Parting of the Ways

BLACK LIBRARY HALL OF FAME: DECEMBER 2016
"Chris Wraight's Space Wolves audio drama 'Parting of the Ways' is a true Black Library classic. What makes it special is that it uses the audio medium to its fullest, doing things a short story or novella can't.

Firstly, there's the fantastic sound design: from the thrilling opening scene as Bjorn fights – and is mortally wounded by – a huge daemon, to the mjod-sodden atmosphere of Fenris, to the forges beneath the Space Wolves home world, the drama is full of glorious aural details that bring the universe of Warhammer 40,000 to life.

 Then there's the acting. Highlights include Ian Brooker as Leman Russ, who delivers an epic and awe-inspiring monologue in front of his sons. Jonathan Keeble, who plays Bjorn, gives a performance that veers from terse and angry, to melancholy and resigned. He manages to get right inside the mind of the Fell-Handed – a character not only wounded from his encounter with the daemon, but also mentally scarred from being left behind on Fenris by his primarch.

All the above stems from Chris Wraight's brilliant script: a tightly written, tense, exciting and, at times, moving tale. The story switches time-frames: from post-Heresy – just before Russ' disappearance – to years later, as Bjorn searches for his lost father. And eventually, we are privileged to witness Bjorn's interment in his famed Dreadnought.

Never given an audio drama a try? Listen to this and be blown away."

– Matt Renshaw, Black Library Audio Producer

THE STORY
Abandoned by his primarch and left to lead the Space Wolves into an uncertain future, Bjorn the Fell-Handed is amongst the greatets of the sons of Russ. But even legends must fall, and when Bjorn meets his end on a distant world, his body broken beyond repair, his brothers battle to save him and he remembers the events that brought him to this place... and realises his destiny.

Written by Chris Wraight