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Black Library Advent Calendar 2018 #9
A Lesson in Iron
Advent Calendar 2018: Day Nine
Pursuing an alien ship into a warp anomaly, the Iron Hands encounter a vision of their own future that could be their undoing.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a chilling tale, and one that has the weight of tragedy, as Ferrus Manus makes a discovery that could avert the hideous fate awaiting him – but only if he doesn't lose his head…
THE STORY
At the height of the Great Crusade, the Fist of Iron, the mighty flagship of the Iron Hands Space Marine Legion, pursues an ork cruiser into the pull of a dangerous warp rift. A rare phenomenon, little is known about the rift, but Ferrus Manus, who commands the powerful warship, is about to learn more than he wishes as something emerges from the rift. Something impossible. An Iron Hands warship that seems to be from the future…
Pursuing an alien ship into a warp anomaly, the Iron Hands encounter a vision of their own future that could be their undoing.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a chilling tale, and one that has the weight of tragedy, as Ferrus Manus makes a discovery that could avert the hideous fate awaiting him – but only if he doesn't lose his head…
THE STORY
At the height of the Great Crusade, the Fist of Iron, the mighty flagship of the Iron Hands Space Marine Legion, pursues an ork cruiser into the pull of a dangerous warp rift. A rare phenomenon, little is known about the rift, but Ferrus Manus, who commands the powerful warship, is about to learn more than he wishes as something emerges from the rift. Something impossible. An Iron Hands warship that seems to be from the future…
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2018
About the author
David Guymer
178 books177 followersDavid 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 7, 2024
June 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order (https://www.heresyomnibus.com) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras - in Immaterium of everything outside the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project working on the last few Primarchs stories I have left.
This was great!
I'm actually really glad it's oddly worked out that these first Primarchs stories are actually some of my last of the whole series, because they are just so weird and different.
During the height of the Great Crusade, Ferrus Mannus and his Iron Hands follow fleeing Ork ships onto a warp rift in which they find an unknown ship, seemingly of the Legion, possibly from the future, maybe filled with Daemons...
A fascinating and truly bizarrely Black Library Advent Calendar short story that I tried to give a four, but I just enjoyed it's character and originality too much.
I'm sorry. I seem to be allergic to fours...
This is a great mood piece and gives a good look at the Gorgon's approach to situations and the contrasting personalities of the Legion, as well as just being plain weird and chaotic in the best way.
Also, neither Guymer or Ferrus Mannus give a shit about subtlety with dramatic irony in this story and it's all so ridiculous that it just works and I love that for them, but ole Iron Man all but says, there's no way I'm seeing this future! No siree! If you think I'm lying, cut my head off during book five and see if I care!
I am loving these loose unit Primarch tales!
Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), 25 novellas (+2 repeats), Cthonia's Reckoning, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels All 4 Primarchs antholologies , 3 Characters novels, 3 Siege of Terra Novels, 1 Siege of Terra Novella, and 189 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 11+ repeats). Plus, 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).
*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best.
This was great!
I'm actually really glad it's oddly worked out that these first Primarchs stories are actually some of my last of the whole series, because they are just so weird and different.
During the height of the Great Crusade, Ferrus Mannus and his Iron Hands follow fleeing Ork ships onto a warp rift in which they find an unknown ship, seemingly of the Legion, possibly from the future, maybe filled with Daemons...
A fascinating and truly bizarrely Black Library Advent Calendar short story that I tried to give a four, but I just enjoyed it's character and originality too much.
I'm sorry. I seem to be allergic to fours...
This is a great mood piece and gives a good look at the Gorgon's approach to situations and the contrasting personalities of the Legion, as well as just being plain weird and chaotic in the best way.
Also, neither Guymer or Ferrus Mannus give a shit about subtlety with dramatic irony in this story and it's all so ridiculous that it just works and I love that for them, but ole Iron Man all but says, there's no way I'm seeing this future! No siree! If you think I'm lying, cut my head off during book five and see if I care!
I am loving these loose unit Primarch tales!
Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), 25 novellas (+2 repeats), Cthonia's Reckoning, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels All 4 Primarchs antholologies , 3 Characters novels, 3 Siege of Terra Novels, 1 Siege of Terra Novella, and 189 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 11+ repeats). Plus, 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).
*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best.
December 10, 2018
Pursuing the fleeing remnants of the greenskin Rust empire and determined to finish them off, Ferrus takes his flagship – the Fist of Iron – into a strange warp rift. Instead of orks waiting for them, the Iron Hands find an unknown Imperial ship which appears to belong to their legion. What they find upon boarding that ship appears impossible, though it hints at a strange future.
The setup is solid and engaging, if somewhat disjointed, but when the action kicks in things get a bit over-complicated and the expected payoff never really materialises. There’s the core of a great story here, but it needed a longer word count or a tighter narrative to really be effective.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/12/...
The setup is solid and engaging, if somewhat disjointed, but when the action kicks in things get a bit over-complicated and the expected payoff never really materialises. There’s the core of a great story here, but it needed a longer word count or a tighter narrative to really be effective.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/12/...
July 5, 2019
“Let them face their nightmares, endure and emerge the stronger, or else fail and strengthen the collective by their expulsion.”
“Lesson in Iron” is a short story featuring the Iron Hands legion and their imposing Primarch Ferrus Manus. On the surface, this story is your standard "derelict spaceship investigation" plot. However, if you already know the ultimate fate of Ferrus, you'll pick up on some of the more tragic notes the author has weaved throughout.
This story takes place during the Imperium of Man's Great Crusade to re-unite the human race under one banner. It's not so long after discovery of Ferrus Manus, but long enough after that he knows a bit about his fellow primarchs. You get the sense that Ferrus is relatively new in his role of primarch, but already a master of war, particularly in terms of efficient use of resources. He demands nothing but excellence from his legion and weakness of any kind is not tolerated.
“The rawest and the eldest: that was who the primarch always threw in first. Prove the former. Purge the latter.”
Guymer does a great job of writing for the space opera genre. The space chase in the opening segment is cinematic. You'll feel the immense and ominous nature of Ferrus' Gloriana class battleship. I enjoyed the scene when Ferrus busts out his gigantic hammer and obliterates a demon in one swing.
There’s not much else to this story. We never figure out who the Iron Hands marine is nor anything about his derelict ship. We’re told it’s from the future and somehow this single Iron Hand has managed to control the ship with only a few servitors to support. A Redditor speculated that the marine is likely a Ghola or revenant (i.e. Zombie Iron Hand).
This short story does what it set out to do. We're given a glimpse into the psyche of Ferrus Manus before the Horus Heresy begins. If you're a fan of the Iron Hands, it's a must read. You'll gain some insight into what Ferrus might have said to his genetic children if he had made different decisions on Istavaan.
“Lesson in Iron” is a short story featuring the Iron Hands legion and their imposing Primarch Ferrus Manus. On the surface, this story is your standard "derelict spaceship investigation" plot. However, if you already know the ultimate fate of Ferrus, you'll pick up on some of the more tragic notes the author has weaved throughout.
This story takes place during the Imperium of Man's Great Crusade to re-unite the human race under one banner. It's not so long after discovery of Ferrus Manus, but long enough after that he knows a bit about his fellow primarchs. You get the sense that Ferrus is relatively new in his role of primarch, but already a master of war, particularly in terms of efficient use of resources. He demands nothing but excellence from his legion and weakness of any kind is not tolerated.
“The rawest and the eldest: that was who the primarch always threw in first. Prove the former. Purge the latter.”
Guymer does a great job of writing for the space opera genre. The space chase in the opening segment is cinematic. You'll feel the immense and ominous nature of Ferrus' Gloriana class battleship. I enjoyed the scene when Ferrus busts out his gigantic hammer and obliterates a demon in one swing.
There’s not much else to this story. We never figure out who the Iron Hands marine is nor anything about his derelict ship. We’re told it’s from the future and somehow this single Iron Hand has managed to control the ship with only a few servitors to support. A Redditor speculated that the marine is likely a Ghola or revenant (i.e. Zombie Iron Hand).
This short story does what it set out to do. We're given a glimpse into the psyche of Ferrus Manus before the Horus Heresy begins. If you're a fan of the Iron Hands, it's a must read. You'll gain some insight into what Ferrus might have said to his genetic children if he had made different decisions on Istavaan.
December 30, 2022
A fun enough story with some insight into Ferrus Manus's general 'tude. Still, I feel like it really bumps up against the shortcomings of fiction within an RPG universe, which is that certain interesting questions can be teased but never resolved. I instinctively wanted a whole thing about Warp time-fuckery here but instead it's just a brief glimpse of the concept followed by a tactical retreat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2022
Interesting
I am still unfamiliar with many of the Chapters Heresy time as well as the current 40k time frame. I must read more.
I am still unfamiliar with many of the Chapters Heresy time as well as the current 40k time frame. I must read more.
January 5, 2026
Excellent.
August 9, 2025
“Let them face their nightmares, endure and emerge the stronger, or else fail and strengthen the collective by their expulsion.”
Ferrus Manus and his legion came across a derelict iron Hands ship, only they don’t recognise it as one of their own. The mystery is pretty obvious for fans with a general knowledge of 40k but it was a somewhat fun story even if there were no particular revelations within.
Ferrus Manus and his legion came across a derelict iron Hands ship, only they don’t recognise it as one of their own. The mystery is pretty obvious for fans with a general knowledge of 40k but it was a somewhat fun story even if there were no particular revelations within.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews