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Black Library Advent Calendar 2018 #3
Fire and Thunder
Advent Calendar 2018: Day Three
Trapped in an enemy-infested city and hunted by their foes, Commissar Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles must survive by any means if they are to strike back…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a tense and claustrophobic story set in the ruins of a shattered city and following a few brave women and men as they fight to survive.
THE STORY
Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles battle in the labyrinthine streets of Balfar, beneath the twin stars known as the Eyes of the Emperor. With the cathedral city of Whend under the control of the Chaos-corrupted Sighted, and the Astra Militarum being pushed back, the situation is desperate. When their fall-back route is destroyed, Raine and her troopers find themselves trapped in the city and desperate to survive – is this the end for them, or can they seize the day and claim victory?
Trapped in an enemy-infested city and hunted by their foes, Commissar Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles must survive by any means if they are to strike back…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a tense and claustrophobic story set in the ruins of a shattered city and following a few brave women and men as they fight to survive.
THE STORY
Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles battle in the labyrinthine streets of Balfar, beneath the twin stars known as the Eyes of the Emperor. With the cathedral city of Whend under the control of the Chaos-corrupted Sighted, and the Astra Militarum being pushed back, the situation is desperate. When their fall-back route is destroyed, Raine and her troopers find themselves trapped in the city and desperate to survive – is this the end for them, or can they seize the day and claim victory?
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2018
7 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Harrison
28 books59 followersRachel Harrison writes Warhammer 40k stories for Black Library. She also publishes under the name Ray Harrison.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rachel^^Harrison
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rachel^^Harrison
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 11, 2022
'Fire and Thunder' is a short story by Rachel Harrison that stars the same characters as her later novel Honourbound. In this story, Commissar Severina Raine and the Eleventh Antari Rifles are retreating from the cultists of the Sighted when a number of them are separated from the rest of the Imperial force and have to get out of enemy territory with multiple wounded comrades.
As with the later novel, 'Fire and Thunder' is told from the point-of-view of Commissar Raine and Sergeant Wyck, with the latter being the most interesting character in the story. Both the action and character scenes in the story is well written, and the story itself has a lowkey horror feel to it that works well with setting, while the climax of the story is by far the best part. This is probably one of the best 'Warhammer 40,000' short stories that I have read.
The 'Black Library Advent Calendar 2018' version of the story also included a short extract from the Blood of Iax novel by Robbie MacNiven
As with the later novel, 'Fire and Thunder' is told from the point-of-view of Commissar Raine and Sergeant Wyck, with the latter being the most interesting character in the story. Both the action and character scenes in the story is well written, and the story itself has a lowkey horror feel to it that works well with setting, while the climax of the story is by far the best part. This is probably one of the best 'Warhammer 40,000' short stories that I have read.
The 'Black Library Advent Calendar 2018' version of the story also included a short extract from the Blood of Iax novel by Robbie MacNiven
December 4, 2018
Raine and the Antari are redeploying from the cathedral city of Whend when they find themselves under heavy fire and cut off from Imperial lines. With walking wounded and no chance of extraction, their only hope is a dangerous forced march through enemy-held territory, but with ammunition running low and enemies pressing in all around, the odds are heavily set against them.
It's a bleak and powerful examination of the grubby, confused horror of war in the 41st millennium, written with brutal immediacy and pulling no punches with the action. In the midst of all the carnage the characters continue to develop in intriguing ways, and there are yet more signs that this is going to be a series to really watch.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/12/...
It's a bleak and powerful examination of the grubby, confused horror of war in the 41st millennium, written with brutal immediacy and pulling no punches with the action. In the midst of all the carnage the characters continue to develop in intriguing ways, and there are yet more signs that this is going to be a series to really watch.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/12/...
August 30, 2019
Harrison understands how to write a 40k story better than almost anyone. Yes, writing Imperial Guard/Astra Militarum is a more straightforward genre exercise than other factions (make it feel like WWI/WWII and you're halfway there already), but it's the stylistic choices and the focus on the meaning of a Commisar that elevates these stories.
"Fire and Thunder" isn't quite as focused as the first two stories in the series, as we spend less time with Raine herself, but the impact is still there. I genuinely would recommend these stories to anyone who likes military sci-fi, and I wish I could say that about more Black Library titles!
"Fire and Thunder" isn't quite as focused as the first two stories in the series, as we spend less time with Raine herself, but the impact is still there. I genuinely would recommend these stories to anyone who likes military sci-fi, and I wish I could say that about more Black Library titles!
June 13, 2022
With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?
Not going to spoil it, but if you study history, and/or been in the military, you’ll understand the frustration in the end. I get she’s fictional, but how Raine keeps her composure is unreal.
Not going to spoil it, but if you study history, and/or been in the military, you’ll understand the frustration in the end. I get she’s fictional, but how Raine keeps her composure is unreal.
March 6, 2023
Awesome
Commissar Raine and the Antari Rifles never disappoint. Extra points go to the lack of romantic subplot. When I read gritty war stories I want vengeance and violence, not love. These stories always hit the spot.
Commissar Raine and the Antari Rifles never disappoint. Extra points go to the lack of romantic subplot. When I read gritty war stories I want vengeance and violence, not love. These stories always hit the spot.
June 15, 2019
Read as part of Advent Calendar 2018.
August 26, 2019
Good series
Lots of action and 40K mayhem, Raine is a solid main character and lots of good supporting characters. Looking forward to the next one.Check it out.
Lots of action and 40K mayhem, Raine is a solid main character and lots of good supporting characters. Looking forward to the next one.Check it out.
November 20, 2022
Solid, brutal and bloody, just they way I like a Guard story.
May 13, 2019
Pulpy WH40k war setting
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews