Lords and Tyrants

The books gives a glimspe into the vast warhammer world giving insights into all aspects of the universe. As with all books of the type its.a mix bag with some stories resonating more than others but over all a worthy read for the many gems hidden within

16 Warhammer 40,000 short stories which have all been previously released as standalone e-shorts, bundled together into a single volume. The standard of these stories is remarkably high overall, with an interesting balance between standalone tales and stories which are part of other series. If you’ve already read most or all of them in digital format then there might not be enough to justify the anthology price tag, but for anyone who hasn’t read these – and especially if you’re looking for links and connections to wider 40k series – then this anthology looks like an excellent option.

This is a pretty substantial collection of short fiction set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Sixteen stories, drawing together some fan-favourite characters and some new, I think it would serve very well as an introduction for anyone who has not yet delved into the extensive body of WH40k fiction, while also satisfying long-time fans of the IP looking for some quick-hits of sci-fi action and adventure.

I’m not sure we need to walk through each of the stories for the review, but each of them offers something to readers: be it a short tale about established characters (such as Lucius the Eternal and Fabius Bile), newer fan-favourite characters (e.g., Minka Lesk), or characters created specially for the stories in question. A lot of these stories are told from the human perspective, but each of them finds themselves in a variety of deadly situations and predicaments.

I’d read quite a few of these stories before getting this anthology, but it was nice to revisit them and have them collected in one place. For example, Ben Counter’s Rise, which tells the story of a newly-forged drukhari scourge and his first flight through Commorragh — I really liked this story, and Counter’s on top form as he describes the journey and dangers that lurk in that dark and deadly city. Fans of Josh Reynolds’s Fabius Bile series should enjoy A Memory of Tharsis, a short mission featuring the Emperor’s Children’s chief apothecary and clonelord. I also very much enjoyed Ian St. Martin’s take on Lucius the Eternal in Pride and Fall, which whet my appetite to read The Faultless Blade. Meanwhile, the first story in the collection, Argent, features a character from Wraight’s popular Vaults of Terra Inquisition series (which, likewise, increased my interest in getting caught up on those novels).

I read the stories between novels and other books, and it was nice to dip in and out. (I have a limited stamina when it comes to short fiction — I can usually only read a few at a time, before I become desperate for something more substantial.) Not every story worked for me, but for the main this is a strong collection, and certainly worth the price. If you’re looking for some action/adventure short stories set in the WH40k setting, or just sci-fi in general, then Lords and Tyrants should suit your interests nicely.

This is a great collection of short stories by some awesome Warhammer authors! There is a bunch of information about the heroes of the Imperium and the fight against their enemies! This anthology is really well organized and written and I enjoyed reading it.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Short stories from old and new authors set in the 40K setting. I believe it is safe to say that there is a little bit of everything for everyone. I believe most stories can also be read as stand alones with just a little bit of prior knowledge to the genre. "Tread carefully and carry a big gun"...A big thank you to Net Galley and Black Library for making it possible to read this.

Good introduction

I knew nothing of Warhammer 40,000 before receiving this book of short stories. It seems to be a pretty wild place. I like fantasy battle books so I fell right in to the Warhammer 40,000 world. Some of the 15 stories are really good and some are less so but I think it will be an excellent choice for Warhammer 40,000 followers (even though they might have read these in other forms earlier) and for newbies like me.