Trollslayer (Warhammer Gotrek & Felix 1) [Paperback]

William King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2003 | Series: Warhammer Gotrek & Felix 1

After fleeing the authorities in the Imperial city of Altdorf, Felix Jaeger swears a drunken oath to dour dwarf Gotrek Gurnisson to record his death saga. In the cold light of day, Felix's worst fears are confirmed as he learns that Gotrek is a Trollslayer - a dwarf doomed to seek out a heroic death in battle to atone for an unknown personal disgrace. Their travels throw them into a string of extraordinary adventures as Felix tries to survive his companion's destiny.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The finely crafted adventures of two very differrent characters.' - SFX 'A very gripping tale.' - Starlog

About the Author

William King was born in Stranraer, Scotland, in 1959. His short stories have appeared in 'The Year's best SF', 'Zenith', 'White Dwarf', and 'Interzone'. He is also the author of seven Gotek & Felix novels: 'Trollslayer', 'Skavenslayer', 'Daemonslayer', 'Dragonslayer', 'Beastslayer', Vampireslayer' and 'Giantslayer', four volumes chronicling the adventures of the Space Marine warrior, Ragnar: 'Space Wolf', 'Ragnar's Claw', 'Grey Hunter' and 'Wolfblade', as well as the Warhammer 40,000 novel 'Farseer'. He has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, but currently lives in Prague.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Black Library; 2nd edition (April 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844160025
• ISBN-13: 978-1844160020
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,881,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where it all started. Felix & Gotrek's collected early tales, May 30, 2004

By 

Vorthog (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trollslayer (A Gotrek & Felix novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

I started reading the Felix & Gotrek series with the third book "Daemonslayer" and continued on with a couple more before deciding to come and check out the previous ones I had missed.

This book is the very first in the series, and collects the short stories William King published about the pair in various Games Workshop magazines and anthologies before he began writing full-length novels about them.

Since I was used to the novels, I was a bit apprehensive that the short story format might not be as enjoyable or might not allow for as much story development. But it turns out I worried for nothing. -- As usual, FELIX & GOTREK ROCK!

I was expecting the very first story to show the actual events which brought the two heroes together, but instead King picks up the tale some time later, after they have been on the road a while.

Although these stories were originally written as individual stand-alone pieces, in fact they do follow an ongoing and logically progressing geographical trail for the pair, so in a way they are linked. Thus rather than seeming disjointed, it felt something like watching an episodic movie where the screen fades completely to black for a moment, then picks up the action some time later and a little further down the road. It all seemed like one long and very enjoyable Dark Age-ish "road movie".

-- And what a road it is! From ugly deformed mutants to wolf-riding orcs, to werewolves, to Chaos warriors and beastmen, to foul and nameless things that dwell in the dark bowels of the earth -- they meet them all in this one!

As I say, since they are on the move throughout this book, it has a different feel from some other entries in the series where they are stationary in one location throughout, such as "Skavenslayer" and "Beastslayer". And the multitude and variety of foes they face seemed to make it even more interesting than usual for me. A couple of the stories towards the end seemed a little weak and predictable, but overall I still loved the book.

Now "Stand back, Manling", and let me get on to my next Felix & Gotrek book!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The sum of its parts, March 31, 2000

By 

Jon Hancock (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trollslayer (A Gotrek & Felix novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

More of a themed anthology than a novel, "Trollslayer" has the verve and energy of the old pulp barbarian stories blended fairly successfully with the depth and intelligence of post-Tolkien or Moorcock fiction. William King has done a fine job of presenting the Warhammer setting without sounding too much like an encyclopaedia. Stories based upon games are frequently awful (TSR, anybody?) and it was a distinguishing feature of Games Workshop's publishing efforts that they often rose above their origins. Even the obligatory fantasy cliches seem fresh when penned by Mr. King. Good to see these books being reprinted at last.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great hack and slash story, with emotion and thought too, March 2, 2000

By 

"captainclive" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trollslayer (A Gotrek & Felix novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

Bill did a great job on this. They are his short stories compiled in a book, as well as the 2nd part, Skavenslayer. So the chapters as pretty long. however, i found each part of the book to be interesting and fun. The characters are intense, and so is the action. Not to mention that it has a lot of funny moments. I recomend all three of the slayer books, that take place in the great Warhammer world..