Audio Review // Distant Echoes of Old Night by Rob Sanders

Time for some Death Guard action in my ongoing Horus Heresy short-story listening schedule! It's been a while since we've had some proper Death Guard. And no, I'm not counting those hiding away on Luna! So let's jump straight in and see what Rob Sanders has in store for us.

The Details

Title: Distant Echoes of Old Night
Author: Rob Sanders
Format: Short story
Originally published in: Games Day Anthology 2012/2013

The Blurb

Death Guard Chaplain Murnau has shot down an Imperial Fists vessel on a dismal backwater world, and the forces under his command are closing in on the wreckage. With his mission clear in his mind — leave no survivors — Murnau unleashes one of his Legion's most deadly units: the fearsome and infamous Destroyers.

The Review

Now, this story feels a little bit like a miniature promo piece. Hear me out! Up until this point, we've heard relatively little about the Destroyer squads of the Space Marine Legions. We've had the odd character pop up here and there, but the Destroyers themselves haven't exactly been taking centre stage. In fact, given where we are in the Horus Heresy, you could argue that these units are living on borrowed time. And yet, here we are, with a whole force of them ready to step out of the shadows and show us what they're capable of, and bloody hell, what a way to make an entrance!

The story follows Death Guard Chaplain Murnau, who's been tasked with wiping out the last pockets of Imperial Fists resistance aboard a vessel that's crashed onto a feral world. The planet itself has conveniently been subjected to a bombardment of biological weapons, adding another layer of misery to an already grim situation. Death Guard? Check. Imperial Fists? Check. Bio-weapons? Check.

We're definitely seeing a theme here!

What follows is a brutal tale of close-quarters combat, with Murnau and his Destroyers hunting down the surviving Imperial Fists. The setting does a great job of adding to the tension, with claustrophobic environments and the constant sense that danger is lurking just around the next corner. It's a proper grimdark scrap, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For me, the real appeal of Distant Echoes of Old Night is the opportunity to learn more about the Destroyers. These are the Legion's specialists in chemical, biological and radiological warfare…the warriors you unleash when conventional methods aren't enough, or when you simply want to make absolutely certain that nothing survives. They're a fascinating part of the Legions, and Sanders does a great job of putting them front and centre. Rather than just giving us a passing mention or a character cameo, we get to see a force of Destroyers doing what they do best, and that's what makes this story feel like a miniature promo piece. It gives us a taste of what these units can do, shows off their particular brand of battlefield horror, and leaves you wanting to know more. Which, to be fair, is exactly what a good little showcase should do.

A Very Enjoyable Short Story

Rob Sanders does a great job of keeping things moving. There's enough going on to keep me interested, and I found myself wondering what was going to happen next. The close-quarters fighting works particularly well, and the grim setting gives the whole thing a suitably oppressive atmosphere. It's a story that knows what it wants to be and gets on with it. My only real gripe is that, just as things get interesting, we're left wanting more.

I'd happily spend more time with Murnau and his Destroyers. There's plenty of potential here, both in the characters and in the wider story of these specialist units. But for now, we're left with a tantalising glimpse rather than a deeper exploration, and sadly, I suspect that's where the story of this character will end for us.

Final Thoughts

Distant Echoes of Old Night is a very enjoyable little slice of Horus Heresy action. It's brutal, claustrophobic, and gives the Death Guard's Destroyers a chance to step into the spotlight. For me, that alone makes it worth the listen. I've been wanting to see more of these units, and Sanders does a cracking job of showing why they're such a terrifying prospect on the battlefield.

It might feel a little like a showcase for a miniature range, but when the subject is this interesting, I'm not complaining too much! I just wish we'd had a little more time with them.

What did you think of Distant Echoes of Old Night? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers for reading, and I'll see you on the next adventure.