Warhammer 40k in about a minute

Title says it all. :) If you are interested in reading titles from the 40k universe, this sets you up fairly well.

Book Review: Space Wolf

Space Wolf by William King
Release Date: November 2003
Publisher: Black Library
Audience: Everyone/Adult
Pages: 416
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 4/5









The Warhammer 40k universe is tied to the Warhammer universe but, as the title implies, 40,000 years in the future. So, the elements that exist in Warhammer often continue on into the future in various permutations. The Space Wolves, a Space Marine Legion, are the 40k's answer to werewolves basically. By passing a series of initiations, a prospective Space Wolf will drink from the Cup of Wulfen (along with gene seed) and essentially gain power from both, but, like werewolves, have the animal inside threatening to take over.

Space Wolf follows the initiation of one of the legends of the Space Wolves, Ragnar Blackmane. As all Space Wolves are chosen from the best warriors their home planet, Fenris, can provide, the first part of the book follows Ragnar's life amongst his tribe. However, after proving himself in battle, Ragnar is chosen as a prospective initiate in the Space Wolves chapter. The second half of the book follows Ragnar as he is initiated, trained, and tested to prove himself worthy of the Space Wolves. However, Ragnar, despite his training, finds himself unexpectedly tested when he stumbles across the agents of Chaos on Fenris, a test where losing means death.

Granted, I don't play the tabletop and have not read the extensive codexes on the Warhammer 40k universe, but I feel that this novel does extremely well to introduce the reader to the Space Marines and Chaos, with especial attention paid to the many levels of initiation required to become a Space Marine, and also the various forces and technology that exists for the Space Marines. While the book has a good story arc, I felt that the climax of the novel did not entirely meet the standards of the novel, nor for a book of this length. That, and occasionally the novel would drag for ten or so pages. And a not so serious beef me and my friend have with William King: his extensive use of the phrase 'blood and sinew'.

If you are looking for good books to introduce you to 40k, or already are a fan of 40k, I recommend you check this series out (the amazon link leads to the first omnibus, $10 for three books ain't bad). However, if you are looking for a space opera or straight up sci-fi, I would look somewhere else or at other offerings by the Black Library, because this book doesn't leave the home world of Fenris, and most of that is in the chapter's stronghold. But subsequent novels in this series do go into space, so...

Book Review: Storm of Iron

Storm of Iron by Graham McNeill
Release Date: July 2002
Publisher: Black Library
Audience: Everyone/Mature
Pages: 288
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 5/5









This book was the first entry in the Warhammer 40,000 (or simply 40k) universe that I read and, man, did it get me hooked on the books from Black Library and Warhammer 40k in general (though I have as of yet to look into the tabletop game, as I have neither the time, money, or inclination). And, from a few people I have talked to and perusing the internet, this book seems to be the first novel many people read in the 40k series, much like Ninja Scroll for anime (at least, 10-15 years ago anyway before the massive influx of anime on western shores).

The book follows a group of Iron Warriors laying siege to a Imperial stronghold to access the treasure inside that may shift the war in Chaos' favor and create a force that is the equal of the Imperial Space Marines. The story follows a number of higher ups in the Iron Warriors as they A. vie with Imperial forces for control of the stronghold and B. vie with one another for control of the campaign.

This book is long, bloody, full of battles and explosions, and a good read. I think McNeill does a really good job introducing the various elements of both sides (the Imperial forces and Chaos forces), the weapons they use, and their general socio-political organization. McNeill, while he focuses on the Iron Warriors, he also gives a decent amount of space for the Imperial officers who are protecting the stronghold. I really can't say too much more without ruining anything but this was a pivotal novel in the 40k universe, is extremely well written, and is highly recommended. If you like war and battles and some intrigue, you will like this book.