I've updated the topic title and first post in an attempt to make it more about the HH series than what books people think I should read.
Probably the most entertaining series of books I've read since the Mr. Men collection but for obviously different reasons
. Being an ever increasingly dedicated 40k fluffer the series has piqued my interest in the early days of the time line and been quite well written to boot.
I'll get to the rest of the previously
read books later, but thought I'd say a few things about the book I've just finished and was really looking forward to the most,
Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow. Having not read
Nemesis I wasn't really expecting much about the writing, this book was on my "can't wait" list literally because of the last page
. Which I have to say, isn't particularly mind blowing, but hardly an anticlimax.
I think that anyone who knows anything about the HH series will know the plot by now and it's hardly worth repeating it for those that don't, but there were a few things that did strike me about this book. Firstly, the lack of the actual flight of the Eisenstein. Of course it happens, however, I had expected more. It isn't until about half way through that Garro begins the journey back to Terra to warn the Emporer and that leaves very little room for the story of the journey, which I must admit, is rather brief, if a little dangerous.
Secondly, and in counter to the above, the first half is also a little strange.... One of the biggest flaws of the book is that the raison d'etre of Mortaron to turn from The Emporer and side with Horus, is literally ignored. It is just a presumed fact that he did. It is briefly explained in that
but I think that is rather weak. Having read
Fulgrim and
False Gods where soo much of the Primarch's story is told, you do really miss what I think is a substantial part of the storyline by disregarding this. Yet you are told that Mortaron feels Garro is special enough to be worth several opportunities to be allowed to join the Warmaster, again, with very little explanation.
Both of the above, however, are relatively minor gripes and could be found in nearly every bit of 40k lore that has ever been written. I suppose the issue I have with it is the throw away attitude of the author to the logic behind it. It would have worked better had there been a little creative license and some deliberate ambiguity, but the explanations are either ignored or matter-of-fact'd.
I won't criticise the book anymore as it would be unwarranted and I suspect that my above is based on the expectation I had, rather than by any huge plot holes. I will say that Garro is characterised well and his horror at the treachary of his legion and brothers is spun beautifully. Bottom line,
The Flight of the Eisenstein gives you what you expect and for the most part well. It follows the
RoC nicely and in places is quite dramatic, eloquently versed and as fluffy as a SoB's teddy bear.
Overall 8/10
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