Audio Review // Eye of Terra: Stratagem by Nick Kyme

This is the third title in the Aeonid Thiel series of short stories. I actually listened to this one before Red-Marked, but chose to review them in chronological order instead. With that said, let's dive in.

Book Details

Title:Stratagem
Author: Nick Kyme
Narrators: Gareth Armstrong, Jonathan Keeble & Ian Brooker

Blurb

After returning from Calth and the Underworld War, Sergeant Aeonid Thiel is summoned before his primarch, Roboute Guilliman. The fragile peace of Imperium Secundus is threatened by traitor warbands left behind by the Shadow Crusade, and a new order of battle must be written...

One of the great strengths of the Horus Heresy series is seeing the people and events that shape the 41st Millennium. Few characters are more influential than Sergeant Aeonid Thiel and Roboute Guilliman. Alongside these iconic heroes, this audio drama also gives us a glimpse at the origins of what will become one of the most important books in the Imperium.

Performed by: Gareth Armstrong, Ian Brooker & Jonathan Keeble
Sound Design and Music: Richard Fox & Lauren Yason
Running Time: 21 minutes

Review

So, we've reached the third and final Aeonid Thiel story from Nick Kyme, and it's a satisfying conclusion to this little trilogy. As I mentioned in my previous review, I actually listened to Stratagem before Red-Marked, which unfortunately meant I spoiled parts of that story for myself. If you're working through these, I'd definitely recommend sticking to the chronological order.

Stratagem picks up after the events of Know No Fear, Censure, The Unremembered Empire, and Red-Marked, following Thiel as he returns to Macragge and is finally summoned before his Primarch, Roboute Guilliman. Their meeting centres on Thiel's actions during the Shadow Crusade and what his future within the Ultramarines Legion will look like.

What I enjoyed most was seeing Guilliman's character develop. He's often portrayed as rigid and methodical, but here we see a leader willing to admit when he was wrong. Thiel's unconventional thinking, once considered worthy of censure, is now recognised as exactly the kind of mindset the Imperium will need to survive the wars to come. The story also plants the seeds for two iconic pieces of Warhammer 40,000 lore. We get early hints at the creation of the Codex Astartes, and we witness the symbolic shift of the red helmet, from a mark of censure to a badge of honour and leadership. As a long-time Warhammer fan, these moments were particularly rewarding.

At just over twenty minutes, Stratagem doesn't overstay its welcome. It's a simple character piece, but an effective one, and it rounds off Thiel's journey nicely. The only question left is... have we truly reached the end of Aeonid Thiel's story?

I certainly hope not.