Comments on: warhammer 40 000 Useful Knowledgebase

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:07:19 +0000

Overall the book is worth reading since it does create the beginning of a Space Marine and Chaos Marine series.

By: Kinton

Kinton — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:46:58 +0000

The Ultramarines are known to be virtuous and highly devoted servants of the God-Emperor. They are also known to be simple in spirit in that their sustenance is to serve the Emperor with vigor and loyalty. I believe that Uriel, Pasanius, and Learchus reflect these qualities to one degree or another. For those who say that they are wooden, perhaps you’re not getting the point of the story. Each Ultramarine protagonist is trying to find their own place in the Warhammer 40k universe – perhaps less so in Learchus’ case as is limited in his capacity to think outside the Codex Astartes. I think its gratifying to watch a straight-laced Ultramarine find his own path – as Captain Idaeus wanted him to.

Nightbringer sets up the reader with a refreshing look at Uriel’s first operation as the captain of 4th company. Warriors of Ultramar demonstrates Uriel’s depth as a individual space marine and his genuine belief in applying himself where he is best suited – which ironically got him one way ticket to the Eye of Terror. The third and last installment of this omnibus was a real test or character as Uriel and Pasanius faced the horrors of a Chaos world and the vindication of their own character.

Overall, it’s a great read that’s well worth your time.

By: Pearlman

Pearlman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:39:42 +0000

As a relatively new Warhammer 40K player I was looking for a great novel to fill out the universe for me beyond the rulebook and codexes- the Ultramarines Omnibus delivered! McNeill has a masterful way of combining a solid understanding of 40K lore and technology, artful descriptions of combat and great descriptions of human emotion. In the Omnibus we see the rise and fall of heroes, the strength and failings of human character, and the ebb and flow of warring factions’ fortunes. But let’s face it, most of us pick up a 40K novel because we want some great battle action- it’s to be found here in many pages of intense and well-conceived action. We see the Space Marines at the war with rebel faction, rogue Dark Eldar, insidious Chaos Space Marines and ravenous Tyrannid hoards. The protagonist in chief, Uriel Ventriss, achieves many heroic enterprises that are made believable by McNeill’s description of the moral fortitude, genetic enhancement, and astounding arsenal, of a Space Marine Captain. McNeill paints the Space Marine as mortal- able to feel pain and doubt, yet superhuman- a fighting force driven by a superior strength and fighting spirit second to none.

By: Alecks

Alecks — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:37:24 +0000

Graham McNeil’s “Ultramarines Omnibus” is a collection of three novels and a short story set in the dark gothic universe of Warhammer 40 000. It follows the adventures of captain Uriel Ventris – leader of the Ultramarines fourth company.

Ultramarines books are full of fluff mistakes. Some of these include; Adeptus Arbites judges driving around in rhino APCs; local PDF commanders having access to power fists; the ultramarines fourth company apparently not having tanks (of any kind), terminators, devastator squads, power fists, dreadnoughts, drop pods, bikes, land speeders, and in general most of the stuff that an effective Adeptus Astartes strike force is based on; what’s more, the 4th company conducts most of their attacks head-on, running into enemy gunfire with little or no tactics involved. These things might seem irrelevant to someone who isn’t a diehard 40k fan, but this omnibus is – after all – aimed at diehard fans, and to us this sort of fluff mistakes can go a long way towards making or breaking a story.

That being said, “Ultramarines Omnibus” contains a lot more character development then is usual in Space Marine fiction. Even supporting characters are well fleshed-out. Uriel, Pasanius, and Learchus have genuine personality traits that set them apart from each other; their emotions, hopes, and doubts are something we – the readers – can relate to. This is most pronounced when the Ultramarines are interacting with regular humans, astartes from other chapters, and even their traitor cousins. They are all so very different, and yet they all fundamentally human.

McNeil’s literary style is nothing to write home about, but it isn’t particularly bad, either. The books are fast-paced, entertaining, and easy to read. If you’re a fan of space marines, you should definitely read this collection.

By: VanHorne

VanHorne — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:13:07 +0000

If you can get past the concept of siege warfare in the far future, this is
pretty fun. I thought the beginning is a bit disappointing, as the imperial
forces are nothing more than overconfident, bumbling idiots, but the
balance shifts a bit as they gain their footing. The writing is pretty
straightforward, and cliches abound (including a few that will make
you cringe), but the action is brisk, and unrelenting.

By: Fawk

Fawk — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:25:43 +0000

I loved this book and I feel after reading most of the Black Library’s productions that I am pretty hard to please when it comes to warhammer 40k fiction. What I like is that you never quite know who is going to win the battle as McNeil does a great job developing both sides of the conflict. His afterword, which I also enjoyed, is also a great final section that explains his thinking in writing the book the way he did and also is a thanks to all those that are influenced and enjoy his style of story telling.

By: Kruse

Kruse — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:06:36 +0000

Epic battles. Everyone loves them. The few and the proud against the hordes of evil in a winner takes all battle for ultimate supremacy. These elements provide a good backdrop for human drama and character development, and can be seen in many instances of film, comics, television, and literature throughout the years.

"Storm of Iron" provides a Warhammer 40k take on this same ideal. An impenetrable fortress manned by a hardened force ready to die for their beliefs. To never yield or falter in the face of certain doom and a tragic end at the hands of a bloodcrazed and evil enemy.

But things don't quite go that way, which makes this story stand out as being a bit different from those in the past. The good guys don't win, in fact they serve as unwitting agents of their own destruction throughout the story. A series of bad to worst, the warriors in this tale are constantly forced to make decisions that will inevitably destroy them.

This book is at its best when confronting these choices, and the strained relationships between the principle characters on both sides. The jockeying between the Chaos leaders, all vying for the attention and respect of their master Warsmith, gives a sense of the twisted minds behind the Iron Warriors. The petty squabbling, and secret agenda of the Imperium, leads to many undeserved deaths throughout the ranks of the defenders.

The rest of the book is a series of workman-like tales of battle. A respectable attempt at outlining the vast conflict from both sides, this element of the story invariably fails to rise to the heights of the interesting characters. I often found myself quickly skimming through the same series of soldiers being blasted apart by artillery, lascannons, and bolters just so I could get back to the "important parts". This lends a sense of drudgery and boredom to what could otherwise be an exciting and fast paced story.

Given the scope of the story contained in this one novel, I don't know that it would be possible to avoid these pitfalls and I must give credit to Graham for creating a unique and interesting one off set within the 40k universe.

A good novel to read if you know nothing about 40k and the conflict between the Emperor and the forces of Chaos, but it does take some liberties with the source material which may annoy hardcore 40k fans.

An overall enjoyable read, and am I curious to read more about the characters who survive the bloody conflict outlined in this book.

6.5 out of 10.

By: Chung

Chung — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:25:53 +0000

A great story and a must read for any Chaos Space Marine fan! The story starts off a bit slow, but that seems to be the author’s style. After the characters are laid out, the real action begins and never lets up!

By: Verburg

Verburg — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:47:02 +0000

I just finished Storm of Iron by Graham McNeill. I loved this book. He gives a wonderful insight into Chaos Space Marines. The action is nonstop. This is one of my favorite Warhammer 40K novels. I couldn’t put this book down. It is well worth the time to read it.

By: Aikawa

Aikawa — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:34:01 +0000

That book not only action, as awaited from story about Space Marine. That book about dark past. About war in 40 millenium and about Horus Heresy times. About dark secrets one of the most respected Legio. Dark Angels. Brave and first Legio. But Why THEY did not stand fast on Earth in last battle with Horus? Dark Secret…