‘Blood Harvest’ – Richard Swan (Black Library)


Page Count: 33 Pages

I’ve really been enjoying the Tyranid short stories that have come out of Black Library recently (it’s almost like there’s a new edition of Warhammer 40K out or something…) and I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Swan’s ‘The Justice of Kings’ so when I saw that Swan had written a Tyranids tale… Well, that was an easy purchase and a quick read while I was waiting for a blood test on Friday (insert ‘Blood Harvest’ joke here). As always, short stories mean shorter posts than normal so without further ado…

As Hive Fleet Kraken approaches their home world of Raphaela, Mukta Lim and his fellow conscripts prepare for the worst. However, the arrival of a Tempestus Scion with an important piece of information for the sectors commander may just alter their fate. For the better? Who can say...

Another Tyranid short story that I couldn’t put down until it was done and there was nothing left to read. You can’t ask for any more than that and Swan delivers in fine style; if he ever writes anything longer in the 40K universe, I’d definitely give it a read.

The key to writing good Tyranid fiction seems to be to not stint on the chitin and teeth but more importantly, make sure that you have well drawn characters to hang the plot off. Tyranids are awesome and all but 33 pages of them just eating would be slightly nauseating but just a little dull at the same time. Swan knew this already and packs a lot of character development into a short space. We’ve got full on ‘bug action’, everyone who has written one of these books is clearly an ‘Aliens’ fan and it shows here, in all the best ways. We also have Mukta Lim though, on a journey that won’t make him a hero but will help him die on his feet if nothing else. And while I don’t want to give too much away, it’s also really heartening to see another character take a journey that will remind them who they are really fighting for and where best to take a stand. In this grimdark universe of the most bloody human regime imaginable, it’s a real refreshing change to see a writer who roots for the little guy.

Vicious, bloody but somehow uplifting at the same time… I’m really glad I gave ‘Blood Harvest’ a shot. And it’s reminded me that I really need to get round to reading ‘The Tyranny of Faith’ as well...

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