Editor’s Introduction

Christian Dunn

So I’ve just finished going over the running order for this anthology (or should that be uber-anthology?) and there’s so much I want to say.

Should I tell you about the time that I was literally an hour away from the submissions deadline for issue 22 of Inferno! and still a story down when the mail arrived containing CL Werner’s synopsis for “A Choice of Hatreds”? It blew us all away and was commissioned on the spot (thanks Clint!).

Or should I tell you about how Robert Earl’s “Rattenkrieg” was originally rejected by an over-zealous assistant editor only to be rescued when another staff member read the synopsis and realised how great the twist is (it’s on page 429 but at least do me the decency of finishing this introduction before you rush off and read it)?

I could tell you how happy I am that most of the stories that were commissioned to keep on the shelf for Inferno! (see, I learned my lesson from issue 22) have now finally been committed to print in this volume.

I could also tell you that because I didn’t get to write a farewell editorial for Inferno!, I’m ecstatic to finally have the chance to thank Marco and all of the authors and artists for making it such a success for so many years.

Would it be worth mentioning how, like a gym teacher whose protégé goes on to win the FIFA golden boot or Heismann Trophy, how proud I am that many of these authors have gone on to become top-selling novelists for the Black Library and other publishers and imprints?

Maybe I could tell you that although I miss Inferno! like a faithful family pet or a kidney, it’s great to see the tradition of uncovering new talent being continued through the Black Library short story competitions.

I could even tell you that these thirty-six stories represent the finest writing from almost a decade of Warhammer short fiction and will take you on a journey from the heartland of the Empire to the madness-inducing landscape of the Chaos Wastes.

Or maybe I should just step away from the keyboard and just let you read the stories?

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.