Finished the audiobook of Malleus, the second Eisenhorn book.
Finished the audiobook of Malleus, the second Eisenhorn book. Once again, just great pulp fiction, with one badass thing after another happening. But also some interesting unreliable narrator stuff. Eisenhorn’s evolution as a character is very real, even for a world as ridiculous as 40K.
But the main thing is massive amounts of violence. Besides the cold-open, the first main scene is like five Akiras all at once, then Assault on Precinct 13, Scanners, and Firestarter mashed together and turned up to 11.
I don't remember ever reading any 40K fiction. I didn't start because of my fear that it would be scene after scene of named characters pontificating and speaking past each other. This description sounds much more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis, despite the description, is "smaller" and more character driven than event driven. I listened to the first book is the Horus Heresy, also by Dan Abnett, and even though it was about Space Marines and such it still managed to be character focused.
ReplyDeleteThis is a case of Dan Abnett being a really good pulp writer. He does 40k so we'll because he never really does 40k stuff. He always brings it in from an unexpected angle.
ReplyDeleteThe Enforcer trilogy by Matthew Farrer is really good too, if you like your 40k at ground level. It's a police procedural.
I've read both of these trilogies twice. They are like comfort food. I'm about to start Guant's Ghosts over again if I can find the early books.
I haven't heard of the Enforcer series, thanks. Gaunt's Ghosts are on the list and I've enjoyed Caiphus Caine because that also has an angle.
ReplyDeletehttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JNN2eWUmaVQmQf49YBVvxI2xBYRxcc2CVHOMwGpDbysV_fGmWXuocVEWFzJ1BwsOigmWvIjc0oI
ReplyDeletehttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GQbnUW_xe9YI7rAldOuuo3XHLtbAYHhr_HUm2z9BSPO6VTCHdBW3hOrWjsL-2y8XUaURB47fa98
ReplyDeleteSorry they are blurry, g+ mobile upload is borked. If you click them they'll straighten out.
ReplyDeletethey loaded fine. That's awesome. I can't believe they have this series and zero Arbites models. I guess there were some waaaay back? Seems ripe for a Necromunda gang.
ReplyDeleteDouble Eagle is a 40k Dan Abnett book about airforces and dogfights, it's real gritty and personal too.
ReplyDeleteNecromunda had rules and models for Arbites, but they are really rare today. I bought a gangs worth a few years ago and gave them to a friend hoping he would paint them and play necromunda with me, but I never saw them again.
ReplyDeleteHere's a thing you might be interested in.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/SUplioG2DC4
youtube.com - HELSREACH: The Movie - Vol. 1
😮
ReplyDeleteHelsreach is my favourite 40K book I think. Black Legion books next.
ReplyDeleteYou can use the Sktarii Vanguard heads to make Arbites models.
ReplyDelete