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Warhammer 40,000
Deathwatch: Xenos Hunters
Drawn from the many Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes across the Imperium, the Deathwatch are an elite organisation dedicated to a single goal: the rooting out and extermination of all alien lifeforms with utter and brutal prejudice. Equipped by the Ordo Xenos of the Inquisition, Deathwatch Space Marines possess war gear purposely designed for the destruction of all aliens. In the gauntleted fists of these black-armoured warriors does the sanctity of mankind rest, in their hearts the iron will to vanquish every alien predator and wipe them from the face of the galaxy.
Deathwatch: Xenos Hunters is one of our classic Direct Exclusive anthologies containing 11 short stories about the Deathwatch Space Marines, and now includes Last Watch by L J Goulding.
Machine Spirit by Nick Kyme
The Infinite Tableau by Anthony Reynolds
Headhunted by Steve Parker
Rackinruin by Braden Campbell
Weaponsmith by Ben Counter
The Vorago Fastness by David Annandale
Fearful Symmetries by Rob Sanders
A Sanctuary of Wyrms by Peter Fehervari
Exhumed by Steve Parker
The Alien Hunters by Andy Chambers
Last Watch by L J Goulding
Deathwatch: Xenos Hunters is one of our classic Direct Exclusive anthologies containing 11 short stories about the Deathwatch Space Marines, and now includes Last Watch by L J Goulding.
Machine Spirit by Nick Kyme
The Infinite Tableau by Anthony Reynolds
Headhunted by Steve Parker
Rackinruin by Braden Campbell
Weaponsmith by Ben Counter
The Vorago Fastness by David Annandale
Fearful Symmetries by Rob Sanders
A Sanctuary of Wyrms by Peter Fehervari
Exhumed by Steve Parker
The Alien Hunters by Andy Chambers
Last Watch by L J Goulding
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2012
15 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Christian Z. Dunn
140 books62 followersChristian Dunn, sometimes credited as C.Z. Dunn, is a senior editor for Black Library.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 7, 2020
Quick impressions: Though quality may vary from story to story, as often happens with anthologies, most of the stories in this one are pretty good. This was one that I kept on reading to the end and enjoying overall. Stories offer a blend of action and intrigue, and there is one or two with alternative points of view other than the Space Marines or the Inquisition. Fans of Deathwatch will probably enjoy it.
(Full review on my blog later)
(Full review on my blog later)
July 30, 2018
Enjoyable collection of short stories on the eponymous Adeptus Astartes. Those familiar with Steve Parker's work will not be disappointed, as they are the most enjoyable of this bunch. That said, the rest of the stories are yet another fascinating look at the dysfunctionally effective kill teams, that tell of the intense conflict between the Primarchs and their warrior sons.
March 30, 2022
Amongst a hundred men, there may be none fit for the Adeptus Astartes. Amongst a hundred Space Marines, there may be one fit for the Deathwatch.
December 18, 2014
Overall I really enjoyed this collection, but like any anthology, there are going to be some that don't work for everyone, and I think this was about 50/50. I don't mind not digging a story overall, but when those stories take up so much room, eh.
The Steve Parker stories are probably the most fully "formed," in my opinion (because it seems they were written with the "Deathwatch" novel in mind, or possibly after it?), but my personal favorite was David Annandale's "The Varago Fastness" (sp?), which featured a lot of chapters from the "cursed" 21st founding. I'd never heard of this before, and found them hilariously fascinating. I hope those characters come back somewhere else. The first like three or four stories are very workmanlike, no risks taken. I felt they should have been scattered throughout more; the middle of the collection seemed to have all the 'risky' bits (i.e., Kryptman operating on a tyranid for the first time ... which barely even fit into this collection ... or a group of Tau encountering a nearly dead alien species and ... one ... half-alive Deathwatch member -- though I enjoyed that story, so I won't say anything negative about it).
I think this did what a good anthology in a universe like 40K should do: it made me hungry to find out more about a lot of the facets talked about here (mostly I want more Black Dragon / Flame Falcons action), and introduced me to some authors I'm now excited about, and let me know I dislike a couple of others. Great stuff.
The Steve Parker stories are probably the most fully "formed," in my opinion (because it seems they were written with the "Deathwatch" novel in mind, or possibly after it?), but my personal favorite was David Annandale's "The Varago Fastness" (sp?), which featured a lot of chapters from the "cursed" 21st founding. I'd never heard of this before, and found them hilariously fascinating. I hope those characters come back somewhere else. The first like three or four stories are very workmanlike, no risks taken. I felt they should have been scattered throughout more; the middle of the collection seemed to have all the 'risky' bits (i.e., Kryptman operating on a tyranid for the first time ... which barely even fit into this collection ... or a group of Tau encountering a nearly dead alien species and ... one ... half-alive Deathwatch member -- though I enjoyed that story, so I won't say anything negative about it).
I think this did what a good anthology in a universe like 40K should do: it made me hungry to find out more about a lot of the facets talked about here (mostly I want more Black Dragon / Flame Falcons action), and introduced me to some authors I'm now excited about, and let me know I dislike a couple of others. Great stuff.
June 6, 2013
As a fan of the Deathwatch, I was excited when I saw that this collection of short stories from Hammer and Bolter was going to be released. I thought it would be a good lead into Deathwatchso I picked it up.
Each story within this anthology is unique compared to the others. This is something that I was happy to see, as I was worried that due to the nature of the Deathwatch, the stories could have very well been highly similar. As with all collections of short stories, there are some gems in this collection, and then there are others that just don't work as well. There are a few that can be seen in other collections, but thankfully they are good stories and also lead into the above mentioned novel.
I'm not going to go into details in regards to each story, but overall I found this to be an okay anthology. Very few of the stories stood out as exceptional tales, and more than one fell below what I would have expected in a Black Library collection. The fact that the stories came from Hammer and Bolter is apparent, feeling that they were written more for a magazine culture rather than an anthology reading public.
If you are a fan of Warhammer 40k, Space Marines, the Inquisition, Deathwatch, or anything related to them, this book will be for you. Though I didn't enjoy the stories as much as I generally do with Black Library publications, it's still worth picking up.
Each story within this anthology is unique compared to the others. This is something that I was happy to see, as I was worried that due to the nature of the Deathwatch, the stories could have very well been highly similar. As with all collections of short stories, there are some gems in this collection, and then there are others that just don't work as well. There are a few that can be seen in other collections, but thankfully they are good stories and also lead into the above mentioned novel.
I'm not going to go into details in regards to each story, but overall I found this to be an okay anthology. Very few of the stories stood out as exceptional tales, and more than one fell below what I would have expected in a Black Library collection. The fact that the stories came from Hammer and Bolter is apparent, feeling that they were written more for a magazine culture rather than an anthology reading public.
If you are a fan of Warhammer 40k, Space Marines, the Inquisition, Deathwatch, or anything related to them, this book will be for you. Though I didn't enjoy the stories as much as I generally do with Black Library publications, it's still worth picking up.
September 27, 2014
Deathwatch Xenos Hunters by Christian Dunn
In this edition of the Warhammer 40K universe, Space Marines are drawn from their different Chapters of Adeptus Astartes, each with a unique skill, to join an elite organization called Deathwatch, whose goal is the complete destruction of all alien life with extreme and brutal prejudice. Armed to the teeth, these Space Marines will complete their mission or die trying, to ultimately wipe out all Xenos.
Pick up a copy today to read more about these fearsome warriors and their different stories all comprised in this book.
For more information on the author, go to this site:
http://davidannandale.com/
Reviewed by Wyatt Rutherford, TAB@DBPL Reader Advisor since 2012.
In this edition of the Warhammer 40K universe, Space Marines are drawn from their different Chapters of Adeptus Astartes, each with a unique skill, to join an elite organization called Deathwatch, whose goal is the complete destruction of all alien life with extreme and brutal prejudice. Armed to the teeth, these Space Marines will complete their mission or die trying, to ultimately wipe out all Xenos.
Pick up a copy today to read more about these fearsome warriors and their different stories all comprised in this book.
For more information on the author, go to this site:
http://davidannandale.com/
Reviewed by Wyatt Rutherford, TAB@DBPL Reader Advisor since 2012.
November 7, 2012
As for most collections from the Black Library, the stories in this compilation varied in quality. All were good, with some being above average. Unfortunately as I've found with several Black Library collections recently, I'd read at least three of the stories in other books, or in the Hammer and Bolter monthly magazine. That said, given that this book was "Hammer and Bolter presents", I guess I should have expected that.
Overall though, if you like Warhammer 40,000 novels, particularly Space Marines novels, you'll probably like this book too. The focus is on Space Marines serving under the Inquisition as part of Deathwatch Kill Teams, so there are both Marines and Xenos involved though the focus is on the Marines. Probably not the best book, but not bad.
Overall though, if you like Warhammer 40,000 novels, particularly Space Marines novels, you'll probably like this book too. The focus is on Space Marines serving under the Inquisition as part of Deathwatch Kill Teams, so there are both Marines and Xenos involved though the focus is on the Marines. Probably not the best book, but not bad.
December 9, 2013
The Deathwatch is a mysterious Chapter-like organization affiliated with the Inquisition to deal with extraordinary xenos threats and this collection of short stories is filled with entertaining reads. None of the work is noteworthy or exceptional but the novel does make for a fun bus ride diversion.
April 5, 2016
Bolter porn is right. The Talon Squad stories (Headhunted and Exhumed) are nice, but there's a story (Weaponsmith) where the character names aren't even consistent?? (unless I'm reading it wrong)
Good entry to the War40k universe though, still in awe at how much lore there is in the universe.
Good entry to the War40k universe though, still in awe at how much lore there is in the universe.
March 7, 2015
Good, act.ion packed read
May 11, 2015
I've heard the 40k Space Marine fiction described as bolter porn and it's not a bad description. An easy read with plenty of action.
March 23, 2017
Enjoyable mix of stories
I enjoyed the mix of characters some from years ago like kryptman. I like the idea of deathwatch and the way they work.
I enjoyed the mix of characters some from years ago like kryptman. I like the idea of deathwatch and the way they work.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews