The Lightning Tower
The Imperial Fists, Dorn and the Defence of Terra
A continuing route for Dorn, Sigismund and the Imperial Fists, from the Great Crusade and the defence of the Solar System to the legacy of their Chapters in M32. For the War of the Beast it collects supported Koorland, Fists Exemplar and Last Wall perspectives, not only actions on Terra. The Beast Arises route provides the complete twelve-novel order; this faction selection does not replace it. Repeated placements share one book and reading mark.
57 works · one selected story line
connecting to the catalogue · 0
primary secondary placements always shown read
Audio drama; later a short story2008
The Lightning Tower
Dan Abnett
WebwayConnected books↗
The Imperial Fists, Dorn and the Defence of Terraunbroken chronology · time runs left to right
date uncertaindate uncertain000.M31005.M31date uncertaindate uncertaindate uncertain100.M31200.M32546.M32
≈80 years compressed
≈1530 years compressed
Sigismund: Origins and OathsSigismund’s formation during the Great Crusade; several distinct episodes · 2
Night Crusade: Occluda Noctisc. 850s.M30 (estimate); exact year unknown · 1
Third Expedition: Refusal of Compliancemature Great Crusade, before the Heresy; exact year unknown · 1
Perturabo: A Lesson in Siegecraftafter 849.M30, before the Heresy; exact year unknown · 1
The Martian civil warThe Schism of Mars in the early Heresy; Mechanicum’s main narrative — c. 005.M31 · 3
Algonquis: the battle at the XanthusAfter the Death Guard’s open betrayal, before the Siege; exact year unknown · 1
Early defence of TerraEarly Heresy; dates and sequence vary between individual stories · 4
Clash between Terra’s defendersPreparations for Terra’s defence after the Heresy begins, approximately 006–009.M31 · 1
Phall: Battle and AftermathLate 006.M31 – early 007.M31; dating is disputed · 1
The First Siege of Hydra CordatusAfter Phall, before the expedition to Iydris; exact date unconfirmed · 2
Bodt and the Depths of Tredecimmia008.M31 — the Bodt campaign; sources also include earlier background · 1
Garro: The Phalanx MissionAfter Sword of Truth, before Ashes of Fealty; approximately mid-008.M31 · 1
The Interrogation of Solomon Voss on TitanTerra’s fortification after the Heresy begins · approximately 009–010.M31 · 1
Imperium SecundusAfter the founding of Secundus · before its dissolution · 1
The Battle for TallarnAround 010–011.M31 · 1
The Alpha Legion against the Solar System's DefencesMid/late 011.M31 · 1
The Battle of Pluto: Hydra’s DevastationLate Heresy, before the Siege of Terra · 1
Sotha and the PharosLate 010–011.M31: preludes, battle and aftermath · 1
The Axandria IV Incident012.M31 · Axandria IV campaign · 1
The Webway War and its aftermathApproximately 011.M31 to early 012.M31 · 1
Terra: Preparations for the SiegeBefore the invasion of the Sol System; individual stories have different dates · 3
Siege of CthoniaLate Heresy; the war for Cthonia, exact episode dates unknown · 5
The Signal for the Siege to BeginThe last hours before the Siege; approximately the turn of 013–014.M31 · 1
The Siege: The Solar WarDays 000–119.014.M31 · 1
The Siege: The Lost and the DamnedGround Siege; approximately days 119–286.014.M31 · 1
The Siege: The First WallThe Lion’s Gate campaign; approximately days 286–358.014.M31 · 1
The Siege: SaturnineThe Saturnine phase of the Siege: approximately days 358–393.014.M31; climax around day 390 · 1
Siege: the Legio Mortis offensiveMain assault: approximately days 393–404.014.M31; separate strands have no exact days · 1
Siege: the Khan’s counter-offensive and the recovery of Lion’s GateSiege: approximate campaign frame, 404–574.014.M31 · 1
Siege: the last stand at the Eternity GateSiege: approximate campaign frame, 574–588.014.M31 · 1
Siege finale: the Vengeful Spirit and TerraSiege finale · approximately 588–593.014.M31 · 3
Ardamantua and the rise of the Beast544.M32 · 2
The Terra crisis and the Last Wall544.M32 · 2
The counteroffensive and the first Ullanor assault544.M32 · 3
The founding of the Deathwatch and the second Ullanor assault545.M32 · 2
The third Ullanor campaign546.M32 · 1
The Beheading546.M32 · 1
date uncertain · 2 at this point
005.M31 · 4 at this point
date uncertain · 3 at this point
date uncertain · 2 at this point
date uncertain · 3 at this point
012.M31 · 2 at this point
date uncertain · 2 at this point
NovelUnmarkedRogal Dorn: The Emperor's CrusaderGav Thorpec. 850s.M30 (estimate); exact year unknowndate approximate
Short storyUnmarkedWill of the LegionAndy Clarkmature Great Crusade, before the Heresy; exact year unknowndate approximate
Short storyUnmarkedChampion of OathsJohn Frenchafter 835.M30, before the Heresy; exact year unknowndate approximate
Audio short storyUnmarkedPerturabo: Stone and IronRobbie MacNivenafter 849.M30, before the Heresy; exact year unknown↗date approximate
Audio drama; later a short story2008
The Lightning Tower
Dan Abnett
NovellaUnmarkedThe Crimson FistJohn FrenchLate 006.M31–early 007.M31, the Battle of Phalldate approximate
NovelUnmarkedAngel ExterminatusGraham McNeillAfter Phall, before the expedition to Iydris; exact date unconfirmed◎Placement note
Short storyUnmarkedDistant Echoes of Old NightRob SandersAfter the Death Guard’s open betrayal, before the Siege; exact year unknown↗date approximate
Short storyUnmarkedThe Last RemembrancerJohn FrenchVoss’s interrogation on Titan · approximately 009–010.M31date approximate
Short storyUnmarkedTraitor's FaithNoah Van NguyenLate Heresy; the war for Cthonia, exact episode dates unknown↗date approximate
Short storyUnmarkedSons of CthoniaJohn FrenchLate Heresy; the war for Cthonia, exact episode dates unknown↗Placement note
Short storyUnmarkedThe Gangs BeneathGary KlosterLate Heresy; the war for Cthonia, exact episode dates unknown↗Placement note
Short storyUnmarkedThe Gates of TerraNick KymeAfter Forgotten Sons, before the actual Siege of Terra; exact year unknownPlacement note
Short storyUnmarkedFor Hate's SakeGav ThorpeLate Heresy; the war for Cthonia, exact episode dates unknown↗Placement note
Short storyUnmarkedNow Peals MidnightJohn FrenchThe last hours before the Siege; approximately the turn of 013–014.M31↗Placement note
NovelUnmarkedThe End and the Death: Volume IIDan AbnettSiege finale · approximately 588–593.014.M31↗
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