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The quintessential Black Library book/story for each legion


chosen40k

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So what would you say be the "must read" BL book/short story (books preferred) for each Legion?

 

Dark Angels: Savage Weapons

Emperor's Children: Fulgrim

Perturabo: Angel Exterminatus

White Scars: Scars

Space Wolves: Prospero Burns

Imperial Fists: The Crimson Fist

Night Lords: Prince of Crows

Blood Angels: Fear to Tread

Iron Hands: ???

World Eaters: Betrayer

Ultramarines: Know no Fear

Death Guard: ???

Thousand Sons: A Thousand Sons

Sons of Horus: Horus Rising/False Gods

Word Bearers: The First Heretic

Salamanders: ???

Ravenguard: ???

Alpha Legion: Legion

 

??? denotes that I haven't read anything for that Legion yet that would qualify. What are your guys thoughts?

 

For the Wolves, I find the short "Wolf at the Door" a better representation of them than Prospero Burns

 

Remember, Prospero Burns was a single company showing what they thought was a plant how they acted...or wanted to appear as they acted.

 

It was as reliable as a dating profile

I might argue Pharos for the VIIIth. Not sure. Prince of Crows focuses much more on the upper hierarchy of the Legion, not the mainstay, while Pharos has a lot more in. Just my opinion, both are brilliant books for the legion.

I'd agree with Riven for the Iron Hands, everything after their appearance in Fulgrim shows them after the end of their Legion as it was. Riven at least captures their essence better than what comes later. 

 

The Wolves - Don't get me wrong I like Wolf at the Door, I thought it was written very, very well. However it's almost written as 40k Space Wolves, as if their 10,000 evolution hasn't taken place. I'd also recommend Howl of the Hearthworld and Wolf King as reads for them, if maybe not a quintessential one.

 

The Salamanders - Scorched Earth is by far and away the best bit of XVIII Legion work out there. What makes it infuriating is that as good as that is, Vulkan Lives and Deathfire are horrific to read. And all by the same author. Along with Battle for the Abyss they form the unholy triumvirate of books I literally had to force myself to finish for the sake of the story. 

 

The Raven Guard - Deliverance Lost. Not quite as hard to read as some other books but my overwhelming feeling with this book is that it's full of excellent ideas let down by their execution.

 

Death Guard -  Flight of the Eisenstein. Not sure why this isn't doesn't make the cut? OK Garro is obviously the main player but there's more than enough information about the Legion as a whole and it's way of war

@Bathamal: The problem with the Wolves is that they havent had a good novel focused on the Legion yet.

 

PB: Single company, posing for spy

Howl of the Hearthworld is awesome, but very abrupt. It if were a full fledged novel, I've no doubt ADB would kill it. (as it is, I am looking forward to MoM VERY muuch)
Wolf King: I saw this novella as more about Russ, Bjorn, and the future of the Legion, rather than the Legion itself as it was.

@Bathamal: The problem with the Wolves is that they havent had a good novel focused on the Legion yet.

 

PB: Single company, posing for spy

Howl of the Hearthworld is awesome, but very abrupt. It if were a full fledged novel, I've no doubt ADB would kill it. (as it is, I am looking forward to MoM VERY muuch)

Wolf King: I saw this novella as more about Russ, Bjorn, and the future of the Legion, rather than the Legion itself as it was.

 

I fear the problem there is, there'll never be a novel that focuses on the Legion entirely. Russ and Bjorn are such integral characters (and always have been in truth) that it's almost impossible to sideline them from any of the focal points a full novel would require which would be a shame because I think there's significant potential to look at how the personalities of the Jarls influenced the Legion as a whole given they pretty much ruled the thirteen companies under Russ. The other Legions with characters whose names endure to 40K manage to do a good job of presenting a view point of the Legion as a whole - best example would be the Imperial Fists - Sigismund is the most famous loyalist from the heresy yet the bulk of VII Legion material comes from the PoV of Alexis Pollux. If there was another character that could "shoulder the burden" as it were it would help immensely.

 

With you on MoM though - been literally aching to get that in hand ever since ADB said he was writing it

 

@Bathamal: The problem with the Wolves is that they havent had a good novel focused on the Legion yet.

 

PB: Single company, posing for spy

Howl of the Hearthworld is awesome, but very abrupt. It if were a full fledged novel, I've no doubt ADB would kill it. (as it is, I am looking forward to MoM VERY muuch)

Wolf King: I saw this novella as more about Russ, Bjorn, and the future of the Legion, rather than the Legion itself as it was.

 

I fear the problem there is, there'll never be a novel that focuses on the Legion entirely. Russ and Bjorn are such integral characters (and always have been in truth) that it's almost impossible to sideline them from any of the focal points a full novel would require which would be a shame because I think there's significant potential to look at how the personalities of the Jarls influenced the Legion as a whole given they pretty much ruled the thirteen companies under Russ. The other Legions with characters whose names endure to 40K manage to do a good job of presenting a view point of the Legion as a whole - best example would be the Imperial Fists - Sigismund is the most famous loyalist from the heresy yet the bulk of VII Legion material comes from the PoV of Alexis Pollux. If there was another character that could "shoulder the burden" as it were it would help immensely.

 

With you on MoM though - been literally aching to get that in hand ever since ADB said he was writing it

 

 

I agree completely on everything you just posted.

 

My only regret is I only have 1 like to give.

I think 'Fulgrim' did a great job of creating an interesting Ferrus. I wasn't so sure first time through but having listened to the audio book as well, it really left a good impression of the Iron Hands on me. Highlighting the difference of the way of thinking of Ferrus and his Legion, and setting up a growth arc for Ferrus that would never happen (see sig).

Unremembered Empire is a great book on Ultramarine civil philosophy.  It also does a much better view of their tactical thinking for warfare, especially compared to Know No Fear, which is much more about their immediate reactions and disbelief from the sudden attack of the Word Bearers.  

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