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Things you like about... Know No Fear


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Yeah, it's soon. But I finished it last week, and we could do with some more positivity on here. So let's begin with...

 

Guilliman referencing Space Wolves doctrine. It shows his determination to examine and find merit in any information he can, and it's a nice nod to that by Abnett.

Mark: -1.8636

 

UM getting their :cuss handed to them.

 

 

Mark: -1.5788

 

The sky is literally falling

it’s raining Baneblades!

 

Mark: -1.257

 

...and another entire ship of UM is blown out if the sky. Oh the calamity!

 

Mark: -0.432

 

...and a Loyalist Titan goes down!

 

Mark: -0.135

 

Lorgar is gloating and flipping RG the bird via hololink

 

Mark: -0.02

 

Could it possibly get any worse?

 

Mark: 0.00

 

Wait....

 

Mark: 0.01

 

“And now we fight back.”

-Roboute Guilliman, orbit above Calth

I read this book very early on in my budding interest for the universe; the third novel I consumed, in fact. My only familiarity with the Ultramarines before this was that nobody liked them but Mat Ward, who enjoyed praising them and Guilliman, our Spiritual Liege. 

 

Needless to say this book blew all such views right out of the water. Guilliman is flawed but genuinely likeable, and his legion has far more identity than "the greatest of them all" and "the baseline legion" put together. Their prowess is shown in how well they adapt to such a lopsided attack, but with plenty of losses along the way. The Word Bearers were also shown as competent antagonists who are soldiers first and zealots second, which is a refreshing change from most of their stock appearances. Overall, an excellent setpiece book.

 

Also, while I didn't like the clinical description of the Campanile's impact when the chapter began, I really appreciated the scale of destruction it communicated by the end.

Oh my goodness.  Honestly there is nothing I do not like about this book.  It is my all time favorite book from Black Library. 

 

If I had to choose the best parts: 

- The first is probably at the very end where Ventanus rallies up as many surviving loyal forces as he and prepares for a last stand.  They fought long enough for the forces in orbit to take back the orbitals; once those are in loyal hands, it was unleashed upon the Word Bearers fleet, and upon the forces down below.  It as an epic last stand.

- Another part that I also really liked was when Ventanus and Selaton were escaping on a jet bike (or land speeder, I can't remember which) and they rammed into a Word Bearer; the bastard died hilariously horrible and was fused to the nose of the speeder/bike.

- The adventure of Ollaius Pius was also very exciting and suspenseful.

- And the constant mention of the words "fug" and "bastard" throughout the book, from the regular people's perspective.

Aonid Thiel, on deciding he's as screwed as screwed can be while waiting for his telling off, picks up a priceless sword and makes for a training cage. Then he turns about and grabs a second one.

 

There's something about this I can't quite put my finger on, and it made me laugh aloud in the staff canteen.

Aonid Thiel, on deciding he's as screwed as screwed can be while waiting for his telling off, picks up a priceless sword and makes for a training cage. Then he turns about and grabs a second one.

There's something about this I can't quite put my finger on, and it made me laugh aloud in the staff canteen.

I love that bit. And when it turns out he was being censured for running theoreticals on fighting other Marines.

 

KNF is a great book. I like the way it’s written with the time stamps etc, really different and really good for showing the scale of the battle. Plus, Guilliman is a great character. One of my favourite Primarchs after this book.

- And the constant mention of the words "fug" and "bastard" throughout the book, from the regular people's perspective.

Haha, there's a Sargent early on in the book, Bowe Hellock, who swears non stop and has some awesome lines of dialogue! In the audiobook Gareth Armstrong absolutely nails a Northern English accent for this character which takes things to the next level, i had a good chuckle to myself the first time i heard him mouthing off about the

"Bastard greens. Bastard Orks. Bastard, bastards"
lol :happy.:

 

- And the constant mention of the words "fug" and "bastard" throughout the book, from the regular people's perspective.

Haha, there's a Sargent early on in the book, Bowe Hellock, who swears non stop and has some awesome lines of dialogue! In the audiobook Gareth Armstrong absolutely nails a Northern English accent for this character which takes things to the next level, i had a good chuckle to myself the first time i heard him mouthing off about the

"Bastard greens. Bastard Orks. Bastard, bastards"
lol :happy.:

 

"This is Ultramar flexing its muscles.  This is Horus flexing his muscles."

"That's why the take the whole bastard XIII and the whole bastard XVII and all the Army units you can scare up, and you throw them at the Ghaslakh bastard xeno-bastard-hold, thank you so very much..."  "... Dead, gone, bye-bye, clap the dust off your hands, no more threat, theoretical or bastard otherwise"

I loved the bit when Roboute contacts Lorgar via hololith.

 

He says there is a problem.

 

The Word Bearers drop a collective deuce in a moment of utter “we’re screwed,” because to directly challenge the Warrior Kings of Macragge in any direct way would be total suicide.

I mean this in the best possible way...

 

The opening scenes were like Michael Bay action scenes put to paper. Blockbustet cinematic writing at its finest.

 

Agreed.

 

The scale of Warhammer range from Guardsment to battleships in orbit so large they defy reason, but this novel managed to make something seemingly ridiculous and make it work.

How have we not yet covered Guilliman innnnnnn speeeeeehce decapitating schmucks left and right?

 

Seriously, mad props to Abnett for bringing to life a scene I never even imagined could be realized in such a convincing way.

 

No matter what happens with Guilliman or the XIIIth or the UM, I’ll always have my primarch rampaging through space, a silent scream of rage upon his aspect...

What a scene.

I especially loved the way he wrote Guilliman’s strikes.

“He turned and punched his head off. Clean off.”

what i find interesting is that when it came out, it received its fair amount of hate but in recent years all the feedback (that i've seen) online has been positive

 

This confuses me, I'd be interested to see the criticisms. (Separate thread I realise)

 

Back on topic, I liked how the UMs were distinct to those in 40k (though my exposure was limited to Uriel Ventris) but enough like, and if not better than what I was expecting from the existing fluff.

How have we not yet covered Guilliman innnnnnn speeeeeehce decapitating schmucks left and right?

 

Seriously, mad props to Abnett for bringing to life a scene I never even imagined could be realized in such a convincing way.

 

No matter what happens with Guilliman or the XIIIth or the UM, I’ll always have my primarch rampaging through space, a silent scream of rage upon his aspect...

What a scene.

I especially loved the way he wrote Guilliman’s strikes.

“He turned and punched his head off. Clean off.”

As you mentioned it the book was great except for this abomination. One of the dumbest scenes in entire HH. Sorry.

It was a great book, when it came out i feared it would just be Ultramarines :censored: yeah, but it was well balanced, with the mechanicum, titans and even barely the army showing their heads and being major players.

 

Seeing Guiliman on his knees was also a plus back in the Ward days, not often you see a primarch humbled by a half marine. But again well balanced as the word bearer NEED to spread the faith swoops in and lets the Imperial comeback take form.

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