Son of Sorrows

Black Library Advent Calendar 2018 #8

by John French

Advent Calendar 2018: Day Eight

Koleg is a killer. His skill is the creation of terror, an ability he exercises on behalf of Inquisitor Covenant. But what leads a man to become such a creature?

READ IT BECAUSE
In a tie-in to the Horusian Wars saga, this tale explores the past of Koleg, the psychopathic killer who stalks Inquisitor Covenant's enemies.

THE STORY
Koleg is a killer. A stone-cold slaughterer, he puts his terrifying talents to use in the service of mankind, exercising his murderous abilities on behalf of Inquisitor Covenant. But what past darkness, what horrific deeds, can lead a man to become such a creature and devote his life to dealing death? As he prepares for a new mission, Koleg remembers his past and the events that brought him to where he is now…

Genres: Science Fiction

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2018

About the author

John French is a writer and freelance game designer from Nottingham, England. His novels include the Ahriman series from Black Library, and The Lord of Nightmares trilogy for Fantasy Flight. The rest of his work can be seen scattered through a number of other books, including the New York Times bestselling anthology Age of Darkness. When he is not thinking of ways that dark and corrupting beings could destroy reality and space, John enjoys talking about why it would be a good idea... that and drinking good wine.

Reviews

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of the Horusian Wars, this offers a dark and at times harrowing look at another of Covenant’s warband, the ‘specialist’ Koleg. Tasked with a preemptive strike on an early-stage heretical cult, he approaches his task – sowing terror, and making a statement – in a methodical, emotionless fashion, the perfect weapon for the job.

Compared to some of the other Horusian Wars short stories it’s relatively straightforward, but what it lacks in narrative complexity it makes up for in visceral power and emotional heft. This is the story of a man so damaged he chooses to lose a key part of his personality in order to avoid his pain, and the incredibly powerful tool he becomes as a result.

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/02/...

[Adam Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and kinda sad

Story was short and I’m sure there will be a number who find it unremarkable. I was expecting more actual terror and did not find it, but instead found what seemed like sadness. The killer seemed to be constantly recalling his own last emotions.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as part of Advent Calendar 2018.

[Urgewyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside the mind of an emotionless, Inquisitorial killing machine.