Gotrek Gurnisson
A dwarf seeking a glorious death in battle against monsters, accompanied by a human chronicler.
Gotrek Gurnisson is the central figure in a series of novels first published by Games Workshop and Boxtree Limited, later continuing under Black Library. Since 1990, dozens of novels have been set in this shared universe, with the Gotrek & Felix saga forming a core pillar. The character appears in anthologies starting as early as 1990 in 'Warhammer: Ignorant Armies' and 'Warhammer: Wolf Riders'. His story is chronicled across six major omnibus editions released between 2003 and 2021, incorporating numerous short stories from sources like 'Inferno!', 'White Dwarf', and the 'Gotrek and Felix: The Anthology' collection.
- Weapon
- Two-handed Battle Axe
- Origin
- The Dwarfs of the World's Edge Mountains
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The saga begins with 'Trollslayer' (1999), which incorporates stories originally published between 1989 and 1999, including 'Geheimnisnacht' from 'Warhammer: Ignorant Armies' and 'Ulric's Children' from 'Inferno! issue 11'. Their adventures span decades, moving through collections like 'Skavenslayer' (incorporating 'Skaven's Claw' from 1992) and 'Daemonslayer'. The narrative evolves with new authors; Nathan Long took over writing the main novels starting with 'Orcslayer' in 2006, continuing through 'Manslayer' (2007), 'Elfslayer' (2008), 'Shamanslayer' (2009), and 'Zombieslayer' (2010). Short stories like 'Death and Glory!' by William King (1993) and 'The Two Crowns of Ras Karim' by Nathan Long (2007) fill the gaps between major novels.
In Their Own Story
Gotrek's journey is documented through specific published moments. In 1999, his early exploits included slaying trolls and navigating the dark beneath the world as detailed in 'Trollslayer'. By 2000, he faced dragons in 'Dragonslayer', followed by beasts in 'Beastslayer' (2001) and vampires in 'Vampireslayer' (2001). The narrative shifted to Nathan Long's pen with 'Orcslayer' in 2006, leading into 'Manslayer' (2007) and 'Elfslayer' (2008). A significant turning point occurred in 2009 with the novella 'Slayer of the Storm God', originally an audio drama. The saga continued through 'Shamanslayer' (2009) and 'Zombieslayer' (2010), culminating in collections like 'The Funeral of Gotrek Gurnisson' by Richard Salter, published in 2012 within the anthology.
Reader's Guide
Fans can trace Gotrek's evolution through the six omnibus editions. The First Omnibus (2003) covers William King's foundational works. The Third Omnibus (2009) introduces Nathan Long's era with 'Orcslayer' and 'Manslayer'. The Fifth Omnibus (2020) marks a shift to Josh Reynolds, featuring 'Road of Skulls' (2013) and 'The Serpent Queen' (2014). David Guymer contributes the Sixth Omnibus (2021), including 'City of the Damned' (2013) and 'Kinslayer' (2014). Essential reading includes short stories like 'A Cask of Wynters' by Josh Reynolds (2012) and 'The Oberwald Ripper' by L. J. Goulding (2012), which appeared in 'Hammer and Bolter'. The collection 'Lost Tales' was published in 2013, bridging gaps between the main novels.
Did You Know?
- Dozens of novels have been set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe since 1990.
- Gotrek's first story, 'Geheimnisnacht', was originally published in 1990 in 'Warhammer: Ignorant Armies'.
- Nathan Long wrote five main Gotrek & Felix novels between 2006 and 2010: Orcslayer, Manslayer, Elfslayer, Shamanslayer, and Zombieslayer.
- The 'Slayer of the Storm God' novella was first released as an audio drama in 2010 before being included in omnibus collections.
- Short stories from the saga have appeared in diverse publications ranging from 'White Dwarf' to 'Black Library Weekender'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gotrek Gurnisson?
He is a legendary Dwarf Slayer from Clan Gurnisson who has sworn an oath to hunt monsters until he finds a worthy death in battle.
What weapon does Gotrek use?
This towering warrior fights clad in heavy plate armor while wielding a massive two-handed battle axe with terrifying efficiency against dark creatures.
Who travels with Gotrek Gurnisson?
He is constantly accompanied by Erik the Skald, a human chronicler tasked with recording their deeds for posterity.
Why does Gotrek hunt monsters instead of fighting in wars?
Unlike typical Dwarfs who seek vengeance through formal wars, he took the sacred Oath of the Slayer. This vow dedicates his life solely to killing monsters until they finally claim him in combat.
Is Gotrek Gurnisson alive or dead in the lore?
He remains alive within legend as a wandering figure who seeks only a glorious end while protecting the realm from supernatural threats.
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