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Black Library Advent Calendar 2020 #8
Embers of Extinction
A Perturabo short story
After the disastrous Battle of Phall, Perturabo sets his legion on a course of destruction that will leave them forever changed.
READ IT BECAUSE
Get new insights into Perturabo's hatred of Dorn and the Imperial Fists in a tale that fills in what the Iron Warriors primarch did after Phall.
THE STORY
For many long years, Perturabo has harboured a grudge against his primarch brother Rogal Dorn. With the outset of the Horus Heresy, he has a chance to finally avenge himself against Dorn and his Imperial Fists – but the disastrous Battle of Phall has just embittered him further. Determined to slake his thirst for revenge, Perturabo sets his Iron Warriors on a mission to devastate Dorn's sons… at any cost.
After the disastrous Battle of Phall, Perturabo sets his legion on a course of destruction that will leave them forever changed.
READ IT BECAUSE
Get new insights into Perturabo's hatred of Dorn and the Imperial Fists in a tale that fills in what the Iron Warriors primarch did after Phall.
THE STORY
For many long years, Perturabo has harboured a grudge against his primarch brother Rogal Dorn. With the outset of the Horus Heresy, he has a chance to finally avenge himself against Dorn and his Imperial Fists – but the disastrous Battle of Phall has just embittered him further. Determined to slake his thirst for revenge, Perturabo sets his Iron Warriors on a mission to devastate Dorn's sons… at any cost.
Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2020
14 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Easton
148 books39 followersBrandon Easton is a writer for the new Warner Bros. Animation series THUNDERCATS and a writer for the TRANSFORMERS: RESCUE BOTS for The Hub Network.
In January 2012, Brandon's first graphic novel SHADOWLAW was released to a nationwide sell-out and widespread acclaim with positive reviews from USA Today, Forbes, Wired, Ain't It Cool News and other major publications. Brandon continues to produce his "Writing for Rookies" advice podcast for aspiring comic book and sci-fi writers.
Brandon recently signed a 6-book deal with LION FORGE ENTERTAINMENT, a new transmedia company based out of St. Louis, MO. He splits his time between Los Angeles, New York City and Baltimore, Md.
In January 2012, Brandon's first graphic novel SHADOWLAW was released to a nationwide sell-out and widespread acclaim with positive reviews from USA Today, Forbes, Wired, Ain't It Cool News and other major publications. Brandon continues to produce his "Writing for Rookies" advice podcast for aspiring comic book and sci-fi writers.
Brandon recently signed a 6-book deal with LION FORGE ENTERTAINMENT, a new transmedia company based out of St. Louis, MO. He splits his time between Los Angeles, New York City and Baltimore, Md.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 27, 2020
This honestly did not feel like the same Perturabo we've seen in the series so far.
I'd go so far as to call it a gross misinterpretation of the character and how he ticks. While an argument could be made that the way he is presented here is all down to his own self-deception, it'd also harm the value of the story itself by calling its validity into question.
With the story fit snugly between John French's The Crimson Fist and Graham McNeill's Angel Exterminatus, while also (roughly) referencing Hammer of Olympia, the story or titular character didn't feel like a natural steps between them. It does show off Perturabo's superiority complex, but it lacks in other aspects. His self-inflicted martyrdom, as showcased in Hammer of Olympia, or his love for architecture fail to come across here, instead being replaced with blunt lip service to logic and efficient brutality.
The explanatory sequence about the "Iron" part of his Legion, at least, holds some merit - although I don't think it natural for the character to decry the Emperor like he does here. Considering the timeline, it seems a few years too early for him to reach this stage. Likewise, a timeline conflict appears in the form of the revolt of Olympia, as it is being referenced in regards to Perturabo receiving Forgebreaker from Horus. It is indicated that by the time Perturabo received the hammer from Horus, it was as a means to win him to the traitors' side - which could not be the case, as he would only receive it after the Dropsite Massacre, years after the reconquest of Olympia.
There are quite a few of such weird entanglements that, in the wider context of the stories written about Perturabo and his Legion, make me scratch my head - even beyond the character's interpretation by this new author.
As somebody who has held Perturabo as one of the most fascinating and multi-layered Primarchs in the setting, I frankly felt frustrated with this short story. It tries to present Perturabo as utterly logical and efficient, playing slightly on his hypocrisy and anger management issues, but there's a noticeable lack of depth to him. While it does have a void battle sequence towards the end, it felt like a battle without stakes, merely in there to have a battle to show off Perturabo's supposed genius and ruthlessness when facing Imperial Fists. It honestly lacked tension.
If this had been written around the time of The Crimson Fist, but before Angel Exterminatus, I might have found this servicable enough. However, we live in a time when Hammer of Olympia has been in print for what, nearing its 4th anniversary (how time flies!) and the Lord of Iron has shown up in various novels towards the end of the Horus Heresy series with more refined and conclusive characterization. As a result, I could not help being greatly disappointed by Embers of Extinction.
I'd go so far as to call it a gross misinterpretation of the character and how he ticks. While an argument could be made that the way he is presented here is all down to his own self-deception, it'd also harm the value of the story itself by calling its validity into question.
With the story fit snugly between John French's The Crimson Fist and Graham McNeill's Angel Exterminatus, while also (roughly) referencing Hammer of Olympia, the story or titular character didn't feel like a natural steps between them. It does show off Perturabo's superiority complex, but it lacks in other aspects. His self-inflicted martyrdom, as showcased in Hammer of Olympia, or his love for architecture fail to come across here, instead being replaced with blunt lip service to logic and efficient brutality.
The explanatory sequence about the "Iron" part of his Legion, at least, holds some merit - although I don't think it natural for the character to decry the Emperor like he does here. Considering the timeline, it seems a few years too early for him to reach this stage. Likewise, a timeline conflict appears in the form of the revolt of Olympia, as it is being referenced in regards to Perturabo receiving Forgebreaker from Horus. It is indicated that by the time Perturabo received the hammer from Horus, it was as a means to win him to the traitors' side - which could not be the case, as he would only receive it after the Dropsite Massacre, years after the reconquest of Olympia.
There are quite a few of such weird entanglements that, in the wider context of the stories written about Perturabo and his Legion, make me scratch my head - even beyond the character's interpretation by this new author.
As somebody who has held Perturabo as one of the most fascinating and multi-layered Primarchs in the setting, I frankly felt frustrated with this short story. It tries to present Perturabo as utterly logical and efficient, playing slightly on his hypocrisy and anger management issues, but there's a noticeable lack of depth to him. While it does have a void battle sequence towards the end, it felt like a battle without stakes, merely in there to have a battle to show off Perturabo's supposed genius and ruthlessness when facing Imperial Fists. It honestly lacked tension.
If this had been written around the time of The Crimson Fist, but before Angel Exterminatus, I might have found this servicable enough. However, we live in a time when Hammer of Olympia has been in print for what, nearing its 4th anniversary (how time flies!) and the Lord of Iron has shown up in various novels towards the end of the Horus Heresy series with more refined and conclusive characterization. As a result, I could not help being greatly disappointed by Embers of Extinction.
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.
A brief and brutal character study of the Lord of Iron.
Following the Battle of Phall and the failure of Perturabo to eradicate Pollux and the Imperial Fists' Retribution Fleet, as depicted in the novella, The Crimson Fist, the Lord of Iron is furious and needs to centre himself. Luckily there are a few Imperial vessels that were unable to flee and just enough time to quickly reforge Forgebreaker, before venting his frustrations...
This is a tightly written and effective portrayal of the Iron Warrior'd Primarch that, while being appropriately unsexy and smouldering with controlled contempt, does truly capture Peturabo's spirit and provide a perfect platform for the Hammer of Olympia to really tell his sons and the reader how many beans make five.
Perturabo is one of the only Traitor Primarch's I truly loathe and struggle to find any empathy for, but he remains fascinating to me and this is an incredibly effective biopsy of his cold, iron heart.
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 190 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.
A brief and brutal character study of the Lord of Iron.
Following the Battle of Phall and the failure of Perturabo to eradicate Pollux and the Imperial Fists' Retribution Fleet, as depicted in the novella, The Crimson Fist, the Lord of Iron is furious and needs to centre himself. Luckily there are a few Imperial vessels that were unable to flee and just enough time to quickly reforge Forgebreaker, before venting his frustrations...
This is a tightly written and effective portrayal of the Iron Warrior'd Primarch that, while being appropriately unsexy and smouldering with controlled contempt, does truly capture Peturabo's spirit and provide a perfect platform for the Hammer of Olympia to really tell his sons and the reader how many beans make five.
Perturabo is one of the only Traitor Primarch's I truly loathe and struggle to find any empathy for, but he remains fascinating to me and this is an incredibly effective biopsy of his cold, iron heart.
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 190 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.
March 13, 2022
Wow, that was great!
I wonder if Brandon kept a copy of Guy Haleys' Perturabo and John Frenchs' The Crimson Fist nearby for reference to events mentioned 🤔
I wonder if Brandon kept a copy of Guy Haleys' Perturabo and John Frenchs' The Crimson Fist nearby for reference to events mentioned 🤔
December 25, 2022
Workman-like character study of Perturabo. I can't really knock it but I'm not sure what it adds. Low 3-stars.
July 31, 2025
‘Iron is the nature of our existence. We are but soldiers in a grand game of territorial expansion and conquest. We face threats never seen or imagined by humankind. We can inflict terrible damage upon each other without nary a cry for mercy. The galaxy is malleable, containing an array of indescribable and undomesticated forces, and if we expect to tame this unpredictable expanse we must be equally as malleable. Ready at all times to shift and rearrange our strategies to contain whatever we encounter.’
Set shortly after the events of the short story “The Crimson Fist” but before the events of “Angel Exterminatus”.
Perturabo’s philosophy on the universe and the nature of strength is laid bare in this story as he sets out to reforge the hammer of his deceased brother, Ferrus Manus.
Set shortly after the events of the short story “The Crimson Fist” but before the events of “Angel Exterminatus”.
Perturabo’s philosophy on the universe and the nature of strength is laid bare in this story as he sets out to reforge the hammer of his deceased brother, Ferrus Manus.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews