Eldar Prophecy (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Cassern S Goto (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warhammer 40,000 Novels | Publication Date: February 27, 2007

Isolated and alone, the eldar craftworld Kaelor floats through the dark reaches of space. Exacting vengeance on those who brought low his ancestors, a youthful eldar warrior wreaks destruction across the craftworld - but can the prophecy that drives him be trusted, or are darker forces at work?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

C S Goto has published short fiction in Inferno! and elsewhere. His work for the Black Library includes the Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War novels, the Deathwatch series and the Necromunda novel Salvation.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844164519
• ISBN-13: 978-1844164516
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Utter Trash. Seriously., April 13, 2010

By 

Aaron Keating - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eldar Prophecy (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm going to explain this title. For those of you not in the know (which would include Goto fans) Goto, is writing about a preexisting universe. When you write for a Preexisting Universe, or when you write about well established fictional things such as monsters etc. You have to do what is known as Research. When you perform Research, it is important to take this other thing called Notes. These two things will help you when writing for said preexisting universe or when you use the preexisting mythology, it will keep you from Contradicting previous events, established Canon, and in general keep you from Sodomizing the material you are supposed to be writing about.

C.S. Goto, wouldn't know what Research was if it bit him on the backside, gave him a pretty diagram and flow chart explaining how to Research. And even if Research was able to convince Goto that it's necessary he's still too lazy and stupid of a writer to do it.

This book takes place in the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. Black Library publishing isn't exactly what I could call High Reading by any means generally so no my standards aren't set "too high" I came in expecting something pulpy, and to scratch my 40k urge. This book by the standards that I judge 40k novels on, is still an utter failure of the English Language, proper story writing, and character development.

The Eldar, are a race in the 40k universe that are basically Space Ninja Pirate Elves. They are hyper disciplined warriors, that live on a very strict path of regulated emotions and careful planning. To do otherwise is to be devoured by Slaanesh, or feed Slaaenesh through other means (other non eldar souls). Especially true of Exodite Eldar, and Craftworld Eldar in particular. Which the latter is what this book is set up in.

The Eldar are guided in their paths to survive the deadly universe by Farseers, which are powerful psychics that can see the future. All eldar are somewhat sensitive psychically.

So, what is Kalor (by the way Goto I "C Wat U did thar" with your ripping off of the Elven Continent in Warhammer Fantasy for your craftworld's name) none of these things. Infact Kalor is more akin to an Inbred, Drug High Slaaneshi Cult. No one in this craftworld is intelligent, the psychics are actually totally and utterly held in borderlined contempt by the so called Warrior casts. That's right the Eldar don't believe in their powerful psychics. It's all Mumbo Jumbo. Strike One, or is that two. I can assure you CS Goto will have struck out several times by the end of this review.

Strike Three, Guardians are not true warriors for the Eldar. This is an important detail to note about the Eldar. Basically every Eldar on a given Craftworld is trained to be able to fight, in order to fill in the ranks of warriors and do their part in Civic Defense. Every Eldar. Period. Guardians are also, quite far from being anything Impressive by Eldar standards, they are kind of like our National Guard. Guardians on Kalor? Are a separate Warrior caste, oh and they are apparently Elite Trained.

Strike Four, Eldar do not Age. Eldar also do not have Fat Stores. Eldar physiology is psychically based. Their appearance is a matter of preference. So you can't actually have a Fat Eldar, or an Old Man eldar. Guess what this novel has. Both. Eldar also do not lose their psychic gifts as they age. The closest thing to dying by old age the Eldar have is they basically become crystalline statues in the Infinity Circuit.

These are all Stupidly Important Details of Eldar Life. These aren't minor details you can really brush under the rug, because they impact every facet of Eldar Life.

So you are out Goto. Fine.

Strike Five, the Aspect Warriors. No true disciple of Khaine would stand by and watch their race sink into Depravity and Debauchery like this group has. The Aspect Warriors are not only incompetent at truly following The Path, but they pretty much fail to do anything.

Strike Six, Characters. None of the characters are likable. None of them can really be identified with. A couple of them are actually ONE Dimensional. That's right Goto's high water mark is the Trash of the literary world. Two Dimensional characters.

Strike Seven, (wow struck out twice already) the story. This story isn't subtle (no matter how clever the author thinks he is for making it) I could see everything coming several miles out, and groaning all the while as it approached. Basically there's a pleasure cult (yeah right, a pleasure cult in this incestuous pile of morons like anyone would really notice the difference) and they are trying to lead the craftworld to destruction by summoning or running into a malestrom. Oh by the way as a side note. This plan would not work at all on a craftworld. That whole you know Farseer thing kind of would get in the way of that. Somehow only a select few individuals notice the craftworld's impending fate and DECIDE TO DO NOTHING. That's right, rather than you know save their lives they decide to continue on their stupid little lives and stupid "subtle plots" against each other.

Strike Eight, the action sequences are convoluted and Terrible. Again I'm not expecting Gold here, but my god man when everything else is this terrible you should at least strive to do one thing right. And he doesn't, at all. At no point was I feeling any form of tension in the action sequences.

Strike Nine. The Imagery I'm sure mr Goto thinks himself a competent writer. I'm doubly sure he thinks he can do imagery well. He doesn't. Infact I'm not even sure what the hell Kalor really looks like, on even the most basic general level.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Noble Aspirations Fall Short, July 1, 2007

By 

Sean B. Schoonmaker (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eldar Prophecy (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book marks M. Goto's sixth foray into the grim universe of Warhammer 40,000 (W40K), having also penned the Dawn of War trilogy and the "Warrior" books. Here he tells the tale of the Eldar Kaelor Craftworld, the Warp Spider Aspect Warrior brothers Scilti and Naois, the young Seer Ela and her aged Farseer mentor Ahearn. A host of lesser characters, from warlords to Aspect Temple Exarchs to dispossessed warriors, form a pantheon of supporting characters, touching almost every aspect of Craftworld life.

The work had enormous potential to shine a light on one of the most fascinating races of the 40K universe, and provide interesting viewpoints on a fictional culture; it fell short. The vast array of characters, while providing impressive scope, is very difficult to track and remember. Eldar terms abound where regular words would cause far less confusion, and they are of dubious origin, such as "Dharknys" for darkness (night) and "Laetnys" for lightness (day). Similarly, M. Goto creates a Craftworld that flies in the face of much of the established Eldar background. They are complete slaves to their passions, always teetering on the edge of corruption. They feel much more like Dark Eldar than the more noble, path-conscious ancients of established canon.

All this might be forgivable if the plot compensated for other failings, but sadly it also takes a back seat. The characters are flimsy stereotypes, and plot devices are applied with the subtlety of a hammer. The "rule of cool" usurps common sense when armies give up fortified defensive positions to fight on an open plain, when characters are spared from certain death for no other reason than to advance the plot, and when only the Exarchs of each Aspect Temple arrive at a battle with no warriors in support. The final reveal of the plot will come as no surprise and feels more like "showing off" than resolution.

In summary: though it aspires to grand scope, anyone more than passingly familiar with the 40K background or appreciative of the finer points of the writer's craft might want to look at other Black Library offerings.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I'm through with Goto., December 1, 2007

By 

Gor (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eldar Prophecy (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the fifth Goto 40k novel I have read and I put it away after I was only half-way through, it was so mind numbingly boring. I have read most of the 40k novels ever published (even the orginal "Space Marine" published by Games Workshop, before there was ever the Black Library) and Goto is by far the worst 40k writer whose works I've had the displeasure of reading (I've read better 40k fan fiction). Maybe it's his tiresome style, overly complicated situations or needlessly dry characters, but whatever it is, I am not going to spend another dollar on a novel by him again.