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The Horus Heresy #Audio Drama
The Thirteenth Wolf
The Space Wolves have assaulted Prospero and driven the traitorous Thousand Sons into the madness of the immaterium. Bravely, the 13th Company pursue their fleeing foes, but at what cost?
For more than two hundred years, the armies of the Emperor of Mankind fought to reconquer the galaxy - led by the superhuman primarchs, the Space Marine Legions brought countless worlds back under the rule of ancient Terra. Now Horus, once honoured Warmaster and favoured son of the Emperor, has been corrupted by the whispered promises of Chaos. At his command the Imperium is torn apart by a terrible and bloody civil war, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen... At the Emperor's command were the Wolves of Russ unleashed, but it is by the will of Horus alone that Prospero now burns. The VIth Legion have stormed the world of Magnus the Red, with venerable warriors of the Thirteenth Great Company always to be found where the fighting is at its most bloody, seeking to write their own names into the sagas of Fenris. But the Thousand Sons are far from defeated, and their foul sorcery may yet be the doom of all, deep within the maddening heart of the Portal Maze.
We know that 13th Great Company of the Space Wolves spent 10,000 years in the warp after the Battle of Prospero, but what events in the aftermath of the invasion led them to that fate? Listen on and discover the truth…
Running time 68 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, and Toby Longworth.
For more than two hundred years, the armies of the Emperor of Mankind fought to reconquer the galaxy - led by the superhuman primarchs, the Space Marine Legions brought countless worlds back under the rule of ancient Terra. Now Horus, once honoured Warmaster and favoured son of the Emperor, has been corrupted by the whispered promises of Chaos. At his command the Imperium is torn apart by a terrible and bloody civil war, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen... At the Emperor's command were the Wolves of Russ unleashed, but it is by the will of Horus alone that Prospero now burns. The VIth Legion have stormed the world of Magnus the Red, with venerable warriors of the Thirteenth Great Company always to be found where the fighting is at its most bloody, seeking to write their own names into the sagas of Fenris. But the Thousand Sons are far from defeated, and their foul sorcery may yet be the doom of all, deep within the maddening heart of the Portal Maze.
We know that 13th Great Company of the Space Wolves spent 10,000 years in the warp after the Battle of Prospero, but what events in the aftermath of the invasion led them to that fate? Listen on and discover the truth…
Running time 68 minutes. Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, and Toby Longworth.
MP3
Published November 19, 2016
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About the author
Gav Thorpe
377 books581 followersGav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 14, 2024
February 2024 Re-Listen Review as part of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus III The Burning of Prospero (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as an element of my Oath of Moment to complete the series and extras.
I stand by the below review, though I have knocked a star off as that was before I stopped grading the Horus Heresy on a curve like other Warhammer stories, which feels incongruous as on the whole I enjoyed this more within context.
I don't think I have anything huge to add from revisiting this beyond a couple of points.
The final interaction between the Thousand Sons Sorcerer and the Wolf Brother and the wider conversation and perspectives around the goal, expectations, and options open to Vlka Fenryka on Prospero. The discussion from those outside the VI about bringing Magnus to Terra for trial are, at best, the faintest, naive hope, but far more likely borne of propaganda and a wish to spin the situation to not look so bad on the Emperor and Legiones Astartes, while healing the blame for the execution on the Imperium's scape wolves. Surrender or the pacifism and acceptance Magnus was originally preaching were impossible. The battle brothers of the Rout had their explicit orders and the Great Wolf either had his own explicit direction from the Emperor or was simple aware of the implications implication of sending the Imperium's executioners, as is suggested and, I believe, outright stated in other tales, who already have form with this kind of destruction. If anything that heightens the tragedy of that moment and freezes the frustration I have into welcome sadness.
With Graham McNeill quoting lines from Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven and Arthur Brown's Fire in the midst of razing of Prospero during A Thousand Sons, the ridiculous nature of this story, and the wildness of the Dark Millennia as a whole, make more sense and feel more grounded. Kraven the Sorcerer Hunter with his wet leopard pants to go with Dan Abnett's fixation with Space Wolves and their 'wet leopard growls' in Prospero Burns follow Astartes Strange in the the Immaterium of Madness.
My only real question about the portals, which feels like a nitpick but is more me just thinking through writing as my broken brain doesn't work with pondering things to myself, is where they come from and if they are ever discussed or explained more. I have absolutely smashed this storyline and do not remember any reference to them or just how far the warping, translocating powers of the XV go. It is reasonable to assume the portals were developed using the ancient Webway Magnus discovered at the beginning of A Thousand Sons combined with his magic, both deriving from or at least travelling through the warp, not to mention the Eldar references in some of the translations from the Escherite oubliette. While we see nothing quite like this, the people of Prospero are such potent psykers they have the cafe on town where you don't need to order and they psychically give you exactly what you want and Magnus, presumably at least part in the process of giving in to the Changer of Ways and Ascending, bamfs the survivors and whole huge chunks of Tizca to the Planet of the Sorcerers at the close of the Battle of Prospero. This kind of magical artefact/ system makes me want to know even more about the Sons of Magnus and their experiments before they become a bunch of Tzeentchean.
Bizarre, but incredibly fun audio drama!
***
Original Review 5/5
This is very strange, great, and oddly funny for its tragic framing and being one of those legendary moments and references from 40K Space Wolves lore. It almost feels like at least two distinct stories as there is such a tonal shift, however somewhat gradual, between the first half and the second.
I usually avoid spoilers in my synopses and won't get specific and spoil everything, but it's hard to discuss this, especially with it being such a fundamental known thing for the vast majority of people who listen to it. If that's not you, this is a real odd Wolf, but it's definitely worth a listen.
The 13th Great Company of VI Legion, so-called Grey Beards and Wolf Brothers, being the first Longfangs from the first recruits from Fenris, arrive on Prospero to raze the glittering Pyramids of Tizca. This whole first section plays out with the high quality writing action that could be from Prospero Burns, if lacking the personal and individual hooks the novel has time to set up and play out. But soon the Veteran Space Wolves burst into the Great Pyramid in pursuit of a powerful Thousand Sons Sorcerer, marking the transitional period that is the search for the Psyker, chasing them his portals and initial jaunts through more portals.
At this point things get weird, there's even an extremely silly reference line that genuinely made me laugh. Things get all Scooby Doo and Doctor Who as the labyrinth and narrative become almost slapstick for a bit. I could imagine Yackity Sax (a less famous Commissar) playing as they run about in the Moebius-Escher maze. I'm often saying that Warhammer needs to remember how silly it is and have some fun once in a while, as a treat. Admittedly, the level of goofs within the utter tragedy of the burning of Prospero is a bold and interesting choice, but, Throne, do I have so much respect for Gav Thorpe just swinging for the fences.
Things get more serious with glimpses of the Warp and possible places people could get stranded, building up to a tragic ending that highlights the utter pointlessness of any of these conflicts (and war in general) and a very strange, so that's how and why it happened, huh?!
This truly is a bizarre audio drama, almost as if a Wulfen, a Raptor, and Flesh Changed had a baby. It feels longer than it is in a good way and, while it's absolutely not perfect, it is bloody good, and mostly sticks the tonal shifting transitions, mostly.
Lots of tones and vibes is better than no tones and vibes and I had a great time with this absolute loose unit!
I stand by the below review, though I have knocked a star off as that was before I stopped grading the Horus Heresy on a curve like other Warhammer stories, which feels incongruous as on the whole I enjoyed this more within context.
I don't think I have anything huge to add from revisiting this beyond a couple of points.
The final interaction between the Thousand Sons Sorcerer and the Wolf Brother and the wider conversation and perspectives around the goal, expectations, and options open to Vlka Fenryka on Prospero. The discussion from those outside the VI about bringing Magnus to Terra for trial are, at best, the faintest, naive hope, but far more likely borne of propaganda and a wish to spin the situation to not look so bad on the Emperor and Legiones Astartes, while healing the blame for the execution on the Imperium's scape wolves. Surrender or the pacifism and acceptance Magnus was originally preaching were impossible. The battle brothers of the Rout had their explicit orders and the Great Wolf either had his own explicit direction from the Emperor or was simple aware of the implications implication of sending the Imperium's executioners, as is suggested and, I believe, outright stated in other tales, who already have form with this kind of destruction. If anything that heightens the tragedy of that moment and freezes the frustration I have into welcome sadness.
With Graham McNeill quoting lines from Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven and Arthur Brown's Fire in the midst of razing of Prospero during A Thousand Sons, the ridiculous nature of this story, and the wildness of the Dark Millennia as a whole, make more sense and feel more grounded. Kraven the Sorcerer Hunter with his wet leopard pants to go with Dan Abnett's fixation with Space Wolves and their 'wet leopard growls' in Prospero Burns follow Astartes Strange in the the Immaterium of Madness.
My only real question about the portals, which feels like a nitpick but is more me just thinking through writing as my broken brain doesn't work with pondering things to myself, is where they come from and if they are ever discussed or explained more. I have absolutely smashed this storyline and do not remember any reference to them or just how far the warping, translocating powers of the XV go. It is reasonable to assume the portals were developed using the ancient Webway Magnus discovered at the beginning of A Thousand Sons combined with his magic, both deriving from or at least travelling through the warp, not to mention the Eldar references in some of the translations from the Escherite oubliette. While we see nothing quite like this, the people of Prospero are such potent psykers they have the cafe on town where you don't need to order and they psychically give you exactly what you want and Magnus, presumably at least part in the process of giving in to the Changer of Ways and Ascending, bamfs the survivors and whole huge chunks of Tizca to the Planet of the Sorcerers at the close of the Battle of Prospero. This kind of magical artefact/ system makes me want to know even more about the Sons of Magnus and their experiments before they become a bunch of Tzeentchean.
Bizarre, but incredibly fun audio drama!
***
Original Review 5/5
This is very strange, great, and oddly funny for its tragic framing and being one of those legendary moments and references from 40K Space Wolves lore. It almost feels like at least two distinct stories as there is such a tonal shift, however somewhat gradual, between the first half and the second.
I usually avoid spoilers in my synopses and won't get specific and spoil everything, but it's hard to discuss this, especially with it being such a fundamental known thing for the vast majority of people who listen to it. If that's not you, this is a real odd Wolf, but it's definitely worth a listen.
The 13th Great Company of VI Legion, so-called Grey Beards and Wolf Brothers, being the first Longfangs from the first recruits from Fenris, arrive on Prospero to raze the glittering Pyramids of Tizca. This whole first section plays out with the high quality writing action that could be from Prospero Burns, if lacking the personal and individual hooks the novel has time to set up and play out. But soon the Veteran Space Wolves burst into the Great Pyramid in pursuit of a powerful Thousand Sons Sorcerer, marking the transitional period that is the search for the Psyker, chasing them his portals and initial jaunts through more portals.
At this point things get weird, there's even an extremely silly reference line that genuinely made me laugh. Things get all Scooby Doo and Doctor Who as the labyrinth and narrative become almost slapstick for a bit. I could imagine Yackity Sax (a less famous Commissar) playing as they run about in the Moebius-Escher maze. I'm often saying that Warhammer needs to remember how silly it is and have some fun once in a while, as a treat. Admittedly, the level of goofs within the utter tragedy of the burning of Prospero is a bold and interesting choice, but, Throne, do I have so much respect for Gav Thorpe just swinging for the fences.
Things get more serious with glimpses of the Warp and possible places people could get stranded, building up to a tragic ending that highlights the utter pointlessness of any of these conflicts (and war in general) and a very strange, so that's how and why it happened, huh?!
This truly is a bizarre audio drama, almost as if a Wulfen, a Raptor, and Flesh Changed had a baby. It feels longer than it is in a good way and, while it's absolutely not perfect, it is bloody good, and mostly sticks the tonal shifting transitions, mostly.
Lots of tones and vibes is better than no tones and vibes and I had a great time with this absolute loose unit!
January 30, 2024
The short story itself is a 3 out of five. Nothing wrong with it, just lacks nuance and depth in favour for mind-numbing action. But the audio drama production was out of this world. Had to bump it up.
December 27, 2017
Ahhh Space Vikings that dont sound like the Swedish Chef, goooood!
This was a very entertaining audio drama that features the legendary 13th company and their disappearance during the events of the Horus Heresy. I honestly expected the disappearance of the Company to be a little more epic, but instead it certainly sides more on the straaaaange side of things.... That's all I will say about that. Its an interesting turn of events and certainly plays with your head as it does with the main characters of the drama.
As I eluded to in my opening; this is well voice acted drama that features the voice actors putting on decent Scandinavian accents. In prior Space Wolf drama's the voice actors often put on gruff voices with a slight hint of an accent, which has been fine but I was delighted to hear proper accents here, it really adds to that level of immersion.
A 4 out of 5
This was a very entertaining audio drama that features the legendary 13th company and their disappearance during the events of the Horus Heresy. I honestly expected the disappearance of the Company to be a little more epic, but instead it certainly sides more on the straaaaange side of things.... That's all I will say about that. Its an interesting turn of events and certainly plays with your head as it does with the main characters of the drama.
As I eluded to in my opening; this is well voice acted drama that features the voice actors putting on decent Scandinavian accents. In prior Space Wolf drama's the voice actors often put on gruff voices with a slight hint of an accent, which has been fine but I was delighted to hear proper accents here, it really adds to that level of immersion.
A 4 out of 5
July 31, 2025
The Thirteenth Company fought beside Leman Russ as mortal men, and when given the opportunity to stand beside him as enchanced warriors of the Imperium, they gladly did so, even though the mortality rate was high. These legendary warriors were said to have disappeared, but where they went was unknown.
The story opens as Prospero burns. The action is intense and ties in well to McNeill's novel. The Thirteenth Legion give chase to a fleeing Thousand Sons Psyker, who evades the Rout by passing through portals. The Thirteenth Company refuses to give up the chase, as they are lead into a labyrinth with no exit in sight.
There is something tragic and bleak about the chase. The Rout are so dedicated to their role of Executioners that it has blinded them to anything else.
(Ashes of Prospero also by Gav Thorpe serves as a sequel to this story, for anyone interested in more Space Wolf action).
The story opens as Prospero burns. The action is intense and ties in well to McNeill's novel. The Thirteenth Legion give chase to a fleeing Thousand Sons Psyker, who evades the Rout by passing through portals. The Thirteenth Company refuses to give up the chase, as they are lead into a labyrinth with no exit in sight.
There is something tragic and bleak about the chase. The Rout are so dedicated to their role of Executioners that it has blinded them to anything else.
(Ashes of Prospero also by Gav Thorpe serves as a sequel to this story, for anyone interested in more Space Wolf action).
February 19, 2025
This is about a Space Wolf squad apparently going for the award for "dumbest space marines", which is quite a high bar, but they try their best by just jumping through whatever evil-looking portal they find. The actor playing the wolves can't decide whether they have Slavic accents or not.
January 20, 2026
Lesser of the two
April 6, 2022
It is an interesting read, but the Space Wolves of the 13th company seem incredibly stupid here. This is the story how the 13th got list for 10 000 years and the answer is: they are dumb, headstrong and wish for a glorious death. I believe the author could have made a better reason for their behaviour, a great threat the rest of the legion is not aware, with just a couple of extra sentences. Unfortunately, this is what we got
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews