The Calculus of Battle

Black Library Advent Calendar 2016 #5

by David Guymer

The beleaguered Astra Militarum defenders of Varasine fight against the alien menace of a tyranid invasion, but their only possible salvation approaches in the form of something almost equally inhuman. Warleader Kardan Stronos of the Iron Hands, long having studied the xenos threat, now brings his fearless battle-brothers to join the war - only he can save Varasine, measuring his Chapter’s infallible logic and ruthless strategy against the cost in human lives.

The Iron Hands can be among the most inhuman of Space Marines, pitting cold logic and precise calculations above the lives of those they ostensibly fight to defend… as the Astra Militarum are about to discover.

Written by David Guymer. Running time 21 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth and Luis Soto.

Genres: Audiobook, Science Fiction, 40k

MP3

Published December 5, 2016

About the author

David Guymer is a freelance author, PhD in molecular microbiology (which still comes in more handy than you might think), and tabletop warlord based in the Yorkshire East Riding. He has written for Black Library, Marvel, Aconyte Books, Asmodee, Mantic Games, Cubicle 7, Creative Assembly, and Mongoose Publishing.

Reviews

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Calculus of Battle is an immensely exciting and painfully brutal audio drama following the Iron Hands, and more specifically Warleader Kardan Stronos. We see a good bit of the Iron Hands normal "Flesh is Weak" culture, but Stronos is a bit different. Consulting the very interesting Calculus engine, The Iron Hands go to war to save a world from the monstrous Tyranids. With loads of visceral action, superb sound effects, and spot on voice acting, The Calculus of Battle does a fantastic job introducing our characters, building them up, and setting them loose. I really can't wait to read Mr. Guymer's novel on Kardan Stronos due out later this year.

[Vansh · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I wasn't an Iron Hands main I would say "YEAHHH IRON GOATS BABY, TURN THE KEYS OF HEL, PURGE THE HERETICS, HECK YEAHHHHHH RAAAAGGGGGHHHHH"
But Ferrus would disapprove; on the book- it was short, to the point and showed the sheer will of the chapter. This is what differentiates Peter Turbo and Ferrus IMO- Ferrus is someone who ends things quickly and with explosions whereas Peter wants complete domination no matter how much time it may take.
It's the difference between turning the biggest levers and turning all of the levers. I like the former more (ofcourse my understanding can be wrong regarding Fred and Peter so feel free to comment!)
I'm biased but the audio-drama was lovely. Do yourself a favor and get 'The emperor's sword' collection on audible which has alot of Ravenguard, Ultramarines, etc dramas but the IRON GOATS made it all worth it!

[Declan Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Iron Hands 'help' with the evacuation of a planet following invasion by the Tyranid mennace. As with many of these audio short dramas they are good fun if you are interested in the lore of the Grim Darkness of the 41st Millenium, but otherwise best to be left alone.

[Igor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold, dark and brutal, just like its protagonist.

[Mikael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Let us unbalance the calculus.”

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of reminds me of The Cold Equations. Pretty vicious

[Dom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just kind of... ends?

[Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased cause I love iron hands. But it's a cool short story that's preformed very well :)

[RatGrrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and kinda bittersweet. Iron Hands trying to do the right thing in a GrimDark universe, but the ending is a foregone conclusion and there isn't anything particularly engaging.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good and flavorful Iron Hands outing. Captures the feel if the Tyranid threat well.

[David Sastre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good short story!

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

For day five of Black Library’s 2016 Advent Calendar it’s the turn of the Iron Hands, in a 40k audio drama by David Guymer – The Calculus of Battle. Viewing an Imperial world besieged by tyranids through the Iron Hands’ cold logic, Warleader Kardan Stronos weighs up the conflicting costs and benefits of intervening – does the potential cost in materiel usage and possible loss of Iron Hands life outweigh the benefits of evacuating even a tiny proportion of the planet’s 7 billion inhabitants? Constantly shifting with every action he takes, the battle calculus drives his decisions and determines whether the world lives or dies.

Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...

[nooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick story. Interesting insight into how Iron Hands conduct battle.