Gaunt’s Ghosts Review

Commissar Gaunt is a fascinating leader. Not afraid to lead, not afraid to do what’s right, and often beset with enemies from within. In this omnibus collection of stories, the reader is taken through some of the early trials of Colonel Commissar Ibram Gaunt including the pivotal event of leading the evacuation of Tanith’s first and only regiment during the first founding of troops for the Imperium.

During the course of the stories, one sees the aftereffects of those early events, as the Tanith face regular and constant battles, often hidden and underappreciated, revealing some of the early influences of Gaunt’s character development, with Gaunt building his reputation as a successful leader and battling against forces both within and without.

This initial set of stories featuring Gaunt is a must read for any Warhammer 40K fan who wishes to dive deeper and understand how the Imperium operates, the sometimes-treacherous politics that interferes and the personal battles that Gaunt faces. Gaunt’s world is often a lonely one. Faced with the ghosts of the past as befits the nickname of the Tanith, Gaunt must rise to the challenge to ensure the survival of not just him but the Tanith First and Only, a highly skilled and dedicated force often subject to prejudice and treated as pawns for the benefit of others. But it goes beyond that too as the future of worlds, even sectors are at risk from the corrupting powers.

But Gaunt succeeds and the reader will marvel at how a commissar can do so, winning the respect of his forces, understand how to motivate and rally his Tanith, and they are his, and succeed against sometimes overwhelming odds.

Gaunt’s Ghosts: The Founding is also a great inspiration for anyone wishing to roleplay in the brutal domain that is the 40K universe, with great stories for campaign or character inspiration. There is good degree of varied stories and they are easy to read and follow even if new to the 40K universe. There is also the humanity, the sadness of loss and the inspiration of heroism. Gaunt’s Ghosts is well worth the read.