Tactica Imperialis: A History of the Later Imperial Crusades (Warhammer 40000) [Paperback]

Dan Abnett (Author), Andy Hoare (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2007

This is a Warhammer 40,000 background book, emulating in tone the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, though describing a number of significant battles/campaigns in Imperial history. The book comes from the perspective of an actual educational document of the 41st Millennium and as such is packed with diagrams, maps, artwork, photos and numerous facts and figures of these battles.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Abnett lives and works in Maidstone, Kent, in England. Well known for his comic work, he has written everything from the Mr Men to the X-Men in the last decade, and is currently scripting Legion of Superheroes and Superman for DC Comics, and Sinister Dexter and The VCs for 2000 AD. His work for the Black Library includes the popular comic strips Lone Wolves, Titan and Inquisitor Ascendant, the best-selling Gaunt's Ghosts novels, and the acclaimed Inquisitor Eisenhorn trilogy. Andy Hoare works for Games Workshop as a games designer, where he writes and develops games systems and intellectual property. His previous title for the Black Library was The 13th Black Crusade background book. He lives in Nottingham UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844164233
• ISBN-13: 978-1844164233
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,799,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Abnett is a novelsit and award-winnig comic book writer. He has written twenty-five novels for the Black Library, including the acclaimed Gaunt's Ghosts series and the Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies, and with Mike Lee, the Darkblade cycle. His Black Library novel Horus Rising and his Torchwood novel Border Princes (for the BBC) were both bestsellers. He lives and works in Maidstone, Kent.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great addition to the growing history of Warhammer40K's Imperium., March 19, 2007

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A. Sandoc "sussarakhen" (San Pablo, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tactica Imperialis: A History of the Later Imperial Crusades (Warhammer 40000) (Paperback)

Tactica Imperium: A History of the Later Imperial Crusades is a great addition to the growing and very detailed backstory and history of the Imperium of Mankind. For those who already have played and followed the growing mythology of Games Workshop's Warhammer40K will enjoy this additional source of background information. Those who have been reading the Gaunt books from the Black Library division of Games Workshop will also recognize the principal author of Tactica Imperium. Dan Abnett lends his excellent writing skills and deep knowledge of the Warhammer40k universe to this source book.

One of the battle's even describes a Crusade which Abnett has been writing about for years: The Sabbat Worlds Crusade. The Battle for Lyubov gives the readers a new vantage point on this long-standing Crusade which has been pretty much seen through the eyes of Gaunt and his Tanith First-and-Only Imperial Guard regiment. I like the fact that even without falling back to mentioning the Tanith in this battle, Abnett still makes it exciting and vivid to read. There's been talk that Abnett will be ending the adventures of Gaunt and the Tanith. If he does then I hope he writes more stories about the Sabbat Worlds Crusade but through other point of views.

There's a total of four pivotal battles describes and detailed in Tactica Imperium. Abnett does a great job in writing out all four. I especially like the insight he gives to the different mindset the Adeptus Astartes has towards defending the Imperium. Some who read this particular battle for Naxos might find the Space Marines of the Iron Snakes Chapter cold, calculating and emotionless, but in the end it does show that they look at the broader scope of how to defend the Imperium. Even if it means sacrificing the very people they've been tasked to protect.

Tactica Imperium: A history of the Later Imperial Crusades is a wonderfully written source book which should satisfy any fan of Warhammer40K. It's vivid, detailed and at times thrilling like a full-blown action novel. Dan Abnett continues to cement his status as the Black Library's premiere house author and here's to hoping he continues to write any future Tactica Imperium books.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reference material, nice artwork, April 9, 2007

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Sci-fi and history reader (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tactica Imperialis: A History of the Later Imperial Crusades (Warhammer 40000) (Paperback)

The artwork in this book is very good. Fans of Warhammer 40K and Battlefleet Gothic (both are science fiction miniature games from Games Workshop) will find this book an excellent reference guide for any campaigns they wish to create as there are maps provided of key locations. The description of the four battles that occur provides the background material to help any game player design a strategic battlefield that extends beyond one company or battalion, but across planets and solar systems.

Readers of the Warhammer 40K series will recognize some of the locations from other stories. Overall a light read, took a couple of hours. Solid product and fans will enjoy it as a reference book.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An average attempt, May 25, 2007

By 

E. Staggs - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tactica Imperialis: A History of the Later Imperial Crusades (Warhammer 40000) (Paperback)

Hands down Dan Abnett is the best authort the Black Library has. His knowledge of the universe and inventive prose usually make for an entertaining read. However, this piece was just plain boring. It reads like a history book, which is what it is intended to be, however, for fans of the 40k universe, it lacks a couple important things: character, action (there's plenty of action, but all described from a rather academic and bird's eye view, and of course, the 40k flavor. The juxtaposition of a hi-tech yet brutally superstitious culture is what interests the reader. for example, the Sabbot World's crusade doesn't seem to mention Gaunt's Ghosts at all. Well, come on! They are they only reason Dan Abnett has a job! His overview of the Sabbat World's Crusade was... just... dry.

The hardcore fan will love it. It's a beautiful book. But lacks a certain spark.