37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended., Feb 11 2005
By Patrick J. Murphy - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Lord of the Night (Mass Market Paperback)
Similar to Black Library authors such as Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Ben Counter, Simon Spurrier recognizes what the 40K universe is all about. That is to say, he fully appreciates the depth of the nuance and complexity which make the setting the richest tableau this side of Middle Earth. Fortunately for us readers, he also knows how to weave an engrossing tale that takes full advantage of all that Games Workshop's colorful backdrop has to offer.
Lord of the Night is the story of the Talonmaster, an ancient Night Lords chaos marine lieutenant desperate to recover a lost chapter heirloom hidden somewhere in the vast depths of an ancient hive city. In the course of his search, the Talonmaster must confront scores of underhive gangers, units of Adeptus Arbites and the persistent attention of a determined junior interrogator and her inscrutable inquisitor mentor. Perhaps more importantly, he must also come to terms with his distant past and the alternating grief, paranoia and rage which have dogged him for centuries.
The Talonmaster is more than just a mindless pawn of Chaos, bouncing from one orgy of death and destruction to another. His cruelty is calculated, his violence directed. He is an ally of Chaos but not its servant. The Talonmaster strives at all times to remain true to the teachings of his long dead Primarch whose death a millennia earlier still haunts him. The richest parts of the book are those flashbacks in which the Talonmaster recalls the brief time that he spent fighting and learning at the side of his beloved Primarch, Konrad Kurze. If you enjoyed the White Dwarf article from a few years ago detailing the origins of the mysterious Kurze and the formation his Night Lords legion, you will love Lord of the Night. The insights into the genesis of the Horus Heresy and Kurze's subsequent fall from grace are alone worth the price of the book. I particularly enjoyed Kurze's take on the tragic rift which developed between him and the Emperor even before Horus turned traitor. Kurze's grievances against the Emperor and the Imperium are coherent and compelling and in that sense, Lord of the Night is somewhat reminiscent of Gav Thorpe's, Angels of Darkness.
Highly recommended to any fan of either the 40k universe or of great science fiction.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's an interesting tale worth reading., July 2 2005
By Noirceuil le Sombre "L'un dans l'obscurité." - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Lord of the Night (Mass Market Paperback)
It could be a little confusing in the beginning if you do not realize who's perspective the author is describing. Once you get past this, the story develops just fine. It is basically a tale of two diametrically opposed individuals who's paths intersect and through introspective journeys, each one discovers their own place in the 40k universe. It is different from what they believe it to be in the beginning of the novel. This all unfolds against the squalor, violence, intrigue, and corruption of an Imperial Hive. Many subplots are revealed as the story progresses. What initially begins as the story of a rampaging Chaos Marine, develops into an orchestrated series of manipulations that culminate in a conclusion that has little meaning to those swept away in the resulting carnage and cruel revelations. The aftermath alluded to in the novel's epilogue is somewhat anticipated, but is no less poignant. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and if they choose to focus on aspects of this story they disliked, then let us mourn their lost time. For me, this novel was yet another fine example of Simon Spurrier's talent as a storyteller. I look forward to the sequel if it is currently in production. I strongly recommend you read this book and if you enjoy it as much as I have, you should check out 'Fire Warrior', which gives a similar insight into the life of a Tau soldier.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enthralling, Mar 31 2005
By J. Bien - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Lord of the Night (Mass Market Paperback)
An overall entertaining novel by Simon Spurrier, slow start but finished well. The story of lost power, madness and supposed betrayal in the 40K universe (there's alot of that going round). A different perspective view of what happened prior to the Horus Heresy and the Emperor of Mankind's inner circle. A bit of an eye opener !!!
Recommend you read it.