Product Description

Fourth novel in the best-selling Ultramarines series, by Graham McNeill. Now available in softback.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #300448 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 416 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781844167258
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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 game developer. As well as fourteen novels, Graham has written a host of sf and fantasy short stories. He lives in Nottingham, UK.

Customer Reviews

Sometimes the ghosts of the past won't let you go...
Two Ultramarines, Pasanius Lysane and Uriel Ventris, have escaped from the Eye of Terror. They well know that no one comes back from there unchanged and they have no idea if they will even be welcomed back by their brothers. After all, they had fought alongside renegade Space Marines, made a pact with cannibal mutants, and even freed a daemon creature. It may not matter that each decision had been made with the best intentions or for the right reasons. The pair, along with some of their mutant allies (the Unfleshed), travel homeward within one of the Iron Men's vile, daemonic machines. Upon arriving, the Unfleshed hide in the mountains until such time the Ultramarines may figure out what planet (and year) they are on and explain the mutants to any locals.

The planet is named Salinas. A designated army of conquest has claimed the world as theirs. Yet after fighting in some of the most horrific war zones in the galaxy year after year and killing countless enemies, they find themselves unable to simply turn off the instincts that had kept them alive. Needless to say, the conquered locals hate their new leaders even after ten years. Everyone remembers the massacre of innocents in the city Khaturian a decade ago. It is referred to as the Killing Ground. A rebel group calling themselves the "Sons of Salinas" still fight against the new ruling government. Eradication of the rebel group is proving difficult and the possibility of a traitor is high.

When the infernal conveyance delivering the Ultramarines and the Unfleshed ripped its way through to Salinas and then tore a hole back through the gates of the Empyrean, a lot of energy came through too. The walls that separate Salinas from the warp were worn very thin and something that feeds on death and bloodshed had been attracted to the Killing Ground. The souls of those who died in Khaturian were now massing. They now had a very real, very dangerous wellspring of power to draw upon. And they hunger for vengeance.

Pasanius and Uriel must battle terrible powers and somehow keep an oath to the Unfleshed until their brothers can come for them. Only then will they be able to get home to Ultramar and redemption.

***** "The bar was crowded and the summering air of resentment that filled its smoky depths was like a current running through Hanno Merbal's body. He could sense the hatred of what he represented in every muttered syllable, every furtive glance and every hostile stare. He lifted the glass before him and knocked the harsh spirit back in one gulp." (Used with permission of the publisher, USA branch.)

By simply reading those first three sentences of this story I knew it would be awesome. An author who is able to put such a detailed description of angst within a few simple sentences KNOWS his stuff. From the beginning to the end I found myself compelled forward and into many forms of battles (mental and physical). By the time I finished the story I found myself wondering if the author, Graham McNeill, actually had talent oozing from his pores. The story is so well written that I could almost feel the heat and smell the carnage. The ending left me with the feeling of euphoria, yet a sense of loss too. I only hope there will be more Ultramarine stories in the future. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Great dark 40k fiction
Continuing the storyline of Graham McNeil, we find ourselves once again following Pasanius and Uriel Ventris, Ultramarines banished from their Chapter and sent on a Death Oath. But their oath has been completed, and miraculously, they survived to escape. After finding themselves on an Imperial world that was conquered and colonized by a brutal and ruthless former Imperial Guard regiment, the two Space Marines must try to find a way back to Ultramar, while surviving the attentions of a bitter insurrection as well as disquieting psyker activity.

McNeil manages to bring Uriel and Pasanius out of the standard cliche one-dimensional super soldier character, and makes them evotive and recognizable as still being human, which is a failing of many novels based around the Astartes. The scenery and detail expressed in his characters, as well as the heartbreaking story of the titular Killing Ground and the fate of the Unfleshed is gruesome and caustic, just the flavor for the Warhammer universe. Also appearing are the Grey Knights, who also manage to break free of the even more restrictive cliche character of one-dimensional super soldier secret police officer. The monsters, both human and not, all manage to evoke a distaste even through the page, and its hard not to relish the fate of the villian of the piece.

McNeils storyline drags briefly from time to time, somewhat hindered by the political backstory and the insurrection portion of the tale, but has a steady stream of combat and action, as well as new scenes and iconography, including the memorable Inquisitorial Trial. While I'll always be more sold on Caiphas Cain and Ibram Gaunt, Uriel Ventris definitely sweeps aside all previous Marine characters.

Uriel and Pasanius return
The two Ultra Marines return after completely their Death Oath in defeating the Chaos demon. The Warhammer 40k sci-fi story of their adventure continues as they arrive at a world suffering from over a decade of rebellion by former Imperial Guard descendants and the current Imperial Guard Regiment given the honor to settle there.

The story revolves around the ethics of rebellion and methods used to occupy and "pacify" the rebels. There is also the tale of leadership, how strict narrow minded bureaucrats can rule with no regard to the how their "subjects" think and interact. The book could have described in greater detail on how the governor was despised by both the civilians and soldiers. Instead, the book tends to repeat several statements over again on how Uriel and Pasanius long to return home with Uriel also trying to find a way to help the Unfleshed.

Am not happy about the recent Horus Heresy books as the characters are dull and bland. McNeill is able to add more personality and creativity to both major and minor characters in this Ultra Marines series. The book is a quick and easy read, only a few hours. Hope that the Ultra Marine series will continue. Maybe the Iron Warriors will return with the Uriel clone in a future novel? Overall, a decent library book to borrow or wait for the paperback. A bit expensive in hardbound form.