Customer Reviews

Daemon World (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Why do I constantly find myself at odds with reviewers of Warhammer 40K novels? The only review of this book as of this date is extemely negative. I really enjoyed this book, especially the Princess Charybdia and her twistedly evil city of pleasures. I've never really expected WH novels to be great Hugo-prize winning novels of Sci-Fi---they're just a lot of fun to read and they put you into a fantastic gloomy surreal mood. Give this novel a chance. I really liked it.

Ben Counter's Daemon World has an ambitious goal, to provide you a story based on a Chaos world. To allow you to experience and see Chaos first hand through the eyes of its followers. The story is set on a special Chaos world in the heart of the Eyes of Terror. Apparently it has some special significance to Chaos, a prized jewel that Chaos fights itself for possession. The story itself is told from a variety of viewpoints. Ben Counter has done an excellent job provide a very diverse set of viewpoints. You are presented with a warrior on a quest for revenge, a hedonistic depot, mysterious wanderer and a small contingent of Word Bearer Chaos Space Marines. The silent third perspective is a quasi narrator speaking of the legend of Torvendis and its greatest myth, the battle between Arguleon Veq and The Last.

Ben's narrative structure is impeccable. The books has a steady pace, there are no slow points to be found. The characters are believable and enjoyable to read about. Naturally, there is more occurring than originally presented and by the end of the book, you witness a galaxy shaking event that alters the course of history. Daemon World is a great read but, I think it also fails at its primary goal, to show you Chaos.

The primary problem I have with this book is that the characters and the setting are so very rationale. They all operate with a rationale code of honor. If you had set this story on a feral world, swapped out some story details it would still work. There is nothing innately "Chaotic" about the characters or story. If anything the story feels like a dark tragedy, almost Shakespearean. All of the characters are striving towards a particular goal; whether it be revenge, power, even honor. They all exhibit some flaw that becomes their downfall. There is nothing unique or different than novels set in a non-Chaos setting.

Even the world of Torvendis seems less a Chaos world than it should. Yes, it does change on a daily basis, the trees move around, the planet has some questionable laws of physics, The City is suitable odd but nothing insane. In fact, I would say Torvendis is fairly tame compared to the description of other Chaos worlds. The greatest conceit in the description of Torvendis is that there have been so many wars that the very crust of the planet is made of the bones of the fallen, fused into stone. The ruler of the planet mines these bones so as to leech out their memory of their agonizing final moments and serve up these memories in worship of Slannesh. In the end, Torvendis doesn't seem that surreal or dangerous. It doesn't even seem up to par with an average Death World since there are tribes of people living on all corners of the planet. Jungle tribes in the jungle, seafarers on the sea, mountain people in the mountain, etc. On a Death World at least people are crammed into tiny outposts of humanity under seige. Torvendis appears to be a fairly populous planet and needs to be to feed the insatiable desires of Slannesh.

Honestly though, how do you describe Chaos. Chaos is inherently irrational. A coherent rational story is inimical to the irrationality of Chaos. In providing us an excellent and well structured story, Ben Counter stamped out Chaos. Perhaps writing a book showing the true nature of Chaos is impossible. Perhaps that is why the historians of Torvendis all go insane. Regardless, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others. But, I do not think it achieved its goal and honestly, a book truly depicting the experience of Chaos would be gibberish.

WHile still pretty new to the genre I found myself well absorbed by this and other great 40k reads from BL. Daemon World is complex, lots of very well developed characters, smooth transitions and action. The heros in the story attain lofty power and abilities that reminded of the invincibility of Matrix's Neo, which takes action to whole new level (for me anyway). The main characters are simply too cool with their personalities and actions making for a very memorable experience. With sci-fi material like this and "Storm of Iron" why not movie yet :( ?

If you participate in the tabletop gaming hobby that this novel is based on, you should enjoy this. If you begin reading this book with the same degree of interest in how a Chaos world functions as I did, then hopefully, you will travel through each description with a similar level of patience, objectivity, and warranted awe.

Ben Counter's descriptive style is on par with the best writers Games Workshop/The Black Library have to offer. He was able to develop different characters that drove parallel plotlines and expertly tied them together as the story came to its conclusion. The surreal battle sequences are described with the masterful strokes of a painter, revealing vivid images within the mind's eye. Some of the battle sequences bring to mind a hypothetical synergy of 'Battle of the Pelennor Fields' in the Return of the King movie, drybrushed by Pinhead from 'Hellraiser'. It is epic in scale and for those of you who have sympathetic leanings toward the 40k concept of 'Chaos', you will understand when I say that many passages in the book are equally repulsive/seductive.

Other novels by Ben Counter, include "Grey Knights" or "The Bleeding Chalice". Both are equally as memsmerizing.

Ben Counter's Daemon World has an ambitious goal, to provide you a story based on a Chaos world. To allow you to experience and see Chaos first hand through the eyes of its followers. The story is set on a special Chaos world in the heart of the Eyes of Terror. Apparently it has some special significance to Chaos, a prized jewel that Chaos fights itself for possession. The story itself is told from a variety of viewpoints. Ben Counter has done an excellent job provide a very diverse set of viewpoints. You are presented with a warrior on a quest for revenge, a hedonistic depot, mysterious wanderer and a small contingent of Word Bearer Chaos Space Marines. The silent third perspective is a quasi narrator speaking of the legend of Torvendis and its greatest myth, the battle between Arguleon Veq and The Last.

Ben's narrative structure is impeccable. The books has a steady pace, there are no slow points to be found. The characters are believable and enjoyable to read about. Naturally, there is more occurring than originally presented and by the end of the book, you witness a galaxy shaking event that alters the course of history. Daemon World is a great read but, I think it also fails at its primary goal, to show you Chaos.

The primary problem I have with this book is that the characters and the setting are so very rationale. They all operate with a rationale code of honor. If you had set this story on a feral world, swapped out some story details it would still work. There is nothing innately "Chaotic" about the characters or story. If anything the story feels like a dark tragedy, almost Shakespearean. All of the characters are striving towards a particular goal; whether it be revenge, power, even honor. They all exhibit some flaw that becomes their downfall. There is nothing unique or different than novels set in a non-Chaos setting.

Even the world of Torvendis seems less a Chaos world than it should. Yes, it does change on a daily basis, the trees move around, the planet has some questionable laws of physics, The City is suitable odd but nothing insane. In fact, I would say Torvendis is fairly tame compared to the description of other Chaos worlds. The greatest conceit in the description of Torvendis is that there have been so many wars that the very crust of the planet is made of the bones of the fallen, fused into stone. The ruler of the planet mines these bones so as to leech out their memory of their agonizing final moments and serve up these memories in worship of Slannesh. In the end, Torvendis doesn't seem that surreal or dangerous. It doesn't even seem up to par with an average Death World since there are tribes of people living on all corners of the planet. Jungle tribes in the jungle, seafarers on the sea, mountain people in the mountain, etc. On a Death World at least people are crammed into tiny outposts of humanity under seige. Torvendis appears to be a fairly populous planet and needs to be to feed the insatiable desires of Slannesh.

Honestly though, how do you describe Chaos. Chaos is inherently irrational. A coherent rational story is inimical to the irrationality of Chaos. In providing us an excellent and well structured story, Ben Counter stamped out Chaos. Perhaps writing a book showing the true nature of Chaos is impossible. Perhaps that is why the historians of Torvendis all go insane. Regardless, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others. But, I do not think it achieved its goal and honestly, a book truly depicting the experience of Chaos would be gibberish.

The author has masterfully created life on a Chaos world. The emersion of the reader into this reality is total. I just hate that my favorite character gets killed.

Counter weaves a tail that grabs you and keeps you turning pages. The ride is well worth the price of admission!

I dont know why Black Library ever took this out of production except to jack the price up a bit when they re-released it. Price aside it is a really fast paced and well executed book

Torvendis is a world of massive symbolic stature, existing at the very heart of the Maelstrom. It is a planet with a long and tortuous history. It is currently ruled by Lady Charybdia. Charybdia Keep is the seat of power. The huge keep had not been built by normal materials. Instead, it had been entirely built by what was once millions-upon-millions of living things. During her long reign, Lady Charybdia and her Violators (Chapter of Space Marines) have been ever vigilant and ever devoted to the pleasure god called Slaanesh. When Lady Charybdia notices a recently wrecked foreign spacecraft near the Canis Mountains, she immediately investigates.

Captain Amakyre of the Word Bearers arrives at Torvendis searching for one of his Chapter called Karnulon. Karnulon is a Chaos Marine from pre-Heresy, which was over ten thousand years prior. Karnulon is a renegade. No one knows why Karnulon came to Torvendis and Amakyre does not actually care. Amakyre's entire focus is on locating and capturing the renegade.

The daemon prince Ss'll Sh'Karr once ruled Torvendis. All believed it to be long dead. In truth it resides in a temple-prison. Karnulon intends to release Ss'll Sh'Karr. It would be the first in a cycle of events that would end in ultimate victory.

**** Author Ben Counter is a great writer with his own legion of fans. I can be considered one of that number. However, this time the author is more long-winded than normal. The plot develops very slowly and for much of the story there are parts that seem meaningless. (The key word there is "seem".) Yet when the battle scenes happen, they are fantastic. Some readers will have a problem with the writing style, but it is all very well written. In a word: intriguing. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Man, Ben Counter is one visual masterpiece monster writer. This has got to be one of the all-time eye opening, jaw-dropping novels of the year.
Not only was I immensely drawn into the book by it's deliciously and devilishly looking cover and interesting synopsis, but catapulted into a universe and world of monstrous proportions.
This is some story. If you think this is a bad read - then you are a plain idiot, hands down! Ben Counter pulls no punches, takes no prisoners in this massive world building, legendary novel. It reads so beautifully, but after seeing the movie - RETURN OF THE KING - the battles there almost seemed tame in comparison to this one.
Now, I would love to see the battle for the citidal in this book! Rivers and lakes of blood with daemons and mutants out the ass to kill - now that would truly be a sight from hell.
Ben Counter writes and drives a storyline on like a Mack truck through your living room. Not only is he visual, but the story itself unfolds and ends so unexpectantly, it will surely keep you up at night, reading, shaking, and sweating.
A must read for sci-fi/fantasy fans. Ben Counter, you have a new fan.