Dark Angels Fiction (Short stories/Novels/etc)

[Prot]

Hey guys,

 

I have to be honest the only Dark Angels fiction I've enjoyed (outside of the codex) was a short story where the Lion beats the warp juice out of a greater daemon.

 

The story was in a compilation I was listening to while jogging.... but I do recall those sneaky Night Lords were involved. It was a short but sweet story.

 

Other than that, I have trouble finding good reads. Friends have told me to stay away from the first Dark Angels HH book, citing it as a total snooze fest. (One friend actually wouldn't lend it to me because he swore I'd probably stop playing them. lol)

 

I started the Ravenwing book, only to kind of fizzle due to the really thin/predictable storyline, but I understand that is only one of a trilogy?

 

Can anyone help me out here? What, in your opinion, is a good read for (current) Dark Angels fiction? Even short stories would be great.

[lost_angel]

The one everyone holds up as the standard would be the ADB short - savage weapons. I'm a bit so so about it myself although its certainly one if our better bits of fiction.

 

Surprisingly, Gav's recent master of sanctity has, for me at least, taken the top spot. While there's some unnecessary filler here and there it gives an excellent insight into the inner circle.

 

Hope that helps.

[Prot]

Yes, thank you kindly.

 

Where can I find ADB's Savage Weapons? Is it in a compilation novel?

[Cactus]

Where can I find ADB's Savage Weapons? Is it in a compilation novel?

 

Correct. It's in Age of Darkness.

 

I rather like Descent of Angels because I've always wanted to know more about Caliban, its society, landscape and - of course - the wildlife! Most of the action takes place before the Imperium's arrival which I suspect disappointed many Horus Heresy readers who aren't complete Dark Angel nuts like me. The story is badly let down by a jarring finale that feels rushed and doesn't quite make sense.

 

The best parts of Fallen Angels are also those set on Caliban. The narrative is split between an increasing threat on Caliban and the Lion's opening moves in the Horus Heresy. Opening moves that are, for me, largely forgettable. His character is portrayed better here than in Descent of Angels though.

 

Then came Savage Weapons and The Lion and all was forgiven.

[Komrk]

I'm not a Dark Angel nut but I also liked Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels. (I mean I also enjoyed Battle for the Abyss while reading it). I feel like it gives some good background to the Dark Angels and even though the first one is relatively slow, you can see the Fall coming (of course the sides weren't what I expected). Fallen Angels was a fun read with an end that was surprising and depressing. As for short stories I haven't read any except for Call of the Lion? (The one with Astelan and then the Caliban born Captain) and then the one where he does the same thing he did with Russ but to a named space marine who didn't agree with him... Oh well, the Lion was a bit of a douche throughout the books, the Dark Angels were awesome but you still felt bad for the guys who ended up turning. Two pretty good books with more story than bolter porn but totally worth it.

[FerociousBeast]

Unremembered Empire starts out really well but becomes utterly preposterous halfway thru. Felt like I was reading an X-Men story. But it's got some really good Lion action at the beginning. The scene with the Lion hunting Curze in the depths of his battle barge is worth the price of admission alone. The Lion and his angels turn to keystone koppery yet again before too many pages are turned, but the book has its moments.

[Gillyfish]

I agree, with the above. Descent of Angels is actually an enjoyable read apart from the ending. The author got carried away with some excellent world building and appears to have run up against a ruthlessly enforced word limit (or so I imagine it!), so the ending is really jarring, as Cactus said, which is a real shame as the earlier part of the book was really characterful and enjoyable.

 

Ferocious Beats is also correct with Unremembered Empire, which is enjoyable and pulls together a lot of threads from other HH novels.

 

In terms of 40k rather than 30k, I am reading Master of Sanctity at present and enjoying it so far. I liked Ravenwing too, but you're right, it did feel predictable. Some of the older DA short stories are quite good. Deathwing stands head and shoulders above the remainder there, despite its age and (if memory serves) The Black Pearl was also interesting.

 

Eye of Terror was quite interesting, but not necessarily one of the better BL books as it took quite a while to really get going.

 

Hope that helps.