Helsreach Finale – A Warhammer 40k Story

The final episode of the Warhammer 40k fan film created by writer/director Richard Boylan. People, this is a one-man effort! Outstanding! Two exclamations in one sentence? That’s right! No, make that three. This homage to the novel “Helsreach” by author Aaron Dembski-Bowden is a beautiful thing to behold. Boylan used the Helsreach” audiobook narration as a voiceover for the thirteen-part film. Alternating between shadowy black and white and color, the stylistic approach to the film highlights the harsh realities of war and the valor, blood, and guts and human connection that play out on the battlefield.

If you are new to the story start here (Parts 1 through 10): Helsreach 1 through 10

Then watch them in this order Part Eleven, Part Twelve, and the finale above, Part Thirteen.

We are judged in life for the evil we destroy. It is a bleak truth that there is nothing but blood awaiting us in the spaces between the stars, but the emperor sees all that transpires in his domain, and we are judged equally for the illumination we bring to the blackest nights. We are judged in life for those moments we spill light into the darkest reaches of his imperium. Your world taught me this. Your world and the war that brought me here.

~Grimaldus, Reclusiarch of the Black Templars

Download Edge of Darkness Today!

Just added the Sci-Fi eBook “Edge of Darkness” to the Offworlders’ Bookstore as a free download.

Here is a copy of Vikki Romano‘s biography:

I’ve been a fan of science fiction for most of my life, but stumbling upon Asimov, Le Guin, and Gibson in my early teens shaped what love of the genre I have today.

And what I know of Sci-Fi was only magnified once the dot-com revolution began in the early 80s. I had always had an interest in technology, about data, about how things worked and so my tech career started early setting up networks at IBM, working on satellite projects for Lockheed Aerospace, and later becoming a database engineer and IT supervisor for a few Fortune 500 firms.

And through all of this, one thing remained consistent – my love for Sci-Fi melded with my need to write. No matter the job I had at the time, writing was always grounding for me. It helped me to vent my ideas and my dreams of where technology could go, about where it could take us. And through my stories, I hope to help others find a love of what first sparked my imagination.

~ Vikki Romano

You can download her novel here: Edge of Darkness

Coolest thing you will see today…

Created by Christian Johnson, a character artist, animator, and director, this beauty was created for the History Channel Canada as a war documentary depicting the Martian invasion as depicted in H. G. Wells War of the Worlds. Set in the midst of World War 1, this short is a visual masterpiece. Let me know what you think in the comments below…

Directed by Steve Maher (Impossible Factual) and Christian Johnson of Plazma Design.

Music:  “88” by Working for a Nuclear Free City.

Helsreach X by Richard Boylan

Part ten of a freaking incredible fan homage to the Warhammer 40K franchise. The series uses high-quality voiceover work from the audiobook Helsreach, and some amazing graphics work by Richard Boylan, Cinematic Designer at Bioware, to paint a picture of war that’s so radical I am still trying to get the grit out of my teeth. The story follows Grimaldus, Reclusiarch of the Black Templars, and the defense of Hive Helsreach from a large scale Ork invasion. Fighting alongside the Templars is Legio Invigilata and the 101st Armageddon Steel Legion.

If you like Richard’s work on Helsreach, he asks that you “consider purchasing the novel or audiobook to support Games Workshop.” That is what I plan to do by buying a few novels at Black Library. If you are new to this series of Warhammer fan films go here and start from the beginning: Richard Boylan.

Let me know what you think of the film?

Enjoy!

Helsreach Warhammer 40K Fan Film Series by Richard Boylan

Bioware Cinematic Designer Richard Boylan’s fan homage to the novel “Helsreach” by author Aaron Dembski-Bowden is flat-out amazing. This is an unofficial fanwork that utilizes the “Helsreach” audiobook narration as a voiceover for the short, and the film is a true work of art that is both entertaining and visually stimulating. The use of a barebones black and white stylistic approach to filmmaking greatly enhances the film’s take on the harsh realities of war. The story features Grimaldus, Reclusiarch of the Black Templars, and his defense of the Hive Helsreach from an all-out Ork invasion with the assistance of the Titans of Legio Invigilata, and the 101st Armageddon Steel Legion. Amazing series of videos even if you are like me and have never followed Warhammer.

Here are the first five videos for you to enjoy:

• Made with Source Filmmaker.
• Music and sound effects provided by Audiojungle