The Monthly 40k Book Club!

[Da Mighty Camel]

Agree about taking a book that many can relate to as a starter. Necropolis by Abnett maybe? It doesn't require any previous readings in the GG series and is in my opinion the best book in the series. Only prob might be that I read it a couple of months ago...
Another would be 'Horus Rising', also from Abnett. This one suffers from running out of stock though...

[chemicalcaveman]

I want to suggest Xenology, its not a novel, but it does have a story. And if you are interested in fluff it is one monster of a book. A great read which I would recommend to anyone who is even vaguely interested in the hobby.

[darkreever]

Got another book for recomendation: Faith and Fire by none other than James Swallow.

Now before members turn away, roll their eyes, or (in the case of someone like Ze) think about Deus Encarmine and Deus Sanguinius know that this is true fluff territory with only a few bits charted.

Faith and Fire is a story of the Adeptus Sororitas, or sisters of battle if the big name confuses you, but has nothing to do with inquisitors. I'm not currently done with it, not even past the hundreth page since getting it yesterday, but I can already say that it is beautiful in every aspect. Yes it is the same idea as greyknights, where its the story of one of the military arms of the inquisition without the inquisition, but it still remains a novel of a group that is nique in its perspective...

Greph, I believe that you would enjoy this one if you aren't/haven't already. After your done rereading and rereading Horus Rising of course.

[Da Mighty Camel]

Heh, I have ordered Faith & Fire so it would be a great choice. :yes:

[Heathen]

I just finished Faith & Fire, it's alright but some of the characters are hackneyed and a bit no-brained. I'd be up for a discussion of it though ^^.

I bought Horus Rising about 2 hours ago and I'm all tingly about it, the lad in the shop said he'd just finished it and was enthusing about it to a few other lads as I was on my way out. From what I've heard so far it sounds like a cracking read, although the fact that I bought some red ink as well which SPILLED IN THE BAG was not a happy occasion :C

To be honest I reckon Horus Rising would be the best book to actually sit down and pour over; the lad in the shop said he reckons everyone who plays 40K should own a copy of Horus Rising so it's got to be good in terms of fluff and background, plus the fact it's from Dan Abnett means it's going to be at least worth a once-through.

(Edited to destroy minor spoilers )

[darkreever]

While I found no problem with the characters, I agree that the book is a 7-8/10. It was very well done, make no mistake of that, and when I was done I could hardly believe that Swallow was the author. Like I said the first time, it starts out similar to grey knights but because the story has nothing to do with space marines it does not seem strange when they show emotions. Though the soulless fighting spirit of the sisters seemed very...wrong for a human.

The story had many twists in the plot, and while some of those twists got annoying after a while they still built up the action of the story. The way the story comes to an end, looks incredibly obvious after reading it but while I was I had thought it would have ended on a more overused note. The only thing that I found sad about the story was Vauns death, but theres no way I'll go and spoil any more than that...

[Heathen]

Originally Posted by darkreever

While I found no problem with the characters,

Seriously?.... I growled every time they mentioned Vaun's name after his initial piece of dialogue, and by the end I wanted to strangle Verity. I think she was the author's little cherry tart, the pretty, petite, vulnerable female men want to protect and women want to mother who can't use a gun and is ever-so ever-so sweet. I wanted her to die every time the opportunity arose. I know sometimes you need characters like Verity to sell a story, or sometimes they work themselves into a piece of writing through some cathartic process, but they just annoy me.

I agree that the book is a 7-8/10. It was very well done, make no mistake of that, and when I was done I could hardly believe that Swallow was the author. Like I said the first time, it starts out similar to grey knights but because the story has nothing to do with space marines it does not seem strange when they show emotions. Though the soulless fighting spirit of the sisters seemed very...wrong for a human.

I didn't find that to be honest. I actually liked the way he portrayed the Battle Sisters as cold, clinical killers, because that's what they're meant to be; the Canoness in particular, she was a right old cow . The story itself was decently crafted, I think the whole plot might have benefitted from a bit more fleshing out and twisty turns, but I like my stories intriguing and difficult to predict .

The story had many twists in the plot, and while some of those twists got annoying after a while they still built up the action of the story. The way the story comes to an end, looks incredibly obvious after reading it but while I was I had thought it would have ended on a more overused note. The only thing that I found sad about the story was Vauns death, but theres no way I'll go and spoil any more than that...

See, I was mentally dancing with glee when he died. Yay! No more corny villain wise-cracks from you! I agree about the end too; it didn't answer all the questions well enough for me. I did enjoy it though, the big battle scenes were good and some of the reactions of the different servitors and adepts actually made me laugh, but yeah, 7/10 is fair.

[darkreever]

Seriously?.... I growled every time they mentioned Vaun's name after his initial piece of dialogue, and by the end I wanted to strangle Verity. I think she was the author's little cherry tart, the pretty, petite, vulnerable female men want to protect and women want to mother who can't use a gun and is ever-so ever-so sweet. I wanted her to die every time the opportunity arose. I know sometimes you need characters like Verity to sell a story, or sometimes they work themselves into a piece of writing through some cathartic process, but they just annoy me.

I saw her as Miriya's way of coping with Lethe's death. Giving her reason more than any of the other sisters to do what she had to do.

See, I was mentally dancing with glee when he died.

Well we both know there was no surprise that he would die, its just that the way it happened was so sad. Coupled with what you learn of him it makes it seem even worse because of the atrocities commited against him in the first half of his life. His determination and prowess were impressive though, worthy of the ruthlessness of any imperial commander if you ask me. (The guy would definately have made a much scarier final fight...)

[Frag me, I almost edited your entire post Heathen.]

[Heathen]

Originally Posted by darkreever

I saw her as Miriya's way of coping with Lethe's death. Giving her reason more than any of the other sisters to do what she had to do.

Fair enough, but I've seen so many Veritys in so many different stories that it just rankles with me after a while. She always needs to be saved, she's always mousing away behind the bigger, badder Sisters, and if she does something violent it's so out of character that it actually seems to stop time for a moment; we're talking about a woman who stitches globules of flesh together to form a living person after plasma explosions, and who by her own admission has taken lives (maybe not in battle, but still). If she's still so wet behind the ears after doing all she's done it makes me wonder how she lasted so long.

Well we both know there was no surprise that he would die, its just that the way it happened was so sad. Coupled with what you learn of him it makes it seem even worse because of the atrocities commited against him in the first half of his life. His determination and prowess were impressive though, worthy of the ruthlessness of any imperial commander if you ask me.

(The guy would definately have made a much scarier final fight...)

The thing of it is that he was always a scumbag. If he was a victim of circumstances, if the tragedies and atrocities that occured in his life had made him what he was (and prompted the cheesy outbursts) then it might've been sad. As it was he was a scumbag from day one, he was arrogant and deserved what he got .

(Big, Donkey-Kong sized King of all Spoilers)
What made Vaun's death a lot less sad for me was the way the Lord Deacon turned. It was pretty telegraphed that he was a bit of a fruit-head (which dodgy Dean Vernik didn't help to disguise), but still, he'd been painted all the way through the book as being one step behind Vaun right up until the moment Vaun sits on the throne, then SLAP! Good game Torris, you just got owned ^^. One of the best things in the entire book in my opinion.
(Spoiler over)

[Frag me, I almost edited your entire post Heathen.]

Guh?......

[BrokenWingZ]

so have we picked book yet?