Warped Stars — Ian Watson

WARHAMMER 40,000 SHORT STORIES

FULLY SIX METRES high, the creature stood on four splayed, spider-like legs of scything blades that cut the air with a deadly grace. Its vicious gash of a slobbering mouth was filled with hundreds of serrated, chisel-like teeth and its skin was a grotesque, oily texture - the colour of rotten meat. Where the metal of the dreadnought's hide was still visible, it was coloured an all too familiar shade of dark green. And upon its shoulder was the symbol of the Dark Angels. Whatever this creature was, it had once been a Space Marine.

IN THE NIGHTMARE future of the 41st Millennium, galaxies burn in the fires of eternal war. Fighting for its very survival, humanity must battle a myriad heretical alien races, but the most dangerous enemies of all are the Conner champions of mankind itself, perverted by the foul taint of Chaos.

This classic science fiction anthology was first published by Games Workshop in the late 1980s and richly deserves its cult reputation. Finally made available once more in this expanded edition with three new tales, it includes superb dark SF stories by Dan Abnett, Storm Constantine, William King, Neil McIntosh, Graham McNeill, Charles Stross, Gav Thorpe St Ian Watson.