The Horus Heresy - Read these books!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:22 am

Since the start of Games Workshops, Warhammer 40k some 20 years ago, there has been much 'fluff' (backstory) as to how it all began etc...
Over the years various bits of information regarding the creation of the Index Astares (Space Marines) and thier founder, the Emperor of mankind, have been written into the hundreds of rules books.

the most interesting of all the stories is the 'Horus Heresy' - this is where the Emperors chosen clone 'Horus' turns to the dark side if you will, or Chaos as its know in W40, in the year 31k and helps turn almost half the space Marine legions with him (around 50k SM) - they then rip across the galaxy in a wave of violence untill they reach earth to try and de-throne the Emp.

Last year came the first in a set of 9 books that details this tale, and i have just finnished reading the latest book, book 3.

This is seriously Epic sci-fi, using many W40 kwritters who are already well versed in W40 myth. And gos someway to explaining the events from a more personal stand point of Horus, the loyal forces and the creation of Imperial 'faith'...

I cannot recommend these books ive recently read enough, they have captivated me for some time now and i cant wait to read the rest. even tho I know the outcome, and all the major points of history, reading it all un-fold in its detail is quite amazing.

Plug

These books can be bough in Games Workshops, and most book stores or u can order them online at amazon.
Dont get the novels confused with the more pictorial versions of the HH.

here are the books: http://www.blacklibrary.com/product.asp ... &type=Book

the other two books in the series can be found below in the picture links.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:29 am

I no nothing about Warhammer. Have never played it, read about it or eaten it.
Will I still enjoy the books?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:39 am

I think you will enjoy it more then myself, as I know whats going to happen...

Its written as a novel, that whilst prior knowledge is usefull to the fan, anyone else can pick up the books and understand whats going.

for example, U dont need to read up on what a space marine is before hand, id drip feeds you information on why they are so hard thorugh out the books etc...

essentially this is a big sci-fi epic romp across the galaxy. It draws on many thing to be honest - Lord of the rings, Star Wars and religion.
GW has just had 20+ years to refine...

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:06 pm

mmmm tempting. I love the GWverse

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:54 pm

indeed, it is tempting!

i used to be well into W40k, many moons ago now tho... might be fun to dip back into it!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:35 pm

Im more of a book reader then a game player now - I might paint the odd model for my own satisfaction and I enjoy reading rule books for all the background information they provide - I rarely play now.

Recently ive been reading more and more books based in the W40 universe and some are just incredible. So when I heard the biggest story W40k had to offer was being written by the best of GW athuors I waited with baited breath... it was worth it.

The last book I just read really got to me, i really eneded up feeling for all the characters - you know how empire strikes back ends? everything has gone a bit ****, well think that x1000 and its on its way. thats not to say it was so depressing I wanted to slit my wrists but it got inside my head... it also has some very interesting ideas about religion. Religion plays a major part in the Imperium, with the Emperor almost being the 2nd comming if you will...

anyhows I do hope you read it, and ill be happy to lend out the books in some vain attempt to get others to experience it, its one of them stories where i wish everyone read this - and then perhaps Peter Jackson would read it and... well, i dont think the Lord of the Rings budget would touch the sides to be honest.

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:58 pm

I've just spent a couple of days dipping in and out of stuff on Wiki regarding 40K.

I've always loved the stories and artwork, but the game itself did nothing for me (intergalactic, multi-species war loses something when your main weapon is a tape measure, but maybe that's just me).

There was a story about the Horus Heresy published years ago in White Dwarf that was really cool-it basically dealt with the final confrontation between the Emperor and Horus.

I think the Necrons are a really cool race-potentially an unstoppable force once they get their numbers up.

Impy-I think you'd really like the 'Death Stalker' series of books, by Simon R Green-very 40K meets Star Wars.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:23 pm

I know the exact HH story u mean - it was about 4 pages long and detailed the finnal battle for earth?

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:34 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:I know the exact HH story u mean - it was about 4 pages long and detailed the finnal battle for earth?

That's the kiddy-had a 2 page, black and white pencil drawing of the Emperor and Horus facing off against each other on Horus' ship as well.

I may have said this before, but in the right hands 40K would make an awesome TV series-I feel because of its scope and depth, you could do more with a TV programme than you could with film.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:51 pm

with the right budget - I think you could make some sort of trilogy of the story film wise but the budget required would be insane, at least the cost of Lord of the Rings.

I post on another forum www.warseer.com - this is a topic that comes round alot...

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:58 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:with the right budget - I think you could make some sort of trilogy of the story film wise but the budget required would be insane, at least the cost of Lord of the Rings.

So in other words, Games Workshop just need to sell 2 pots of paint and a Space Marine box-set and they've got the money for the 40K trilogy?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:02 pm

yep - thats pretty much the grand plan, or sell one of these...

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/acatalog/TAU_AIRCRAFT.html

totaly-mental!

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:30 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:yep - thats pretty much the grand plan, or sell one of these...

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/acatalog/TAU_AIRCRAFT.html

totaly-mental!

That, is ******* insane. Have they ever released stuff like full sized Bolters? In fact, [composite word including 'f*ck'] it-I've been looking for a project so I think I'll build one for meself.

Did you ever get 'Fire Warrior' for the PS2?

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:35 pm

bloody hell, that aircraft is insane!!!

as for the full size bolter, it picqued my interest and google gave me this:
http://www.exlibrismortis.org/Bolter.html

not official, but might be worth a read if you're thinking of making one!

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:01 pm

Legion wrote:bloody hell, that aircraft is insane!!!

as for the full size bolter, it picqued my interest and google gave me this:
http://www.exlibrismortis.org/Bolter.html

not official, but might be worth a read if you're thinking of making one!

Good find!

It's either that, or a Storm Bolter. Of course, this may end up being on my 'to-do' list for quite some time...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:21 pm

thats cool - not to sure on the dimensions mind but its cool.

I like my handle better...

That Tau Manta is amazing tho, did u see all the interior images?

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:33 pm

Sweet model-that'll come in handy. I think I'll try and make the bolt moveable, and the magazine removable.

Is that Tau ship a stand-alone model, or is it scaled to be used in 40K battles?

Getaway · Post by **Getaway** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:49 pm

All the models on forgeworld are scaled to be used in 40K check out the Titans..yes I said Titans, only Warhounds, but still..I've got a Baneblade and its huge.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:03 pm

Like Getaway said all the models are for use in W40k using the extended rules for including 'super-heavys' - and flying things covered in death weapons... rahhhhhhhhhhh

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:48 pm

check out this map - these planets and information show on a roll, have been collected from every bit of W40k fluff ever known... amazingly mental work!

http://www.joachim-adomeit.de/wh40k/spacemap/map.html

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:39 am

I've read the first two novels - not the 3rd one yet - and all the HH art books, totally agree with impy, they are aces. Anyone thinking about checking them out, you totally should.

There's so much good stuff, and seeing how the heresy starts...how worshipping the Emperor as a god is proscribed, banned whatever, seeing how that gets twisted by all the different viewpoints...
Such good stuff.

I like how Abnett creates intersting uses for words, "illuminate me etc".
Has anyone read his Gaunt's Ghosts novels, also for WH40K?

Cool models!

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:42 am

Getaway wrote:check out the Titans..yes I said Titans,

sweet jesus, they're excellent!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:51 pm

I have all of GG sitting on the shelf - its just that I keep reading novels centered around SM, I have a thing for super human men in Ceramite Plate...

Oh, this is nice http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/bloodt.htm

there are also HH art books - that I find very handy for my 3D work, good insperation - the HH art books gloss over the Heresy in picture form.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:12 pm

Damn you all, I've just spluffed an hour doing 40K related searches.

Isn't it awesome stuff?

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:03 pm

yup!
i've just done the same and now there's a part of me that really wants to get back into all this! but must resist... must concentrate on getting my own place to live... (then maybe think about it)...

is there a good w40k computer game? i seem to remember seeing some spunky looking screenshots from one a while ago... whatever happened to that?

Post by **snarl** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:15 pm

Yes, I too have disregarded work this arvo to read about '40k'.

I dabbled a bit as a youngster...

Jesus, I sound like a ****** Tory MP...

game: http://www.dawnofwargame.com/

Tried to steal it off bit torrent but couldn't make it work... ;(

Looks quite good, it is giving me the horn.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:21 pm

aye, looks fairly spunkadelic i have to say!!

i shall have to investigate acquiring this game me thinks...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:56 pm

[composite word including 'f*ck'] - sorry I didnt tell u about DoW

DoW was made buy the guys at Relic, and it has become the NO.1 RTS game to play in recent years - its more then perfect, its utterly amazing and has incredible attention to detail.

DoW has 2 add-on packs, and luckily for you, the 3rd addon now comes with the other two games built in (if u buy the correct game) cant recommend this game enough and it wont kill your pc much.

It also has a big modding community for which I helped produce some 3DS max models about a year back.

http://www.dawnofwargame.com/homepage.php

U can even customise units paintjobs and take them online to kill your mates with.

If anyone wants W40k help, wants to read the latest stuff or just enjoys the fluff of it all like myself.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/index.php

this is the largest community online - some of the 'Background' theroy posts are really interesting - the GD forum can be a bit young for me, so i stick to background fluff, where my years of know how can pour out of my mind.

I go by the name of Lord Dante over there...

Post by **Best First** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:48 pm

Metal Vendetta wrote:Damn you all, I've just spluffed an hour doing 40K related searches.

me too.

bugger.

oh well.

seems very cool but equally a bit expasnive for a newcomer.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:02 am

It sounds and looks rather neat- the b/f is way into Warhammer and whatnot, and while I'm currently more interested in the models themselves/painting the models I'm curious about the game itself. What I've read so far has been pretty interesting, and these books seem like a good way to get a bit of background info on 40k. Smurfy.