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If you’ve stuck around this long through The Horus Heresy, chances are you’re not leaving until it’s fateful end has been written.
Tales of Heresy brings in some veteran writers from the series and other veteran writers from The Black Library for a seven-story ride through various times of Horus’s betrayal. Some dwell on parts of the lore that were merely mentioned by the other books. Most follow events that won’t be covered in depth until later books.
Falling in line
Starting off with Dan Abnett, the book sets the tone as the Imperial Fists prepare Terra for war. There really isn’t much in the way of action but for a tone setter, this story could not have done any better. The general imagery brought up through the stories is incredible for the length of each story. Some of them don’t even break the 20 page mark and still they get just the amount of emotion needed to grab the minds of the readers.
One of the short stories even brings in the past well before Horus was even created. Despite the short stories making it so that authors have much less time to unravel the stories, everything just works when it grips you. There is a defined urgency. It covers the standard epic feel of the game. It also uses times before the Great Crusade, during the Great Crusade and during Horus’s Heresy. They cover the infamous Space Wolves, Imperial Fists, the mysterious Dark Angels, the Emperor among other groups and characters of importance and they do take the challenge of making less more to heart.
Each writer brings his or her own particular style into the mix. When it works it’s like a charm. For example Graham McNeill is great at concocting epic battles (as can be seen with the Ultramarines Omnibus, Fallen Gods, Fulgrim and Heldenhammer. Dan Abnett is better at developing stories and characters as can be seen with the Eisenhorn trilogy, Horus Rising, Legion and the Gaunt’s Ghosts series. Each has their strength and they run wild with it.
Heretic! Heretic!
Even though these are well written short stories, there’s a problem. They won’t grip everyone. Due to the style and franchise, if it doesn’t grip you in the first story it won’t through the other six. It’s a bit of an acquired taste but it’s one that works well. Sadly it’s not for everyone. Beyond that there really isn’t much wrong with this book.
To arms
Honestly, it’s a good book. Due to the fact that it’s each author condensed thought, you’ll either love it or you won’t be given enough time to get into it.
If you don’t have the time to get into it, then none of the stories will appeal to you. So you just have to take this book with an open mind to make it easier.
Product Page [The Horus Heresy: Tales of Heresy] Site [The Black Library] Read [Librarium Online]
Other books in The Horus Heresy series:
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