QUICK REVIEW: Grandfather’s Gift – Guy Haley

Day One of 2017’s Black Library Summer of Reading campaign

Unexpectedly branded as a Horus Heresy Primarchs series short story (the first one ever!), Grandfather’s Gift by Guy Haley is an entertaining and surprisingly light tale of Mortarion, primarch of the Death Guard. After waking within the Garden of Nurgle with no memory of how he got there, Mortarion sets off along its paths to discover – or maybe rediscover – how he came to be there, while marvelling at the wonders he sees along the way. To avoid giving anything away let’s just say he’s not alone in the Garden, and during his time there we gain an insight into his place within Nurgle’s ranks.

While this technically doesn’t take place during, or even before, the Heresy (well…time is tricksy within the Warp…) it fits the Primarchs series in tone, being an interesting exploration of Mortarion’s character without necessarily focusing on a specific wider story arc. After Haley’s recent novel Dark Imperium he’s clearly got the bug (sorry) for Nurgle, gleefully describing the flora and fauna of this most unusual garden, while also digging nicely into Mortarion’s fundamental internal conflicts. You won’t find heart-racing action here, but rather a cleverly told portrayal of an intriguing moment which bodes well for future depictions of Mortarion.

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6 comments

  1. I’m both excited ad confused by this unexpected ‘The Primarchs’ short story! How is this going to appear in print then?! Is there going to be a 19th volume in the series, an anthology of short stories? Or will this actually be included instead in a main Horus Heresy numbered anthology? Maybe it’s just one scene in proper Mortarion’s volume, perhaps due out after Ferrus’?

    Whatever their plans are for this, so long as they don’t leave it as digital only – I hate non-physical releases…!

      1. Ebooks are convenient, though…They’re not as nice an experience (in my opinion), but SO convenient.

    1. That was one of my first thoughts as well – my initial thought was that (on the assumption this isn’t the only Primarchs story, and we get more) there will be a Primarchs anthology, as I’m sure BL will apply the ‘all stories in all formats’ motto to the Primarchs as well as the main Heresy series. I doubt this will be included in the Mortarion book, although it’s possible – only time will tell, I guess!

      I still enjoy digital releases, but I know what you mean – there’s something lovely about having the physical book in your hands. And I’m a sucker, so I’ll buy both!

  2. I like both formats. Certain books I’ll buy in limited edition format – to read and to collect. I’ll buy others in standard hardback or paperback but the bulk of my new purchases are for my kindle. I started following the Heresy in small paperbacks in 2006 but nowadays almost every new release I get for that series is now an ebook.

    I do totally get the appeal of a physical edition though, that’s why I have a shelf full of them and will probably splurge when I go to an event like the weekender. But on the other hand I’d urge anyone to give a kindle a try, it’s a great piece of kit and I’m glad that Black Library are insuring the stories eventually come to all formats. Hope they continue that.

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