The Lion's Depiction in the Leman Russ Novella

[Phoebus]

Chris Wraight's Primarchs novella, Leman Russ: The Great Wolf was recently released. While I find Wraight's writing to be very good (I haven't read any of his Space Wolves material, but was most impressed by his Heresy-era White Scars novels), my obvious motive was to see how he was going to depict the Lion.

 

Without getting too off-topic, I wasn't happy with Angels of Caliban. Specifically, I didn't think that novel did either the Dark Angels or the Lion justice. More specifically, I didn't think many of the actions taken and choices made would have made most of the primarchs justice. Much of what I read struck me as a character and a legion doing questionable things to help the story get to where the author intends. They rarely felt the way one of the Legiones Astartes should: unstoppable, superhuman, commanded by a peerless general. I respect Gav Thorpe and Laurie Goulding both, but I cannot agree with the latter's opinion of the portrayal of the Lion and the Dark Angels in that novel as apropos (we had a civilized back-and-forth for a little while at the First Expedition Forums).

 

I hope that made sense.

 

At any rate, I was keen to see a story that would once again "rehabilitate" primarch and legion alike. I'm pleased to say that Chris Wraight did so - in my humble opinion, of course. Though not the protagonists of this tale, the First and their primarch get a surprising amount of word count. They feel fleshed out. We get some insight into their thought process, and some information regarding legion structure. It feels like a subtly revelatory look into the Dark Angels, much like "Savage Weapons." It feels right. With that, here is my quasi-review/synopsis of those parts of the novella that focused on the Lion and the Dark Angels.

 

WARNING: THIS NOVELLA EXPANDS ON CLASSIC LORE, MOST OF WHICH IS KNOWN TO US. IF YOU CLICK ON THE SPOILERS, THOUGH, IT WILL RUIN YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS BOOK.

 

 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

 

 

Leman Russ begins on Fenris, but the majority of the story is about the Compliance of Dulan. The events are relayed as a tale told by Leman Russ himself. His audience is the first Blood Claw to be initiated into the Space Wolves Chapter - as opposed to the Legion - placing the novella's opening chapter almost immediately after the Second Founding. When Russ is found, he is alone, deep within the Fang, and clad in mourning garb.

 

The conversation between primarch and Blood Claw sees the latter bringing up Russ's only defeat: to the All-Father. Russ surprises the Blood Claw, however, by revealing that there was, in fact, another who bested him. With that, we launch into the story of the Compliance of Dulan.

 

(Note: There is no in-story narrator per se; we just experience the story through each chapter's characters, in classic third person perspective.)

 

 

 

OPENING ACTION:

 

 

The story starts circa 870.M31 ( the date given to this conflict). The VI Legion is not popular with the powers in charge back in Terra; to hear it from Russ, their impression is that the Space Wolves are "unreliable, too carried away with slaughtering to marshal a proper campaign." Despite petitions by Russ, delays in toppling the star-empire of Dulan have led to the First Legion being sent to help achieve Compliance.

 

Crucially to the story, warriors of the 13th Great Company have begun transforming into Wulfen. They are few in number, but this is nonetheless alarming to their Wolf Lord and his officers, who cannot determine the cause for this curse... or a cure for it. Their Wolf Lord, Jorin Bloodhowl, makes the decision to keep this a secret from Russ.

 

Later, Leman Russ next shares his impression of the Lion: "a good tactician. Cold-blooded, stiff-necked, arrogant." To hear it from Russ, the Lion does not consider any primarch his equal, and thinks even less of his brother of the Sixth. He apparently had not contacted Russ in the two months since being assigned to the campaign, being just as driven to find the Tyrant of Dulan's secreted homeworld. Russ qualifies that he will not be beaten by him.

 

(The Iron Priest of the 13th Great Company, on the other hand, has a more amusing opinion. He offers that he'd like to fight alongside the Dark Angels, as they have "good colours." When his Wolf Lord reacts incredulously to this, the Iron Priest's laconically responds that their black plate is very nice; that it makes them look like killers.)

 

 

 

ARRIVAL:

 

 

The Space Wolves finally decipher the codes of a captured Dulanian vessel, and make their way to the enemy homeworld. Upon arriving, they discover that the Dark Angels are already there. At that point, we get a chance to see the Lion's approach to void warfare and orbital sieges - the enemy employing both a fleet and a solid ring of defenses not unlike the one over Mars or Medusa. The Space Wolves grimly realize that the Dark Angels are sacrificing their own, committing escort vessels to keep the enemy at bay while their battleships and cruisers pour devastating fire on the ring the defending fleet alike.

 

The Sixth Legion rush into combat, their only instructions to assist embattled Dark Angels vessels but to otherwise just take the fight to the enemy. The flagship of the 13th Great Company makes full speed toward an enemy battleship, but ignores the repeated hails of a nearby First Legion battle cruiser; their Wolf Lord refuses to even hear their transmissions. After destroying the enemy ship, the Space Wolves are shocked to discover they are coming under fire by the Dark Angels. Russ maneuvers his own flagship to save his legion's crippled ship and demands explanation from the Lion.

 

His brother responds with a voice described as "rich, measured, cultivated," its every word seemingly "dripped in sourness, coloured with a cool disdain." The Lion demands that Russ "gets his dogs on their leashes," or that he will do so himself. When Russ questions his actions, the Lion reveals that a whole company of Dark Angels had boarded the enemy battleship, and that the Space Wolves' rash attack and refusal to listen had to led to them being destroyed right before they took the bridge. He closes by asking what Russ would have done had the situation been reversed.

 

The truth having been revealed to him, Russ orders his warriors to stand down and be silent, and offers to make amends to him if he will call off the retaliatory attack. The Lion accepts and sardonically invites him to contribute to the fight against Dulan's defenses.

 

 

 

THE LION AND THE WOLF:

 

 

Following the orbital battle, Leman Russ arrives on the Invincible Reason with three of his lieutenants. Waiting for them are "assembled phalanxes of Dark Angels." The Lion is described much as we've seen in "Savage Weapons," The Lion, The Unremembered Empire, and Angels of Caliban. Wraight also seems to allude to the unique aspect of the Lion insofar as the "role" each primarch is supposed to have, though. He describes the "dark, sombre majesty" the Lion radiates, perhaps more than any other primarch, and "the calm presence of one born to rule and comfortable in the role." Interestingly, the Lion is also described as "regent to the one who had created them all, ... [a] kingly aspect ... not diminished by time, remaining one of suzerainty, of domination, of command."

 

Though their encounter is stiff and awkward, the Lion offers Russ some backhanded compliments - though, to be fair, he himself probably doesn't intend them as much. When Russ asks his brother how they found Dulan and why he didn't share its location with, he gets a classic Lion response: "If you had asked, we would have considered it." From there, the Lion makes it clear he takes matters of honour and satisfaction quite seriously. He will not get into matters of Compliance before Russ honors his oath and offers an apology. Russ swallows his pride and does so. Despite what seems to be a gracious acceptance by the Lion, Russ nonetheless pulls his brother close and hisses to him that his words were just for show, for his knights.

 

Still later, we are taken to the council chamber of the Invincible Reason. It is clear that, regardless of when this warship was commissioned, its halls of power reflect Calibanite culture and the sensibilities of their ancient fortresses. Iron-framed lanterns, candles, alcoves, and high vaults inform the setting. Everything on the ship is said to be "the product of minds raised on a world of night-terrors and high walls." We are introduced to Gahael, Master of the Second Order; Moriaen, Master of the Sixth; and we again see Alajos, "honoured captain of the Ninth Order."

 

(Note: Alajos is twice described as "Chapter Master" later on. Once by the Lion, and once by the author.)

 

The Lion appears surprisingly accommodating to Russ. He tells his brother that he has no wish to deprive him of his trophy, and proposes a plan that would see his legion conquer the citadels surrounding the Tyrant's Crimson Fortress and hold off enemy reinforcements while the Space Wolves strike for the enemy commander himself.

 

This being the Lion and the Wolf King, though, there has to be a sort of war of words. This starts with a bit of chest-puffing, and turns into a brief monologue about how the Space Wolves see war: that they are the sanction. For his part, the Lion outlines a far more emotionless, pragmatic view of war. He doesn't hate his foes, seeing them as just obstacles, and holds the Great Crusade and its aims as everything. Russ sees the Lion's way as alien, and contemplates whether Malcador knew they would meet before the end of the campaign. Could this imply he suspects the Sigillite hoped he would take after the Lion somehow?...

 

 

 

INVASION:

 

We next get to see the Lion in action on Dulan. He leads from the front, accompanied by Alajos and "the elite paladins of the Ninth Order, each carrying force-shrouded longblades and blast-shields." This is an interesting development of the Paladin concept, as Angels of Caliban strongly implied that "Paladin" was the rank that corresponded with command of an Order. Here, however, and in further scenes of the same novella, "paladin" is most definitely either a champion (sort of like Corswain was portrayed in "Savage Weapons") or a member of an honour guard formation.

 

Perhaps Dark Angels paladins are not unlike the Palatine Blades of the Emperor's Children, then? That is, perhaps they are like the Company Veterans of the 41st Millennium in that they are an ad-hoc unit of picked veterans assembled for a specific task?

At any rate, the Lion appears suitably invincible. When they seize their first stronghold, his banner-bearer raises the primarch's new standard (emphasis added purposely): "the great swinged sword of the knights of Caliban, ... the icon of a hundred campaigns and the sign of doom for countless worlds." I could off course be reading too much into the "new" bit, and "a hundred campaigns" could indicate a pretty long time (though, one should remember that the many different expeditionary fleets of the First Legion could accumulate a hundred campaigns in a matter of a few years). On the other hand, this might indicate that the Dulan Compliance (again, 870.M30) occurs shortly after the Lion took full command of the First Legion. The Lion doesn't do the whole battle cry bit.  His ritual is said to be "as old as the Crusade itself": he holds his blade aloft, and says softly, "One more world ... For you, Father, one more world."

 

After the Dark Angels have captured their various objectives, the Lion notes the anticipated enemy reinforcements are on their way.  The Lion questions Orfeo, "a robed and ancient mortal weighed down with data slates and communication devices," on his brother's progress. That... was interesting, I thought. Why not a Master of Signal, or something that effect? Regardless, the answer the primarch receives is disconcerting. Despite gaining access to Tyrant's stronghold, the Space Wolves have paused their assault, and communications jamming prevents the Dark Angels from knowing why. The Lion realizes that the way to the Tyrant's headquarters is open by way of teleportation, and that millions of enemy soldiers are about to assault Moriaen's Sixth Order.

 

Alajos observes the Lion and recalls how his primarch's genius for strategy and exploiting battlefield opportunities reflects how he fights duels. He counsels his primarch to reach out to Russ rather than strike for the Tyrant. He also believes, however, that the Lion cares about his reputation and his tally of victories. In the end, the Lion opts to keep trying to get a hold of Russ.

 

Unbeknownst to the Lion, the reason Russ ordered a pause to his assault is because the Wolf Lord of his 13th Great Company has gone missing. And unbeknownst to Russ, said Wolf Lord is missing because his lieutenants suspected that the warriors of Dulan captured one of their warriors who had transformed into a Wulfen. The missing warrior is found, but not before forces of the Tyrant use their superior communications equipment (which had been jamming Imperial vox before this) to broadcast pictures of the Wulfen across friendly and enemy channels alike.

 

The Lion orders Orfeo to erase records of the Wulfen transmission. He confirms that the Space Wolves have not yet begun the assault and that an assault is still imminent on Moriaen. "I gave him time," the Lion says, and gives the order to teleport directly into the Tyrant's stronghold. Alajos and Fifty Paladins, led by a warrior named Inardrin, join him. Orfeo, talented man that he is, also handles their teleportation sequence - or at least its coordinates.

 

Within the palace, the Lion encounters the Tyrant of Dulan: an ancient, feeble man, alive only thanks to technology and constant medical attention. The two engage in a short conversation, about what right the Imperium has to invade. Fun note: the Tyrant reveals that this title is just imperial propaganda; it doesn't appear to be one that he uses. He claims that his warriors follow him willingly, for the good of their people, and asks the Lion how he would have reacted had Dulanian ships come to Caliban demanding its surrender. The Lion states that he has "heard that question posed from rulers of a dozen worlds." As far as he's concerned, the Emperor's vision of Unity is the only thing that can protect Man, and as such he feels no guilt for his actions. Nonetheless, the Lion offers the Tyrant a last chance to surrender, to prevent the loss of more lives. He refuses, and the Lion decapitates him.

 

 

 

PRIMARCH VERSUS PRIMARCH:

 

 

Russ arrives immediately afterwards, predictably (and understandably) furious. Russ offers threats both veiled and obvious as he questions why the Lion stole his prize and states that there are consequences for doing so. The Lion offers barbed responses, which only serve to stoke Russ's anger.

 

With that, it begins!

 

The infamous fight indeed begins as a brawl, with Russ punching the Lion square in the breastplate, sending him reeling backwards into the Tyrant's throne. The Lion sighs and calls Russ disappointing and predictable. Further words are exchanged before the fight takes an ugly turn and swords replace fists. All the while, words punctuate blows: Russ claims the Lion and his Dark Angels envy the purity and purpose of his legion, while his brother dismisses him. When Russ questions whether his brother, has ever fought thusly, the Lion responds that it is because of this attitude, and because his legion are a rabble, that Malcador and the other powers that be don't trust him. Russ resurrects contentions first raised in Fallen Angels, regarding the Lion's ambitions, offering that he's wasting his time and that the Emperor wouldn't choose him over Dorn, Horus, or Sanguinius.

 

Russ is described as stronger "by a fraction," with the Lion having "the superior dexterity." Their duel is suitably epic, and there's no doubt that real antipathy is driving their blows. Finally, the Lion executes a masterful stroke, disarming Russ. The Lion perhaps thought the duel was over, for he never delivers the follow-on strike against his helpless brother. Russ has other thoughts, however, and tackles the Lion. He unleashes a series of punches and hurls him across the hall. When Russ takes the opportunity to retrieve Krakenmaw, Alajos steps between the primarch and his sword! Stunned, Russ instead rips Alajos' own axe (yes, axe) from the Captain's grip.

 

The duel picks up again, with words as well as blades. The Lion brings up the sanction of legions, and wonders if the Space Wolves' barbarity won't one day earn them this fate. Given all the back-and-forth about what the Space Wolves are or are not, Russ's non-committal response - to not to speak of things he doesn't understand - feels apropos. More words are exchanged between blows. Some of this dialogue is better than other parts. When Russ brings up obvious curses versus hidden ones, for instance, it feels too apocryphal - too on the nose about stuff that shouldn't even be known yet.

Eventually, the two primarchs begin to literally batter themselves through walls. They wrestle themselves off of the ramparts of the Crimson Fortress, and crash through whole balconies before coming to a halt. By this point, both primarchs are beaten bloody and in obvious agony. The Lion can barely stand, and Russ is no better. When he considers that he might be able to take out the Lion if he springs to his feet, it feels like delusion. In the end, when Russ realizes just how battered both of them are, he starts questioning the absurdity of it all - and starts laughing. The Lion asks him if he yields, but Russ has literally had all his frustrations (over the Wulfen, the Crusade, his rivalries, etc.) beaten out of him. He can't help but keep laughing.

 

The Lion's response is to knock him out cold where he sits.

 

 

 

AFTERMATH:

 

 

The closing chapter deals with Russ's later recollections. He thinks back to Dulan, and whether it had been a test for him and the Lion. He thinks back to the aftermath of the Siege of Terra: of the shame and helplessness he had felt; of his frustration that he couldn't even see his father; of the moment when the Lion came calling for him. Russ speaks of  how he bared his chest to his brother, and how the Lion pulled his thrust because couldn't bring himself to kill him. The bad blood between them, he says, was cured after that.

 

It is then that Russ reveals who he has been mourning: the Lion himself. Word had arrived on Fenris that the Lion had been slain, though he knows not when or how exactly. Russ claims that the Lion would have resisted Guilliman's edicts - ones that Russ only accepted because he was weary of fighting with his own brothers and there was work to be done. He offers two closing tributes, that I'd like to share here:

 

"They say he died fighting the Great Enemy. Maybe that is so. I cannot believe it, myself." He grinned. "I know how hard he was to bring down. He was an arrogant bastard, but he had reason for it. A knight indeed."

 

"The Lion never spoke of [the Wulfen]," Russ said. "Never. He could have told the Imperium of our sickness and made it worse for me, but even in his anger he said nothing." The primarch mused on it. "He could keep a secret. He saw our imperfection, and he suffered it to remain, and that was the heart of his nobility. In the end, then, he truly was better than us. The archetype of Legions, the First of all. If I owe him anything, it was for that."

 

The closing action shows how the Blood Claw attending to Russ goes about his career, growing into a Scout, a Grey Hunter, and, eventually, a pack leader in his own right. It closes with them encountering a squad of Dark Angels. The Space Wolf, Haldor, realizes he will have to re-enact the ancient duel of the two primarchs. He briefly wonders if Russ would even have wanted that, but then remembers that his primarch stated how important it was that the Fenrisian ways not die out. The Dark Angel Sergeant recognizes Haldor's axe; the weapon the Space Wolf had received as a Blood Claw was Alajos's own. The story ends with a cheerful Haldor... taking creative license Russ's tale... and telling the Dark Angel that his axe was the one weapon to bring his primarch down - and that now he will do the same to him.

 

 

I'm not fond of Black Library putting the same price tag on novella/small novel e-Books as they do for the numbered entries of the Horus Heresy series. That reservation aside, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Black Library fiction, the Horus Heresy setting, the Space Wolves, or the Dark Angels.

 

Wraight did a very good job with his characters. Russ and the Lion in particular come off as well-considered. The Wolf King is indomitable, stubborn, ferocious, but also gregarious and loyal to those he respects. The Lion is appropriately cool, even aloof, and certainly has a high opinion of himself, but one sees that it is pragmatism that drives him more than arrogance, and that he sees honour and decency as things to be upheld when able. The balance between the two characters, then, is finely struck. While almost no primarch could be accused of being entirely reasonable (most being possessed by some level of hubris), neither goes out of his way to be unreasonable, which is so often the case in this setting.

 

Jorin Bloodhowl is also well portrayed, and there is a delicious irony in the idea that, at this point in the timeline, it is the Space Wolves - and not the Dark Angels - who make decisions with tragic consequences because of secrets.

 

Likewise, there is a tremendous sense of atmosphere in this book. Whether in the Fang, during a feast, or aboard the Invincible Reason, in its council chambers, Wraight nails the mood and feel of the setting. There is a visceral, bestial undertone to the Space Wolves tearing meat from bones and guzzling down mjod that keeps it from being a hammy, "happy" setting. The only unfortunate thing about this extends beyond Wraight's own writing: Abnett initially managed to portray the Vlka Fenryka as at least somewhat distinct from the Space Wolves of later eras, but from the second we saw Rune Priests, Wolf Priests, and so on, the game was up. Likewise, for Wraight, there's practically nothing to distinguish his VI Legion from the Space Wolves Chapter insofar as their custom and appearance go.

 

Beyond that, there will always be a few things I don't like about how warfare is portrayed in Great Crusade, Heresy, or Dark Millennium stories. That having been said, Wraight has a great knack for pace. The first time we see the Space Wolves in action, it feels breakneck. One of my few criticisms in this area is that, as the story goes on, enemies who at the beginning posed a considerable obstacle for a significant Space Wolf force eventually become kind of an afterthought for ever-smaller parties.

 

Ultimately, I thought this was a very good book. In my humble opinion, it is a fine tribute to an old piece of lore. It pays respect to what came before while giving us a more thorough look as to what took place. This feels like "what actually happened," and it allows the article from the White Dwarf magazines and Codices alike to exist as the imperfect, mythologized record from the far future.

[Interrogator Stobz]

Thanks for the read P, I may have to pick  up a copy sometime...

[Phoebus]

If I wasn't clear enough, I recommend it!

[Guest]

I knew your breakdown would be worth the wait :P

 

Excellent work man

[Lion El Jason]

Now I have to buy this!

[Saphrael]

Thanks for the write-up Phoebus, really appreciate it and it was a great relief to see that DA are getting a decent portrayal in the HH.

 

My opinions echo yours on how the DA are represented in BL material, so I'll definitely be picking this up. I even avoided the spoiler tags!

 

Now if only we could get anyone but Gav to focus on DA. There's no denying his capabilities as a loremaster, and listening to interviews when he talks about DA it's obvious that he 'gets' them and is passionate about them. It's just a shame that each of Gav's DA novels (HH or otherwise) is at best a wasted opportunity or at worst an unmitigated disaster.

[Chaplain Lucifer]

Awesome post, Phoebus. I'm not afraid of spoilers so this was a very elucidating post!

Good to see the Lion depicted in such q good manner. Maybe they should hire this writer for the next DA books!

[Phoebus]

Chaplain Lucifer,

 

Forgive my pessimistic post in advance.

 

I would love to see authors like Wraight have more of a shot at this Chapter, as well. I don't know why we don't see more of it. Perhaps it's a matter of reluctance on their part. Maybe it's a bit of Gav Thorpe being seen as a "spiritual father" to the Dark Angels, and thus having the right to pitch his ideas first. Or maybe it's even a lack of success of novels like Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels, or some these and other reasons. It just doesn't feel as if we'll see another name work on this Chapter on a dedicated basis.

 

It occurred to me just now that while Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, and Chris Wraight all wrote stories featuring the Dark Angels, that Chapter served as the supporting cast for their tales. The Dark Angels were the protagonists of "Savage Weapons," but they were crossing paths with the Night Lords, a faction that Dembski-Bowden had already earned great success depicting. Don't get me wrong, I think all three found it a fine and fascinating experience imagining the First Legion in their own unique way, but I think Abnett wanted to write about the Unremembered Empire, first and foremost; that Wraight, closely linked with the Space Wolves, wanted to write about a key chapter in their history; and that Dembski-Bowden, while perhaps intrigued by the Dark Angels, was maybe more geared toward writing a Thramas Crusade story - a prequel to Prince of Crows.

[Brother dean]

 

 

It occurred to me just now that while Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, and Chris Wraight all wrote stories featuring the Dark Angels, that Chapter served as the supporting cast for their tales. The Dark Angels were the protagonists of "Savage Weapons," but they were crossing paths with the Night Lords, a faction that Dembski-Bowden had already earned great success depicting. Don't get me wrong, I think all three found it a fine and fascinating experience imagining the First Legion in their own unique way, but I think Abnett wanted to write about the Unremembered Empire, first and foremost; that Wraight, closely linked with the Space Wolves, wanted to write about a key chapter in their history; and that Dembski-Bowden, while perhaps intrigued by the Dark Angels, was maybe more geared toward writing a Thramas Crusade story - a prequel to Prince of Crows.

 

Yes.  It is entirely ironic that the best Dark Angels stories of late have come in books where they are background characters to the story being told.  Angels of Calaban fits this mold as well since it was initially blocked out by Dan Abnett and then handed to Gav to flesh out..  Ordinarily this would be a bad thing, (and I agree that some choices were made to move the story) but Gav was managed by a bigger champion of the DA in GW, Alan Bligh.  I am hopeful.. (yes hope leads to suffering) that the HH series from FW will bring us into our own in the background department..

 

I am impatiently waiting for the Russ book to hit independents next Tuesday...

[DarKnight]

Chaplain Lucifer,

 

Forgive my pessimistic post in advance.

 

I would love to see authors like Wraight have more of a shot at this Chapter, as well. I don't know why we don't see more of it. Perhaps it's a matter of reluctance on their part. Maybe it's a bit of Gav Thorpe being seen as a "spiritual father" to the Dark Angels, and thus having the right to pitch his ideas first. Or maybe it's even a lack of success of novels like Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels, or some these and other reasons. It just doesn't feel as if we'll see another name work on this Chapter on a dedicated basis.

 

It occurred to me just now that while Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, and Chris Wraight all wrote stories featuring the Dark Angels, that Chapter served as the supporting cast for their tales. The Dark Angels were the protagonists of "Savage Weapons," but they were crossing paths with the Night Lords, a faction that Dembski-Bowden had already earned great success depicting. Don't get me wrong, I think all three found it a fine and fascinating experience imagining the First Legion in their own unique way, but I think Abnett wanted to write about the Unremembered Empire, first and foremost; that Wraight, closely linked with the Space Wolves, wanted to write about a key chapter in their history; and that Dembski-Bowden, while perhaps intrigued by the Dark Angels, was maybe more geared toward writing a Thramas Crusade story - a prequel to Prince of Crows.

I'm fairly certain AD-B has expressed a desire to write a Dark Angels novel(s), but Gav has dibs. He has plenty on his plate as is I guess but he needs more IMO lol.

[Interrogator Stobz]

Shall we do a whip around with a bucket to get some money for Chris and/or A D-B so he/they can get writing?

bs

[Indefragable]

Commentary (based on the spoilers above, so don't read if you didn't read the above original post)

What I really like about the canon based on your summary is how El'Jonson is "kingly." To me, it always made sense that the Lion was supposed to be 2nd-in-command of the Great Crusade (after Big E), but the timing and order of re-discovery of the Primarchs threw that off. The Lion knows this, but can't really prove it beyond deeds, so he comes off as an aloof . I mean, wouldn't you?

What I call the "Fredo Effect".

Fredo is the middle brother in The Godfather saga, who gets passed over in terms of taking over over the family "business." Problems ensue as a result.

I also have to say that I was quite impressed with Chris Wraight's Scars. That was really what got me thinking about the White Scars. Thinking which has led to a 2000pt Scarblade :) Well, that and the whole "mongols in spaaaaaace" thing. GW's master plan at work.

[Saphrael]

The challenge I have is how to vote with my consumer dollar. I want GW to know that I want more DA novels, but I don't want Gav to write them. At this stage there's only a limited selection of books that contain/feature DA that aren't written by Gav. I've bought all of them, and have stopped buying anything written by Gav (e.g. Azrael), but I doubt that message is clear to GW/BL editors.

 

In the meantime I'll be praying that Wraight/Abnett/ADB write the Lion's entry into the primarch series. Please for the love of all that is holy give us anyone but Gav.

 

Another problem here is that we're actually spoiled for content compared to a lot of other legions/chapters, it's just that so much of our content is bad. So I kind of feel bad for complaining when there are Ravenguard fans out there who are even worse off.

[Phoebus]

I hesitate to call Gav Thorpe's work bad, even though too often I don't think it's particularly good, either. I think the most objective criticism I can level toward his Dark Angels fiction is this:

 

Ideally, a story depicts characters doing things that make sense given their context. That is to say, their intelligence, their agenda, their capabilities, the situation they find themselves in, and so on. Unfortunately, Thorpe's stories often move at the expense of his characters. They don't so much do what makes sense for themselves, but what is needed for the plot to get to its next phase.

 

That, more than anything else, in my humble opinion, informs so many things Gav Thorpe has written. It's why Supreme Grand Master Naberius dies senselessly (because getting to Azrael matters more than how we do so); it's why the Lion lets known traitor Calas Typhon, his warriors, and his warships go free, knowing he will go on to wage war on the Emperor's forces (because establishing the backdrop for the Legacy of Caliban series matters more than the Lion acting logically); it's why the Lion and the Dark Angels find themselves alternately stymied by a comparatively minor insurgency and find themselves disobeying Sanguinius's only order (because dissolving Imperium Secundus is more important than the characters being portrayed as competent or logical).

 

In one of his recent interviews, Aaron Dembski-Bowden joked about how his approach to writing could be seen as "unprofessional" because rather than stick to desired milestone goals (words, pages per day or week or what have you) he often finds himself revising older material when he feels it doesn't make sense or could be improved. I would argue that Gav Thorpe is perhaps at the other end of that spectrum; that his work could benefit from some second-guessing - particularly where the decision-making of his characters is concerned.

[Interrogator Stobz]

Don't hesitate, it is bad; it's the kind of shallow tripe you find in bargain bins after a week. One read and you kind of feel ill at the waste of money.

There are some outstanding writers out there that really manage to convey a sense of superior intelligence and tactical know-how to their super human characters and create complex scenarios that require problem solving and/or ethical dilemmas that can result in decisions with unforeseen circumstances, they often do it without detailing the facts so the internet cannot pull them apart too. They realize that the character development is often more important to the story than achieving the plot and certainly more than doing it at all costs.

Gav just makes characters incompetent to fit his predictable and repeatable plot lines, he has much yet to learn.

I am always so glad when the good writers add the DA to their stories, they hardly ever disappoint. I'll be sure to pick up this book when I get the chance, Wolves or not

Thank you for your input Phoebus.

[Kasper_Hawser]

Sigh, really sad that somehow, the book made the Wolves somehow less competent and if I read the whole summary right, the Wolves were primarily in the wrong, even concealing the Wulfen from their own primarch. It's something i expect of the Dark Angels, not the Wolves, and yet for once, the tragic irony is that the Wolves kept the secrecy of the wulfen and it backfired on them.

 

Thank you to the OP for putting such a detailed summary. Unfortunately, it means i won't be picking up the book as I really don't need another tale of how the Wolves failed to live up to their reputation as even a decent Space marine legion, let alone executioners, which at this point, sounds like boastful hyperbole.

 

Painful, especially when i am a Space wolves player.

[Phoebus]

Kasper_Hawser,

 

I really, really don't want to steer you away from a book that I think would appeal to anyone, but should be especially enjoyable to anyone who likes either of the two featured legions.

 

To address your concerns, I think there is perhaps one moment where the Space Wolves look reckless and another moment where a Wolf Lord is forced to make a crucial decision to preserve a dire secret. Taken as a whole, however, I thought the Vlka Fenryka were done justice. They feel like a ruthless force of nature throughout the story. Where their reputation as executioners is concerned... Well, let me put it this way. I suspect this is a concept that will be debated by readers and authors alike for some time. Wraight leaves little doubt, in my opinion, as to how his Leman Russ feels about the matter.

 

In closing, if nothing else, it would be a shame to miss the duel between the two primarchs. It was very well-written, I thought.

[Indefragable]

Sigh, really sad that somehow, the book made the Wolves somehow less competent and if I read the whole summary right, the Wolves were primarily in the wrong, even concealing the Wulfen from their own primarch. It's something i expect of the Dark Angels, not the Wolves, and yet for once, the tragic irony is that the Wolves kept the secrecy of the wulfen and it backfired on them.

 

Thank you to the OP for putting such a detailed summary. Unfortunately, it means i won't be picking up the book as I really don't need another tale of how the Wolves failed to live up to their reputation as even a decent Space marine legion, let alone executioners, which at this point, sounds like boastful hyperbole.

 

Painful, especially when i am a Space wolves player.

Come now, Kasper!

 

 

Nothing to do with Dark Angels:

Hidden Content

First SW get Wulfen which are basically Death Company on steroids....and now you get the "oh no! Don't tell dad that there may be a BLACK stain on our gene seed....that might cause him to RAGE!" inner-angst. Now all they need is to retcon the Fenrisian Blue-Grey to Red and the theft is complete!

 

Just give us BA thundercamel cavalry in return and I guess it's a fair trade.

 

I half-joke, of course.

[Brother dean]

Don't hesitate, it is bad; it's the kind of shallow tripe you find in bargain bins after a week. One read and you kind of feel ill at the waste of money.

There are some outstanding writers out there that really manage to convey a sense of superior intelligence and tactical know-how to their super human characters and create complex scenarios that require problem solving and/or ethical dilemmas that can result in decisions with unforeseen circumstances, they often do it without detailing the facts so the internet cannot pull them apart too. They realize that the character development is often more important to the story than achieving the plot and certainly more than doing it at all costs.

Gav just makes characters incompetent to fit his predictable and repeatable plot lines, he has much yet to learn.

I am always so glad when the good writers add the DA to their stories, they hardly ever disappoint. I'll be sure to pick up this book when I get the chance, Wolves or not

Thank you for your input Phoebus.

This. Gav makes his characters look incompetent at best... At worst we are the Keystone Cops of Legions. The Washington Generals..... I dont know a UK reference that sums it up quite right...

[Frater Cornelius]

I really like the DA approach to war. Not something to take pride or pleasure in, but a task to be fulfilled. Given how horrible war is and how little true glory there is, I can really appreciate this pragmatism.

 

But here comes the kicker. While I have my quarrels with Russ, a bit more than with the Lion, mind you, this read felt more like Russ being the 'cool' guy and Lion the jerk. Maybe the summary portrayed it that way, but still. I know the Lion was cold and socially not very well spoken, but this came across passive-aggressive.

 

Edit: I got that vibe from reading the summary, not the book itself. I don't care about spoilers :D

[rendingon1+]

ignore
 

[Corswain]

Thanks for the write-up Phoebus.

I probably would have got the book (novella) eventually but it sounds great and I might have to pick it up sooner than expected.

[rendingon1+]

But here comes the kicker. While I have my quarrels with Russ, a bit more than with the Lion, mind you, this read felt more like Russ being the 'cool' guy and Lion the jerk. Maybe the summary portrayed it that way, but still. I know the Lion was cold and socially not very well spoken, but this came across passive-aggressive.

I got it completely the other way around lol. Although Russ is very likable and cool, in my opinion Lion outshines him every time they interact with each other. And I disagree that Lion was socially crippled, it was forced by the earlier lesser authors and never looked convincing or natural enough to me. What about Mortarion, Angron, Curze, Perturabo, Ferrus? Idea that Angron or Mortarion being more sophisticated in interactions with other beings is for me t least laughable. My point of view of course.

Besides in this very book even Russ admits that Lion

"does so well on Terra" which implies politics

.

Also, Phoebus, I love your reviews.

Shall we do a whip around with a bucket to get some money for Chris and/or A D-B so he/they can get writing?

bs

This is a great idea

[HsojVvad]

*edit*

 

Might be a bit too controversial. Better delete. :)

[jbaeza94]

I'm sorry guys but who is AD-B? I'll sread his name in discussions all the time but I can't seem to pin the acronym to am author