Murcielago Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well brothers, I finished the Blood angels omnibus a week ago and thought I'd make a topic for it. To anyone else who has read it, do you think it was a good portrayal of the Angels or was some of it too over the top? In my opinion, without spoilers, it was a good book and I thought it helped flesh out some of the aspects of the Blood Angels. I liked it but was alittle concerned with some of the plot points...Anyone else's thoughts? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus of Baal Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I disliked it. I thought it was too Gary Stu-ish concerning the main character, and I noticed a few direct factual fallacies in it. I only read it because my girlfriend bought it for me not knowing how bad it is and I'm a Blood Angels fanatic. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2528804 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentL Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Originally I loved it, I thought WoW Bloodangels in a book how could it be bad, I thought it pitted the Super Soldiers as a bit petty, I saw them more honorable and brave.. they were made out a bit too human for me... they aren't human at all... they are larger than life. Then I read the Space Wolf Omnibus... and while it had a "Wolf" spin on it, (Wolf this wolf that, howl, charge, drink, fight etc) I realized... the Bloodangels one was pretty crappy... and the only reason I pressed on through it, was me convincing myself it was awesome because it was about the BA. I just don't like how they try and humanize these machines of war... all a Space Marine does is fight, and fight some more, they are eternal fighting marine's whose loyalty to the Emperor, Primarch and Battle brother is worth more than their life. I can't get into more without spoilers, but I was impressed with the Story until I read other story's about Space Marine's like many of the Horus Heresy, and the Space Wolf Omnibus and I realized that they made the Blood Angels look very Petty. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2528818 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrahawk Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 It was kind of a mixed experience for me, and I'll start with the positives. There were some parts in that collection that I actually really liked. I liked how Swallow depicted the Flaw and how brutal and ferocious the BAs were when under the Flaw (and also when not). I also liked his portrayal of Death Company in the first book and the short story Blood Debt was actually pretty decent. Also he set a nice atmosphere in the beginning of the first book centering on Cybele. Also Mephiston's portrayal was pretty good. Sadly the negatives heavily outweight the positives, since they are pretty much all centered on very central and crucial things. First of all, the main plot. I hated the main plot since it was so rediculous and I could never see silly stuff like that happening in the universe of Warhammer 40k. It also portrayed the Blood Angels as morons and complete slaves to the Inquisitor's will, which really isn't how things are. The book also had marines dying in their hundreds which really doesn't do the might of the Astartes any justice. It felt like Swallow made the Blood Angels Chapter look incompetent so that his main character would look awesome and heroic. All in all, I don't think Swallow is a bad writer. That's not the problem. The books are very readable and he has nice details going on, which I always like in my WH40K fluff. The problem is he doesn't respect and really understand the established background. If the books had centered around the Blood Angels as protagonists instead of a single marine and had more of a "normal" plot, like a BA company fighting to save Cybele from a combined Host of Word Bearers, Daemons and Cultists it would have been indefinitely better. As for the future, I don't know. I think if Swallow can restrain his "creativity" he might be able to write some good BA stuff. But those books were such a slap in the face for the Blood Angels that I'm not sure if he deserves the chance. <_< Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2528828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarpWalker Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well said Terrahawk! I personally don't expect the writer to get everything right. Just write a good story. Heroes without flaws is just another Arnold , Chuck or Van dam (over the top) movie. It's like someone entered a "god mode" cheat in their game. It's not fun and gets boring real quick. But I would have liked it better if the blood angels were portrayed correctly. I have nothing more to add to this. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2528869 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt. Salvatore Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Exactly as the brothers just before me said. The writing technique of J.S. is not bad at all, but the story was terrible. Oh my god, I have read a lot but this is one of the most unbelieveable story ever. But, enough of Swallow hate here brothers. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2528872 Share on other sites More sharing options...
douchie Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Any fluff time devoted to a particular Chapter is a good thing & too be fair I'm glad we got a series on the Blood Angels. However, while Swallow is a good writer, (Flight of the Eisenstein it testement to that.) His portrayal of the Blood Angels missed the mark for me. These guys seemed a little too Emo... ''oooh don't make me angry, I'll get mad with red thirst n'all that.... ''you wouldn't like me when I'm angry, boo hoo'' Don't get me wrong, the twin curse is what gives our chapter its character, I just think it could've been executed a little better. The Flesh Tearers that feature in the later books were closer to the mark. I personally don't think the Emperor's purest sons should be so easily dupped. The omnibus raises question about their judgement, but the 3rd book blows this out of the water & makes them look like desperate stumbling idiots & all too human, which is highly frustrating. Like I said before Swallow is a good writer & the plots flow freely enough. Maybe it's my emotional investment in the blood angels which makes me feel a little let down by the books. Although saying that, I'm also invested in the Night Lords & while A D-B's interpretation of them wasn't exactly along the lines that I'd always imagined them, I was sold on his angle & the 'Soul Hunter' book totally won me over. Each to their own, If you liked the BA omnibus then I'd recomend the follow ups. They do flesh things out a little more. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2528875 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zamar Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Couldn't finish it, bored be sooo badly. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529132 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Nathan Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Can i ask is the book of blood any good? Anyway from ive heard about the omnibus i wouldnt even bother with it. Liked the ultramarine one and just finished the first salamander on butours sounds terrable... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529186 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACK BLΠFLY Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I agree with Terrahawk's assessment. The bad outweighed the good. The first novel I had a big issue with how subservient some of the Blood Angels were to the Inquisitor - there is a short story that depicted a successor chapter assassinating an Inquisitor who sticks his nose in too deep to their business. I really don't see any chapter letting itself be lead around by the nose by the Inquisition. Unfortunately many writers it seems use a farfetched gimmick to develop their plot or put a twist into the storyline - this always spoils it for me. I do think that JS may have developed a grudge against Blood Angels in general because his first novel was pretty much universally panned. The one moment that really stuck out for me was during the final battle in the first novel when Mephiston was fighting / the Lord of Death was swinging his force weapon around like nobody's business while simultaneously firing his plasma pistol and shooting laser beams of death from his eyes - it was an awesome scene for me and one I'll never forget. 0b :lol: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarpWalker Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 To a small extent I'll go along with a chapter aiding the Inquisition. We all serve the Emperor and mankind. That after all was the purpose for the space marine legions. To save and protect mankind. But to bow to their every whim. No sir I don't like it, I don't like it at all! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529311 Share on other sites More sharing options...
evolved23 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I dunno I kinda liked it. Mind you I was pretty much totally ignorant of how blood angels should be apart from RAGE fuelled marines due to the death of Sanguinus. I totally ignored Blood Debt wasn't interested in Steele (probably because mine is the Armour of Contempt :lol: ) and did get bored mid way through Deus Encarmine but once the action picked up thoroughly enjoyed it! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529436 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefireinferno Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 In my books it has not happened and I am still waiting for the Blood Angels books to be written. But yeah letting Fab bile onto Baal? CHRIST we arn't no luck challenged 21st founding. However I have not been able to read Heros of the Space Marines YET but I hear good things about "At Gauis Point" sure its about Us Tearers of Flesh but hey from what I have heard it don't make us look stupid. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529744 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaplain Gunzhard Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I only read the first two books and hated them. I've also read some of Swallow's other books and I am entirely certain that he is incapable of subtlety, and as others have noted he clearly didn't understand the background he was writing about. As far as 'Hobby Game Series' fiction goes Swallow is ok - but measured against any real fiction writer he is just awful. Re-read the first page of the 2nd book... it is possibly the clumsiest and worst written opening passage I've ever seen. Regarding the BA books specifically - my major complaint is this: We have the LONGEST lived and wisest space marine chapter in existence, also known for their extreme loyalty... and they are tricked by the laziest Chaos spoofs - TWICE! Swallow paints the BA's as naive and easily manipulate-able... which a lot of old school BA fans find offensive. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2529755 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabgoi Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 I read the first two books and was not particularly happy about them. As far as I understood it, Inquisitors really had about zero authority over a Space Marine Chapter beyond what the Chapter actually decides to give them. I mean Rogue Traders seem to have more autonomy than these novels give the Blood Angels. And the fact that they were so easily duped is insulting. The only plus side was his potrayal of Mephiston, but Blood Angels fighting Blood Angels? That is a pretty serious breach. And then Bile on Baal, that was over the top. Let alone that a small force actually managed to get into the most fortified section of the Fortress Monestary of a founding legion. I just did not really enjoy his books. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2533925 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DokSnyder Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Well, I said it in other posts already: The BA books are by far the worst I've read so far. And this does not only include 40k books. Never read a worse portrayal of a SM chapter, never read something less fitting to the background. While reading I would sometimes call a friend to complain, because I couldn't stand it any more. There were so many really stupid errors that it made me cringe, so many unbelievably stupid actions of "heroes" that it almost made me cry out in rage and throw the books away. (Bought them when they came out, not as an omnibus.) Always thought that it couldn't get any worse... but it got worse every single time. If I were an GW executive I'd have those books burned and formally apologize for its distribution. (Well, and kick Swallow in the nuts.) Sorry, had to be said... again. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2534027 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefireinferno Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Hell If I was a Big wig of GW or BL I would refund everyones bad swallow books and personally take each one out to dinner. Oh I would also give anybody that Pirated the books money for them wasting time/money in obtaining them I would be that appauled. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2534038 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt. Salvatore Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 As already stated previously, donate to the Vindicare Temple account on operation JS:D Only thing that can be done to redeem our chapters honour... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2534060 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claws of Corax Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 If any further BA novels are written (particularly for the Horus Heresy series) I really hope the Aaron Bembski Bowden writes them... My reason for this... In his Soul Hunter novel about the Night Lords he portrayed Blood Angels perfectly. As for the main topic... I agree that JW has done a poor job portraying the BA chapter... However as a work of fiction it is a well written and has a good plot progression. At no point did the dempo slow & it has you sympathising with the characters. I enjoyed reading it. and have got the limited edition book of blood mini book in my to read pile which I look forward to reading after First Heritic (Sorry for being an ADB fan boy). Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2534131 Share on other sites More sharing options...
shatter Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 I read the omnibus years ago. 'Thought it was pretty average compared to the others (Space Wolf, Guard novels etc) I was reading at the time. *shrug* Not my favorites. And that was way before I became the greatest Sanguinius fan-boy this galaxy has seen so I can't recall how well, if at all, it adhered to the modern aesthetic. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/212572-blood-angels-omnibus/#findComment-2534134 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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