In this epic story, Fulgrim author Graham McNeill tells of the civil war on Mars, and the genesis of the Dark Mechanicum. This next installment is guaranteed to keep fans hooked as the series goes from strength to strength.
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About the Author
Hailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in Surveying to join Games Workshop, where he worked for six years as a games developer. As well as nine novels, Graham has written a host of sf and fantasy short stories. He lives in Nottingham, UK.
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More About the Author
Hailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in Surveyinh to join Games Workshop, where he worked for six years as a games developer. In addition to many novels, including False Gods, Fulgrim and Mechanicum for the prestigious Hoeus Hersey series, Graham has written a host of sf and fantasy short stories. He lives in Nottingham, UK.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mechanicum: Book 9 in the Horus Heresy Series,
By
This review is from: Horus Heresy: Mechanicum (Mass Market Paperback)
After the bitterly disappointing 'Battle for the Abyss' I had high hopes for Graham McNeil's 'Mechanicum', which deals with events on Mars leading up to the siege on Terra. And I must say those high hopes were met.
In terms of the time line, we are really no closer to the finale of this series. The events of Istvaan III have just happened, and the Abyss of the 'Battle for the Abyss' is still being constructed. This gives you a very real sense of where you are in terms of it all, but I feel like the story isn't advancing in terms of time. It is however, good to see the Heresy from different points of view. As with all the Heresy series, there are several storylines interwoven together. In this piece more than any other, we seem to side more heavily on the side of the Imperial supporters. The cheif storyline follows Dalia, a young Terran logistician with a talent for machines. She is brought to Mars by a Mechanicum adept by the name of Zeth, because of her incredible intuition for machines and latent almost psychic ability to see how machines work. Now I don't want to give too much away but she ends up being drawn through a mystery that helped to form the Mechanicum at the very start. For those of you who are fans of 40k lore, you will appreciate this story line as it concerns a certain 'Dragon' of Mars.... The problem however, is that this stpryline has little to do with the Heresy itself, and whilst it is interesting to see this past, it really adds nothing to the Heresy storyline itself. The other story lines are concerned with the Legio Tempestus, a Titan legion, and for those old school workshop fans amongst you you'll appreciate the appearance of several knight palladin characters too. The battle scenes are well written, especially from the Titan perspectives and it's so great to see large scale battles fought with Titans. The names of various Titans and characters do become a little confusing though. If you are in possession of the Horus heresy artwork book 'Collected Visions', then the short story 'The Kaban project' also by McNeil is referenced several times and we meet characters contained within that story too. I like the way that BL has interwoven these story lines, but I feel it is really time to start moving on in terms of time line now. It's also nice to look at a section of the Imperium not really explored much before, and the description of machines and the thought processes behind them is well executed. All in all it is a satisfying read, light on Space Marines (which is no bad thing!), filled with intrigue, plot, well rounded characters, unexpected turns, and a real sense of what is going on in the universe as the galaxy slowly tears itself apart. Well done Black Library. More like this please!!!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worthy addition to the series,
By Fatlazyhomer (Southern California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Horus Heresy: Mechanicum (Mass Market Paperback)
The Horus Heresy series of novels has certainly had its ups and downs. The first 3 books made a big splash but then all the characters died (go figure) and things started to meander around. Mechanicum does not advance the story but rather tells the parallel epic that occurs on Mars. The plot centers mostly around a political schism and its escalation into all out civil war. The most heavily covered characters however, consists of what I can only call Warhammer's version of the Scooby gang. Their storyline is probably more lore than actual plot. But since the entire series can be considered "lore" (cause we all know the gist of it and how it ends), it is forgivable - not that it needs forgiving considering what a loretwist it was for me. Unfortunately, it leaves on a ominous cliffhanger that probably would not have closure anytime soon.
The book is a little difficult to get into because the importance of everything does not become apparent until about 1/3rd way through. So it took me longer to complete the first third than it did to complete the last 2/3rds. I must admit, I couldnt put it down once I got into it. I dont know what to critique about the writing. Its a warhammer novel! Lots of battles and nail biting last stands and as exciting as most of the other good books ive read. The characters are not particularly developed, but they arnt nearly as forgettable as ones in some of the spacemarine themed installments, where you keep wondering if the character is going to live past the next 10 pages. Overall a satisfying read. Not as good as the first 3, but definately not as disappointing and forgettable as Descent/Fulgrim/Abyss. Picks up steam for the series, but not the 2nd coming.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Horus Heresy, Book Nine,
This review is from: Horus Heresy: Mechanicum (Mass Market Paperback)
"Knowledge is power, guard it well." That is one of the Mechanicum's aphorisms. High Adept Koriel Zeth, Mistress of the Magma City on Mars, sends Rho-mu 31, a Protector, to the Librarium Technologica in order to retrieve a certain transcriber before her execution can be implemented. Dalia Cythera is able to store in her mind everything she reads and to recall the information in the future at will. She also has the ability to intuit things that others would not. She unconsciously taps into the edge of the warp and accesses the wellspring of knowledge contained within. Adept Zeth needs Dalia's abilities to help finish the creation of the Akashic Reader.
Simultaneously, the Fabricator General of Mars joins Warmaster Horus. In return, the Warmaster lifts all restrictions on research into the forbidden technologies and unlocks the Vaults of Moravec. Within this vault are items blended of the science of mankind with warp power. Civil war brews on Mars between those loyal to the Emperor and those that are swayed from knowledge to power. ***** Now that legions are choosing between the Emperor and the Warmaster things are becoming much more interesting. A majority of this story focuses on Dalia. Author Graham McNeill keeps a balance going between this seemingly nobody-of-a-human and the conflicts reigning between the forges of Mars. The pace is fast and I never grew bored as I waited for things to happen. From beginning to end, this story held onto my attention and never let go. Very highly recommended. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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