Customer Reviews

The Inquisition War (Warhammer 40,000 Omnibus)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I'd first read this series of 3 books when they first came out in the late 80s and early 90s. At the time, especially as it was the only 40K fiction in existence, I enjoyed them thoroughly.

When I heard that a collected 3-in-1 edition was on the way, I was overjoyed that I'd have a chance to reread something from my early adult years, but also a little nervous, as some of the things I enjoyed back then don't necessarily stand up well to a decade or two of more discriminating tastes and learning. This omnibus edition also includes 2 "linking" short stories in addition to the original 3 books.

The author's introduction says a lot about the work, especially his intent to "go completely over the top in style and also in content - to be lurid and brooding and hyperbolic and generally crazy, although in an elegant, ornate way where a dark beauty pervades the atmosphere as in a painting by Gustave Moreau."

The characters (which include Captain Lex D'Arquebus, Imperial Fists Space Marine; Grimm, Squat warrior; Meh'Lindi, Callidus assassin; Jaq Draco, Malleus Inquisitor; and a host of smaller, supporting roles) are well thought out, with believable motivations. The narration mirrors the state of mind of the individual.

So, how does it hold up? Surprisingly well, with a few exceptions: [1] Reading all 3 books at once exposes some repetition in M. Watson's descriptions and writing tools. [2] The history of the 40K universe has diverged fairly significantly over the last 20 years from M. Watson's vision (but that's hardly his fault). [3] The finale of the plot is weak.

The pros: [1] Well written, with consistent style and engaging narrative. [2] Illuminates aspects of the 40K universe that typically lay untouched in many of its fiction works. [3] M. Watson's imagination is phenomenal, and has driven Games Workshop's development for years after his departure. [4] One of the few "canon" references to the Illuminati, Sensei, and Star Child, as they pertain to 40K.

In conclusion: not flawless, but well worth reading if you're interested in 40K fiction.

A collection of the three most difficult and atmospheric Warhammer 40,000 (or, `40k') novels, the Inquisition War series echoes the creative energy of the original 1987 setting.

For those unfamiliar with 40k, this series may prove interesting. Readers who enjoy a thematically heavy, if loosely written fable (echoing Moorcock) will find this book to be evocative and rampantly creative. As with the first few years of 40k game products, the setting takes strong cues from Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"; the Elric saga's amoral, supernatural, Chaos; and a legion of other inspirations, fantastic, historical, and literary. In the tradition of good sci-fi and fantasy these disparate concepts are digested and become a unique, complex whole, all glued together with a healthy dose of particularly British black humor. The Inquisition War series is just as much about this setting as it is the main characters, weaving a hypnotic tale of 40k's unique brand of facism, warfare, and absurdity.

Watson's work is also quite ambitious here, as the series is written as a story within a story (as an example, it's somewhat similar to Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"), with the protagonist, Jaq Draco, recording his personal account in a "less egotistical" (as he puts it) third-person fashion. The end result is a narration without all the "I's" and "My's" that creates a sort of in-story "fourth wall". As Draco's situation and mind evolve, so does the writing, giving a unique layer of insight into his character. It does make for a somewhat difficult read as the narration becomes much less coherent by the climax. While this does lend the series a rushed or unfinished feeling, it sets it well apart from the 40k novel or sci-fi bunch, and makes for an interesting second or third read.

For 40k fans, this book is just as challenging. It stands at the opposite of the "Abnettization" of the setting; rather than making it more digestible to our modern mind, it paints a bizarre picture of a galaxy gone mad. While Dan Abnett is a fine author, his vision (and, to be fair, that of most mid-nineties and later 40k material) greatly simplifies the setting. His Chaos, the great enemy, isn't a personification of man's flaws, it's the Evil Villain. His Guardsmen aren't executed by a totalitarian Imperium for witnessing dark truths and supernatural beings. His 40k universe isn't straining at the seams in a reality gone insane, material Law bending under bloated Chaos. It's simply an epic war story of Good and Evil. Not bad, but I certainly prefer the older vision.

Overall, this is a series as challenging as it is rewarding for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, or not. I would recommend it for anyone interested in the roots of the 40k setting or rich, thematic fantasy. For everyone else I'd urge caution; if you're not into dissecting the story, characters, and background, this may prove a long, nonsensical, and ultimately frustrating read. Quite rewarding if you let it run with its own madness and follow with no expectations

This is one of the first (if not the very first) WH40K series. This is also one of the most mature, almost high-brow, WH40K books I've come across. Ian Watson writes using sometimes very obscure adjectives and adverbs that might considerably slow down your reading speed, but succeeds in casting the world of WH40K in an even more dark and disturbing light than usual. That being said, this is still an action-packed and fun novel that you'll want to read when you should be doing your errands.

The story is told as a narration (in the third person) by Inquisitor Jaq Draco. This is a story about him and his personal trials. Even though major Universe-altering subjects are brought up in this series, keep in mind that the story is really only about Draco. His character reminds me in some ways of Abnett's Eisenhorn, but being much more melancholy and doubting of his ideals. Both Draco, his companions (Meh'Lindi, Grimm, and Lex), and the antagonists are extremely compelling characters that each hide their own secrets but are easy to fall in love with. They are, in my opinion, the best part of this series.

Ian Watson's view of the WH40K universe differs in many aspects from that of most other authors, and while it upsets many die-hard 40K fans, you have to keep in mind that these books were written when the universe was really underdeveloped (especially when compared to the present). His version is even darker than most, and the near-total despair and miserableness he portrays casts the universe in a very grim light. Grotesque piercings, tattoos, and scars seem nearly universal in these books, with every character having severe bodily alterations. Personally, I don't like this vision as much as those of Abnett and King, who tend to make the WH40K universe a lot more livable.

Draco is the first book of the trilogy. Here, you are introduced to most of the cast of characters as well as the beginnings of the extremely bizarre and complicated Hydra Conspiracy. Jaq and Co. doggedly follow the mysterious Harlequin Man, eventually becoming wrapped up in a plot within the Inquisition itself that threatens the very future of mankind. This is the only WH40K novel that I know of that actually gives the reader a peak into the very heart of the Imperium. In the Emperor's palace on Terra, you get a rather disturbing glimpse of the Emperor himself as an almost Wizard of Oz type character.

The second book of the series, Harlequin, delves into some of the most obscure aspects of the WH40K universe. Probably the first book to provide a good look at the Eldar, HARLEQUIN gives some detail to the ancient enigmatic race. A significant part of the book takes place within the Eldar interdimensional Webways, where the heroes face unstoppable-seeming adversaries as they travel to discover the mysterious Black Library. Also, some of the inner workings of the Inquisition are uncovered, revealing the shadowiness of the galaxy's secret police.

The concluding volume of the series diverges significantly from the first two. In Chaos Child, the primary focus switches to Jaq's obsessions and away from the overall plot presented in the previous volumes of the Hydra conspiracy and such. This is the book that has disappointed the most people, who feel that Watson should have done a better job of concluding all the various plot threads previously introduced. Instead, it turns out the entire story is about Jaq Draco, and only Jaq Draco. Events that impact the entire galaxy are left for others to relate, as Watson follows his intentions and focuses on the story of Draco's fate and his trials with Chaos. To me, this last book is the best and most important of the trilogy.

The Inquisition War is a non-stop, action-packed thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat with brutal battles and intriguing riddles. Death and brutality are widespread throughout the books, with entire worlds being destroyed and characters coming and going quite frequently. Nearly every aspect of the WH40K universe is somehow involved in the tale, with Eldar, Tyranids, Space Marines, Imperial guardsmen, Titans, and all sorts of chaos beasts and demons playing roles throughout. Ian Watson has received a lot of criticism from fans of WH40K because of his somewhat lofty writing style and his slightly altered view of the WH40K universe, but I'd recommend giving him a try.

This was easily one of the best 40K books I've read. It is not too involved with inquisitor vs inquisitor combat but more behind the scene with one inquisitors quest to save the galaxy for mankind.
I mention the age of the book, since there are squats in the book (think space dwarves), which as far as I know used to be in the game but have since been completely removed. It's a little odd seeing an inquisitor working with a non-human.
There is some great backstory on the assassin involved in the story that shows training and recruitment.

Watson crams so much detail and attitude into The Inquisition War. Some negative reviewers comment on what they didn't get, instead of what is presented. Do not believe them, for they know not what they utter.

Yes the world of Warhammer 40K is much changed since this was written. But that does not diminish the work, one iota. If you want to read far future sci-fi set in a dark, oppressive, gut-wrenching, brutal, world, where insanity and chaos can surround and suffocate and CHALLENGE the protagonists, you will not be disappointed. Seriously, its the best "tie-in" book I've ever read.

Of all the Warhammer 40,000 stories, The Inquisitor War is unquestionably the best. Ian Watson, as a writer, is head and shoulders above Ben Counter, Graham McNeill and yes, even Dan Abnett (the only other GOOD 40k writer). But be forewarned, these stories are not intended for fans of the decidedly low brow actionfests produced by the aforementioned authors. Fans of Michael Moorcock and Gene Wolfe are the intended audience. Ian Watson takes his time developing the plot and his characters. For once, they aren't generic faceless Marines chasing after yet another galaxy changing, Imperium threatening THING. And no, Watson doesn't produce any over-the-top cheesiness so common in 40k fiction either. The story itself is compelling, only made more enjoyable by Watson's thoughtful use of the rich 40k background. Though originally written over 15 years ago, this still remains the best 40k fiction to date.

Love him or hate him, you have to admit Ian Watson's genius and his testicular fortitude. This novel was not written in current 40k standard and I dearly wish Black Library would throw out more of its type. It is one of the most gruesome titles ever produced (the worst being Space Marine by the self-same author), yet at the same time it is the most compelling.

I must say, the last novel seems to be a huge letdown until you finally get the great cosmic joke that Ian Watson has played in it. Mini-spoiler alert: It is a love story; not a war story. I can only admire the courage it takes to do something like that and find it a bit refreshing that an author would go so far as to write about an actual human being as opposed to a meat marionette whose goals are entirely one-dimensional.

The anthology starts off OK with the Meh'Lindi background short, but gets steadily worse. It culminates with what has to be one of the worst stories, WH40K or otherwise, that I've ever read, Chaos Child.

The writer clearly is in love with his own writing and never passes an opportunity to display his mastery of the verbose. In spite of this, the first story was OK, if somewhat meandering. But, the following stories just went downhill from there. Verbosity, deus ex machina, violating canon, incoherent plots, boring, you name it and the author committed it. At the end, I got the sense that the author just wanted it to stop as much as I did and he did... He doesn't conclude the story, he just stops writing. No plot wrap up, no explanations, nothing, not even in an epilogue to the anthology. Thank God for small favors.

If you ever want to remind yourself just how good an Abnett or a Counter or a McNeill really is, go ahead and read this. Otherwise, count yourself lucky and skip it. I wish I had.

An interesting read if for nothing more than to see how "old school" Black Library authors wrote, and for a bit of canon.

That said, I found Watson's writing style to be too florid and meandering for this sort of story. A paragraph of plot/action, then two paragraphs of exposition on some aspect of the preceding paragraph, then he's off on a tangent about that.

Draco and Harlequin were the best two of the three, with Chaos Child bringing up a very distant rear. The plot finale was weak/lame and, as is the case with most current Black Library authors, very little resolution to follow it.

I didn't rip through this trilogy like I have some others (Space Wolves, Eisenhorn, etc.), and I won't be picking it up again anytime soon.

I am going to buck the fan-boy tide here and say these are by far the weakest WH40K novels I have read. The plot is meandering and talky, not to mention dull. What started out as an interesting idea of the Empire using a psychic creature to control the populace wanders off into the Inquisitors obsessive search to replace his dead assistant. By the midway point of the second book I had an overwhelming feeling of "Who cares???" Throw in the obligatory Space Marine and you have a set of three novels that goes exactly nowhere.