Primarch Book 4: Perturabo-Hammer of Olympia

[Carach]

man i would like to ask that Heritora's demands for more bolter porn NEVER be heeded by Black Library.

 

We have enough mindless violence as it is. What most of us want is decent story and character development. The best novels (not just HH) have often been those with the story, with the humans more central than the Astartes. or as central. 

 

If you want yet more giant fights described in repetitive detail for 3 chapters, you have any number of other Black Library novels for that, dude. 

 

Perturabo hasn't had much fleshing out up to recent times so it's good to get more than violence-filler for his book. 

Edited April 26, 2017 by Carach

[DarkChaplain]

Full agreement, Carach. Action is all well and good, but it needs to be put into context and hold stakes, rather than be on the level of gratuity that falls under the Bolter-Porn umbrella.

Peter Fehervari's books have plenty of action, but it never bogs you down because you always get amazing perspectives on it, rather than just "the sound of exploding boltershells was deafening as xenos filth died by the thousands under the relentless onslaught of Chapter X. For the Emperor."

[G_R_H]

I agree too, I really enjoy seeing how characters interact with one another, the relationships and conversations that are had. For instance I enjoy The damnation of Pythos, until it gets all demons and death at the end. Grinds my gears... but stories with nuanced conversations and character development get me going... when Horus speaks to loken and aximand about the ring and who gave it to him and it's significance to Horus personally. I even enjoyed the where Kai zulane speaks with the emp at the end of the outcast dead... one of saddest parts of the series so far for me

[bluntblade]

Full agreement, Carach. Action is all well and good, but it needs to be put into context and hold stakes, rather than be on the level of gratuity that falls under the Bolter-Porn umbrella.

Peter Fehervari's books have plenty of action, but it never bogs you down because you always get amazing perspectives on it, rather than just "the sound of exploding boltershells was deafening as xenos filth died by the thousands under the relentless onslaught of Chapter X. For the Emperor."

You need stakes and characters to anchor you in the battle. That's as true of a bare-bones action movie like The Raid as it is for a Horus Heresy story.

[Augustus]

Reading a battle without (good) character development is.... Well you're often better off just reading a Wikipedia entry for it. The battle shouldn't be the story but the background to it. The story is the characters' actions and reactions. Their dilemmas and triumphs. In my humble opinion of course. :)

[Marshal Loss]

I'm going to start leaving abusive notes for my postman if my copy doesn't arrive soon...

 

So keen to read this.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Marshal Loss

[Mazryonh]

I'm going to start leaving abusive notes for my postman if my copy doesn't arrive soon...

 

So keen to read this.

 

You mean like Bart Simpson and his Spy Camera?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a9z2l52zhc

Edited April 27, 2017 by Mazryonh

[HeritorA]

man i would like to ask that Heritora's demands for more bolter porn NEVER be heeded by Black Library.

 

We have enough mindless violence as it is. What most of us want is decent story and character development. The best novels (not just HH) have often been those with the story, with the humans more central than the Astartes. or as central. 

 

If you want yet more giant fights described in repetitive detail for 3 chapters, you have any number of other Black Library novels for that, dude. 

 

Perturabo hasn't had much fleshing out up to recent times so it's good to get more than violence-filler for his book. 

See - and that's the problem. You and DC did interpret what I said as a demand for more bolter porn. Through I meanr absolutely different - I want good stories but not fillers.

 

'the sound of exploding boltershells was deafening as xenos filth died by the thousands under the relentless onslaught of Chapter X. For the Emperor."'  - THAT DC I hate even more than you hate it.

 

Reading a battle without (good) character development is.... Well you're often better off just reading a Wikipedia entry for it. The battle shouldn't be the story but the background to it. The story is the characters' actions and reactions. Their dilemmas and triumphs. In my humble opinion of course.

There are 'bolter-porn' and battles.  And thre are some battles and character development + new sublot + new characters. That's what makes good story.

Not the 'I'm Perturabo. Emperor lied to me. I'm a genius - nobody likes me. They all should die. I need a full 206 pages filler for myself!' - that's the plot of 'Perturabo' Primarch novel. And that's what is called crappy novella, in my humble opinion DC

[G_R_H]

I'm going to start leaving abusive notes for my postman if my copy doesn't arrive soon...

 

So keen to read this.

 

I get exactly the same!!

[HeritorA]

 

I'm going to start leaving abusive notes for my postman if my copy doesn't arrive soon...

 

So keen to read this.

 

I get exactly the same!!

 

As with every other book which was late?

[G_R_H]

 

 

 

I'm going to start leaving abusive notes for my postman if my copy doesn't arrive soon...

 

So keen to read this.

I get exactly the same!!

As with every other book which was late?

Guys I remember when Garro vow of faith was released on pre order, but they didn't make it clear it was pre order, now I ordered that book literally a minute after it was released.... I had to wait so long for that book! I went insane.... I even emailed black library asking why it was taking so long..... and that's when they told me they'd mucked up.

[Brother Dougal]

The Primarch books are, in a way, supposed to be filler. They're a series about each of the Primarchs; not about the soul-harrowing journey they go through during the Heresy, but a peek, a little window into each of their hearts. Each novel is not supposed to be some big revelation, it's meant to be a... what's the word I'm looking for? A summary? Ugh, it's just a standalone novel about what each of them stands for, believes in, and cares about. True, they may cover important moments (like Dulan) or hint at things to come (like Morningstar) but that may be just about it.

 

For that, I'm actually glad. I love just about each of the Primarchs, but there's no way I'm ever going to be able to afford the entire 50+ Horus Heresy series? Heck on a stick, I've barely bought 5 of their novels so far. Wait *counts in head* ..... okay, 7 novels, one of which I never finished. 7, out of 40 so far, probably more than 50 by the end.There's no way I'm ever gonna have them all.

 

But these novels, these I plan on getting. OH, a whole book about Mortarion, I can't wait for that. And Corax. And Jaghatai Khan, love that guy. It's gonna be good.

[rendingon1+]

Not the 'I'm Perturabo. Emperor lied to me. I'm a genius - nobody likes me. They all should die. I need a full 206 pages filler for myself!' - that's the plot of 'Perturabo' Primarch novel.

That's exactly what this book is not.

The only correct statement in here is "I'm Perturabo". The rest sounds like you didn't even read it because it's not there.

in my humble opinion of course.

[Bulwyf]

When does this become available for ebook?

[1ncarnadine]

Some time in July.

 

Excellent Primarchs book, too. Blew through this one way too quickly. I've liked all of them to some extent so far, but this is probably my favorite. It feels like each book has been stronger than the last.

 

If you've ever wondered why Perturabo did _______, this is the read for you. It also does just an amazing job at reconciling the "different" Perturabos we've seen, effortlessly making them feel like the same person.

[Kief]

Anyone able to post some spoilers for this please?

[Ascanius]

It seems to me that HeritorA is asking for "more killer, less filler" in terms of the overarching plot of the Horus Heresy from Istvaan to Terra. Which is fair enough, though he does drone on and on about it and complain about any book that doesn't meet his desires.

 

However, for me, the course of the war and the big inter-Legion intrigues, the strict plot developments, are only part of what's interesting. The big battles and revelations and encounters between Legions are only part of the appeal. I'm just as interested in the Horus Heresy stories in terms of shedding light on the attitudes and atmosphere of the era, both in itself and by contrast with the 40K era.

 

So a story that's primarily about the personality, beliefs, and character of a Primarch or other notable figure is fine with me, even if nothing "advances the story", because the events of the narrative are only half the story - and it's a half you can get from reading Lexicanum.

[Taliesin]

Same here. I also agree with the sentiment that a main function of these Primarchs novel is to be background, it is the very nature of the series as it has been explained to us, and which is obvious in the way the books are execution. And I like that.

 

It's in the main HH series that we should see the major developments. Which is not to say that the Primarchs books should have not have an interesting plot in and of itself, but extra info in the Primarchs' situation is what they are about.

 

Anyway, good to read in this thread that nearly everyone who's read Perturabo think it's the best one so far, that is promising. I will get my copy early July, standard hardback.

[b1soul]

Each novel is not supposed to be some big revelation, it's meant to be a... what's the word I'm looking for? A summary?

I think it's supposed to be a vignette, representative of that primarch's character.

[HeritorA]

Finished the story - with all my respect for Haley (after the awesome 'Shadowsword') not his best work. As expected - Perturabo shown as a emo tyrant crying how underappreciated he is. The part that should have been the best 'hrud' is actually too quickly forgotten and all the space went for emo Perturabo. Angron at least was bithching being a spartacus. Perturabo is simply a d..k.

 

P.S. Laurie - I'm the 3rd person here who can't see the answer you hinted about the hrud.

[LaurieJGoulding]

The Primarch books are, in a way, supposed to be filler. They're a series about each of the Primarchs; not about the soul-harrowing journey they go through during the Heresy, but a peek, a little window into each of their hearts. Each novel is not supposed to be some big revelation, it's meant to be a... what's the word I'm looking for? A summary? Ugh, it's just a standalone novel about what each of them stands for, believes in, and cares about. True, they may cover important moments (like Dulan) or hint at things to come (like Morningstar) but that may be just about it.

 

You've hit the nail on the head. The actual behind-the-scenes series line at the start of the project was "Each of these books must focus on a single primarch, and it must be a definitive tale of their character - why they are the way they are, and why their Legions are the way they are".

 

You're not always going to get an origins story, because a lot of the time we've already seen those, or they are not as interesting as other tales from the Primarch's life.

 

There might well be a book/books set during the Horus Heresy, or after it. As long as it shows the primarch in questions acting EXACTLY as they should, it is fair game for the series.

 

One thing you will not get is a story which you HAVE to read in order to understand the Horus Heresy series, or in order to understand any other Primarchs novel. They are linked, but completely standalone.

[LaurieJGoulding]

P.S. Laurie - I'm the 3rd person here who can't see the answer you hinted about the hrud.

 

The hrud are not migrating through space, but time. The Imperium encounters the same creatures, over and over again, throughout history.

 

Guy and I couldn't decide if the were heading forwards in time, skipping the Imperium's brief stint in the galactic spotlight, or if they were fleeing backwards into the past to escape some horrible event that was still to come, or some other menace that the Imperium hasn't encountered yet.

 

I know where my head-canon is at, though...

 

Now go back and look again. Sooooo many clues as to what Guy thinks is happening, too.

Edited April 28, 2017 by LaurieJGoulding

[G_R_H]

They are definitely heading back in my opinion.... or at least I hope so..

[Knockagh]

Amen to fewer battles and less bolter porn.

Just finished this book and set it on the shelf. Loved it. Well woven story with some really cool small insights. Loved the theory on the Hrud.

Mostly I'm coming away with an overwhelming dislike of Pert himself. A nasty vicious little jealous teenager! The first Primarch that I feel a legions soldiers would struggle to love. He's a big space git

[1ncarnadine]

Amen to fewer battles and less bolter porn.

Just finished this book and set it on the shelf. Loved it. Well woven story with some really cool small insights. Loved the theory on the Hrud.

Mostly I'm coming away with an overwhelming dislike of Pert himself. A nasty vicious little jealous teenager! The first Primarch that I feel a legions soldiers would struggle to love. He's a big space git

 

He is, and always has been to some extent. A lot of the Primarchs are, though! I think this book really threaded the needle by making Perturabo feel sympathetic (not empathetic! important distinction). There are a lot of points in his life where you can see he easily could have been different. Or where him being a giant jerk wouldn't have mattered as much, because being a giant jerk is part of the whole "intergalactic warlord" job description.

 

This has been stewing in my head the last few days since I finished Perturabo, but I can't stop drawing direct comparisons to Ferrus Manus. What if Perturabo had been sent to a world that did not have an extensive civilization, and was totally cool with just producing soldiers (like Medusa, Baal, Barbarus, Cthonia... etc etc), would Perturabo ever have an opportunity to snap? Were he not brought up by someone like Dammekos either, telling him "yeah, you're special, you're so special, you're great!" he may have turned out quite differently.

 

Or maybe if Horus weren't the Warmaster, forcing Primarchs into his own camp by exploiting their flaws. In Perty's case, knowingly sending him against threats like the Hrud that are obviously not going to work out well with Perturabo's approach to war. I think Horus was doing that before he even knew he wanted to rebel against the Emperor, too. Just manipulating things his way out of pride and vanity. Very much in keeping with Horus's character (as I see him). That's a whole other topic, though.

 

But yeah, that's the tragedy of the Iron Warriors. It wasn't the perfidious influence of Chaos or anything that broke them. Just 160 years of thankless grinding and a perfect storm of cultural circumstances. It's at least a little heart-breaking to see the Perturabo from Magnus, where he seems confident and wise and the Great Crusade is a fresh thing to believe in for him, and to compare that to the Perturabo by the end of this novel.

Edited April 30, 2017 by LetsYouDown