Teaser

Varangantua is a city on edge. Death stalks the streets, and you don’t have to be a criminal to fear the law. if there’s one thing this city is in no short supply of, it’s killers . . .

Review

When you take into my account my general dislike of dystopias, it may sound strange to hear me continually singing the praises of Warhammer 40,000. It is, after all, one of the most thoroughly depressing universes to exist in. yet it has an undeniable appeal to me, and few parts of the setting exemplify that like Warhammer Crime. The latest anthology, Once a Killer, is a perfect example of what makes this series work for me.

Following on from five novels, four other anthologies, and an audio drama, we are now familiar with the city of Varangantua. Those prior stories have shown us the dastardly criminals, and the flawed law keepers who pursue them. What Once a Killer does differently is show us a broader spectrum of the city’s population. Law and order, crime and punishment, these all have a part to play, but here we see that no matter what you do in this city, there’s no escaping the crime, especially crime of the violent kind.

All the stories in this collection are good, but for me there are three that stand out. three back-to-back stories that showcase Varangantua at its finest. The first of these is ‘Slate Run,’ by Mike Brooks. In this we see the upper classes of Varangantua, and the less-than-savoury members of society that they employ. It’s a story that lifts us above the grimy streets, yet shows us that the higher levels of the city are really no different. Replace the gangs with noble families, and the conflicts remain much the same.

Then there is Victoria Hayward’s ‘No City for Heroes,’ which asks that question we’ve all wondered from time to time: What of somebody murdered Batman? Given what we’ve seen of the law in the Crime range to date, it makes sense that there would be vigilantes out there too, and the self-titled Avenging Son serves a double purpose. On the one hand, he’s a man trying to do the right thing, but can only save by killing. At the same time, his pseudonym is a stark reminder of just how far removed from the mythic heroes of Terra the average Imperial citizen is.

The third of this trilogy of wonders is Denny Flowers’ ‘Clear as Glass.’ It’s another stark reminder of the fragility of Warhammer’s domestic aspects, and proves just how little the average Varangantuan knows about the outside world. We modern readers may say that ignorance is bliss, but in these stories ignorance is terrifying. After all, there are monsters out there in the stars. Not all are human, and even being a killer might not be enough to save you.

Yes, Varangantua is a dystopia. Life is ground away to nothing, and even the best of people can be forced into misery by their own actions. That’s not the point of this collection though. It’s not here to wallow in misery. Nor is it here to suggest that a casting off of the shackles is possible. Varangauntua, like the Imperium, like death itself, is not a force to be stopped, or fought, or celebrated. It simply is. What you do with that revelation, is up to you.

Book Stats

• Part of the Warhammer Crime Range
• Contains 8 short stories
• Published in 2023 by Black Library
• 307 pages