Last Night at the Resplendent

Black Library Advent Calendar 2020 #1

by Sandy Mitchell

A Ciaphas Cain short story

A night at the theatre becomes a fight for survival for Commissar Ciaphas Cain as vengeful Genestealer Cultists plot the hero of the Imperium's downfall.

READ IT BECAUSE
There's nothing like a trip to the theatre – and in this story, you'll discover that's as true for Cain as it is anyone else… albeit for some slightly different reasons. A commissar's job is never done.

THE STORY
Early in his long and storied career, Commissar Ciaphas Cain enjoys a (mostly) easy assignment on the world of Keffia. After defeating a Genestealer uprising, he's settled into an easy routine – until trouble rears its head again! Invited to a show at the local playhouse – the ill-named Resplendent – Cain becomes the centre of a final act that involves the dark cellars beneath the theatre and surviving members of the xenos-worshipping cult who want vengeance on the hero who defeated their plans.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Short Stories, Fiction

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2020

About the author

Sandy Mitchell is a pseudonym of Alex Stewart, who has been a full-time writer since the mid nineteen eighties. The majority of his work as Sandy has been tie-in fiction for Games Workshop's Warhammer fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 science fiction lines. The exceptions have been a novelisation of episodes from the high tech thriller series Bugs, for which he also worked as a scriptwriter under his own name, some Warhammer roleplaying game material, and a scattering of short stories and magazine articles.

His hobbies include the martial arts of Aikido and Iaido, miniature wargaming, role-playing games, and pottering about on the family allotment.

He lives in the North Essex village of Earls Colne, with his wife Judith and daughter Hester.

Reviews

[Mikhail · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not bad, but it's also absolutely nothing new or innovative for the series. Mostly just feels like an excuse to go wave at old friends and chat, pleasant but not really interesting.

[Eshan Chakrabarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing it is😘😘😘😘

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

As always Cain entertains, action and humor in the Dark
40K universe, too short a short story, it always leaves you wanting more.

[Andrew Alvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a little while to get going but delivered while building on a bit of Cains' antics between For the Emperor and Caves of Ice.

[Ulzeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite fun.

[Luke Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could go wrong at a night at the theatre? When Ciaphas Cain is involved, quite a lot...

Another fun tale involving the Hero of the Imperium...

[Jenn Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome too short but awesome