Chris Wraight’s Horus Heresy short story Two Metaphysical Blades is a strange beast, an episodic story about a matched pair of weapons and an unlikely pairing of characters, which spans the lifetime of the Imperium. From deep within the Earth prior to even the founding of the Imperium and then out across the galaxy, before returning to Terra for the Siege and its aftermath, this is the story of those two weapons and their wielders – “opposites…in some ways”. Wrapped in mystery and questions of destiny, it’s a tale whose complexity matches that of the two weapons’ creator.
Reading this is an unusual experience, as there isn’t really a single narrative. Instead, it’s a collection of scenes told from a historical, god’s eye perspective that are connected in equal parts by Wraight’s careful interweaving and the reader’s awareness and knowledge of Heresy and 40k lore. It’s beautifully written and thoughtfully constructed, and there’s an awful lot to process that will be best served by multiple careful readings, but it’s not necessarily meant to be read literally. Look elsewhere for straight answers, but if you’re after a mournful, evocative and thought-provoking story to get in the mood for the Siege of Terra then this is a great place to start (though best read after Wolfsbane).
Check out the main Horus Heresy page on Track of Words.
