The Ultramarines Omnibus

As a relatively new Warhammer 40K player I was looking for a great novel to fill out the universe for me beyond the rulebook and codexes- the Ultramarines Omnibus delivered! McNeill has a masterful way of combining a solid understanding of 40K lore and technology, artful descriptions of combat and great descriptions of human emotion. In the Omnibus we see the rise and fall of heroes, the strength and failings of human character, and the ebb and flow of warring factions' fortunes. But let's face it, most of us pick up a 40K novel because we want some great battle action- it's to be found here in many pages of intense and well-conceived action. We see the Space Marines at the war with rebel faction, rogue Dark Eldar, insidious Chaos Space Marines and ravenous Tyrannid hoards. The protagonist in chief, Uriel Ventriss, achieves many heroic enterprises that are made believable by McNeill's description of the moral fortitude, genetic enhancement, and astounding arsenal, of a Space Marine Captain. McNeill paints the Space Marine as mortal- able to feel pain and doubt, yet superhuman- a fighting force driven by a superior strength and fighting spirit second to none.

The Ultramarines are known to be virtuous and highly devoted servants of the God-Emperor. They are also known to be simple in spirit in that their sustenance is to serve the Emperor with vigor and loyalty. I believe that Uriel, Pasanius, and Learchus reflect these qualities to one degree or another. For those who say that they are wooden, perhaps you're not getting the point of the story. Each Ultramarine protagonist is trying to find their own place in the Warhammer 40k universe - perhaps less so in Learchus' case as is limited in his capacity to think outside the Codex Astartes. I think its gratifying to watch a straight-laced Ultramarine find his own path - as Captain Idaeus wanted him to. Nightbringer sets up the reader with a refreshing look at Uriel's first operation as the captain of 4th company. Warriors of Ultramar demonstrates Uriel's depth as a individual space marine and his genuine belief in applying himself where he is best suited - which ironically got him one way ticket to the Eye of Terror. The third and last installment of this omnibus was a real test or character as Uriel and Pasanius faced the horrors of a Chaos world and the vindication of their own character. Overall, it's a great read that's well worth your time.

What to say that hasn't been said already? This is one great non-stop ride from front to back. It reminded me of those thrilling pulp fiction stories where the hero is thrown into all kinds of situations and somehow manages to come out on top until you least expect something worse is coming. For an Omnibus it is worth every penny for the amount of visceral action and adventure.

Any fan of war fiction would be delighted to sink their teeth into this tomb of Ultramarine stories. Uriel Ventris albeit a space marine is someone you can identify with and root for. Storm of Iron has a hard time living up to the expectations set in the other books but still worth the eye time.

An advantage of being a relative newcomer to the Warhammer 40K world is you get to read the Omnibus editions of some of the best books from the Black Library. The new covers are very pleasing to see and you get 3 books for the price of 1. And more importantly, the ones I have read thus far have been awesome, the Ultramarines Omnibus is no exception, I did not hesitate to give it a full 5 stars. The Ultramarines Omnibus follows the story of Uriel Ventris who has recently become the Captain of Ultramarines Chapter 4th company. The author does a good job of making Uriel's character exactly how one might expect a Space Marine of the Imperium to be...traits like his fanatical loyalty to the emperor, burning hatred of his enemies, willingness to kill and die for his emperor and chapter. But Uriel isn't just that, we see a very nice representation of his other emotions that most people in the Warhammer Universe may not notice or might even be shocked to know a Space marine can have. His genuine concern for the common people of the Imperium, his doubts about his ability to command, his worries about diverging from the Codex Astartes - the code of war that the Space Marine must follow, and his anger and sometimes despair at the actions of some of his allies, particularly the Inquisition. The books themselves have great plots and fast paced action that are well written and will not disappoint. The first book Nightbringer's plot is an interesting mix of action and politics in a world of the Imperium and has one of the most interesting characters I have read about in the Warhammer Universe (Ario Barzano - can't say more than revealing the characters name to avoid any spoilers). The second book is my favorite. Warriors of Ultramar is one of the best War novels I have read...its about a desperate attempt by the Imperium to defeat an unimaginably huge Tyranid invasion at an Imperial World Tarsis Ultra, which the Ultramarines are oath bound to defend. The Ultramarines together with the Mortificators Chapter space marines, Ordo Xenos arm of the Inquisition and their associated Deathwatch space marines, 2 Imperial Guard regiments and the defenders of Tarsis Ultra, and the Imperial navy stuggle to fight the Tyranids. You get immersed into the action you could almost feel like you are in it, whether in a huge space fleet action or in the trenches and the walls of the defenders. The 3rd book, Dead Sky, Black Sun, is set in a world deep in the Chaos held Eye of Terror. Its a brilliant portrayal of a world in the hands of Chaos, with Uriel trying desperately to do his duty and keep his sanity amidst the horrors around him, which include daemons, renegade space marines and factions of the Chaos Space marines of the Iron Warriors chapter battling each other for power. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.