Gaunt's Ghosts: The Saint

The first Omnibus really sets the stage for the second. While the first seems more about an introduction of characters, the second really has an overall flowing story arch that moves from one book to the next. Each story is certainly self contained but leads into the next. Now that we know the Ghost's and their stealth ability's it's time to not only grow the characters, but also make better use of their unique abilities. Their missions become more specialized much to Gaunt's pleasure and dismay. While Gaunt is not necessarily the focal point of this series of books he's still very much a presence and gets his share in too. However in most books if the main character is not in the spot light it's often a disappointment. In the case of this series the Ghosts are so well loved by this point that it really isn't an issue and wasn't even something I noticed myself until someone pointed it out to me. One of the nice things about these books are the woman. Woman are often not in the forefront of many Warhammer 40k novels. Which is often a disappointment to me (being female myself). The problem with novels like this is females are overly masculine in their personalities. Certainly this is true in the cases of some of the ex gang members. However there are a few very strong female characters, Ana Curth is possibly my personal favorite. Needless to say it's a good book I like it better then the first Omnibus although to give you far warning the ending left me sobbing. :)

What an exciting and fast paced adventure story! This was a series of books that were not easy to find until this collection. Dan Abnett creates characters that has substance, flaws and strengths in the face of great conflict. This series surrounds a character by the name of Colonel Commisar Gaunt and his men in their struggles not only to retain their humanity but to fight an almost insurmountable enemy. Maybe think of the TV show "Band of Brothers" in a furturistic Sci-Fi setting. I didn't play the Warhammer 40K board games until after I read these stories. I enjoyed them so much I started to build models after the characters in these stories. This just added another layer of enjoyment for me that I could share with friends.

Following The Founding, this second omnibus of the Gaunt's Ghost's series tops the first in the amount of action and storytelling. With a fourth book that pushes the omnibus from a normal 700 pages to a whopping 1000 pages, The Saint is a big book. HONOUR GUARD ----------- Honour Guard begins at the end of a city fight. Gaunt has been disgraced and is sent on his final mission: a trip to recover the remains of a saint. What began as a simple recovery mission becomes an epic road trip, culminating with a mountain battle against thousand of enemies. Faith and prowess decide the outcome. THE GUNS OF TANITH ------------ A planet calls out for help, and the Ghost's answer. An industrial city on a planet with toxic clouds has been taken by the enemy. The only way into the city is a dangerous air drop in the dead of night. The Ghosts must face not only the enemy, but the air itself. Even worse is the fact that the enemy has spread into the very fabric of the city, appearing out of nowhere to battle the ambushed troops. STRAIGHT SILVER ------------- A battle that has reached a stalemate is the Ghost's next destination. The forces of good and evil have locked horns on a world where trench warfare rules. The Ghost's must adapt to these new conditions, or face death at the face of the overwhelming amount of enemy artillery. The only chance of victory lies with the Ghost's as they must make a suicidal behind enemy lines mission. SABBAT MARTYR ------------- The final fight in the Ghost's assigned star system, a holy world is besieged by enemy troops. The world cannot fall due to one fact: a saint has risen to lead the troops on the planet to victory. But even as the Ghost's are sent to protect the world, the agents of evil have sent a group of elite assassins known only as "The Nine" to remove the one thing holding the defense together: Gaunt himself. Only the Ghost's faith in their leader and the saint will lead them to victory as they facing unwinnable battles and unbeatable enemies.

The book is the second omnibus and four novels in one. I have not read the first three, but the characters grabbed on and held me all the way through. The Warhammer 40K universe is an unforgiving and inhuman place, but these are humans at their best and their worst. Gaunt and the boys are the best of the Guard and this is a great story with some good twists and turns. I highly recommend it.

This is the second omnibus in the Gaunt's Ghosts series and is just as good as the first. Abnett is my favorite Black Library author and this is an excellent installment in a great series.