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Best and worst Horus Heresy books? (self.warhammer40k)

submitted 1 year ago by birdcannon to c/warhammer40k

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Got into 40K last month and jumped right into Horus Heresy series using that handy reading order chart, wanted to get to Thousand Sons as fast as possible so I could learn about my army and read about the nothing Magnus allegedly did wrong.

Loken’s books were all a solid good time. A bit rushed feeling, book 2 stood out as a drop in quality. Horus felt less like a centuries old wizened war god amongst men and more like big dingus to make the plot happen, as if it couldn’t happen with a character who uses his brain. Book 3 and Eisenstein came back to the fun time.

Thousand Sons though is painfully bad. I’ve powered 60% through, normally I put down a book at 25% if I’m not feeling it and I reeeeaaaally wasn’t feeling it. Have to get through it for the dudes though. I don’t know the nothing he did wrong yet, but I’ll say he and his sons are definitely guilty of being the dumbest and most annoying self proclaimed “geniuses” in the galaxy. Not expecting Hugo Award level quality from this series, but a little effort would be nice.

So the question: which series among the heresy are the best and which are to avoid? Should I bother continuing 1K sons in hopes it improves, or switch to some other dudes?

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[–] SCB 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Thousand Sons was easily one of my favorite HH books, and pairs exceptionally well with Burning of Prospero. I think I finished Thousand Sons in like 2 sittings.

Given that, you may not enjoy the same books I like, but here's a list of what I think are the best HH books. No particular order, and none from the Siege, which is universally excellent.

Legion
Know No Fear
Vengeful Spirit
Nemesis
The First Heretic
Betrayer
Tallarn series of novellas
Pharos
Slaves to Darkness

Also not to argue with you but the Thousand Sons thinking they're all the smartest people in the galaxy but they're really just Space Marines with their heads up their asses is a core element of who they are. It's a genetic inheritance from Magnus and is central to his character.

It's fine that you didn't like the book, and not trying to argue or anything, but that disconnect may be why you didn't like it so much. Every Thousand Son is an unreliable narrator who thinks they kick ass at everything.

[–] birdcannon 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm glad you enjoyed Thousand Sons! The size and different flavors of the 40k Novelverse is part of the excitement.

The Sons being up their own asses and not being nearly as smart as they think they are is apparent, my gripe is that we're beaten over the head with that fact for half the book before anything interesting happens.

This full sequence happens 3 times in the first third alone (entering the mountain, the titan, and tentacle hugs):

Ahriman watches as handsome and sexy genius Magnus does something everyone thinks is suicidal/insane
Magnus is in trouble! Thousand Sons onlookers scream/cry/freak out. All is lost! Sexy Primarch-san noooooo
Cut to Magnus’s perspective: “hehe I’m so smart nobody knows how smart I am but me”
Magnus is okay! Rejoice! Ahriman cries tears of joy.

Then the scene where Ahriman and Magnus exposit to Lemuel so we the reader can be spoonfed the history felt like a scene that should've been left in the rough draft. I can't believe self-important Magnus would take such an interest in a rando mortal, even if they are Ahriman's pupil, and so excitedly regale them with the tale of the bird pieces.

I'm powering through and nearly done, it really picks up after the council of Nykea. IMO, the book should've started there as the rest could've been an email. Until then, all on-screen Thousand Sons all horrifically unlikable and not even in a fun way like the Sons of Horus.

Also not arguing and it works for folks. Magnus being an ouroboros of head-to-ass should've worked for me, but McNeil's dialogue pains me even when not trying to make an inherently unlikable person seem sympathetic. Hopefully Abnett can flesh em out in Prospero Burns.

Legion sounds like my next stop after 1K Sons series, but should I read First Heretic->Battle for the Abyss first, or go straight to Legion then Know No Fear?

[–] SCB 4 points 1 year ago

First - your post made me laugh out loud, so thank you lol. Great response.

Legion is totally stand-alone and VERY different from Thousand Sons, so it'll be a great next choice I think. Then you can do the First Heretic+ arc if you'd like.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I think perhaps you may be too close to the Thousand Sons for you to enjoy they way they were portrayed. It’s generally considered to be a good book in the series. I can see how it could be a little unenjoyable if you’ve invested in them personally.

I wouldn’t say that they’re portrayed anymore arrogant that some of the other Legions though. Arrogance is a consistent theme throughout the Heresy.