The adventures of wily Commissar Cain, his malodorous aide Jurgen, and the 296th Valhallans have proved great favourites among Black Library fans....
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Jan 08, 2012
Alytha
rated it: 
This is a Warhammer 40K tie-in novel, presenting the life and works of Comissar Ciaphas Cain, the most heroic man in the human Empire. It contains 3 novels, For The Emperor, Caves of Ice and The Traitor's Hand and the short stories The Beguiling, Fight or Flight and Echoes of the Tomb.
The plot they follow is basically the same every time: Caine and his regiment, the 597th Valhallan, are sent to some Emperorforsaken planet to fight against the scum of the universe, and it generally deve More...
The plot they follow is basically the same every time: Caine and his regiment, the 597th Valhallan, are sent to some Emperorforsaken planet to fight against the scum of the universe, and it generally deve More...
Jul 01, 2010
Joe
rated it: 
Good 40k fiction. Probably would lean to a 3 1/2 star mark but gave it the benefit of the doubt and went with 4.
Love the main character... constantly selling his self short while at the same time actually coming out as the hero he "pretends" to be at the end of the day.
In the author's forward, he claims that he toned down the humor at the behest of his editor. If that was truly the case, and the author didn't over estimate his flair for comedy, I was a More...
Love the main character... constantly selling his self short while at the same time actually coming out as the hero he "pretends" to be at the end of the day.
In the author's forward, he claims that he toned down the humor at the behest of his editor. If that was truly the case, and the author didn't over estimate his flair for comedy, I was a More...
Jun 08, 2010
Christian
rated it: 
Ciaphas Cain:Hero of the Imperium by Sandy Mitchells is a hilarious story of one Imperial Gaurd officer who just wanted a simple life. In the beggining of his military career Colonel Cain wanted to stay as far away from the battlefield as possible, choosing to stay with the units miles away from the fight. However, due to some horrible timing and bad luck, Cain finds his way to the center of a battle and unwillingly gains his reputation as "Hero of the Imperium" there. Now Cain finds h
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Aug 14, 2009
Mike
rated it:
If epic science fiction stories aren't your thing, don't be thrown off by the total. The tag line of the 40K Universe setting may be "In the grim future of the 40th millennium, there is only war" but in the 41st millenium Commissar Ciaphas Cain is nothing so much as Flashman reborn.
The collection consists of three novels and three short stories starring Cain, and all take the form of the man's memoirs, arranged and annotated by the mysterious yet charming Inquisitor he freq More...
The collection consists of three novels and three short stories starring Cain, and all take the form of the man's memoirs, arranged and annotated by the mysterious yet charming Inquisitor he freq More...
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Jun 22, 2011
Alex
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The Ciaphas Cain novels are easily the best 40K novels I have read. The stories themselves are very good and the characters well thought-out and developed.
Cain is a great character, self-serving and selfless in apparently equal amounts while he tries to survive in a universe where literally everything is out to kill him - mostly by trying to stay as far away from any fighting as possible. This almost always backfires in a spectacular (and amusing) fashion, leaving him to reluctantly More...
Cain is a great character, self-serving and selfless in apparently equal amounts while he tries to survive in a universe where literally everything is out to kill him - mostly by trying to stay as far away from any fighting as possible. This almost always backfires in a spectacular (and amusing) fashion, leaving him to reluctantly More...
Jul 11, 2009
Doreen
rated it:
The problem with a lot of science-fiction novels, especially those set in a war-torn future, is that their writers believe that if they inject humor into the proceedings, their readers will not take them seriously. Which is kind of an odd angle to pursue a science-fiction writing career from, but I digress. The Ciaphas Cain novels have little of this self-regard, but deliver instead a consistently entertaining look at a setting that is often far too grim and self-serious for its own good.
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Oct 22, 2009
Ashley
rated it:
As I've read WarHammer 40k books, I've only read a few I like without much complaint - Sandy Mitchell's Ciaphas is a joy to read. I'm not sure if it is the unflagging Egoist nature of the main character, the brilliant way Mitchell changes writing styles in his 'excerpts', or the little chapter quotes which range from joking (he has a quote by Eore DiDankee) to serious. The plots are seamless and are canonically lovely and my favorite parts are when Ciaphas does something good despite being about
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Jun 02, 2011
Adrian
rated it:
This omnibus takes place over the first three installments in Commissar Ciaphas Cains, adventures. In between each novel, are a few short stories that foreshadow the coming events (my guess these novels were written and inserted specifically for the omnibus?).
Most definitely a huge change in not only the way the story was told (1st person), but also that it was full of comedy, but not to the point of absurdity. You have to take into consideration that the Warhammer 40k universe is set More...
Most definitely a huge change in not only the way the story was told (1st person), but also that it was full of comedy, but not to the point of absurdity. You have to take into consideration that the Warhammer 40k universe is set More...
Dec 31, 2008
Angel
rated it:
This was a pleasant discovery, and it will go down for me as one of the best reads for 2008. In fact, it was the last book read for 2008 for me. I had never read any Warhammer 40K books before this one. I was familiar with the strategy game. I just happened to pick this volume up in a bookstore out of curiosity. The description for Ciaphas Cain as a sly rogue looking for an easy life, yet ends up the hero who does the right thing, seemed like the perfect thing for my mood at the time. I am very
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Jun 08, 2009
Austin
rated it:
Those of you who follow the Black Library expect the Commissars of the Imperial Guard to be paragons of virtue and discipline, bracing the spines and hearts of the Guardsmen under their authority. Enter Caiphas Cain, Hero of the Imperium. No unit is to elite to boldly go before him into combat, no situation is to dangerous for him to weasel around. And if all else fails, the stench wafting off of his adjutant will keep everything form Tau to Tyranids at a safe distance...
Oct 21, 2009
James
rated it:
Ciaphas Cain is a good character, he makes the books interesting. The narrator is also funny sometimes.
Writing style is good, but uses some terms a few to many times, and this makes them become unfunny.
Good fare here for Sci-Fi fans in general.
I am beginning to become fatigued over Chaos Cultists and the like.
A good job in all, but, strangely, some of the short stories are more effective than some of the novels.
Strange, but pleasing.
Writing style is good, but uses some terms a few to many times, and this makes them become unfunny.
Good fare here for Sci-Fi fans in general.
I am beginning to become fatigued over Chaos Cultists and the like.
A good job in all, but, strangely, some of the short stories are more effective than some of the novels.
Strange, but pleasing.
Oct 25, 2011
Zach
rated it:
A humorous account of a dark futuristic world. Confronted by the monstrosities of a dark future the main character of this epic adventure somehow bumbles his way into become a hero of the empire.
Jul 23, 2010
Isaac
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This is NOT your usualy 40K book, but the brilliance is in how it ties together. No spoilers here, but this is the realistic side of the grimdark for you. Humor as well as drama.
Feb 20, 2010
Richard
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Cain is just an awesome character. He reminds me of Jack Vance's Cudgel. Despite the setting, the book is actually very light-hearted and doesn't take itself too seriously.
Aug 04, 2010
Sam
rated it:
An awesome collection of books about a shifty political officer whose only goal was to end up at a reasonably safe desk job far away from enemy lines. But fate has a sense of humor and Ciaphas Cain soon finds himself labelled as a hero of the Imperium and finds himself having to save his own neck again and again from aliens, mutants, and heretics alike! But in the process of saving his own hide, he becomes the hero he is so reluctant to become.
Jun 21, 2009
James
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Who says that blood and gore of the Warhammer 40k Universe can't be absolutely hilarious.
Jul 08, 2009
Elijah
rated it:
1st two reads were great, but it starts to get repetitive near the end.
Jul 20, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
Can't help but smile when I pick this one up.
Ciaphis is one of the most ridiculous characters I've ever encountered in the 40K universe.
I'm not really sure how he gets away with it.
The editorial comments and insertions from Amberley are worth the interruption…
Ciaphis is one of the most ridiculous characters I've ever encountered in the 40K universe.
I'm not really sure how he gets away with it.
The editorial comments and insertions from Amberley are worth the interruption…
Aug 06, 2011
Fun book, good mix of Gaunt and Eisenhorn with a bit of Flashman thrown in as well.
Jan 16, 2012
Ray
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The first three novels of the Ciaphas Cain series with three short stories are included in this omnibus. It is as well done as the second collection of Cain books in the omnibus Defender of the Imperium.
Dec 05, 2011
Hayley
rated it:
The Cain stories are amusing and interesting. I really like Cain as a character, he's funny and cowardly but definitely a hero in the end. However I didn't really like Amberley's 'editing' of the stories, especially the chapter forewords as she was so repetitive! I would recommend it but I'm probably going to stop here rather than reading more Cain books.
Nov 07, 2007
Dan
rated it:
In the dark future world of Warhammer 40,000, the galaxy is wracked with war. Between the ravaging Tyranids, the murderous Necrons, the twisted forces of Chaos and countless other threats, the future is bleak. Unless you're Regimental Commissar Ciaphas Cain, in which case it's absolutely terrifying... and quite funny.
Jul 24, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
I loved this book.
Ciaphas Cain is not your typical commissar and it's fun to read the stories from his POV.
Can't wait to see more of him.
Ciaphas Cain is not your typical commissar and it's fun to read the stories from his POV.
Can't wait to see more of him.
Feb 10, 2008
Eirik
rated it:
rapidly becomming one of my favourite writers, I think that the Ciaphas Cain series has re-ignited my interest in Warhammer 40k and well I"m painting again.
and Cain's self serving nature is not only funny but makes for a good story.
and Cain's self serving nature is not only funny but makes for a good story.
Jan 18, 2010
Justin
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Best 40k novels out there. The author does an excellent job injecting humor into a universe that is meant to be grim and dark. I read this entire compilation all the way through. Love every bit of it.
Jul 28, 2008
Jacob
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Absolutely outstanding. Commissar Cain is arguably one of the great characters in science fiction.
Dec 17, 2009
Liam
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Read 130 pages on my first day reading it. The book is from The Black Library, the book wing of Games Workshop. It is an omnibus of the first three Ciaphas Cain. There is a good vein of humour running through out the book, a vast difference from the tone of The Space Wolves omnibus I have just finished. The lead character is a likeable rogue, trying to avoid trouble but somehow always manages to get into it and stumbles his way out of it again. It is a credit to the author, Sandy Mitchell, that
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