BOOK REVIEW
Title: Horus Rising
Author: Dan Abnett
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Guest Reviewer Exclusive
Rating: 8 / 10
Brief Plot Outline (NO spoilers!):
The Horus Heresy series starts with, in my opinion, one of the strongest books in the series. It centres around Garviel Loken, the Captain of the 10th Company of the Luna Wolves Legion, which is Horus' own Legion. It shows him getting to grips with the political side of the Great Crusade, and he joins the Mournival, Horus' advisory body of four hand picked warriors.
The Mournival consists of four characters who become some of the main characters in the series. Loken, 'Little' Horus Aximand, so called because he resembles their Primarch, Tarik Torgaddon, a joker, and Ezekyle Abaddon, who in ten thousand years later will become the greatest threat the Imperium has to defend against.
The story details how Loken discovers about the Legions 'Quiet Orders', which is against the Imperial Truth, and discovering the nature of the Warp. It also introduces the characters of future novels, Saul Tarvitz, Eidolon and Lucius of the Emperor's Children Legion, with Fulgrim as their Primarch. Lusic being the same as Lucius The Eternal, another antagonist ten thousand years later.
A nice little story arc is those feelings of the humans on board the 63rd expidition fleet, which the Luna Wolves are apart of. It shows the beginnings of the cult of The Emperor, a small and forbidden worship of The Emperor, who has himself decreed that there will be no worship of him.
It also introduces a trio of characters who will become major parts of the human side of things in the later books, Sindermann, Olition, and Keeler.
Review:
Writing: Dan abnett is a genius. He portrays Marines better than any other writer, I think, and Horus truly feels like a god amongst gods, amongst men. His visions of war are hectic, yet organised, and bloody. There is no lack of violence, and it does also ask many moral questions, mostly about the touchy subject of religion. The Imperial Truth is that there is no religion, they understand the way the universe works. This is totally wrong, and they know nothing, but The Emperor has forbidden the worship of any deity, and refuses to claim he is one.
Overall: Horus Rising is a brilliant opener to a series. It really does bring life and detail to an otherwise bland area of Warhammer 40,000 background. You learn the beginnings of the game's main special characters, Abaddon, Lucius, and gives life to characters only mentioned before. One brilliant thing is the way the Primarchs are brought to life, for they never have been in this way before. Horus is a calm, but brilliant being, amazing in battle, and a cunning politician and inspiring leader. Sanguinus, Primarch of the Blood Angels Legion, is an angelic figure, further enhanced by his wings, and shows his close bond with Horus.
The book is good, no doubt about that, but unless you are familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 background, it might not be for you.