HH Book 47: Old Earth

[Plaguecaster]

Things that Happen :

 

- Vulkan Lives, he has a shint necklace he does not remember forging.

- Eldrad dresses up as a mountain and sends him on his merry way to Terra through the Webway, they go to Aelindrach/Eternal City/ Webway safari/etc.

- Meanwhile, Eldrad teams up with Narek to hunt down the Cabal and Perpetuals, who mess up the threads of fate.

- The Shattered Legions fight on, Meduson is sick of the pirating/scavenging, wants to reforge the Legion anew. Autek Morr is there. But the Iron fathers do shady :cuss with Manus's corpse and try to take back power, they fail. Vulkan pops out of the Webway near Meduson's fleet, they talk, stuff happens, Vulkan smashes contemptors, Vulkan leaves.

- During battle with Marr's forces, Meduson boards a SOH ship, gets betrayed by iron Fathers, get's his head chopped off by Marr.

- Vulkan reaches the Impossible city, Bolter Porn, Oh no the gate is besieged by Deamon Army they cant reach Terra that way. Eldrad pops and teleports them to the outskirts of the Palace.

- Vulkan and Dorn Talk, " could you kill one of them ?" . Vulkan says he could not, Dorn says he would kill them all and bear the guilt.

- Vulkan and Big ETalk, turns out the reason Vulkan had to reach Terra was to deliver the necklace, forged by E through Vulkan's hands. Necklace meshes with the Throne, it's a big red button. if the Throne fails, all of Terra burns as a final fugg u to the big 4.

 

All in all, better than the previous Sally books, but reads like a fanfic.

 

Eldrad dresses up as a mountain ????? How the :cuss does he manage that?????? Wonder how that one was thought up :D kinda dissaponted Eldrad shows up for Eldar shennigans, filthy with l, pity Vulcan didn't squash that bug with his hammer when he had the chance

 

As much as the Iron Hands are a bunch of jerks they are looking to the legions future, Meduson was a Terran who let his emotions get the better of him the legion couldn't afford to suffer another Istavaan like with Ferrus though they may of gone a bit overboard, but then again Flesh is Weak

 

Any more detail on what shady stuff they do to The corpse of Ferrus???? Sounds curious

[Indefragable]

Question for those who read it:

 

So where does this leave Vulkan? Is he alive and well and just chilling out at the palace at the end of it?

 

Aka is a big reveal that it was Dorn, Khan, amd Sanguinius...and special guest Vulkan?

 

[b1soul]

Ugh...what an unsatisfying (to me) conclusion to Meduson's arc, but then I could never stand Kyme's writing.

[Karthak]

"Reads spoilers."

 

So the Iron Hands continue to be Worst Loyalists.

[DarkChaplain]

Did you expect them to suddenly get out of character? I mean, that's basically what Meduson has been trying up til now.

[DarkChaplain]

Ugh...what an unsatisfying (to me) conclusion to Meduson's arc, but then I could never stand Kyme's writing.

 

The afterword alludes to that finale being in the cards for a long while. It'd have happened with or without Kyme.

 

It being its own novel (under the title "The Iron Tenth") has been discarded a while ago as well, seeing how "momentum" became increasingly important. Which, I want to point out, has been an issue of the fan community for the past 5+ years as well, constantly whining about excursions and previously not detailed story arcs. I'm not going to put the blame squarely on fans wanting to reach Terra asap, but it can hardly be denied that the repetitive complaints with every single novel, even if the commenter hasn't read it, has contributed to that sense of pressure on series scheduling.

 

On the other hand, what did you want out of Meduson's arc? I'm curious about what could've been done differently / been added while still maintaining what the Iron Hands needed to become post-Heresy.

[SchultzChaos]

I think it's awesome that they weave a complexity to the story arc overall. Something that really bums me out is the typical good vs bad, something that pops out from time to time during the series. Sure, Chaos is a corruption of the soul in the darkest of sense but it is a civil war between ideologies. The angels rebelling against mankind. In a good vs bad battle we already know that good trumfs bad, i.e. a good character will succed in his arc where an evil character's arc is doomed from the beginning.

It's nice that Kyme (or whoever would have done the Xth legion) makes it feel like war, with internal politics, intrigues and manipulation. Loyalists should have shady bastards and traitors should have dreaming romantics, like Forge World presents the Heresy in their black books!

[Lucerne]

I'll believe that when we have Ultramarines that aren't boring poster children.

[Ogun]

I think on reflection, that the Iron Hands have actually been pretty well served on some levels by the Heresy Series. In contrast to most of the other legions, we've seen a pretty wide variety of characters, ranging from Ferrus, down to different squad or company level characters. So many of the authors have given their spin on the Iron Hands that it feels like we have acquired a mosaic picture of the legion's character. More could be explored, but there are some legions out there, like the SoH, that could really benefit from such an approach.

[Praetor of Calth]

 

Ugh...what an unsatisfying (to me) conclusion to Meduson's arc, but then I could never stand Kyme's writing.

 

The afterword alludes to that finale being in the cards for a long while. It'd have happened with or without Kyme.

 

It being its own novel (under the title "The Iron Tenth") has been discarded a while ago as well, seeing how "momentum" became increasingly important. Which, I want to point out, has been an issue of the fan community for the past 5+ years as well, constantly whining about excursions and previously not detailed story arcs. I'm not going to put the blame squarely on fans wanting to reach Terra asap, but it can hardly be denied that the repetitive complaints with every single novel, even if the commenter hasn't read it, has contributed to that sense of pressure on series scheduling.

 

On the other hand, what did you want out of Meduson's arc? I'm curious about what could've been done differently / been added while still maintaining what the Iron Hands needed to become post-Heresy.

 

 

I was actually in the "Let the series go on longer" camp but I can understand why some people were getting frustrated. What really stalled the train of the Heresy NOVEL series was the amount of filler novels and Ltd Ed Novellas with little to no relevant content. The story going on longer wasn't the problem, the problem was the series generally didn't feel like it was going anywhere. The series didn't need to rush to Terra, but it needed to feel like it was progressing towards it. Each book should have moved pieces on the board closer to the end goal, and that's why  people got frustrated.

 

Filler books like Nemesis, Battle for The Abyss, Damnation of Pythos should been made into their own "Horus Heresy Battles" series where they belonged. Those book spaces could have been used to say, cover the initial fall of the Death Guard, ie; things that were actually relevant to the progression of the story. 

 

Online reviews for this seem surprisingly positive given the author in question.... Would anyone mind commenting on how the Primarch characterisation is in this one compared to his other books?

[MrBadweed]

 

 

As to Big V's whereabouts now : Vulkan is having a BBQ next to the Golden Throne, waiting for the gate to fall with his Best friend Hammer McHammer.

 

As to Manus's Corpse : The Iron Fathers scavenged any bits and pieces Daddy left behind and made a Cyborg-frankenstein-clockwork monster-golem out of it. It's "Alive" in a very liberal sense of the term. But it awakes a spark of " obedience" in it's sons. That being said they mainly use it as a justification to make a coup against Meduson. Vulkan smashes it with Hammer.

 

This makes a return of Manus possible as a cyborg-golem-keys of Hel kinda bloke in 40k. Since the regime of the Iron Fathers perdures until M41, who knows what stuff they have been up to on Medusa.

 

In the afterword; Kyme teases of Vulkan in M41.

 

[b1soul]

On the other hand, what did you want out of Meduson's arc? I'm curious about what could've been done differently / been added while still maintaining what the Iron Hands needed to become post-Heresy.

Something less "grimdark".

 

The IH could have split. Meduson's survival and founding of an unorthodox chapter would not have prevented the IH from becoming what they become

[Marshal Rohr]

I feel personally responsible for all these 40k-30k cross connections because I wanted more ships from the Heresy in my old Templars.

[bluntblade]

So, what next for the Iron Tenth in the Heresy?

[Lucerne]

On reflection, I'm actually a fan of how demented [redacted] is and it actually makes me mildly interested in them when they never really struck me as all that fascinating before. Definitely Dead Space vibes from my new understanding of them here.

[SpAcEGhOsT095]

This stuff about the "science experiment" they did. Makes me think that if a certain someone did come back, Asirnoth won't be the only thing he drowns in magma.

[bluntblade]

Question.

Did all Meduson's Salamanders and RG allies go off to their Primarchs?

[Urriak Urruk]

 

 

As to Big V's whereabouts now : Vulkan is having a BBQ next to the Golden Throne, waiting for the gate to fall with his Best friend Hammer McHammer.

 

As to Manus's Corpse : The Iron Fathers scavenged any bits and pieces Daddy left behind and made a Cyborg-frankenstein-clockwork monster-golem out of it. It's "Alive" in a very liberal sense of the term. But it awakes a spark of " obedience" in it's sons. That being said they mainly use it as a justification to make a coup against Meduson. Vulkan smashes it with Hammer.

 

This makes a return of Manus possible as a cyborg-golem-keys of Hel kinda bloke in 40k. Since the regime of the Iron Fathers perdures until M41, who knows what stuff they have been up to on Medusa.

 

In the afterword; Kyme teases of Vulkan in M41.

 

 

Anything else about that tease? Specifics pls.

[DarkChaplain]

 

"Six years is a long time, and there’s a sense of the bittersweet about finally reaching the end. I’ll miss Vulkan, though I’d never say never to seeing him again.

Perhaps during the future? A far future. Now wouldn’t that be something?"

[Urriak Urruk]

 

 

"Six years is a long time, and there’s a sense of the bittersweet about finally reaching the end. I’ll miss Vulkan, though I’d never say never to seeing him again.

Perhaps during the future? A far future. Now wouldn’t that be something?"

 

 

Bah, that's less an after-credits scene and more a "I wish, I wish upon a star!"

[DarkChaplain]

Did you expect an "after-credits scene" in an author's afterword to the novel where they talk about the experience writing it and how it ties into the wider series?

[Apothecary Vaddon]

I mean, with primarchs coming back left and right, and Vulkan already having appeared post Heresy once, he's probably going to come back at some point.

[Marshal Loss]

So, what next for the Iron Tenth in the Heresy?

 

Nothing - this is essentially it for them. They go off back to Medusa and do not want to take an active part in the war, and Tybalt Marr says that the Iron Hands will be dealt with after Terra now that they are no longer a threat to the Warmaster's advance.

 

Question.

Did all Meduson's Salamanders and RG allies go off to their Primarchs?

 

Not 100% clear. There are very, very few left by this point, and Meduson's plan was to allow the Sallies and RG to go home after the IH won their major victory over the SoH. This victory never eventuates, but Vulkan does not allow anybody to join him on his journey, and there's no mention of the RG wanting to go to Deliverance.

 

Anyway, I read the whole thing primarily to see what involvement the SoH had; for any interested parties, their role was 'some enemies that get a lot of lip service as being good and then get smashed continually anyway'. Kyme is simply not an author capable of doing them - or indeed any villains from what I've seen - justice. It seems to me that he struggles to come up with ways in which he can make his protagonists look good without just having them waltz through whatever is in their path, and continues to do so in the belief that some guys saying 'wow these baddies are so disciplined and good and skillful and stuff, beating them is gonna be so hard guys' makes the protagonists' impending victory believable. I enjoy reading about both loyalists and traitors and the books where it's a believable back and forth are always highlights for me. Just as it was in his other books, this is not the case here.

 

The only saving grace this book has is its relative importance. Lots of plot threads are resolved, and so unlike Vulkan Lives and Deathfire, the reader is rewarded for their endurance (perhaps that was intentional) with some occasionally satisfying resolutions. It draws upon a variety of novellas and novels, and even links to Master of Mankind in places. I thought Meduson's fate was suitably grimdark and appropriate for the setting, but would have liked to see more of Tybalt Marr's involvement than 'guy that Meduson gets unnecessarily obsessed over'. Again, Kyme struggles to make antagonists anything more than an obstacle that will inevitably be overcome (unless the good guys back stab each other and the main character is sleep deprived, of course). This applies to those in the way of Vulkan, those in the way of Meduson, and those in the way of Eldrad and his Bearer of the Word friend.

 

It is the Iron Hands who are the most entertaining here, but that doesn't say a great deal because the book was an ordeal for me. I am left wondering what an 'Iron Tenth' novel would have looked like - in retrospect, I would have been really interested to read it. Vulkan is Kyme's Vulkan once again, through and through. He's more sure of his purpose now, but it's just more of the same really when it comes down to it. It feels weird in a book with Vulkan on the cover barely talking about him, but once you read it, you'll probably get what I mean.

 

He deserves credit for tying up so many threads in one book, and for having a clear vision of where he wanted to take Vulkan. I just don't think the execution was very good at all. Others may hold differing opinions. It's his best novel out of the big 3 in the Heresy (Vulkan Lives/Deathfire/Old Earth), but again, being the best out of a bad lot doesn't equal good.

 

I did take a perverse interest in...

 

the Cabal being murdered repeatedly by Eldrad and his Word Bearers buddy, as I goddamn hate that plot line, and the fact that an assassination attempt on Lorgar has been set up... although it seems to be decided that he's alive in 40k now? So there's probably nothing to worry about there. I don't see GW killing off Primarchs they can bring back in 30k reborn 40k now.

 

Read if: you want to see some plot threads resolved relating to Meduson/Vulkan the Cabal, or were already a fan of Kyme

Avoid if: Vulkan Lives and Deathfire made you lose your will to live

[bluntblade]

On that basis then, I'm going to assume that the Anti-Meduson faction have not only screwed their brothers, but their cousins as well.

Real shame that Marr just became the instrument in Meduson's death. Guess Iron Tenth will go down as one of the Heresy's great could've beens.

[Marshal Loss]

On that basis then, I'm going to assume that the Anti-Meduson faction have not only screwed their brothers, but their cousins as well.

 

Real shame that Marr just became the instrument in Meduson's death. Guess Iron Tenth will go down as one of the Heresy's great could've beens.

 

Pretty much spot on. More or less complete IH spoilers:

 

Essentially, Meduson has his Hand-Elect (Aug) working against him for the entire book, as he is now more machine than man. After securing some intel that Marr placed as a bait to destroy Meduson, the Iron Hands successfully unite and defeat the Sons of Horus anyway (10/10 effort Marr), although it's not a clean victory. Meanwhile, the Iron Fathers have taken Ferrus Manus' silver arm and made some kind of zombie (that can't really talk or do anything, but I think the idea is that it was a work in progress), which they attempt to use to launch a coup, believing that it is their father reborn - so they're all insane basically - before Vulkan just smashes it with a hammer.

 

The Iron Fathers fall behind Meduson, and then betray him when he launches a boarding assault on Marr's ship. Essentially, Meduson is goaded into launching the assault, and Aug implores him to sit back and obliterate the SoH from a distance rather than going in himself. So on one hand Meduson takes some responsibility for his demise - his desire for Marr's head leads to him being betrayed because he's not thinking like a machine as the IH want, but the battle was 'on a knife edge' and it's the Iron Fathers who turn a close fight into a complete victory for Marr, the end of the shattered legions and the death of any hope that the Iron Hands will ever amount to anything. So yeah, you could replace Marr with Jar Jar Binks and the result would be the same.