News about Horus Heresy books, from Convention Secundus

[veterannoob]

"A Thousand Sons" is by Graham McNeil...

 

I would agree that "Deliverance Lost" is one of my least favorite HH novels. I have a love/hate relationship with Gav Thorpe's writing. His "narrative" stuff (codex entries, background) tends to be rather good, however, his characterizations are hit and miss. Sometimes, his style works really well, as is the case with his Dark Angels works (including "The Lion" from the HH "Primarchs" anthology). At other times, it does not carry the same kind of gravitas I would have expected from the characters, especially in the Heresy setting (case in the point: "Deliverance Lost").

 

Now, the thing about Gav's works is that he can write. Even in his lesser stories, there are parts that are very well crafted, and convey the kind of characterizations I like (i.e. most of the "flashback" scenes in "Deliverance Lost", the last 20% or so of the novel). I found that over the last couple of years, the quality of Gav's output has increased by a wide margin, though it might also have to do with the subject of his works. His Raven Guard novellas ("Corax: Soulforge" and "Ravenlord") work because of their more focused, confined narrative that remains tight without giving him an opportunity to drift into codex-style narrative; the Dark Angels with their almost autistic personality traits and stunted emotional development come across as rather believable in his Legacy of Caliban trilogy (though it may also be helped by a large cast of characters which keeps the story moving without getting too dry). I don't know if that style would have worked with more expressive characters or subjects, but I am hopeful that he has a better grasp now on what his strengths are, and continues to play to those.

I thought I would not be interested in Del. Lost when I first went through the HH series in order but was pleasantly surprised at where the story developed and felt like was moving the plot forward, with the replenishment, and, having the Emperor was a nice touch. I've recently been asked and was able to come up with a list of bottom 3 of the HH full novels (Book 1-33), which is hard for me being such a BL fanboy;p ).  But in no particular order: Battle for the Abyss, Damnation of Pythos, Nemesis (loved the final scene) tied w/Fallen Angels.