TITAN LITERATURE REVIEW
Story: Titandeath
Format: Novel
Length: 438 pages
Source: https://www.blacklibrary.com/new-titles/featured/the-horus-heresy-titan-death-ebook.html
The Plot:
Horus and his rebellion reach the critical staging ground of
Beta-Garmon. The Great Slaughter, the
Titandeath, and many more names by which this apocalyptic battle will be known
have come to the Imperium’s doorstep.
Dorn and Malcador muster the largest force ever seen in the history of
the fledgling Imperium of Man and send it to the vital gateway to Terra. Titans in uncountable numbers will battle and
whole Legions will never walk again.
Titan Focus: Holy moly! This large and weighty tome is packed to
bursting with Titan lore and warfare. To
say that this book is ninety percent or more Titans would be an understatement,
easily making this the Warhammer 40,000 and Horus Heresy novel with the most
Titan content packed into it. While the
battles of Beta-Garmon involved all elements of warfare, Titandeath lives up to its name, focusing on the wholescale
slaughter of Titans for this massive battle.
Not only is
the book heavy on Titan combat and how they fight an engine war but it delves
into new territory. The birth of the
Legio Solaria, the Imperial Hunters, is covered as well as their all-female
origins (and eventual reason for allowing male crews) and the influences that
guide them. The book also covers the
experiences of a Princeps in an amniotic tank, transportation of Titans to war
zones, Titan fleet composition, how the engines are woken and prepped for battle,
and the selection of a Princeps Seniores for battle.
Adding to
the book are elements previously seen in Titanicus but delved more deeply
into. The risk of boarding for a Titan
and its crew is on display while the “withdrawals” a Princeps experiences provides
a turning point in the novel’s tone.
Score: 4.75/5 Cogs
Final Thoughts: Following on novels such as Titanicus, Warlord: Fury of the God-Machine, and Imperator: Wrath of the Omnissiah should make a book like Titandeath feel like another
cookie-cutter experience, but it doesn’t.
The book’s only major downfalls come in the human element. In Titandeath it feels like there is
practically no character development.
Furthermore, the Princeps feel more like parts in the machine (no pun
intended) instead of the soul that the God-Engines have; which is unfortunate
since they make that reference a lot.
However, this book is absolutely amazing in terms of new lore and a
glimpse at Titan warfare. The characters
are well done despite the lack of growth, and the personalities of two
relatively unknown Legios are brought to the fore. The culture clashes provide an extra glimpse
into the Titan Legions and each shows why their way of war works for them. That, and this book is a mech-lover’s heaven.
Excellent, thanks. Sounds like one I should get. That Reaver is about to die in a horrible Plasma death... “Engine Kill!”
ReplyDeleteFun fact, there is no Legio Solaria Imperator mentioned in the book, nor does it appear they have any. It makes the inclusion of the Imperator on the cover with that color scheme quite odd. However, there are Imperators from Astorum, Gryphonicus, and Osedax in the story. I agree though that the Reaver on the cover is about to have a VERY bad day.
DeleteIntriguing. Just ordered book on your recommendation :)
DeleteI'll be getting this once I finish Imperator: Wrath of the Omnissiah. As an aside, I think Mechanicum needs a mention here. Although not strictly a Titan novel, it does feature Titans and Knights; both in pretty cool sequences. It's also a loose prequel to Titanicus and it initiates some of the important technologies and concepts which are well established in the 40k universe, such as the networking Noosphere... Any Titan lover should read it ;)
ReplyDeleteYour voice has been heard. I'll consider it for a future TLR project.
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