This book marks M. Goto’s sixth foray into the grim universe of Warhammer 40,000 (W40K), having also penned the Dawn of War trilogy and the “Warrior” books. Here he tells the tale of the Eldar Kaelor Craftworld, the Warp Spider Aspect Warrior brothers Scilti and Naois, the young Seer Ela and her aged Farseer mentor Ahearn. A host of lesser characters, from warlords to Aspect Temple Exarchs to dispossessed warriors, form a pantheon of supporting characters, touching almost every aspect of Craftworld life.
The work had enormous potential to shine a light on one of the most fascinating races of the 40K universe, and provide interesting viewpoints on a fictional culture; it fell short. The vast array of characters, while providing impressive scope, is very difficult to track and remember. Eldar terms abound where regular words would cause far less confusion, and they are of dubious origin, such as “Dharknys” for darkness (night) and “Laetnys” for lightness (day). Similarly, M. Goto creates a Craftworld that flies in the face of much of the established Eldar background. They are complete slaves to their passions, always teetering on the edge of corruption. They feel much more like Dark Eldar than the more noble, path-conscious ancients of established canon.
All this might be forgivable if the plot compensated for other failings, but sadly it also takes a back seat. The characters are flimsy stereotypes, and plot devices are applied with the subtlety of a hammer. The “rule of cool” usurps common sense when armies give up fortified defensive positions to fight on an open plain, when characters are spared from certain death for no other reason than to advance the plot, and when only the Exarchs of each Aspect Temple arrive at a battle with no warriors in support. The final reveal of the plot will come as no surprise and feels more like “showing off” than resolution.
In summary: though it aspires to grand scope, anyone more than passingly familiar with the 40K background or appreciative of the finer points of the writer’s craft might want to look at other Black Library offerings.
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First off, let me say this – I love 40K fiction. It’s pulpy, nihilistic and violent. It’s my favorite brain candy.
I picked this one up because I’d liked C.S. Goto’s previous books. His Eldar in the Dawn of War books are wonderfully manipulative and make a fantastic contrast to the Space Marines in his stories. The Eldar are able to easily manipulate the blunt instrument that is the Adeptus Astartes to their own designs. Frankly, Mr. Goto should write more of those stories because when the Eldar have only themselves to contend with they make feeble protagonists and antagonists. From start to finish the only surprise in this book was that it ended abruptly as part of an obvious ploy to farm it into a series. This is the first Black Library book I’ve had to force myself to finish…hopefully, it will be the last.
My recommendation is to spend your money on one of his Dawn of War books.
This is the fifth Goto 40k novel I have read and I put it away after I was only half-way through, it was so mind numbingly boring. I have read most of the 40k novels ever published (even the orginal “Space Marine” published by Games Workshop, before there was ever the Black Library) and Goto is by far the worst 40k writer whose works I’ve had the displeasure of reading (I’ve read better 40k fan fiction). Maybe it’s his tiresome style, overly complicated situations or needlessly dry characters, but whatever it is, I am not going to spend another dollar on a novel by him again.
In general, I like Goto’s writing. I have enjoyed several of his books before. Eldar Prophecy is special; it stands out from his other books and from the rest of the BL collection. The reason is this: it stands on its own as a sci-fi novel, without needing the support of background 40K knowledge. Goto has drawn an elaborate and sophisticated picture of the eldar in this novel, complete with a long an detailed appendix that makes the book self-sufficient.
Even if you know nothing about 40K, you will find this an elegant and fascinating sci-fi novel about an alien civilization. If you are already familar with 40K, you will find that Goto brings order to the confusing eldar background and brings craftworld Kaelor to life.
The characters in this book are well-developed and nuanced. The eldar are haughty, sly, overly emotional, struggling with their own natures and their ancient demons – they are alien without being incomprehensible.
There is an epic tone to the narrative that makes Eldar Prophecy read like a classical cycle, a snippet of a grand folklore.
Of course, all of this means that it is not an easy read, and many 40K fans will find it hard, I think, especially if they’re really looking for simple blood and war. Here there is intrigue and a detailed plot that requires some concentration.
If you want something grand, immersive and unusual from the Black Library, then this is for you.
This book marks M. Goto’s sixth foray into the grim universe of Warhammer 40,000 (W40K), having also penned the Dawn of War trilogy and the “Warrior” books. Here he tells the tale of the Eldar Kaelor Craftworld, the Warp Spider Aspect Warrior brothers Scilti and Naois, the young Seer Ela and her aged Farseer mentor Ahearn. A host of lesser characters, from warlords to Aspect Temple Exarchs to dispossessed warriors, form a pantheon of supporting characters, touching almost every aspect of Craftworld life.
The work had enormous potential to shine a light on one of the most fascinating races of the 40K universe, and provide interesting viewpoints on a fictional culture; it fell short. The vast array of characters, while providing impressive scope, is very difficult to track and remember. Eldar terms abound where regular words would cause far less confusion, and they are of dubious origin, such as “Dharknys” for darkness (night) and “Laetnys” for lightness (day). Similarly, M. Goto creates a Craftworld that flies in the face of much of the established Eldar background. They are complete slaves to their passions, always teetering on the edge of corruption. They feel much more like Dark Eldar than the more noble, path-conscious ancients of established canon.
All this might be forgivable if the plot compensated for other failings, but sadly it also takes a back seat. The characters are flimsy stereotypes, and plot devices are applied with the subtlety of a hammer. The “rule of cool” usurps common sense when armies give up fortified defensive positions to fight on an open plain, when characters are spared from certain death for no other reason than to advance the plot, and when only the Exarchs of each Aspect Temple arrive at a battle with no warriors in support. The final reveal of the plot will come as no surprise and feels more like “showing off” than resolution.
In summary: though it aspires to grand scope, anyone more than passingly familiar with the 40K background or appreciative of the finer points of the writer’s craft might want to look at other Black Library offerings.
This is a very interesting book, and it has unusually visionary ambitions for a Black Library title. I read these books from time to time, and this one really drew me in as something different.
The depiction of the eldar is majestic and touching, and the tone is elegantly elegaic. Set many millennia before the ‘present day’ of WH40K, Eldar Prophecy establishes a mythology for the eldar of Kaelor, of the kind we have never before seen in BL fiction.
In some ways, it’s difficult to review this book as a Black Library title, since it seems to transcend the boundaries of ‘tie-in’ fiction. I really think that any readers of sci-fi (and especially of space opera) will find this book interesting and enjoyable. In fact, perhaps non-BL readers will actually like it more?
Like much (but not all) of Goto’s stuff, this is not the book for you if you’re just looking for pulp and violence (although there’s some of that too!). But if you’re excited about the eldar, alien species or just want something new in the BL-world, or if you want something that is carefully paced and intricately crafted, then this is definitely for you.
Not high literature, but certainly a cut above the usual pulp stuff.