Horus Heresy - Galaxy in Flames

I wasn't expecting this to turn out as well as the previous two books due to having just finished the Soul Drinker Omnibus and not being a huge Ben Counter fan. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a fine writer, but just something doesn't quite click with me. Anyways, I was very impressed with this work and highly recommend it to others.

This novel chronicles the brutal opening conflicts of the 'Horus Heresy', an event which has unending repurcussions for humanity within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Ben Counter authors the third installment of the series, and from the opening scenes one can sense the change that has seeped through the Great Crusade. The whole undertaking has come to a critical turning point. The human face of the crusade, in the form of administrators and the civilian-type 'rememberancers' attactched to the expedition fleet exist in the shadows of the Astartes that once fought singularly to protect them. Seeds of division and distrust are sown amongst the superhuman Astartes themselves. Tension builds throughout the expedition, and the central characters introduced in the previous installments find themselves burdened with facing up with their beliefs and loyalties. Action is laced throughout the pages, and it is furiously paced (typical of Counter's forays into this universe). Most notably, some Space Marines in this are given unmistakeably human layers; an unusual concession in most tales in this Mythos. The story streams along, and the ideals and imagery of the young Imperium makes for heady Science Fiction. This series focuses on the core 'Future History' of the Warhammer 40,000 universe- the Horus Heresy- a rich Mythos in its own right. This novel in particular breathes life into a host of seminal characters, while the conflicts are unremittingly savage and moving. Not having read a Black Library publication in recent months, I was slightly sceptical about enjoying this read. But I found (over the two days I spread it over) that one could not help accelerating from a third way through the novel, while being enthralled in the process. Ben Counter writes of battles furiously, and I found that the visual qualities of these depictions snuck up on me- they were quite vivid and entertaining like few authors can craft. I have played a single Warhammer 40,000 game and pledged not to touch it again. One does not have to enjoy playing the Warhammer games, because this fiction is more than just 'background filler' or 'fluff' to add atmosphere to a tabletop match. However, I believe this Mythos holds great promise for science fiction readers from all circles. It has dizzying scope; shot through with gripping 'histories' of events and figures, and echoes many classical myths, from a number of cultures. Readers of the previous installments will not be disappointed; curious minds new to the series will find much entertainment. 'Galaxy in Flames' is probably the stand out publication Black Library has to offer at present, and a fitting example of what the Galaxy of the 41st millenium has to offer.

For the past year or so fans of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 have been tantalized and teased by the first two books in the Horus Heresy series of novels. These novels from Games Workshop's publishing arm, Black Library, were to detail the root beginnings of the most calamituous event in human history: The Horus Heresy. The first two books in the series were titled Horus Rising and False Gods respectively. Dan Abnett wrote the first book with Graham McNeill writing the second one. Both books showed in great detail and drama the steps and circumstances which led the Emperor of Mankind's most favored Primarch and Son to stray from the Imperium's creed and falling for the lies and temptations of the Great Powers of Chaos. Abnett and McNeill's take on the Primarch Horus and his Luna Wolves (soon renamed The Sons of Horus) really emphasizes Horus' similarities to Lucifer before that angel's fall from God's grace. By the time False Gods ends the seeds of Horus' heresy has grown and he'd come up with the plans to bring those brother Primarchs he could sway to his cause and manipulate those he sees as threats to be as far away as possible from Terra and the Emperor. Ben Counter (writer of the very good Soul Drinkers series of books) folows Abnett and McNeill with an action-packed novel that breezes by quick despite being 400+ pages long. Right from the start the reader was dropped into the preparations for an assault on Isstvaan III where a previusly compliant Imperial world has seceded from the Imperium and denounced the Emperor. We're shown how Horus and his new secret allies have made Isstvaan III to be the battleground from which Horus could weed out those Astartes whose loyalty towards the Emperor and his Imperium is much stronger than those to him. He would need to cut this small, but hard core of men from his plans of defeating the Emperor. The rest of the story deals with how Horus' plans for the loyalist Astartes comes to fruition and the fate of such loyalist characters as Saul Tarvitz of the Emperor's Children, Loken and Torgaddon of the Luna Wolves and Captain Nathaniel Garro of the Death Guard. The novel also shows how Garro learns of the heresy and escapes with not just proof of Horus' treachery but the seed and founding of what would become the Imperial Faith in the Emperor as Divine. Galaxy in Flames was as I'd hoped the beginning of the Heresy into full-blown war would turn out to be. The civil war which now pits brother Astartes against brother Astartes turns out to be as brutal and horrific a fight as any novel concerning these warriors in past Warhammer 40,000 novels. The Heresy has begun with Galaxy in Flames but the war itself is just beginning. Counter's writing was top-notch and this shouldn't be a surprise for anyone who has read his Soul Drinkers series. I'm a bit wary of the next book in the series which brings the story into Captain Garro's hands. The story itself should be told, but James Swallow's work on the Deus Enc

Ben Counter tells the difficult story of bravery and betrayal, heroism and treachery on Isstvan III extremely well. This installment is less about the Warmaster and more about those who are forced to come to grips with their allegiance and duty to the Emperor of Mankind: Captains Garviel Loken (Sons of Horus), Tarik Torgaddon (Sons of Horus), Saul Tarvitz (Emperor's Children), Nathaniel Garro (Deathguard), Kharn (World Eaters) and of course- the Swordmaster Lucius (Emperor's Children). In this book, Counter effectively captures the struggle by all to make the choice between their chapter legions and the master of humanity. For those seduced by the warp gods of Chaos, there can only be one decision: heresy. This book takes the reader down the paths faced by each key Space Marine and details the decisions that will ultimately decide their fate. For those of us familiar with the events of the Horus Heresy, there is no real surprise in the outcome, for those who follow their consciences know in their hearts what will happen. Counter's tale is one of moral courage and duty. Does one take the path of least resistance, or does one stay true to sworn obligations and allegiances? The ultimate betrayal by the one trusted friend and comrade in Choral City comes as no surprise, but is just as gut-wrenching and tragic than it would have been if the history of the Horus Heresy had not already been written. This book is must-reading for any Warhammer 40k enthusiast, and as a professional soldier myself, I found that many of the questions and eventual decisions (and their consequences) that Loken, Tarvitz, Garro and Torgaddon made are similar ones that I faced as a leader of troops in the Middle East. Top-notch reading.

I have read all of the Horus Heresy books that have been released to this date, and this one is the best of the three. The book introduces several new characters and gives old characters new wrinkles to their personalities. The only criticism that I have of this book is that it does not explain how some of the primarchs that have sided with Horus come about making that choice. This might prove difficult to follow for newcomers to Warhammer 40K, but those familiar with the Warhammer 40K universe will be able to fill in the blanks just fine. The bar has been set pretty high for James Swallow to follow up with Flight of the Eisenstein. Hopefully his understanding of the 40K universe has improved since Deus Encarmine and Deus Sanguiness.