The Broken Lance (Warhammer Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Nathan Long (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warhammer Novels | Publication Date: November 29, 2005

A deserted outpost...A cry for help...or a trap! In the second book of the "Black Hearts series", Reiner and his band of reprobates are given a new mission. All communications with a vital Imperial border fort have been lost, and they are sent to find out what's going on - has the commander gone rogue, or are more sinister forces at work! The memorable rogues from last year's Valnir's Bane return with another tale of bravery and treachery. Reiner and his fellow criminals are back with another suicide mission. Can their luck hold out once more!

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is Warhammer in its most dark and brutal glory.' - RPG United 'Pure blood and adventure. A fast-paced hustle through the brutish world of Warhammer.' - Black Gate

About the Author

Nathan Long has worked as a sreenwriter for fifteen years, during which time he has had three movies made and a handful of live-action and animated TV episodes produced. He has also writted several award-winning short stories. When these lofty pursuits have failed to make him a living, he has also been a taxi driver, graphic designer, dishwasher and lead singer for a rockabilly band. He lives in Hollywood.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (November 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844162435
• ISBN-13: 978-1844162437
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nathan Long is a screen and prose writer, with two movies, one Saturday-morning adventure series, and a handful of live-action and animated TV episodes to his name, as well as ten fantasy novels and several award-winning short stories.

He hails from Pennsylvania, where he grew up, went to school, and played in various punk and rock-a-billy bands, before following his writing dreams to Hollywood - where he now plays in various punk and country bands - and writes novels full time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood, Guts and Trad Tragedy, January 13, 2006

By 

D. Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Broken Lance (Warhammer Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a long-time reader of Nathan Long's work (no pun intended, but it's rather nice, no?) and a noisy fan his first Blackhearts novel, Valnir's Bane, I thought I knew what to expect from this book. An anti-hero who schemes and winces and reluctantly -- sometimes accidentally -- makes smart choices. A misfit or two so maladroit and creepy that I want them to die. At least one horrible quandary that makes me think uncomfortable thoughts. And huge, gory battle scenes involving every bashing tool but the kitchen sink (oh, wait, there's a skaven just getting bashed over the head with a kitchen sink). Did I get what I expected? Absolutely! In overflowing pagefuls. Pages full? Anyway, in heaps and heaps.

I expected to like most of the characters. What I did not expect was to admire any of them. What I did not expect was a hero. And Long, damn his eyes, wrote a hero into this book. A traditionally tragic hero, to boot. So right in the middle of all my glee at the gore, I was also smearing away tears at moments of pathos.

Nathan Long, I hate you. Do it again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthy, March 1, 2006

By 

Aaron Long (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Broken Lance (Warhammer Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Nathan shows an excellent knack for complex plotting, especially for creating situations in which his characters are pulled in multiple directions by various loyalties and predilections. In The Broken Lance almost everyone is contemplating betraying everyone else, which results in a lot of enjoyable tension between the characters and suspense in the reader. It is a page turner. However, and I realize this is a sword and sorcery novel, at some points I found myself wishing the action scenes would get done with so as to get onto the more interesting plot considerations. On the other hand, that's probably just be my own preference. Action junkies likely will not be disappointed.