Review: Man of Iron

Man of Iron by Guy Haley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There was a lore youtuber, who once mentioned something to the effect of how, Warhammer as a whole, was a story about the defeat of civilizations, who tried to master the galaxy, but at some point, fell from grace.

This is true for most races; the necrons, Aeldari, Old Ones, and to a lesser extent, the currently devolved mindless war-mongering oks, or the rabid tyranid who're suspiciously fleeing from something.

Humanity's fall being the prime force of the setting, with what following the Dark age of Technology (DOAT), saw them fall from the zenith of their existence, through a series of catastrophic, reality rendering event.

We as readers know little as to the exact events which transpired during the DOAT, seeing as how they're little to no actual stories set during the period. Those fictional characters inhabiting the galaxy, know even less, their lives occupied by indoctrination, technological regression, and a It constant battle for survival.

So, it is fascinating to read stories featuring remnants from that age. Especially one from the dubious and almost apocryphal faction knows as the 'Men of Iron'. Automatons/ Abominable synthetic intelligences, which contributed to the fall of humanity by eliciting the Cybernetic revolt.

While this is a short story, in just a couple of scenes, it gives a brief glimpse at the marvelous embodiment of long-lost technology, which makes most present-day tech from the Imperium of Mankind, look like a steam engine comparing to a nuclear reactor.

It reminded me in some places to the equally engaging All Systems Red, murder Bot series, with similar motivations of the automaton that serves as the protagonist.

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