Book Review: Priests of Mars
Priests of Mars is the first book in a recent trilogy about an Adeptus Mechanicus search of an old magos, Telok, who seems found some ancient marvel but was considered lost. A Rogue Trader has a device that can pinpoint the last known location of the magos, so an expedition of cog servants, Cadian imperial guard troops and Black Templars space marines sets sail to find it, with a small fleet of spaceships led by the Speranza, an ancient and valued Ark Mechanicus type vessel.
I had never read much about the Adeptus Mechanicus except some basic lore and some mentions other books do to them, so I'm quite pleased to find they are quite interesting indeed. I know understand the desire of people for Games Workshop (or should I say Forge World?) to bring them as a full Warhammer 40,000 army, they are a dark version of the classic sci-fi cyborg, mixed in the grim scenario of the 41st millennium.
The book is well written, showcases multiple character groups (humans, mechanicus, space marines, even xenos), the pacing is good and thrilling, and although of couse the story halts with a nice cliffhanger, it hook me enough to already have started reading the second book. Definetly recommended for WH40k fans.
Tags: Books Warhammer 40000
Book Review: Ender's Game
One book I had pending the review was Ender's Game. I had been postponing its read and how I regret it now...
In the future, nasty aliens have attacked the Earth, and while they were defeated, they will probably attack a third time, so humans are trying a new combat tactic: Training children to become soldiers, pilots and commanders and defeat the alien menace. Elder Wiggum is one of the chosen boys, sent to the training military school, where he will learn all sort of tactics, combat techniques, and also make friends and enemies alike, partially because he's even younger than the rest of the children.
The book not only tells how a futuristic military drill instruction would be, but also beautifully adds portable computers, an internet, virtual reality and combat simulations that any videogames lover (like I am) can easily imagine. It is also a hard and sometimes cruel book: Kids have to learn quickly and without remorse in a very competitive scenario, so sometimes the enemy looks also to be within and not only at the space.
A great reading that sadly was not repeated with the other books of the saga, it is a must for science-fiction lovers.
Tags: Books
Book Review: The Book of Blood
The Book of Blood is an anthology/compilation of a black & white comic, a novella and four short stories, all themed around the Blood Angels Space Marines chapter.
I had the book forgotten in a shelve, because after reading the comic I wasn't specially enjoying the Space Hulk novella. As I ended up reading it alone, I recently decided to finish the book.
The results are that the comic is the best piece, then the short stories vary. This is my first reading about the Blood Angels specific lore, "vampirism" and the black rage, so while is interesting to see the differences from Dark Angels and Ultramarines (of whom I've read a few books) on most stories it feels like too exagerated, as if the bloodlust or the rage was terrible, while I had an image of some crazed marines but the rest more normal.
Not bad but I'm not impressed either... and as I said, the best part is the comic.
Tags: Books Comic Book Warhammer 40000
Book Review: A Hunt in the dark
A Hunt in the dark is a short story about the ascension of Sammael to grand master of the Ravenwing, and how the previous master, Gideon, died. Sammael will be put into interrogation in the depths of The Rock... and things will happen.
It is truly a quick read, interesting but... alone feels too small to be worth 3€. Better to wait for a compilation.
Tags: Books Warhammer 40000
Book Review: Master of Sanctity
Second book in the new trilogy of the Legacy of Caliban, Master of Sanctity continues the story of the Dark Angels secret Hunt of the Fallen started with Ravenwing.
Chapter Masters Sammael, Belial and Saphoon appear again, but the main characters from the first book are now elevated one to the Deathwing and the other to the Ravenwing Black Knights.
Without spoiling the book itself, this time the story focuses and further details about captured Fallen, the famous Chaplain-interrogator Asmodai and his extreme devotion, and making thought decisions due to keeping the chapter's secrets.
I enjoyed the lore and plot, but readers should be warned of two small points:
1) This time the story doesn't closes, at a certain point "some things happen" and you're left with how they unfold for the last book. It is a good cliffhanger that leaves you eager for the end, but I wanted more :P
2) This book focuses a lot more on character dialogs, scenarios, event descriptions and the like, leaving battles almost for a secondary role. There is action, and its bloody and detailed, but I welcome the abundance of dialogs and character thoughts.
Being biased, I can't but recommend the book for Dark Angels collectors.
Now to wait for the final entry.
Tags: Books Warhammer 40000
- ← Newer Articles Page 12 / 18 Older Articles →