For the last 2 centuries, the Imperium of Man guided by the iron-fisted, blood dripping benevolent hand of the immortal Emperor has been conducting the Great Crusade in order to (1) reunite all of the various groups of humans (whether they want to or not) and (2) exterminate all alien life from the galaxy.Īssisting the Emperor in his violent conquest mighty endeavor are the Space Marines, Seven and a half foot tall, genetically enhanced, immortal super soldiers in battle armor that would make Boba Fett full of dark green envy. Thousands of years ago mankind scattered from Earth in a great Diaspora and populated the stars. This story is the first of a series that takes place 10000 years before the main Warhammer 40K events and explains how the galactic civil war (known as the Horus Heresy) got started. Here’s a quick back-story and plot summary. If you haven’t thought about checking out the series, keep reading and you may change your mind. Therefore, if you’ve thought about checking out the series but didn’t know where to begin…TA DA…you have found your entry vehicle. I knew nothing about the Warhammer 40K universe before picking up this book…nothing.

HOWEVER, on the other manicured, latte- holding hand, this is a quality, well written tale with surprising character depth and a layered plot with real complexity and an unusual amount of nuance for a popcorn page-turner.Īt the risk of a DUH moment, let me point out that this is Warhammer 40000 tie in.

So on the one hand (i.e., the overly hairy, knuckle-dragging one), this is Manwich-sized chunk of meaty, SF gun-porn dripping with sweat and oozing locker-room musk.

Horus heresy in order