Long before tackling the Doom of Gotrek Gurnisson in Kinslayer and Slayer, David Guymer’s first contribution to the saga of Gotrek and Felix was the short story The Tilean’s Talisman. First published in Hammer & Bolter Issue 14, and then in Gotrek & Felix: The Anthology, it sees devious skaven Siskritt attempting to steal a magical item of great power – the titular talisman – from a Tilean merchant, while the tavern around him burns. It’s a plan of typical skaven brilliance, using a bigger assault on the human city as cover for Siskritt’s own agenda, but the one thing he didn’t plan for was the presence of a certain belligerent dwarf Slayer and his human companion.
Told almost entirely from Siskritt’s point of view, it’s a little unconventional as Gotrek and Felix stories go but it works, especially as there’s a definite overlap in tone between this series and anything featuring skaven. Guymer has gone on to do great work with the nefarious ratmen in various other stories, but it’s clear even from this that he has a good handle on their speech and general tone. Whether gnawing on his sword with worry or pushing fellow clanrats onto waiting blades, Siskritt is every bit the scheming manipulator, even if – despite his grand dreams – he’s not quite the master strategist he considers himself to be. With relatively little of Gotrek and Felix themselves and a slightly unusual structure this might not be to everyone’s taste, but anyone looking for a different angle on these characters and a fun story of skaven sneakiness (and, ultimately, ineptitude) should find much to enjoy.
See also: other Gotrek and Felix-related reviews and interviews on Track of Words.
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