What do you think?
Rate this book
Warhammer 40,000
Left for Dead
After the horrors of war and the devastation of a world, one unnamed trooper from the Death Korps of Krieg – vat-born, grown to be a soldier – has had enough. Removing his uniform, he takes the identity of a fallen civilian and joins the workforce on the world he fought to liberate. But can this soldier overcome his conditioning and training and serve the Imperium in a new way, or will he forever be a warrior of the Astra Militarum?
Read it because
It's a unique look at the Death Korps, showing that their vat-bred inhumanity can't quite stamp out the basic human desire to be free and also asking if the price of freedom is too high.
27 pages, ebook
First published June 19, 2017
22 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Steve Lyons
186 books106 followersSteve Lyons is a science fiction writer, best known for writing television tie-ins of Doctor Who for BBC Books, and previously, Virgin. The earliest of these was Conundrum in 1994, and his most recent was 2005's The Stealers of Dreams. He has also written material for Star Trek tie-ins, as well as original work.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 13, 2023
A solid short following the aftermath of a battle featuring the Death Korp of Krieg, following a Krieger who has gone AWOL. It is a nice look behind the scenes of what happens after all the fighting settles unlike most 40k stories and exploring the mindset of a Krieger trying to find his place in that is equally interesting.
A quick read but well worth it with the usual grimdark, empty ending expected of such an oppressing universe.
A quick read but well worth it with the usual grimdark, empty ending expected of such an oppressing universe.
February 3, 2026
By far the best Kreig story
April 4, 2023
The battle is over; the soldiers have left, and all that remains is in ruin. Except that a lone Krieger remains too.
The Krieger awakes to find himself alone on an empty battlefield. He sheds his greatcoat and gas mask, breathing the non-toxic air of Parius for the first time. He takes the clothes and papers from a nearby corpse... a labourer named Arvo. Was the fighting and the loss of life in this place worth the cost? "Arvo" wants to know if the sacrifice of his brethren is justified.
Arvo is quickly attended to in a field hospital and assigned to a labour team.
He works with gusto in his team, finding pride in building something instead of destroying. A young girl, Zanne, befriends him too.
They talk and get to know each other a little but it soon transpires that Zanne knew the real Arvo and is curious to know why this person has stolen his identity.
The Cultists break from their hiding place and seek to cause further havoc so Arvo takes it upon himself to fight these men. He overcomes them only to find that Zanne has died in the skirmish.
Arvo rejoins the soldiers having learned a reason to fight.
Well written short story that felt like a short chapter in a longer book rather than as a standalone. Would be cool to have followed Avro's story from the birthing-vats and onwards.
Answering the question of 'Why do we fight?' Is interesting for those that find themselves in such a dire future. Arvo now has Zanne's memory to guide him and give him courage.
Enjoyed it - 3 stars
The Krieger awakes to find himself alone on an empty battlefield. He sheds his greatcoat and gas mask, breathing the non-toxic air of Parius for the first time. He takes the clothes and papers from a nearby corpse... a labourer named Arvo. Was the fighting and the loss of life in this place worth the cost? "Arvo" wants to know if the sacrifice of his brethren is justified.
Arvo is quickly attended to in a field hospital and assigned to a labour team.
He works with gusto in his team, finding pride in building something instead of destroying. A young girl, Zanne, befriends him too.
They talk and get to know each other a little but it soon transpires that Zanne knew the real Arvo and is curious to know why this person has stolen his identity.
The Cultists break from their hiding place and seek to cause further havoc so Arvo takes it upon himself to fight these men. He overcomes them only to find that Zanne has died in the skirmish.
Arvo rejoins the soldiers having learned a reason to fight.
Well written short story that felt like a short chapter in a longer book rather than as a standalone. Would be cool to have followed Avro's story from the birthing-vats and onwards.
Answering the question of 'Why do we fight?' Is interesting for those that find themselves in such a dire future. Arvo now has Zanne's memory to guide him and give him courage.
Enjoyed it - 3 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2023
‘They are bred to fight and to die for Him,’ Arvo murmured. ‘They believe their lives are worth less than other lives. This man had nothing but his duty. He was glad to take a bullet in the eye, so that we could… We could…’ ‘We could be free,’ said Zanne. ‘Yes,’ said Arvo dully. ‘So we could be free.’
Now THIS was a great short story!
Now THIS was a great short story!
May 1, 2019
A pretty decent yarn which confirms my opinion that Steve Lyons is definitely the master of Death Korps of Krieg. An interesting take on how does someone who was a member of the Imperial Guard deal with being left behind.
October 11, 2017
Warhammer 40k is and amazing universe. This is a little story, that show us more of that sort of slice of life of the warhammer 40k universe and well. I am happy, I like it, I think is good read.
August 7, 2022
Great story and true to the Warhammer universe
This was a great story about an interesting unit. It really is a grim dark future. Four more words required.
This was a great story about an interesting unit. It really is a grim dark future. Four more words required.
May 29, 2025
Entertaining
An interesting read about a Korpsmen of Krieg who suffers and identity crisis only to realize that his true purpose was to fight all along.
An interesting read about a Korpsmen of Krieg who suffers and identity crisis only to realize that his true purpose was to fight all along.
February 17, 2018
One of the more humane short stories set in the 40K universe I've read so far. At times a bit heavy handed, but still nice to see some heart in an otherwise quite unfeeling setting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews