Lord of the Night (Warhammer 40,000) [Mass Market Paperback]

Simon Spurrier (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Chaos Space Marines | Publication Date: January 25, 2005

This gripping new novel from the author of the action-packed Fire Warrior is sure to set pulses racing as it reveals the horrific, war-torn future of Warhammer 40,000 from the point of view of the forces of evil! Commander Sahaal of the Night Lords Chaos Space Marines is a walking nightmare in power armour. Driven by ten thousand years of hatred and bitterness, his goal is an ancient relic that will help him reclaim dominion over his armies. The only person standing in his way is Mita Ashyn, a young, idealistic telepath and agent on the Inquisition of the Imperium. Set on the teeming hive world of Equixus, both opponents begin to realise they can't even trust their own comrades when ultimate power is up for grabs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Great SF from a very dark future.' Starlog"

About the Author

Simon Spurrier has few insightful recollections from his wild youth because he's still in the middle of it. Since discovering that depressing the buttons on a keyboard could create all manner of interesting squiggles on a screen, he's become a frequent contributor to cult comic 2000 AD and the Black Library.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (January 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844161579
• ISBN-13: 978-1844161577
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended., February 11, 2005

By 

Patrick J. Murphy - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lord of the Night (Warhammer 40,000) (Mass Market Paperback)

Similar to Black Library authors such as Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Ben Counter, Simon Spurrier recognizes what the 40K universe is all about. That is to say, he fully appreciates the depth of the nuance and complexity which make the setting the richest tableau this side of Middle Earth. Fortunately for us readers, he also knows how to weave an engrossing tale that takes full advantage of all that Games Workshop's colorful backdrop has to offer.

Lord of the Night is the story of the Talonmaster, an ancient Night Lords chaos marine lieutenant desperate to recover a lost chapter heirloom hidden somewhere in the vast depths of an ancient hive city. In the course of his search, the Talonmaster must confront scores of underhive gangers, units of Adeptus Arbites and the persistent attention of a determined junior interrogator and her inscrutable inquisitor mentor. Perhaps more importantly, he must also come to terms with his distant past and the alternating grief, paranoia and rage which have dogged him for centuries.

The Talonmaster is more than just a mindless pawn of Chaos, bouncing from one orgy of death and destruction to another. His cruelty is calculated, his violence directed. He is an ally of Chaos but not its servant. The Talonmaster strives at all times to remain true to the teachings of his long dead Primarch whose death a millennia earlier still haunts him. The richest parts of the book are those flashbacks in which the Talonmaster recalls the brief time that he spent fighting and learning at the side of his beloved Primarch, Konrad Kurze. If you enjoyed the White Dwarf article from a few years ago detailing the origins of the mysterious Kurze and the formation his Night Lords legion, you will love Lord of the Night. The insights into the genesis of the Horus Heresy and Kurze's subsequent fall from grace are alone worth the price of the book. I particularly enjoyed Kurze's take on the tragic rift which developed between him and the Emperor even before Horus turned traitor. Kurze's grievances against the Emperor and the Imperium are coherent and compelling and in that sense, Lord of the Night is somewhat reminiscent of Gav Thorpe's, Angels of Darkness.

Highly recommended to any fan of either the 40k universe or of great science fiction.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's an interesting tale worth reading., July 2, 2005

By 

Noirceuil le Sombre "L'un dans l'obscurité." (Stanwood, WA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lord of the Night (Warhammer 40,000) (Mass Market Paperback)

It could be a little confusing in the beginning if you do not realize who's perspective the author is describing. Once you get past this, the story develops just fine. It is basically a tale of two diametrically opposed individuals who's paths intersect and through introspective journeys, each one discovers their own place in the 40k universe. It is different from what they believe it to be in the beginning of the novel. This all unfolds against the squalor, violence, intrigue, and corruption of an Imperial Hive. Many subplots are revealed as the story progresses. What initially begins as the story of a rampaging Chaos Marine, develops into an orchestrated series of manipulations that culminate in a conclusion that has little meaning to those swept away in the resulting carnage and cruel revelations. The aftermath alluded to in the novel's epilogue is somewhat anticipated, but is no less poignant. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and if they choose to focus on aspects of this story they disliked, then let us mourn their lost time. For me, this novel was yet another fine example of Simon Spurrier's talent as a storyteller. I look forward to the sequel if it is currently in production. I strongly recommend you read this book and if you enjoy it as much as I have, you should check out 'Fire Warrior', which gives a similar insight into the life of a Tau soldier.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling, March 31, 2005

By 

J. Bien (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lord of the Night (Warhammer 40,000) (Mass Market Paperback)

An overall entertaining novel by Simon Spurrier, slow start but finished well. The story of lost power, madness and supposed betrayal in the 40K universe (there's alot of that going round). A different perspective view of what happened prior to the Horus Heresy and the Emperor of Mankind's inner circle. A bit of an eye opener !!!

Recommend you read it.