Horus Rising (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Horus Heresy) by Dan Abnett
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Book Reviews of Horus Rising (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Horus Heresy)
Book Review: So Much...
Summary: 5 Stars
As I started reading and learning more about the 40K universe, I kept coming back to one question - "What could make Horus and tens of thousands of loyal Space Marines turn against the Emperor?" Once I felt I had enough of a background in the world to understand, I picked up Horus Rising.
The first thing that thrilled me is that the book is told from the point of view of Marines who will turn Traitor. In my opinion, that is a very good way to approach it because it forces the reader to understand the Traitor Legions as people, not as a mindless, faceless hoard of "evil Chaos worshipers."
I liked seeing the beginnings of the God-Emperor religion. I was surprised when I realized that agnosticism was much more common than a belief in the divinity of the Emperor and the evil of the Chaos gods. Given how widespread both beliefs are by the 41st Millennium, the contrast was surprising. In hindsight, it probably should not have been, since at the time of the Heresy, the Emperor has been around the people. He has not spent 10,000 years in the Golden Throne while the cult of his worship grew.
The question still remains about what triggers Horus's fall, since this book ends before that point is reached. I look forward to finding out what happens.
Book Review: Garviel Loken, the tragic hero
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great work of genre fiction. It won't stand the test of time to be a great work of English; that may be a bad thing, in fact. Certainly, this is a wonderfully told story.
I just adore this book and the main character, Garviel. I suppose I could write a more literary review; however, I won't. Horus Rising is a well written story with a very engaging main character. Prior knowledge of Warhammer 40K is not necessary, and the book helps setup the entire universe that is to come. However, the real star is not the genre or Warhammer 40k. The star is Garviel Loken (who is "so straight up and down"): an honest and thoughtful main character who is faced with momentous decisions and in his stoic nature takes the path he can while remaining true to his ethics. Garviel Loken grows as a man and as a character throughout the book: starting out as a person the reader respects and growing into a hero.
Horus Rising is a fine novel. Likely, the book won't win any awards because it is 'genre fiction'; however, Horus Rising is such a well written novel that I would call this book: good science fiction.
This is a well written book, and I love Garviel Loken. Loken is a wonderful and tragic hero: a story worth reading.
--James
Book Review: Another worthy tale from Abnett
Summary: 5 Stars
I must admit, I bought this bought soley on the strength of the author's name alone, and I wasn't dissappointed. Dan continued to deliver that highly immersive style of writing that he always uses, explaining things from the character's point of view as he goes along, never pausing the story, not getting bogged down in massive walls of textual exposition.
I was glady, too, that his greatest strength, that of making Warhammer characters seem like real people and not just cookie-cutter brainwashed fanatics, was strong here. Loken felt like a person, not just a caricature. It's something that's always impressed me about Dan's work, and has often dissapointed me when it comes to authors like Counter or McNiel, as thier characters are comparatively flat and one-demensional, little more than stereotypes with names.
For that same reason, I don't think I'll pick up the next two: because they weren't written by Dan. "Brother of the Snake", however, his next novel, and the first to be exclusively about Space Marines, are something that I'm very interested in, however.
Book Review: Can't wait to read the rest!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had put off reading this book for awhile because I wasn't sure if I wanted to start down the road of the Horus Heresy series of novels. But finally I bit the bullet - and I'm glad I did! I should say that I was already a fan of WH40K lore to begin with, and this book is just icing on the cake. The battles are epic and memorable. Mr. Abnett has a wonderful way of making these basically superhuman Space Marines spring to life, and at times, brings out their the human qualities they still have left. The regular human characters, particularly the remembrancers, are fleshed out very well, and the book has a way of making you feel for their plight. And for anyone familiar with how the world ends up 10,000 years after this novel, it's great to see the beginnings of Chaos entering into the ranks, and of Horus and his legion in the beginning. Loken, as the main protagonist of the novel has enough emotion and character to make the reader really empathize with him and the Imperium of Man. I love this book! Now I can't wait to get to the next one!Book Review: Brilliant story
Summary: 5 Stars
So, like the aformentioned viewers, I've been a warhammer 40k fan for ages. And I'd read in the Red Dwarf magazines of the Horus Heresy. I've read the novels, which all take place much later (in the 41st Millenium). And with all of the history of the Horus Heresy, there was never a book which covered it.
This book does, and is brilliant. Well writen, the characters are alive and real. The state of the Imperium before the Heresy is radically different then the Imperium the rest of us know. It is a time of Enlightenment, where science is aknowledged as science, and where religeon is thought of as something negative.
In short, you can see the society and it's weeknesses (given the dangers of this universe), and you can almost taste the coming of Chaos.
I've been waiting since I was a boy for books on the Horus Heresy, and Dan Abnett finally delivered. And he has done a brilliant job. Highly recommended to anyone who loves the 40k Universe, and to anyone who loves science fiction in general.