Battle of the Fang [Paperback]

Not too long ago Graham McNeill wrote a book called "A Thousand Sons," a book that told of the tragic demise of Magnus the Red and his Legion of scholar-warriors. Only months ago Dan Abnett released the companion novel "Prospero Burns," the telling of the story from the perspective of executioner rather than victim. Though not officially billed as such "Battle of the Fang" is the culmination of both novels, an end to an epic trilogy. Not only is "Battle of the Fang" a great entry to the Space Marines Battles series (bucking Nick Kyme's "Fall of Damnos" from best position) but it is also a great addition to the Black Library catalogue, providing readers with some intense action and big revelations.

Though this is not Wraight's first novel for the Black Library, it is his first 40K book and as such I have to say he has a wonderful career ahead of him writing in the Dark Millenium. Wraight is quick to the action, setting up a scenario that finds the infamous Space Wolves fortress the Fang (or the Aett) guarded only by a hundred marines as the rest of the Chapter jets off through the Warp on a hunt for Magnus the Red. Soon the Space Wolves left on Fenris find themselves besieged by a vastly superior force of Traitor Marines and their mortal disciples. Readers get to see the siege on many different levels, from the actions of hot-headed Blood Claws to venerable Dreadnoughts, wise Grey Hunters, and even some dangerously frail mortals.

The plot is definitely the strong point of this story. The overarching story of the siege is underpinned by deeper matters such as the desire of the Space Wolves to produce successors. Wraight touches on the grim fate of the one known successor Chapter to the Space Wolves as well as the motivation behind such a desire to achieve a legacy. Though Abnett's "Prospero Burns" met mixed reviews it made me fall in love with a Chapter that I had never much cared for in the past. I've never liked the name Space Wolves, it's always seemed a little silly, and the Wolves themselves have always struck me as nothing more than Space Vikings. But Abnett's portrayal of the Wolves, as the Vlka Fenryka the Emperor's grim executioners, who themselves thought the title of Space Wolves to be ridiculous was masterful. Wraight is able to bridge the gap between Abnett's Horus Heresy version and the better established and more commonly known version written about by William King. Another clever stroke is the addition of a Thousand Son's perspective in the novel. Both sides of the conflict are shown, if briefly. The Sons recognize how far they have fallen but desire to mete out their humiliation at the destruction of Prospero upon the hated Emperor's dogs.

Action is swift and brutal, as to be expected from any good 40K novel. There is plenty of melee and ranged combat, lots of gore as the the Wolves let out their claws and set to work. There is even a section toward the end when Magnus takes to the field, giving readers some rare and much appreciated Primarch action. The characters aren't the greatest ever but they are built well enough for the story. Perhaps the best aspect about this book is the sense of completion Wraight grants to the unofficial trilogy. Where "Prospero Burns" left a little to be desired when it came time for the actual sacking of Prospero, Wraight delivers plenty of sacking and even some closure. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who have read "A Thousand Sons" and "Prospero Burns." This is without a doubt the best of the Space Marines Battles series, a series which I had been just about to give up on. I will have my eye out for Chris Wraight from now on.

After reading both HH books (A Thousand Sons, and Prospero Burns), I became fixated on reading this book at all cost, and with all the high expectation on a revenge story, it has even exceeded it... I love the way the characters were introduced, the pace, the tactical layout and the ending... Bottom line, this should have been a movie...

The follow up to A Thousand Sons, Prospero Burns, should have been the book about all the characters I had grown to love. Magnus, the posturing, knowledge obsessed romantic. His cadre of lesser Thousand Son magi each with wonderfully colorful motives and personalities.

Prospero Burns was a let down. In the process of trudging through hundreds of pages hoping to catch of a glimpse of the Thousand Sons I became deeply annoyed with the Space Wolves. They came across as boring, one dimensional, and transparent.

Battle for the Fang has completely changed my perspective. Actually, the Space Wolves are still one dimensional, but the author plays them against the Thousand Sons in a really brilliant way.

This novel is one of if not the best Space Marine Battles books available. Helsreach is possibly equal to it. From beginning to end you get a compelling story with memorable and likeable characters with (and this is rare) different personalities. And there are dreadnaughts. Their bolded type speak is a delight.

The Thousand Sons finally get the respect they deserve. Too often Chaos Space Marines are portrayed as cannon fodder for invulnerable legions of loyalist Marines who never miss a shot and can dodge every one their fallen brothers produce. Traitors shouldn't be treated like the mass of Orks that mindlessly try to clamor on top of a Baneblade, or Tyranids that can be cut down in the millions. They aren't threatening when a legionnaire with a lasrifle can pick them off with ease. The Thousand Sons are treated as a real menace.

This book is well paced, with a solid story that gives enough space for each character to develop. A weakness of this book is the sense of scale. Although several skirmishes are described, there is no broad sense of what is happening during the siege of the Fang. The maps included in the book suggest that this was a wider operation than one attack line on a bridge. It diminishes the assault and makes it seem more like what would be considered a minor battle in the 40k universe than a profoundly historic event as the author reminds us in several places it is. The author could have easily used another 50 pages.

In sum-- an excellent 40k book and a good book generally.

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