Black Library
A reprint of Drachenfels is a part of the opening for Games Workshop’s recently announced Warhammer
Horror line. Originally published in 1989, the book was one of the earliest
pieces of Warhammer fiction,
predating even Black Library. Written
by esteemed horror novelist Kim Newman under the penname Jack Yeovil, the book
told the tale of the titular “Great Enchanter” and the adventurers who slew
him. 25 years after their apparent victory, the traumatized survivors of that
quest gather for a play recounting their triumph. Unfortunately, Drachenfels'
dark powers are so great that they extend from beyond the grave...
While it has some issues, Drachenfels is in most respects the gold standard of Warhammer fiction. It has a fleshed out cast and a compelling
villain. That's coupled with a complete narrative arc, which includes a satisfying and
uncharacteristically upbeat ending. The novel fully explores Warhammer Fantasy’s setting, while
providing enough context to stand on its own. All in all, it's a competently crafted story. Drachenfels has a lot more intelligence
than you'd expect from licensed fiction, even if can be a little too obvious at times.
Many recommend Drachenfels
as an introduction to Warhammer
Fantasy’s setting and with good reason. The book fully realized the grimy world of
political intrigue, strange magic, and brutal carnage previously established in magazines,
army books, and RPG supplements. Drachenfels examines crucial concepts like
the gods, Imperial politics, Sigmar, mutation, and even the alien Slann’s hand
in shaping the Warhammer World. But most impressively, it puts all of it in a
grounded context that still does those concepts justice. Part of what
distinguished Warhammer Fantasy’s setting
from so many other tabletop games was how the world felt like one people
actually lived in.
