(Warhammer 40,000)

Black Library, 2004

Welcome to the world of Warhammer 40,000. In the far-flung future, bloody warfare between the forces of Chaos and those who oppose their evil is the only constant in the Universe. Demonic mutations go hand-in-hand with genetic engineering, mystical forces of Chaotic demons exist side-by-side with psychic warriors, and ultra-tech soldiers battle on the scale of blood-soaked planets. Take a little of David Drake’s Hammer's Slammers, mix in Dune, Warhammer, Heinlein's Starship Troopers, the video game Doom, and (probably) a heavy, dark, thrumming heavy-metal soundtrack, and out comes Warhammer 40,000.

Nice place for a vacation!

The Deus “duology” focuses on one particular sect of Imperial Space Marines–the Blood Angels. The Angels are a mystic blend of warrior, monk, and vampire. Oh, they don’t vaporize in sunlight&nquo;not much use in space for that! But they are strong, disciplined, slightly fanged, and given to ceremonies involving blood. And they must always fight their inner bloodthirst that could damn them to a berserker haze from which they cannot return.

On the graveyard planet, Cybele, Brother Rafen, and his fellow Blood Angels fight a desperate losing battle against the forces of Chaos who have attacked the world with the only purpose of defiling the honored dead. Against all hope, Rafen’s own biological brother, Arkio, arrives with a contingent of Blood Angels who have been away for ten years on a sacred mission. And so the battles on Cybele wax and wane, and while the soldiers fight, their leaders lay plots.

Thanks to a tactical insight by Arkio, the Blood Angels secure victory and drive the forces of Chaos–the Word Bearers (among other terms)–from Cybele. The young warrior’s miraculous insight and valor leave many claiming their revered ancestor, Sanguinius, has directly blessed Arkio.

With claims of religious fervor and righteousness, the high priest Sachiel and the Inquisitor Stele urge the Blood Angels to move against the center of Chaotic incursion, the planet Shenlong. Only a few Marines, Rafen among them, harbor doubts toward this move without orders of central command. Least trustworthy of all is the man with the most power–Stele. Is he what he appears to be? Is he a willful agent of Chaos, or unwillingly playing into their hands, or is he simply a man so consumed with eradicating evil that he has become more evil than his enemy?

On the planet Shenlong, Arkio shows even more divine power, as he wields the mystical artefact, the Spear of Telesto, and destroys Word Bearers by the dozens. Finally, in the last confrontation with the leader of the Chaotic forces, Arkio sprouts angel’s wings and takes on the very countenance of Sanguinius. With all declaring that Arkio is the Deus Encarmine–the god incarnate–none can doubt his divinity.

Except his own brother Rafen, who continues to question what he sees and hears. The influence of Chaos is everywhere.

Deus Sanguinius begins right where Deus Encarmine left off. Stele and Sachiel continue to manipulate Arkio for their own ends, while Rafen doubts his brother’s divinity. Arkio augments his rebelling Blood Angles with an army of fanatic civilians to serve as cannon fodder for his Crusade–to become the supreme commander of the Blood Angels. Unlike the first story, the Inquisitor’s motives are clearly shown to the reader. Stele is revealed to be a willing agent of Chaos and he wants far more than a mere schism in the Blood Angels. He wants to lead them down the path to Chaotic ruin, to damn them and turn them to Chaos as an entire force. Rafen’s resistance becomes the last voice in the wilderness, futilely trying to turn the wave of fanaticism. With no one listening, he is left with only one choice–kill his brother, or die trying.

It all comes to a head on the planet Sabien, where the rebelling Blood Angels face the Chief Inquisitor, Mephiston–and Chaos waits in the shadows to unleash its fury.

Unlike the first novel, the second novel focuses more on intrigue than action. Swallow keeps the suspense taut as the various threads weave and unfold. Will Rafen succeed, will he die, will Arkio be saved, how much of Stele’s dark plan will come to fruition before he is stopped? The tension is finally released as the great battle is met, and it rolls along for the better part of sixty pages!

And, therein lies the one weakness with the plot for this novel. The final clash between the brothers Rafen and Arkio comes too early. Their fates are revealed at the end of the twelfth chapter. That gives us two more long chapters (nearly fifty pages) of follow-on plot points as various characters are traced through the battle–with most of them dying in carnage. Rafen certainly needs vengeance, but Swallow might have turned Rafen loose a bit harder and faster. Personally, I am all for a meaty denouement (I never liked novels that end with only a half-page epilogue after the end of the last battle.) But this one is simply too long.

I will admit that Warhammer 40,000 is probably not something I would have picked up on my own. But I am glad that these novels came my way. They are far afield of sword-and-sorcery, and really, they are even far removed from sword-and-planet. But they were good romps with solid plotting and good action. Though the second novel focused a bit more on character and intrigue, that is perfectly excusable because the first novel was chock full of bloody, gory action while it established the setting and setup the conflict of the second novel.

I applaud The Black Library for being willing to do a “duology”! If something isn’t a trilogy, don’t force it! This story worked perfectly well over the course of the two books. The Black Library also has published numerous short story collections, which I again applaud. (I sure hope someone from ACE’s Age of Conan line will take notice–not every story requires a trilogy of novels!)

If you want a break from sword-and-sorcery, and something along the lines of a blood-soaked-Goth-space-opera arouses your interest, you might want to try a vacation with The Blood Angels.