've read tons of the WH40K books, and not all of them I would really bother returning to for a re-read. "Planetkill" is most certainly one of them.
|
|
|
News 
