Let the Galaxy Burn (Anthology)
 |
Let the Galaxy Burn is a compilation of short stories set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, edited by Christian Dunn and Marc Gascoigne, and first published in 2006. The majority of these stories were first published in prior Black Library anthologies, including Into The Maelstrom, Dark Imperium, and Words of Blood. Three new short stories are featured, Playing Patience, The Tower and The Fall of Malvolion.
Contents
WE ARE THE SPACE MARINES, THE CHAMPIONS OF HUMANITY
- Words of Blood by Ben Counter
- The Black Pearl by Chris Pramas
- Angels by Robert Earl
- Unforgiven by Graham McNeill
- In the Belly of the Beast by William King
SUFFER NOT THE ALIEN TO LIVE
- Hellbreak by Ben Counter
- Small Cogs by Neil Rutledge
- Children of the Emperor by Barrington J. Bayley
- Deus ex Mechanicus by Andy Chambers
- Business as Usual by Graham McNeill
The Fall of Malvolion
By Dan Abnett
Synopsis
Imperial forces rush to evacuate the world of Malvolion as it faces the threat of Tyranid invasion. Trooper Karl Gauss, unable to sleep because of recurring nightmares about stumbling onto a genestealer nest the week before, asks to be given a job, and is assigned to drive one of the evacuation trucks. His commander warns him that the Shadow has already fallen across the system, and it is only a matter of time before the creatures begin landing.
But it is already too late for Malvolion: the Tyranids have already landed, and the might of the Imperial Guard's soldiers and armour are useless against the sheer numbers of creatures that appear in their midst.
While driving the convoy, Gauss watches in horror as they are ambushed and overwhelmed by the advancing Tyranids. Salvation arrives when Drop pods slam into the planet and the Lamenters appear and strike back at the monsters... but less than an hour after their arrival, they are overwhelmed by the Tyranid swarms and wiped out to the last man. Seeing even the mighty Space Marines cut down like so much chaff, Gauss realizes their last hope is gone.
Wounded, he crawls into a foxhole, makes his peace with the Emperor, and prays that a similar fate will never befall his homeworld, before blowing his own head off with his laspistol.
Setting
- The planet Malvolion
Characters
- Karl Gauss, Trooper, 15th Mordian Iron Guard
- Hecht, Major, Mordian Iron Guard 15th
- Tiegl, Colonel, Mordian Iron Guard 15th
- Caen, General, Mordian Iron Guard
- Grizmund, Colonel, Phyrus regiments
- Syra Gallo, Sergeant, Phyrus Fourth Regiment
- Nink, Trooper, Phyrus Fourth Regiment
- Binal, Vox-officer, Phyrus Fourth Regiment
ONLY IN DEATH DOES DUTY END
- Salvation by Jonathan Green
- Hell in a Bottle by Simon Jowett
- Tenebrae By Mark Brendan
- Daemonblood by Ben Counter
- Know Thine Enemy by Gav Thorpe
INNOCENCE PROVES NOTHING
- Nightmare by Gav Thorpe
- Ancient History by Andy Chambers
- Loyalty's Reward by Simon Jowett
- Raptor Down by Gav Thorpe
The Tower
By C. S. Goto
FOR THE EMPEROR!
- Defixio by Ben Counter
- Ancient Lances by Alex Hammond
- Ork Hunter by Dan Abnett
- The Raven's Claw by Jonathan Curren
- Emperor's Grace by Alex Hammond
- Acceptable Losses by Gav Thorpe
BURN THE HERETIC, KILL THE MUTANT, PURGE THE UNCLEAN
- Pestilence by Dan Abnett
- Barathrum by Jonathan Curren
- Suffer Not the Unclean to Live by Gav Thorpe
- The Lives of Ferag Lion-Wolf by Barrington J. Bayley
Playing Patience
By Dan Abnett
KILL THEM ALL!
- Snares & Delusions by Matthew Farrer
- Apothecary's Honour by Simon Jowett
- Unthinking Justice by Andras Millward
- Battle of the Archaeosaurs by Barrington J. Bayley
- The Wrath of Khârn by William King
- Into the Maelstrom by Chris Pramas
