Blood on the Reik: A Journey Through the Old World [Paperback]

David Gallagher (Author), Matt Ralphs (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

The lands of the Empire are savage and wild, and are inhabited by strange folk and untameable beasts. From burgeoning cities to lonely villages, from rivers to mountains, life passes for the many and varied denizens of the Empire. This beautiful, landscape format art book collects together never before published sketches and drawings, detailing the rich and dangerous world of Warhammer. To accompany these fabulous pictures is descriptive text, as written by one who has travelled the length and breadth of the land, to create an invaluable document - in words and images - about the dangerous realms of men, and the beasts that lurk in dark places.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Blanche has been a driving force in Games Workshop and his art is at the core of the appeal of the games and miniatures for over twenty years. He continues working to further develop the high standards of Games Workshop's visual imagery as the Art Director of the Design Studio. David Gallagher is one of Games Workshop's most long-standing and talented artists who's work has been used on more game and publication covers than any other. He has rendered some of the most action-packed and visually striking representations of the conflict-torn fantasy world. Matt Ralphs works as an editor for the Black Library and lives in Nottingham. He has previously written the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844160971
• ISBN-13: 978-1844160976
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,899,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Failed not by its vision but by its visage., July 2, 2005

By 

John T. Miller IV (Columbus, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blood on the Reik: A Journey Through the Old World (Paperback)

Dark, mature, gritty, desperate, sinister, Machiavellian, detailed. All of these words do not describe Blood on the Reik. They do however apply to the world that we were told Blood on the Reik would reveal to us: the world of Warhammer Fantasy. Many of us who are aware of this setting with its rabid fans spread throughout Europe, its dozens of well written novels, its own miniature based fantastically popular war game, and its unique but recognizable world have long searched for a way to introduce our friends to the setting. We have searched for a way to grant them, with but a glance, the same fascination that we have.

Blood on the Reik promised to give us this. It is surely cleverly conceived. It was pitched as a work that will give us the sweeping visuals that have so inspired fans of the Warhammer world, focused on the largest nation of humanity, the glorious Empire. Blood on the Reik is presented not as a work of fiction but as work that might be found within the world of Warhammer. Reik's exterior appears as if it was a folio produced in the halls of Altdorf, capital city of the Empire. Every facet of its exterior oozes the setting. From the exterior inscriptions, comments from the "author" and its claim of having "12 Color Plates and 260 Representations this work is, one the surface, an immersive experience.

Presented as a work by Altdorf resident Tobias Helmgart, an author and traveler who compiled this book during his crossings and experiences throughout the Old World, Blood on the Reik fails to live up to its exterior. This is principally due to the artwork of John Blanche. The aforementioned color "plates" (an anachronistic term for full-color photo) are all his work and are truly vile to behold. The sketches are done, alternatively, by Blanche and long-time Games-Workshop artist David Gallagher. Where we have Gallagher (who to be fair comprises most of them) we have success, where we find Blanche's drawings we find little more than the etchings you might expect on a cave man's wall.

The text, what little there is does pass muster and should be applauded save for the fact that there isn't enough of it.

It's a shame that for many months this was the sole art-book for the Warhammer Fantasy world. Thankfully the recently released Darkness Rising: A Complete History of the Storm of Chaos learned from the mistakes of Blood on the Reik. It has the flavor, the immersive setting, detail, and beautiful artwork. Unless you are a true collector buy it and not this.,

4 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Art book for a cancelled game, April 4, 2005

By 

Jason Durall - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blood on the Reik: A Journey Through the Old World (Paperback)

I'm not sure about the quality of the art book, but the online game was cancelled. The link provided above goes to a page providing that information. The art book, then, is an interesting curio, an "almost was" snapshot of a game killed due to publisher disinterest.