Descent of Angels (WH40K Horus Heresy Book)

[General Deathdealer]

Has anyone read this book yet? I just picked it up last night and was wondering if it any good.

[white_rabbit]

Has anyone read this book yet? I just picked it up last night and was wondering if it any good.

Its pretty poor.

worst yet I'd say.

[Luzifer's right hand]

I must admit that I put it back on my to read pile.
There are so many good books to read.

[General Deathdealer]

Has anyone read this book yet? I just picked it up last night and was wondering if it any good.

Its pretty poor.

worst yet I'd say.

I like the Dark Angels, and it intrigues me that they are going to tell their story from before the Emperor found them up to the Heresy. But is it the writing that is bad, or the story itself?

[fgalkin]

Has anyone read this book yet? I just picked it up last night and was wondering if it any good.

Its pretty poor.

worst yet I'd say.

I like the Dark Angels, and it intrigues me that they are going to tell their story from before the Emperor found them up to the Heresy. But is it the writing that is bad, or the story itself?

Dude, it's Mitchell Scanlon. The one who brought us that amazing WWI novel, 15 Hours. *shudder*

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[General Deathdealer]

Dude, it's Mitchell Scanlon. The one who brought us that amazing WWI novel, 15 Hours. *shudder*

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Can't say as I've read 15 Hours. I am not big into IG books. I am also not very familiar with Mitchel Scanlon, so I don't really know how good of an writer he is. That's why I was wondering if it was the writing or the story that was bad.

[Dartzap]

Hang on. Wasn't 15 Hours his first novel for BL anyway? And they went and let him near their flagship series? Guess he's bribing someone.

[Kuja]

Ignoring the "uurrrrr, bad" crowd, I have to say I picked the book up, blazed through it, and liked it quite a bit.

"Descent of Angels" is the story of Lion El'Jonson on his homeworld of Caliban, the coming of the First Legion, and the first battle fought by the new Dark Angels in the name of the Imperium, as seen through the eyes of one young man in the Lion's order of knights.

I have to admit, "Descent of Angels" took a direction I did not expect and a few plot points it ran with I didn't see coming. However for all that, it works. Scanlon's dialogue runs somewhat better than the stilted and predictable directions of some of the earlier books. The ending is remarkably poignant and there is a power to it that subtlely builds itself slowly throughout the book. The book does not match my favorite of the series, which thus far remains "Horus Rising" but I found it a solid story and an enjoyable read.



That's the spoiler-less bit. If you don't want things ruined for you, don't read any farther.


Spoiler

You can't discuss the Dark Angels without the story of Luthor. Conventional wisdom states that he betrayed the Legion and turned to chaos. And then there's the Fallen story, which is that it was the Lion who betrayed them first. "Descent of Angels" cleverly introduces elements of both stories - Luthor clearly becomes increasingly bitter and resentful of El'Jonson as the story progresses, while the Lion himself changes, becoming more prideful and short-tempered. Scanlon writes well, following events without clearly tipping his hand towards one side or the other. The mystery and paranoia of the Dark Angels remains preserved, which was something I was afraid the book would ruin. The presence of Chaos and Xenos hidden on Caliban could give credence to the Fallen's story, or it could explain why Luthor fell. The clear foundation for future events is well-written.

[Azazal]

To follow up on Kuja's post, SPOILER: I get the feeling that we have been introduced to the future Cypher, nothing concrete, just a gut feeling

[Kuja]

To follow up on Kuja's post, SPOILER: I get the feeling that we have been introduced to the future Cypher, nothing concrete, just a gut feeling

That is a wicked-awesome idea and I wish I'd thought of it.

[NecronLord]

To follow up on Kuja's post, SPOILER: I get the feeling that we have been introduced to the future Cypher, nothing concrete, just a gut feeling

I agree. And I approve.

[Lost Soal]

To follow up on Kuja's post, SPOILER: I get the feeling that we have been introduced to the future Cypher, nothing concrete, just a gut feeling

I agree. And I approve.

Thats what I thought. That and his mysterious benefactor are the Watchers in the Dark, not some minor God of Chaos

[Teleros]

On the question of Chaos on Caliban, that's been around for a while now remember . Descent of Angels just tells us more about it basically.

To follow up on Kuja's post, SPOILER: I get the feeling that we have been introduced to the future Cypher, nothing concrete, just a gut feeling

I agree. And I approve.

Seconded!

[Adrian Laguna]

Dude, it's Mitchell Scanlon. The one who brought us that amazing WWI novel, 15 Hours. *shudder*

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Hey, some people liked 15 Hours, a lot in fact. Mitchell Scanlon's dark humour tickles me in all the right places.

[Connor MacLeod]

I didn't mind 15 hours. It wasn't exactly my Favorite GEneric Imperial Guard novel (I like Rebel Winter more) but it was nicely written and still interesting from both a technical and literary standpoint. And, bluntly, it was heaps better than the Catachan wank that was "Death World" (which IMHO should rank up there for propoganda with the Movie SSTs)

[Azazal]

To follow up on Kuja's post, SPOILER: I get the feeling that we have been introduced to the future Cypher, nothing concrete, just a gut feeling

I agree. And I approve.

Thats what I thought. That and his mysterious benefactor are the Watchers in the Dark, not some minor God of Chaos

That would make sense, though what is the sword that he carries? Guess we'll need to wait for a follow-up book

[Connor MacLeod]

the Tech geek in me wants the HH books to cover the destruction of Caliban. I'm hoping at some point to discern how many ships were involved as well as the duration of bombardment (The planet-shattering isn't quite calable, but there are plenty of side effects described elsewhere that are.)

[NecronLord]

the Tech geek in me wants the HH books to cover the destruction of Caliban. I'm hoping at some point to discern how many ships were involved as well as the duration of bombardment (The planet-shattering isn't quite calable, but there are plenty of side effects described elsewhere that are.)

The planet is now confirmed to have been chaos infested. Anything derived from it is therefore suspect.

[Lost Soal]

Plus the planet only shattered into pieces when a Warp Storm opened up right next to it, so I don't think you can determine how much was due to the storm and how much was due to the bombardment.

[Azazal]

For planet blowing up, we'll have to wait for the Nightlord's book. Given that Legion isn't suppose to be out till March/April, it's going to be a long wait.