In actuality, this - practically alone in the Gothic Sci-Fi genre - is a book mostly about espionage. Abnett has clearly been wanting to write a James Bond-ish character into Warhammer 40K ever since his Eisenhorn novels, but here he pulls out all the stops with John Grammaticus, a somewhat reluctant spymaster. Abnett has clearly been wanting to write a James Bond-ish character into Warhammer 4 Just when it seemed as if the Horus Heresy series was about to go off the rails, Dan Abnett produces not only the best Heresy novel to date but possibly the best Black Library book, period.įor Abnett fans there are a few of his conventions present and correct: Action seen through the eyes of (relatively) ordinary humans, a focus on character at the expense of action and the odd jaw-dropping twist here and there. For Abnett fans there are a few of his conventions present and correct: Action seen through the eyes of (relatively) ordinary humans, a focus on character at the expense of action and the odd jaw-dropping twist here and there.

Just when it seemed as if the Horus Heresy series was about to go off the rails, Dan Abnett produces not only the best Heresy novel to date but possibly the best Black Library book, period. Haven't read any of these yet, only know they exist. There is also a new primarch bio-novel, 'Alpharius: Head of the Hydra' by Mike Brooks. If you want more Heresy-era Alpha Legion, see the novellas 'The Seventh Serpent' by Graham McNeill and 'The Serpent Beneath' by Rob Sanders. Read 'Know No Fear' first (the battle of Calth), then 'Unmarked' (it's in 'Mark of Calth' Horus Heresy anthology) which tells what happens right after KNF ends, and then 'Unremembered Empire' (more trouble in Ultramar). As a bonus, both novels form a continuous story which raises the stakes. KNF has a subtle sub-plot thread involving the Perpetuals more generally, whereas UE weaves in the Cabal and a specific mission. You will encounter John Grammaticus again in 'Know No Fear' and 'Unremembered Empire' novels, and in 'Unmarked' short story (all three by Abnett).

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