Almost every fan of the science fiction genre is familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Today, this world is represented simply by a huge number of board and computer games, a mass of books, and even a full-length cartoon. At the same time, Warhammer 40,000 is a universe that was created by completely different people, complementing it with their understanding, imagination and new characters. That is why it is sometimes very difficult to grasp the order of events and draw up a certain chronology.
Space Marines Universe
The world of Warhammer 40,000 is so huge that it contains the whole universe. Moreover, it is inhabited not only by people, but also by representatives of other civilizations. Naturally, various conflicts constantly arise between them, which turn into whole wars. However, the most terrible evil in this world are the creatures of Chaos. It was with their arrival that the most interesting events began to develop, and it was thanks to them that the beginning of the storyline of this world was laid.
Writer Dan Abnett has contributed the most to the creation of this universe. He not only created an interesting and exciting cycle of books, but also described in detail all the subtleties and details of everyday life of different classes and races with which he acquaints the reader. It was this approach to detail and details that allowed the author to gain immense popularity, and his sequence of presentation made it possible to get acquainted with this universe in a certain chronology.
Space Knights of the Future
In the work “The Rise of Horus”, the reader gets acquainted in detail with the main characters of the cycle. He learns about their life, traditions, rituals and origin. This book reveals the secret of creating powerful warriors who do not know fear and have tremendous physical strength.
Also, this work shows the lifestyle and thinking of other classes of earthlings. It describes the process of the emergence of a religion that nominates the Emperor as its god. A great and powerful ruler with immortality and vast knowledge, far ahead of his time. It was he who was the creator of the space marines and it was thanks to him that the Great Campaign was launched .
Chorus
In the book, Dan Abnett introduces the reader to the great commander Horus. It was he who was entrusted with the management of the huge fleet of the empire, which was sent to the depths of space to establish the power of the Earth and unite all of humanity.
However, great power implies the presence of great responsibility. The writer shows us that sometimes even the most faithful subjects can betray and become proud. At the same time, people already familiar with the described universe get the opportunity to learn about the formation of a warrior, who later switched to the other side of the barricades and turned into the most important enemy of his former master, whom he once called "Father."
Start
In the novel Warhammer: The Rise of Horus, all events are shown by minor characters, which are subsequently brought to the fore. We can meet a successful space marines, journalist and other people involved in the campaign.
Everything that happens is described from their point of view and enables the reader to look at the same events from different angles. This approach allows us to understand what actually caused the betrayal, what were the prerequisites for this, and how this would subsequently affect the fate of the entire universe.
Details
The book "The Rise of Horus" is very interesting in that the author describes in detail the purpose and principle of operation of certain devices and mechanisms. He brightly and colorfully gives an idea of where the events take place, how this or that character looks, and creates a realistic atmosphere of everything that happens. Such a narrative leads the reader to believe that all this is happening or was actually happening. Abnett simply immerses his fans in a fantasy world, which at the same time begins to change before our eyes, while continuing to grab attention.
The book “The Exaltation of Horus” describes in great detail the social component of the world and the hierarchy of power. It reflects the relationship of different classes to each other, their capabilities and methods of influencing events. It is in it that the nature of worship of higher forces and the ascension of a person, even genetically modified, to the status of a celestial person are revealed for the first time.
The Origin of a Legend
It is believed that the "Horus Heresy", "The Exaltation of Horus" and other books of this cycle should be read very first, since they formed the basis of the depicted world. However, some fans of the genre do not agree with this opinion.
They believe that Abnett simply described the process of becoming a great commander, his life path, the process of ascending to the top of power and falling from there. And in fact, the entire cycle simply tells a legend that fans of the genre knew from the legends or the game.
However, a newcomer to the universe of Warhammer 40,000 should start with this particular work.
Characters
The book "The Rise of Horus" introduces the reader to the characters who will accompany him throughout the cycle. Some of them are found in the works of other authors, and some have long become an integral part of the fantasy world.
Given this, it is worth paying special attention to the study of all the actors. That is why the writer at the beginning of the book describes each character in detail, indicating his place in the universe, the sphere of influence and social affiliation. At first it’s even a little annoying, but with further reading I want to return to the list to understand the meaning of some actions or words.
Background
At the beginning of the book, Horus Rising, the reader is invited to briefly review the events that preceded the following description. The Great Emperor creates an entire army of powerful warriors who surpass the average person in all respects. He equips them with the most modern weapons and armor. As a result, he himself leads the campaign to the edge of the universe on huge ships, which can accommodate a whole city. Its goal is to unite humanity under a single beginning and prepare it for the upcoming war with the forces of Chaos.
However, after a certain time, the Emperor is suspended from participation in the campaign for reasons that are not clearly clear to anyone. He transfers all control of the mighty fleet to his primarch Horus, who is not only a space paratrooper, but also far surpasses them in his physical data. It is after these events that we plunge into the magical and exciting world of Warhammer.
Summary
Almost the entire plot of the book “The Rise of Horus” is tied around a space paratrooper named Loken. Thanks to his courage and courage, which stood out even against the background of genetically modified warriors, he gains access to the leadership of the entire campaign. At the same time, Loken becomes a member of a certain cult that existed even before the formation of his legion. Some actions based on the prejudices of his brothers begin to embarrass him, and the reader becomes embroiled in his personal confrontation and struggle both with himself and with the whole system created by the old paratroopers.
It was thanks to Loken that the author was able to show the life of soldiers, training and various weapons details. It is also worth noting that the reader looks at everything that happens with his eyes, and since he becomes part of the council and has access to Horus himself, all events can be seen in the first person.
In the first book of the cycle, we learn about the methodology of warfare. Abnett describes in detail some of the battles, filling the story with colorful fights. The reader is also made aware of the principles of colonization that the Empire introduces, and its methodology for resolving social issues.
In this book we learn about the power of space marines, their devotion, endurance and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the sake of a common cause. We are shown the path of Horus' ascension to his power and the principles of his management of the vast fleet of the empire. Particular attention is paid to the religious background of some of the points that became at the forefront of the beliefs of the whole universe and led to the fall of a mighty army entangled in heresy.
The style of writing and the sequence of narration is capturing literally from the first minute of reading. The plot itself is so interesting that you want to read the book again. It is worth noting that this work breathed new life into the admirers of this saga. It was thanks to Abnett that novice writers noticed the Warhammer universe and dedicated their work to it. He can now be confidently called the chronicler of the space landing and the ancestor of a whole separate cycle.