Leman Russ, The Great Wolf by Chris Wraight (LE)

[DarKnight]

Received my copy when I came back from work about 4 hours ago, about 100 pages in which is the start of Chapter 4.

It's good, as one has now come to expect from Wraight although I haven't read my copy of Guilliman for contrast.

 

 

Let me know if this isn't the appropriate place for it, but am I the only one that's perturbed by the whole "Russ is pretending to be a barbarian" thing? Obviously the Wolves know the galaxy is bigger than just Fenris and I'm sure Russ landed on Fenris with this knowledge innately within him, but continuing the "charade" if you want to call it that just seems pointless to me. It just seems pointless to pretend to be one or the other. He's a Primarch, it's obvious they're all deeper than they appear. Right?

 

Not to draw the ire of the above but this, to me at least, is touched on in The Great Wolf with the perspective of a Jarl who remembers Russ from when they were shield brothers under Thengir before the Emperor arrives; I hope that isn't too much of a spoiler.

Dangit, it's not enough spoilers!!!

[R_F_D]

Apologies, will finish it this evening (GMT time) and try and post something, if not beaten to it.

What I would say is that the article on Dulan in White Dwarf always stuck in my mind (possibly the Index Astartes DA profile) and what Chris has done so far is a very nuanced/balanced exploration of the feud where it isn't simply the case of the Lion killing the Tyrant before Russ. Then again I haven't got to that bit so he could through in a curveball or two.

 

Edit: got it wrong it was WD 233 background to mark the release of the then new Codex: Dark Angels.  Pages 22-23 if anyone is interested http://www.mediafire.com/file/9kb14if2ym9sdja/White+Dwarf+%23233.pdf

[Kasper_Hawser]

Sigh, wish I had the cash to buy this. Shouldn't have bought Prospero Burns. I feel the book would have been much more satisfying.

[Taliesin]

It's only two months until the regular hardcover comes out at less than half the price though, I am waiting for that as well.

[b1soul]

Could someone provide detailed spoilers of the final brawl between Russ and the Lion?

 

Does Wraight keep the old fluff?

 

ie. Russ laughs and the Lion sucker-punches him?

[RedFurioso]

So... In what year of Great Crusade Dulan happened?

[R_F_D]

Could someone provide detailed spoilers of the final brawl between Russ and the Lion?

 

Does Wraight keep the old fluff?

 

ie. Russ laughs and the Lion sucker-punches him?

 

Going to have to wait 7 hours or so for that.

 

So... In what year of Great Crusade Dulan happened?

 

White Dwarf article linked to above says after all the Primarchs had been found.  Don't think there is a definitive date mentioned in the Great Wolf but can check later.

[b1soul]

 

Could someone provide detailed spoilers of the final brawl between Russ and the Lion?

Does Wraight keep the old fluff?

ie. Russ laughs and the Lion sucker-punches him?

 

 

Going to have to wait 7 hours or so for that.

Would be greatly appreciated...

 

Knowing Wraight, it should be good

[son of the forest]

Could someone provide detailed spoilers of the final brawl between Russ and the Lion?

 

Does Wraight keep the old fluff?

 

ie. Russ laughs and the Lion sucker-punches him?

That's how it goes, after a lot of back and forth with both having the upper hand at moments

[Angel_of_Blood]

Arrived! Time to get reading.

If nothing else, these editions are beautiful and really feel high quality. The case, the books themselves, the paper etc. Want the whole set just for how nice they are.

Which means I'll inevitably have to buy Kymes book when he undoubtedly writes Vulkan, because apparently no one else is allowed to give them a go....

[son of the forest]

So... In what year of Great Crusade Dulan happened?

The compliance of Dulan was in 870.M30

[R_F_D]

Here is a 670 word synopsis, broken down by Chapter.  This is the first one I've ever done outside of School/University so apologies in advance.  Obviously there is a lot more to this that I could have included and also bits/nuances/Easter Eggs that I will have missed due to blissful ignorance and speed reading.  As with the White Scars arc which I reread when Path to Heaven was published, I am very much looking forward to picking this up again.

 

 

 

Chapter 1
Fenris - Post Siege & Scourging
Follows new Blood Claw on his transition from human to Space Marine, part of the first pack to the new Space Wolves Chapter who do not remember it as the Legion.
Upon the feast to mark their ascension as members of the Rout and embark on their first mission the new Blood Claw leaves early and ultimately stumbles across Russ, alone. Russ proceeds to tell him of the only other person other than the Emperor to beat him.

Chapter 2
Orbit Dulanese colony - Pre-Heresy
Naval combat involving the 13th as they chase down a Dulanese ship following an orbital battle of a rim world. The 13th are those who took the gene-seed as adults. 13th company capture ship with the aim of taking prisoners for location of Dulan itself. However the Curse of the Wulfen overtakes a member who proceeds to kill every non SW on board. The 13th decide to hid the evidence of this and look for a cure.
Russ appears to inform them that Dark Angels have also been tasked to crush Dulan and the race is now on.

Chapter 3
Dulan Orbit
Wolves arrive at Dulan to find the Angels already there. In the ensuing space action the Jarl of the 13th orders an attack on a Dulanese ship and ignores messages from the Angels. After Dulanese ship is destroy the Angels ship attacks that of the Wolves. Russ and the Lion argue, transpires Angels were on the Dulanese ship. Vox conversation; Russ agrees to apologise, Lion accepts but then belittles Russ. Both sides then work together to take down orbital defences. In the aftermath it transpires members of the 13th have been kidnapped by the Dulanese. Jarl of 13th resolves to find them
Once defences down Russ goes to the Lion to apologise, does so publically but privately threatens Lion over his actions. Brothers discuss their difference of outlooks, according to earlier comment from Russ this is their first real conversation, and agree to the Lion’s plan of attack – gifting Russ the Tyrant.

Chapter 4
Dulan landfall
Attack goes according to plan until signal picked up of kidnapped 13th, Jarl diverts some forces to rescue them. This impacts on Wolves attack which is noted by the Lion, he resolves to give Russ time. Russ notes absence of Jarl and proceeds to divert his forces
13th reach captured member who has succumbed to the Curse. 13th fall into essentially a media sting as their rescue of the Wulfen is broadcast planet wide and they’re ambushed.
The Lion runs out of patience whilst Russ leads the rescue of the 13th, the Lion then teleports directly to the throneroom.
Russ confronts Jarl over the Curse of the Wulfen before being informed of Angels teleportation.
The Lion and the Tyrant converse before Lion beheads the Tyrant.
Russ storms in after and the ensuing well known argument/duel/gutter brawl ensues. Both pretty matched, Russ then gains upper hand but then realises the ridiculous nature of their fight and starts laughing. Lion interprets that as Russ conceding and when Russ doesn’t answer, knocks him out.

Chapter 5
Dulan/Terra – after fight/after the Siege
Russ dreams whilst unconscious and recalls the key moments in the HH: Nikaea, Prospero, Alaxxes, landing on Terra after it is too late. Russ is awoken in the Palace by the Lion who seeks to resolve their enmity and guilt by one last duel. Russ cannot bring himself to fight so the Lion stabs him through the chest.

Chapter 6
Fenris - Post Siege & Scourging
Russ concludes his story and discusses the breakup of the Legions and post HH events. Russ ends up respecting/mourning the Lion who by this point has died/taken away by the Silent Watchers.
Russ informs the Blood Claw that the 13th are no longer there and are a story for another time.
The Blood Claw leaves Russ and the closing pages are his ascent in age culminating in him embracing the honour feud with the Angels.

 

[RedFurioso]

R_F_D thank you Sir! And look at this awesome picture

http://i.imgur.com/zz41mC3.jpg

[R_F_D]

R_F_D thank you Sir! And look at this awesome picture

That is a fine mashup!

[Mellow]

I still can't get over the fact the Lion has blonde hair.

 

I've always felt like it's black or very dark brown to match his grumpy mood.

[Biscuittzz]

Bringing back up the whole 'primarch power level'. Why do people get annoyed when Russ is only ever talked about with regards his ability in a fight with other Primarchs and the Wolves against other legions? Being created exactly for that purpose ( well reportedly so anyway) what else do people expect to talk about?

[b1soul]

I see that Chris tries to balance the outcome of the duel for the sake of rabid fanboys on both sides hehe

[bluntblade]

I think he's done a fairly good job with balance so far. I've never had the sense that any of his antagonists are just there to make the heroes look good.

[skarn]

Interesting that Russ doesnt count his fight with a certain other primarch as a loss...

[bluntblade]

We've already had that argument enough, and it never gets resolved.

[Augustus]

This book was brilliant. At last! another good characterization of the Lion. The first being Savage Weapons. I cannot compliment it enough. Wraight stuck to the lore. Some of it very old. Beautiful juxtaposition of the Lion and Russ. One, I might not have seen before reading. I'm going to read this again and again and again.

 

In many ways I can feel similarities between this and AD-B's Ragnar Blackmane. They both have the same Space Wolf feel. Brilliant. Cannot heap enough praise on Wraight. Prose was excellent. Captured the identities of both Legions and Primarchs.

[b1soul]

Interesting that Russ doesnt count his fight with a certain other primarch as a loss...

Night of the Wolf is brilliant

 

It highlights how far gone the WE are...but Angron is actually surprisingly lucid throughout the whole encounter...and rebuts a lot of what Russ days quite eloquently

 

As for who won...to me, it's pretty clear that Angron won the duel/brawl but lost the field and the argument

 

The WE by that time were a legion incapable of focusing on strategic objectives. They could only kill as a ravening horde.

 

I also like how Khârn reminisces about killing an alpha Wolf...with the conclusion that everyone "dies badly". The legion has lost all sense of no glory, honour or nobility.

[Mellow]

It's easy to forget that ultimately Angron is a Primarch and vastly more intelligent than everyone ... despite (sometimes) being a frothing madman.

[R_F_D]

Interesting that Russ doesnt count his fight with a certain other primarch as a loss...

Night of the Wolf is brilliant

It highlights how far gone the WE are...but Angron is actually surprisingly lucid throughout the whole encounter...and rebuts a lot of what Russ days quite eloquently

As for who won...to me, it's pretty clear that Angron won the duel/brawl but lost the field and the argument

The WE by that time were a legion incapable of focusing on strategic objectives. They could only kill as a ravening horde.

I also like how Khârn reminisces about killing an alpha Wolf...with the conclusion that everyone "dies badly". The legion has lost all sense of no glory, honour or nobility.

is Night of the Wolf an event or a publication? - I have not read Betrayer in a long time

[DarkChaplain]

Really? Again? We already had that topic just on the previous page (and before).

 

Can't wait for this novel to be up for general release...