Traitor General

Abnett delivers yet again with a great new storyline, The Lost. And what a way to start it out! Gaunt and his team of crack-troopers are dropped onto a Chaos-held world on an EZ mission (that's Extremely Hazardous/Suicidal according to the Tacticae) to assassinate a certain someone. When it was revealed who that someone was, I let out an audible gasp. We also get to see the horrors of a Chaos-conquered world. Abnett creates a powerfully oppressive atmosphere that depicts the desperation of the Gereon resistance, and the bleak existence of the populace. Great pacing, incredible suspense and tension, brilliant action...What more could we ask for? The only problem is that it's over too quickly; I finished it in a few days.

Writing is tight, the characters are fewer in number and come more into focus -- even as they retain their own unique personalities (eg: Rawn still hates Gaunt even if they are on a special mission) -- and the Traitor General himself is quite approachable as a character until the very end. This is one of the best in the Ghost series.

Dan Abnett really chose his material well when he began writing about the Ghost. These aren't Space Marine, genetically engineered to take everything the universe can throw at them. They are normal people, trying to survive in a world that's gone too harsh for them. Its one thing to read about a huge armoured space marine facing down hordes of Chaos minions, bellowing about courage and honour, another to see it from the perspective of the normal men and women of the Imperial Guard, who has to face them down armed with nothing but their lasrifles. Dan Abnett puts a human face on grim dark future where there is only war.

Dan Abnett is truly the Master! The Black Library publishes some mighty fine stuff, but Abnett is still the best of the best! He can't write his novels fast enough! Taught, compelling wartime sci-fi set in the Warhammer universe; you have to scrape the mud from under your fingernails and scrub the Promethium fumes from your hair once (if) you can tear yourself away from one of his books. Gaunt and his strike team are dropped into the midst of a Chaos infested planet on a suicide mission, with all the odds stacked against them. Thru cunning, luck, and the will of the Emperor...well, you'll have to read the book to find out eh? But to all you Ghost fans, all your favorites are along for the ride: Rawne, Venn, Mkoll, Criid, Larks... The Gaunt's Ghost series is my favorite and he hits another home run here. If you're a Ghost fan, you have to buy this book! (I even broke down and bought the hardcover since I couldn't wait for it to come out in softback)

If you have never read a Gaunt's Ghosts story, this is a great introduction. A new story arc, first book of three for Warhammer 40K universe and Gaunt's Ghosts. With a picked force Gaunt has gone behind enemy lines to a planet where Chaos rules and death is around every corner. Familiar characters are put through the ringer, again, not only fighting another war, but being infected by Chaos! I'm not going to give anything more away. But I started the book at 11 PM.....and read it in one sitting. Riveting.