HH Book 47: Old Earth

[Izlude]

I am about half way through Old Earth. I honestly have to say this book is probably one of Kyme's best work, I have loved everything so far. I have enjoyed his shorts (not all of it) and felt his full lengths were decent (Vulkan Lives) to bad (Deathfire). I was little hesitant about this one mostly it contains some of the non-primarch stories I love:

-Meduson/Marr

-Narak

-Eldrad

-Cabel (I do actually like the cabel stuff :)

 

I have to say this one has been a joy to read. I also thought the Vulkan stuff would be cliche and boring but it has been good so far. After being disappointed with Ruinstorm, Old Earth has been fun so far and look forward to the other half. 

 

Aside from the works of French, Wraight, Haley, ADB, and Abnett I have to give credit where credit is due, Old Earth is excellent IMO. Would easily recommend to anyone.

[b1soul]

How does Old Earth compare to...say...Angels of Caliban?

[Izlude]

I personally thought AoC was okay. There were some good stuff like the Luther arc which I thought was well developed and life on Macragge not being awesome and utopian as some would think. I thought the bits with "we are death" said over and over was analogous to the "Vulkan lives!" in Deathfire was annoying. Also the boss battle between the Lion and Curze was poorly done...but then again I am definitely on the camp of the Curze fight's being done too much.

 

I think Old Earth is a step up. While only half way done (so of course the other half could suck bad) the prose is good, I feel like as I get into one arc (Meduson/Marr) it switches to another arc so kept me interested. I think you'll enjoy it if the side stories have been interesting to you. I have to say the Iron Hands stuff is certainly on the darker side and I have the feeling Meduson will not come out good in this one...which is sad cause he is a total badass.

[Roomsky]

How does Old Earth compare to...say...Angels of Caliban?

 

AoC is almost certainly better, though they both suffer from the issue of "I need the plot to be here, so the characters will act strangely to make it happen." AoC is more interesting and better written, IMO, though I'd say they are both paced well. Old Earth probably wins in the "importance to the plot" department. I've been a fan of most recent HH releases, between Deathfire and this I think the only works it beats out for me are Ruinstorm and maybe Garro.

[Angel_of_Blood]

So one little thing no one seems to have mentioned:

 

The little exchange between Archamus and Andromeda. What was the point of that? By assets I assumed they were just referring to more Alpha Legion operatives potentially being on Terra and always watching for infiltrators. So fair enough, they're suspicious and on alert, but it just felt out of place honestly.

[Tymell]

So one little thing no one seems to have mentioned:

 

The little exchange between Archamus and Andromeda. What was the point of that? By assets I assumed they were just referring to more Alpha Legion operatives potentially being on Terra and always watching for infiltrators. So fair enough, they're suspicious and on alert, but it just felt out of place honestly.

 

I just took it to mean as you said, they're still suspicious of Alpha Legion infiltrators in disguise. Maybe just a bit of inter-novel consistency.

[ShadowSwordmaster]

Does this mean that...

That Vulkan will appear in the Siege of Terra of books then?

Also:

Who are the major Iron Hands characters after this?

[Tymell]

Also:

Who are the major Iron Hands characters after this?

 

Assuming that most/all of Meduson's remaining forces returned to Medusa with the Clan-Fathers (and I think the forces seen in Unspoken were said to be with Meduson), there are a bunch of other Iron Hands groups we've seen:

 

Crius' forces from Riven/The Keys of Hel

The Sisypheum group

Autek Mor

The group we saw battling Typhon in The Lion

Kratoz's forces seen in Deeds Endure

Kardozia's forces, last seen heading for Beta-Garmon in Weregeld

Some Iron Hands last seen in Imperium Secundus

 

But I've no idea if any of them will be followed up any further in future works.

[Mellow]

Does this mean that...

That Vulkan will appear in the Siege of Terra of books then?

Also:

Who are the major Iron Hands characters after this?

I’m going to presume that Vulkan will be guarding the inner throne room. Although it would be good to see him smashing skulls with his hammer. Maybe he stays behind when daddy takes a trip up to the VS.

[ShadowSwordmaster]

 

Also:

Who are the major Iron Hands characters after this?

 

Assuming that most/all of Meduson's remaining forces returned to Medusa with the Clan-Fathers (and I think the forces seen in Unspoken were said to be with Meduson), there are a bunch of other Iron Hands groups we've seen:

 

Crius' forces from Riven/The Keys of Hel

The Sisypheum group

Autek Mor

The group we saw battling Typhon in The Lion

Kratoz's forces seen in Deeds Endure

Kardozia's forces, last seen heading for Beta-Garmon in Weregeld

Some Iron Hands last seen in Imperium Secundus

 

But I've no idea if any of them will be followed up any further in future works.

 

I hope they do.

 

 

Does this mean that...

That Vulkan will appear in the Siege of Terra of books then?

Also:

Who are the major Iron Hands characters after this?

I’m going to presume that Vulkan will be guarding the inner throne room. Although it would be good to see him smashing skulls with his hammer. Maybe he stays behind when daddy takes a trip up to the VS.

 

I wonder if this is them setting up an attack on the inner throne room?

[The Red Thirst]

 

I wonder if this is them setting up an attack on the inner throne room?

 

 

Its a possibility, though to be honest, id rather see Sanguinius defending the Eternity Gate singlehandedly. 

[Moonreaper666]

 

 

 

I wonder if this is them setting up an attack on the inner throne room?

 

 

Its a possibility, though to be honest, id rather see Sanguinius defending the Eternity Gate singlehandedly.

Sorry, but it would be BS if Sanguinius manages to fend off Lorgar, Angron and Konrad Curze!

 

 

-Have Vulkan engage either Lorgar or Konrad

 

-Have Valdor engage Daemon Angron alongside Sanguinius

[bluntblade]

Who says they're all going to reach it at once? Or that Curze will get there?

[Tymell]

Or that Curze will get there?

 

Indeed, considering how we see him at the end of Ruinstorm, it seems unlikely.

[JH79]

 

Sorry, but it would be BS if Sanguinius manages to fend off Lorgar, Angron and Konrad Curze!

 

 

-Have Vulkan engage either Lorgar or Konrad

 

-Have Valdor engage Daemon Angron alongside Sanguinius

 

I'm sure that plenty will change from the moment 

at the end of Old Earth where Vulkan

 stets himself on guard at the Eternity Gate and pronounces "Let them come" to when we see Sanguinius open a can of whoop ass on the traitors as they approach! You should check out ADB's novella Aurelian for a mind meltingly awesome preview of what that battle could be like! 

[bluntblade]

I am wishing more and more that Iron Tenth had happened with Wraight or French holding the pen. If there'd been room for Marr to be developed further and for Mor to do more, to say nothing of Meduson, we could've had something really special. Especially if Marr and the Sons of Horus had got more of a showing in their post-Molech glory.

 

Btw,

Hibou Khan is still unaccounted for, right? Like to think some of Meduson's boys are still fighting the good fight.

[JH79]

I am wishing more and more that Iron Tenth had happened with Wraight or French holding the pen. If there'd been room for Marr to be developed further and for Mor to do more, to say nothing of Meduson, we could've had something really special. Especially if Marr and the Sons of Horus had got more of a showing in their post-Molech glory.

 

Btw,

Hibou Khan is still unaccounted for, right? Like to think some of Meduson's boys are still fighting the good fight.

 

I really enjoyed Old Earth, as many have mentioned Kyme took the quality of his writing to the next level! BUT, I do find myself wishing that the Meduson storyline had been allowed to conclude separately. On a positive note it's inclusion really did keep the pacing of the novel tight, and the story was very enjoyable (sometimes more so than Vulkans!) but ultimately it smacks too much of shoehorning content into a book simply to tie up loose ends.

 

I would find it very difficult to believe for one minute that Kyme's initial pitch to BL for this last book of his Heresy Salamanders Trilogy included the conclusion to Medusons arc, It's more likely that this was a move on BL's part to hurry along the end of the series and Kyme did the best he could.

 

I've been waiting years to see more of Hibou Khan... the other side of Little Horus's face has a date with the end of Hibous blade!!! 

[Indefragable]

Have not read the book, but based on snippets...

 

...maybe Vulkan defends the Webway hate from inside the Webway?

 

Enter Warp-y time shenanigans and what feels like a month to Vulkan has actually been 2,000 years on the outside or something.

 

That would seem a very have-their-cake-and-eat-it-too way for GW to say they changed the past canon...but not really...but they kinda did...but not enough to make a huge difference.

 

[TheRealMcCagh]

Was the last we saw of Hibou Khan when he and Bion Henricos ambushed Aximand in the hopes of killing Horus? He was one of the Pro-Horus White Scars right?

[Angel_of_Blood]

Was the last we saw of Hibou Khan when he and Bion Henricos ambushed Aximand in the hopes of killing Horus? He was one of the Pro-Horus White Scars right?

 

Yep, became part of the Sagyar Mazan. Most of them were all recalled in Path of Heaven, but Hibou was noticeably absent from that gathering. So hopefully he's still around.

 

As to other points. It better be just Sanguinius at the Eternity Gate. It's pretty much one of the oldest bits of fluff in regards to the Siege, and I'm sure so many people, like myself, are waiting for that epic one man last stand he makes. Would ruin it a lot if someone else was there with him.

[Indefragable]

 

 

Was the last we saw of Hibou Khan when he and Bion Henricos ambushed Aximand in the hopes of killing Horus? He was one of the Pro-Horus White Scars right?

Yep, became part of the Sagyar Mazan. Most of them were all recalled in Path of Heaven, but Hibou was noticeably absent from that gathering. So hopefully he's still around.

 

As to other points. It better be just Sanguinius at the Eternity Gate. It's pretty much one of the oldest bits of fluff in regards to the Siege, and I'm sure so many people, like myself, are waiting for that epic one man last stand he makes. Would ruin it a lot if someone else was there with him.

I don’t know if it would ruin it...but it would definitely take away from it. As I said repeatedly, the Angel-on-the-Walls has to be pretty much the most badass thing ever (including possibly taking on/semi-winning against 3 other Primarchs at once and multiple bloodthirsters as well), because from a narrative standpoint we have to see just how powerful Sanguinius is so that we in turn can see just how powerful Super Saiyan X Gold 4D Horus has become.

 

Build him up to break him down, in good ‘ol grimdark fashion.

[rendingon1+]

As I said repeatedly, the Angel-on-the-Walls has to be pretty much the most badass thing ever (including possibly taking on/semi-winning against 3 other Primarchs at once and multiple bloodthirsters as well), because from a narrative standpoint we have to see just how powerful Sanguinius is so that we in turn can see just how powerful Super Saiyan X Gold 4D Horus has become.

 

Now THAT would ruin it.

[mc warhammer]

Have not read the book, but based on snippets...

 

...maybe Vulkan defends the Webway hate from inside the Webway?

 

Enter Warp-y time shenanigans and what feels like a month to Vulkan has actually been 2,000 years on the outside or something.

 

That would seem a very have-their-cake-and-eat-it-too way for GW to say they changed the past canon...but not really...but they kinda did...but not enough to make a huge difference.

 

 

 

re "cake and eat it", similar to the ending of PoD ; a dramatic change of events but one that slips easily into established lore.

 

tbh, i'm ok with a handful larger scale changes and revelations that actually contradict what we know (taking into account that what we know is mythology) but it's a clever approach.

[Calas Typhon]

I have a feeling the only Iron Hands during the siege we are going to see will be Crius and the undead once the call has been made by that one Imperial Fist in Riven. It was left open massively. 

 

Are the Salamanders with Vulkan on Terra? I have not read this book yet. I would really like to have the Salamanders and Vulkan in the Webway to nail down that unbreakable line whilst the other Legions and Primarchs are manning the walls. It would really make up for the absolute shocking show they have had this Heresy series. No humans to get in the way!

 

[Tymell]

Are the Salamanders with Vulkan on Terra?

 

 

The three who accompanied him are. The others are all still either on Nocturne or scattered throughout the wider conflict.