Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
So this how everything began. Interesting read, oudated and somewhat interesting. But by today standards it fails to achieve the epic porportions or in terms of vast scale of other current novels.
Here we find how one turns a space marine -Imperial Fists. The IF takes his men from the Necromunda world. And in this particular case they took three hivers each from a different part of the hive city. It was interesting to read about the differences between them and how they try to bond beneath the IF.
Being an outdated book, from the first or second codex time, we have Squats and Zoats; both written out from the annal histories of Games Workshop.
You've got Space Marines eating enemies to know more about several situations and even to control a Titan!!
But don't get me wrong. This is a book where you will find a grim dark reality of the warhammer 40k world. People abducted, through painful treatments (with druges involved) turn into fanatic space marines.
Good story and I advice anyone into Warhammer40k to read it, or if you like Starship Troopers from Heinlein.
Here we find how one turns a space marine -Imperial Fists. The IF takes his men from the Necromunda world. And in this particular case they took three hivers each from a different part of the hive city. It was interesting to read about the differences between them and how they try to bond beneath the IF.
Being an outdated book, from the first or second codex time, we have Squats and Zoats; both written out from the annal histories of Games Workshop.
You've got Space Marines eating enemies to know more about several situations and even to control a Titan!!
But don't get me wrong. This is a book where you will find a grim dark reality of the warhammer 40k world. People abducted, through painful treatments (with druges involved) turn into fanatic space marines.
Good story and I advice anyone into Warhammer40k to read it, or if you like Starship Troopers from Heinlein.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When other Warhammer fans told me that Ian Watson's Draco was a bizarre, uncomfortable mess, I didn't believe them. They were right. So when they also told me that Space Marine had everything wrong with Draco and then some, I should have listened this time around.
Because they were right.
Space Marine follows three adolescent boys growing up on the hive world of Necromunda - Lexandro D'arquebus, the spoiled, hedonistic son of an official; Yeremi Valence, as close to middle-class as you get on Necromunda; and Biff Tundrish, a low-hive ganger with a distinctive spider tattoo on his face. For their own reasons, all three apply to join the Imperial Guard and selected as recruits to the Imperial Fists chapter of the Space Marines, where they will be molded into weapons to fight in the name of the God Emperor and a strange, complex bond will form between the three that will be the cause of both successes and failures as they fight their way across the galaxy.
Oh man. . . where to start. The story itself had a decent setup. A coming-of-age tale following the training and missions of some young Space Marines will likely come to be a classic plot in Warhammer 40k literature, but it is one for a reason. The plot mixes the fantastic and sometimes horrifying realities of life in the 41st millennium with more down-to-earth and relatable relationships between the boys in a way that could have been very satisfying.
Unfortunately, however, it was not.
The character development, while intriguing and surprisingly complex in theory, is delivered in a "tell, don't show" fashion where, for the most part, the narration simply informs us how the boys feel about each other rather than allowing them to express their feelings in dialogue or actions. On the other hand, the action scenes have the opposite problem - they're so overwritten that it becomes difficult to tell what's going on in a sea of obscure vocabulary and flowery metaphor.
All this, however, pales in comparison to the content. As a gothic space opera setting, Warhammer 40k is no stranger to horrific and sometimes gross elements. But Watson plays these up to the point of repulsing the reader not just from the events of the story, but from the book itself, seeming to glory in comparing architecture to genitalia, describing various forms of self-harm, and, most importantly, talking about poop. I lost track of how many times this book finds increasingly convoluted reasons for the characters to touch poop, eat poop, poop their pants, etc., to the point that it's not clear if this was supposed to be some kind of obscure social commentary, a terribly failed attempt at gross-out humor, or simply the author's fetish.
All that being said, despite the low rating, I can't quite bring myself to hate this book. It's not a good 40k book, it's not a good story, and even at its short page count, it overstayed its welcome, but the absurdity pushes it firmly into 'so bad its good' territory and I enjoyed reading it and quoting some of the more absurd parts to my friends.
Because they were right.
Space Marine follows three adolescent boys growing up on the hive world of Necromunda - Lexandro D'arquebus, the spoiled, hedonistic son of an official; Yeremi Valence, as close to middle-class as you get on Necromunda; and Biff Tundrish, a low-hive ganger with a distinctive spider tattoo on his face. For their own reasons, all three apply to join the Imperial Guard and selected as recruits to the Imperial Fists chapter of the Space Marines, where they will be molded into weapons to fight in the name of the God Emperor and a strange, complex bond will form between the three that will be the cause of both successes and failures as they fight their way across the galaxy.
Oh man. . . where to start. The story itself had a decent setup. A coming-of-age tale following the training and missions of some young Space Marines will likely come to be a classic plot in Warhammer 40k literature, but it is one for a reason. The plot mixes the fantastic and sometimes horrifying realities of life in the 41st millennium with more down-to-earth and relatable relationships between the boys in a way that could have been very satisfying.
Unfortunately, however, it was not.
The character development, while intriguing and surprisingly complex in theory, is delivered in a "tell, don't show" fashion where, for the most part, the narration simply informs us how the boys feel about each other rather than allowing them to express their feelings in dialogue or actions. On the other hand, the action scenes have the opposite problem - they're so overwritten that it becomes difficult to tell what's going on in a sea of obscure vocabulary and flowery metaphor.
All this, however, pales in comparison to the content. As a gothic space opera setting, Warhammer 40k is no stranger to horrific and sometimes gross elements. But Watson plays these up to the point of repulsing the reader not just from the events of the story, but from the book itself, seeming to glory in comparing architecture to genitalia, describing various forms of self-harm, and, most importantly, talking about poop. I lost track of how many times this book finds increasingly convoluted reasons for the characters to touch poop, eat poop, poop their pants, etc., to the point that it's not clear if this was supposed to be some kind of obscure social commentary, a terribly failed attempt at gross-out humor, or simply the author's fetish.
All that being said, despite the low rating, I can't quite bring myself to hate this book. It's not a good 40k book, it's not a good story, and even at its short page count, it overstayed its welcome, but the absurdity pushes it firmly into 'so bad its good' territory and I enjoyed reading it and quoting some of the more absurd parts to my friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Cannibalism, Toxic friendship, War, Classism
Imperial Fists are one of the mightiest Space Marines Chapters of the First Founding era.
In this very interesting book we follow three young boys (from three very different social classes from hive city of Necromunda) as they advance through the ranks of the Imperial Fists from Scout units to full Battle Brothers. They will each find and follow their own way (religious zealotry and combat pragmatism) and soon animosity caused both by their origins and by the interactions before joining Imperial Fists will be replaced by bond that will keep them together in the direst of circumstances.
Watson portrays the world of Warhammer 40000 in the grimmest possible light - there is truly no hope here, man is only one among untold billions and future of the race is at stake and dangerous he encounters are truly overwhelming.
Great novel (according to long-time W40000 fans description and story differs from current game rules so bear that in mind you purists :)).
Highly recommended.
In this very interesting book we follow three young boys (from three very different social classes from hive city of Necromunda) as they advance through the ranks of the Imperial Fists from Scout units to full Battle Brothers. They will each find and follow their own way (religious zealotry and combat pragmatism) and soon animosity caused both by their origins and by the interactions before joining Imperial Fists will be replaced by bond that will keep them together in the direst of circumstances.
Watson portrays the world of Warhammer 40000 in the grimmest possible light - there is truly no hope here, man is only one among untold billions and future of the race is at stake and dangerous he encounters are truly overwhelming.
Great novel (according to long-time W40000 fans description and story differs from current game rules so bear that in mind you purists :)).
Highly recommended.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Weird, grotesque, and vivid depiction of dehumanization and cruelty in the totalitarian scifi dystopia Warhammer 40k setting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, War
Space Marine must be one of the most unique books I've ever read. I mean, on one hand, there's little plot, some character development, and the standard story of battles and war against a myriad of aliens and heretics. There are some reminders of what Warhammer 40K is today.
On the other hand, its poetic quality blends with the bizarre in the weirdest way imaginable. It's not just gross or extreme, but weird. Modern Warhammer books have even more disgusting scenes and even more death, but this Space Marine is simply weird, in that absolute way weird can be. There's not another adjective to replace it with. It's like what would happen if Shakespeare wrote a novel (play) in Warhammer Universe.
So, I'm undecided where does this book stand. For casual readers, it's a brief but shallow introduction to the old Warhammer Universe, and yet, many words will get over your head; it still requires a basic familiarity with the board game. For fans, there will be probably weird lore and scenes that don't have their place in today's established universe.
In the end, if you want to read something weird, so if you want to read a weird and somewhat poetic military SF, you're free to read this one.
On the other hand, its poetic quality blends with the bizarre in the weirdest way imaginable. It's not just gross or extreme, but weird. Modern Warhammer books have even more disgusting scenes and even more death, but this Space Marine is simply weird, in that absolute way weird can be. There's not another adjective to replace it with. It's like what would happen if Shakespeare wrote a novel (play) in Warhammer Universe.
So, I'm undecided where does this book stand. For casual readers, it's a brief but shallow introduction to the old Warhammer Universe, and yet, many words will get over your head; it still requires a basic familiarity with the board game. For fans, there will be probably weird lore and scenes that don't have their place in today's established universe.
In the end, if you want to read something weird, so if you want to read a weird and somewhat poetic military SF, you're free to read this one.