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The Lion's Depiction in the Leman Russ Novella

Phoebus

By Phoebus
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Phoebus Novitiate

Phoebus

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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:

 

 

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OPENING ACTION:

 

 

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ARRIVAL:

 

 

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THE LION AND THE WOLF:

 

 

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INVASION:

 

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PRIMARCH VERSUS PRIMARCH:

 

 

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AFTERMATH:

 

 

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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.

Saphrael Novitiate

Saphrael

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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 Novitiate

Chaplain Lucifer

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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 Novitiate

Phoebus

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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 Novitiate

Brother dean

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  On 1/18/2017 at 3:14 PM, Phoebus said:

 

 

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 Novitiate

DarKnight

Posted
Posted
  On 1/18/2017 at 3:14 PM, Phoebus said:

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.

Indefragable Novitiate

Indefragable

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Posted

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

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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 Novitiate

Saphrael

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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 Novitiate

Phoebus

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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 Novitiate

Interrogator Stobz

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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 msn-wink.gif

Thank you for your input Phoebus.

Kasper_Hawser Novitiate

Kasper_Hawser

Posted
Posted

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 Novitiate

Phoebus

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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 Novitiate

Indefragable

Posted
Posted
  On 1/19/2017 at 4:38 AM, Kasper_Hawser said:

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:

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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 Novitiate

Brother dean

Posted
Posted
  On 1/19/2017 at 4:19 AM, Brother Stobz said:

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 msn-wink.gif

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 Novitiate

Frater Cornelius

Posted
Posted

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+ Novitiate

rendingon1+

Posted
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  On 1/19/2017 at 6:32 PM, Immersturm said:

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

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Also, Phoebus, I love your reviews.thumbsup.gif

  On 1/18/2017 at 10:10 PM, Brother Stobz said:

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?

biggrin.png

bs

This is a great ideamsn-wink.gif

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