Das Aussterben (I)

-You can't count on anyone to help you - said the Voice.
-Shut up! You do't know them as I do. - replied Sotan. - You are wrong. People can be relied upon if you know them.
-You are indeed a poor fool.
-Then leave me alone.
-No. I cannot and I will not. You are an interesting being. Full of notions that you don't fully understand. Pure and uncorrupted. How sweet will be to see it change beneath the real world. That's what I crave. That's what my people crave. To enter someones mind and leave with them as they enjoy and most importantly go through pain. There is no sensation more pleasant than to feel your pain. Feel you suffer beneath your supposed friends. Feel you fall beneath Their motivations and their self-preservation. You humans are worms. You all are egocentric.
-I don't believe - spat Sotan. - We are a people of sacrifices and love. 
-You are selfish.
-And you are a pessimist and odious. I want you gone from my mind.
-Only when I'm fully sated. Only when I see you fall. For now let us think what must be done so you can release your shackles. The shackles they put it on you because your friends left you alone in the battlefield.
-They will come and then you'll be wrong.
-Poor fool. Alright let us say they will save you. Let us join our minds and escape. 
-We are already joined... in "my" mind.
-Details...


As he tried to open the lock through a metal string he had found beneath the bed the Voice spoke:
-She will never miss you. Nobody will ever miss you.
-You lie.
-I do? Search your feelings. You know this to be true. I am inside your mind. You don't truly believe that she will sacrifice her life as your friends to help you.
Sotan stopped thursting the string into the padlock and sighed. 
-I will escape on my own. Help me and stop destroy my hope or else you will never be fully sated.
A laughter echoed in his head so loud that made him giddy.
-Machiavellic. I will stop for now.

Review TV Series: Smallville

This is a wonderful series. No matter what anyone says. The concept of Clark Kent / Superman and it's transition it's something unique and very deep. His changes from a farm boy to a man-of-steel is portrayed nicely. It's sad that this series ended at the 10th season. There was so much they could give... I am not at the end of season two and the series are getting better and better....

Review: Heart of Rage (Audiobook) - James Swallow

Title - Heart of Rage
Author - James Swallow
Year - 2009
Stand Alone or Series - Stand Alone (Ties with the Blood Angels Saga)
Pages - 80m
Reading Time - April 2011

 

Being not an avid reader of audiobooks, and not wanting to start being one, I always listening these books with depritadion. First I am portuguese. My english is what you read. Reading I am as good as other english native. Unfortunaly I am not used to speak or hear so... I always have some fear hearing these books. I hear them twice always.

 

These tale follows a discovery of a tyranid bio-ship by the Imperial Navy and since it's valuable item in the war against them they call the Blood Angels. Our main characters are Brother Librarian Nord and Brother Sergeant Kale. From the beginning we learn that not all things are what it seems and someone knows more than they are telling them. After hearing these story I want to start digging in on the books he wrote. This story is more that Space Hulk adventure. We learn more about Blood Angels and their genetic taint.

 

The narrator and every character was voiced by Toby Longworth and he try to give them each own voice and maneirism but it was confusing. The sound-effects are good and not overdone as other books tend to do.

 

If you follow Blood Angels or 40k for that matter then listen to this audiobook but I think it's better to read it. And from what I know it's avaiable through BL Print on Demand book. 8/10

Small Reviews: Olde Library (13)

It's been a while since I review several books at the same time but my time is very short...

Antibothis is a short stories collection printed here in portugal but in english. Bizzare is the name I could give them but they are pretty weak. I read it but I won't advice it to anyone. There is a story or other that it's good but in the end it's not that good. 2/10

The Hound of Death by Agatha Christie is a collection of short-stories. Once again Agatha shows us why she is the master storyteller of Detective stories. In here you will find several situations. Again the supernatural is rpesented here. My favourite tales is the Red Sygnal, The Fourth Man, The Witness for the Prosecution and the The Mystery of the Blue Jar. 8/10

The Lightining Thief by Rick Riordan. I read this book last April trying to read it before seeing the movie. There are some differences. First and foremost their age. Supposedly he is 12 years old but in the movie he has like 17 or 18. Annabeth is the worst case being 25 at the time of casting. At least she looks 17/18. But it's a big difference. At least Alexandra Daddario is as cute as it you can get. Then the movie suck because almost everything was made simpler. I was hooked up as Percy arrive at the camp and how he coped with everybody else. The greek gods references is also another great point to the story. I will read the next books and will give a better large review. 7/10

The Time Machine by HG Wells. A piece of fiction from another time. When science fiction was almost anything you wanted. There was no science fomr most things so you could write about anything and marvel the masses. Nowadays SF is another thing. You've got a dozen branchs but almost none are so innovating as Wells or Verne where on their days. The Golden Age of SF (and the Silver Age) have passed. But on this book in particular is a tale about time traveling. And what a journey it is. I really enjoy reading about the main character and the Morlocks. A fine tale that anyone should read it even if in the end they don't enjoy it. After all we are used to Star Wars, Star Trek or Avatar and now reading this novel is like seeing a movie from the 30/40's. The movie made last decade is also a good movie. Check it out. The book itself will not be for all people...

Review: Camouflage - Joe Haldeman

Title - Camouflage
Author - Joe Haldeman
Year - 2004
Stand Alone or Series - Stand Alone
Pages - 289
Reading Time - June 2010

This was my second time to a book of Joe Haldeman. First was the “Forever War” even if I didn’t finish I was liking the book. This book takes another turn and unfortunally I am not in favor of it. After some deep-ocean salvaging our protagonist (Russell) is approach by Jack (a retired naval officer) to retrieve a mysterious oval object in Samoa. There is a second storyline as we follow an alien that has being around since the beginning of time. This being is called a changeling and he has taken form of marine animals from most time. In the 30’s he takes the form of human to learn more ‘bout them. There is another alien called the Chameleon and this one has been around from the stone age.

I think that Haldeman gave much importance to this being and the main plotline was not as developed. This characters were in my opinion weak. In some way the alien appeared more human than the humans themselves. It remind me of Data from Star Trek.

After the first couple hundred pages we get to see the meeting between both immortal alien being and humankind. There is a little suspense in the end and in my opinion was the best part of the book.

Overall I didn’t enjoy the book that much. It’s a nice, fast read but besides that it isn’t nothing new in my opinion. 7/10

Review: Giantslayer - William King

Title - Giantslayer
Author - William King
Year - 2003
Stand Alone or Series - Gotrek and Felix Seventh novel
Pages - 320
Reading Time - June 2010

This is the seventh book by William King about Gotrek and Felix and the last one written by him. Nowadays Nathan Long is on top of Gotrek and Felix books and Ulrika spinoff after Vampireslayer. Trollslayer (here); Skavenslayer (here), Daemonslayer (here), Dragonslayer (here), Beastslayer (here) and a short story called Redhand's Daughter (here); Vampireslayer (here)

This story begins in the elf lands as the magical energy needed to maintain Ulthuan is being bled off and if nothing is done Ulthuan is destroyed. Gotrek being a Dwarf doesn’t care about elves so good riddance to them. But Teclis the mightiest of elf magicians tells him that if he doesn’t help him the mountains that the dwarves so much enjoy are going to be destroyed as well. So help is needed and the three of them go through the Paths of the Old Ones to battle whomever is tapping on the magic. This is my first reading about the magical Albion. I know a novel of Orfeu is passed there and after reading this I want to read more of it. It’s a magical place where fog engulfs all. It reminds me a music by Bal Sagoth called “As the Black Moon broods over Lemuria”. The tale as I said goes to Albion (a place that remind me of Britain/Scotland from the time of the wars against the romans) where Gotrek and his new found allies battle orcs to the climax where they battle a giant (thus the name) and two mages from a previous book (Beastslayer) called Kelmain and Lhoigor.

I really enjoy Gotrek and Teclis interaction because they both hate each other race. After all one of the most important wars on the Olde World was between them. I really urge you to read the first tales because 1. they are good and 2. Each follows the last one and 3. They are all good.

There are some things that upset me like Snorri and Max that are presented on the beginning of the book and then they are discarded. I really enjoy Snorri.

Would I recommend this book? Of course yes. But in my humble opinion to enjoy the fullest read the previous six books. 8.5/10

Review: Vampireslayer - William King

Title - Vampireslayer
Author - William King
Year - 2001
Stand Alone or Series - Gotrek and Felix Sixth novel
Pages - 319
Reading Time - December 2008

The Vampire Slayer is the sixth book about Gotrek and Felix. I am will not dwell on Gotrek quest because if you have being follows the series you will know and if you haven’t then I recommend to read the first books before. Or if not possible read Daemonslayer. The best book written by William King and probably the best book on the Warhammer setting (alongside Gilead’s Blood). If you want these are my previous reviews... Trollslayer (here); Skavenslayer (here), Daemonslayer (here), Dragonslayer (here), Beastslayer (here) and a short story called Redhand's Daughter (here)

This book it follows Beastslayer after the battle that put Praag against the beasts from the chaos wastes. Almost a quarter of the population lies dead and another quarter is expected to die since winter is coming and hunger and disease at it's footsteps. After some corpses drained by blood Felix is suspicious of what’s happening. Meanwhile Adolphus Krieger (vampire) and Roche (henchman) have being trying to get hold of a talisman called the Eye of Khemri. After Max springs a trap and rendered unconscious Krieger steals the talisman and kidnaps Ulrika. Max, Gotrek, Snorri, Felix and some Kislevites try to follow the talisman and thus Ulrika.

This book is a little different from other books written by him. In this book the main evil character his given a decent amount of time. Also I enjoy the love triangle between Max, Felix and Ulrika and in character development is quite good. This book is the first where hack and slash are in equal terms of characterization and plot development.

The ending is excellent and because of his choises, after 8 years Black Library commission Ulrika own series. That alone is worth reading this novel. In the end I was satisfied and anxious for the next book… Giantslayer.

William King is truly unique in this vast universe. Should I recommend this book? To anyone who wants to read about Vampires, Dwarves or like a good series. Start at Trollslayer. 9.5/10

Thoughts XV: 300th Post

Urra... 300 post. This journey began in 2006 and after five years what has changed? Nothing. Nothing at all.

Reviews, texts, thoughts, love and everything that matters to me.

Let us see what the future holds to me.

Elficidium - Paulo Gonçalves

Elficidium

“- Negros seres das profundezas. Belicosos demónios do Abismo. Hediondos bestas do Inferno. Ouvide o meu chamamento. Outrora orgulhosos e nobres elfos agora jazem no chão. Ensanguentados e mortos. Sem membros e cegos. Protectores da vida e ordem dizimados sem piedade nem honra.

As flechas voam sobre nós em nome de Compaixão. Os punhais entranham-se nas nossas costas em nome do Caminho Correcto. As espadas cortam os nossos corações em nome da Piedade Divina. Maldito sejas tu Helvetto. As minhas lágrimas lavam o sangue das minhas espadas… A chuva jamais irá extinguir o fogo de ódio do meu coração…

Min Byzantin minha mestre, minha deusa. Nem tu eles pouparam… Encontrar-te amarrada, violada, humilhada e despedaçada… Que dor. Que vazio… Que os teus irmãos deuses te poupem na eternidade. Outrora Deusa do Mal redimiste-te perante mim e os Nobres Elfos. Perdoamos-te… Que o corvo te leve a alma para a eternidade via caminho da glória…

Wraith… fiel companheiro. Honrado Humano. Como tu existem outros da tua raça que são nobres. Infelizmente corrompidos por um deus ganancioso e vil seguem o caminho da destruição. Pois quando acabarem com os elfos e os outros seres para onde se virará a Inquisição? Contigo no meu negro coração jaze Alliana. Outra nobre humana que lutou por uma causa nobre perecendo com o veneno de Elmuth.

Vala’Kia… de todos os meus amigos, a tua morte, foi quem mais me doeu. Tu uma elfa de coração negro como todos os Elfos do Submundo, que me odiavas como a morte odeia a vida e sacrificaste-te por mim. Maldita sejas Vala’Kia. Não devias ter feito isso… a minha alma derrama lágrimas de sangue. Quem diria que tu serias capaz de tal acção. Odeio e amo-te. Que encontres a paz na morte que nunca tiveste na vida.

Ao meu lado ensanguentados Misha, Rydia e Steaya lutam. Kry’Tae de todos a minha melhor amiga… Matarem o teu marido e meu mestre de armas foi mais terrível que queimarem-me o peito com uma ferro. Olho para ti agora e nada vejo nos teus olhos. Apenas pura e branca raiva. Ódio. Fúria. Morte. Em breve tudo acabará.

Da outrora raça apenas restamos uma mão cheia de elfos e anões. Lutamos lado a lado. Em breve pereceremos e para sempre o conhecimento e magia ancestral desaparecerão connosco. Para sempre reinará as Trevas e o Medo. Para sempre reinarão os humanos.

Oh grandes forças do Inferno Eu apelo-vos neste mesmo momento agora que os meus irmãos estendem-se no chão. Concedam-me o vosso poder e eu passarei mil anos em dor e sofrimento. Eu sacrifico o meu coração e a minha alma. Se me concedeis força para vingar os meus amigos e povo. O tempo não será juiz nem carrasco do meu fim e queda. As lâminas na minha mão NigraFlamma e GelidaGladium cantam victória. Que tu NigraFlamma te tornes Funebribus. Que cada corte teu envie para o inferno as almas dos meus inimigos. Que tu GelidaGladium te transformes em Tenebrarum. Que cada toque teu envie dor imensurável e os condenes para toda a eternidade no tenebroso vazio.

Pelo Fogo, Pelo Ódio, Pela Espada, Pelas Trevas e todo o Inferno eu invoco todas criaturas que alguma vez negaram a luz e comando-vos a matarem tudo o que vive. Fúria e Agonia, Victória e Morte. Pelas sagradas palavras eu invoco-vos:

R'acan Ahalgana chamiabac ahalmez ahatocob tocapa chiamiaholom ahchami."

O dia transformou-se em noite. O sol que anteriormente ardia no seu poiso agora esconde-se por entre as nuvens. A Lua brilha como nunca outrora brilhara. Nos céus portais vindos de todos os cantos do inferno abrem-se e milhares de demónios, guerreiros e outros seres indescritíveis são cuspidos.

Outrora os Nobres Elfos que sempre lutaram para preservar o bem e a Ordem invocam os seus mais odiosos inimigos. Traição gritam os seus antepassados. Vingança gritam os sobreviventes.

Nyx, outrora um belo elfo com o seu cabelo prateado e os seus cinzentos como o gelo do árctico. Agora um demónio. Nos seus olhos apenas a Morte vivia. As suas espadas que dantes tinham um contorno azul e vermelho respectivamente agora negras como a noite sem estrelas. Um uivo e lançou-se sobre os inimigos.

Medo.

Cada movimento e um humano caía em agonia.

Misha e Rydia juntaram forças e lançaram o mais potente feitiço. Das florestas todos os restantes animais vieram em auxílio. Ratos e esquilos. Pombos e Pardais. Veados e Javalis. Lobos e Ursos. Com a natureza a morrer a sua força vital já diminuta Exaustas tombam sem vida. O trovador Steaya toca a sua flauta incentivando e redobrando o esforço dos já cansados guerreiros.

“Nascido para ser o Defensor da Pátria.

 Nascido para ser chuva dando vida.

 Nascido para ser o leito de um rio.

 Nascido com o sangue de um selvagem lobo.

 Para ser a Chama da Esperança.

 Para ser Ele mesmo entre as almas perdidas…”

O ataque de Nyx e os restantes guerreiros redobra enviando para a perdição centenas de humanos. Terror invade os seus vazios corações.

“Os deuses colocaram as espadas nas nossas mãos,

 O vento vira a chama do destino na nossa direcção,

 A Derrota é maior que a Morte.

 As Lágrimas de crianças doem-nos mais que feridas.

 A Fé une-nos. A Cruz jamais irá substituir as florestas e o livre céu.”

Quando o ódio primordial invade a alma de um ser, esse mesmo ser já está morto. Quando Nyx proferiu aquelas malditas palavras amaldiçoou-se para sempre. Nenhuma paz virá. Quando ele tombar irá para sempre sofrer os caprichos dos deuses do submundo. Cada dia será como uma vida. Cada dor sentida como nada anteriormente sentido. Todos os dias morrerá. Todos os dias voltará a vida para sofrer novamente. Mas mais terrifico que tal destino é a sua imortal alma. Para sempre condenada a permanecer sozinha… “Arima Bakarti Ibiltaria.”

Chacina.

“Duodecim hominum (elfos) horribilium sine deo,

Terror serpit inter perturbatos humanes, qui non habent tempus fugiendi” (1)

Nada nem ninguém consegue deter Nyx e os restantes elfos que ainda permanecem de pé.

“Contra eos dispelans transitu eius omnia res

Adesti cum omnia sua vi demum apparet...

Inundans sanguine inter ululatum belvae terram infra positam.” (2)

Um novo poder emerge… Só com maldade se derrota maldade. Temos de lutar o Mal com Mal. E se o Mal temos que ser para derrotá-los, então seremos. Que as nossas almas ardam no inferno para todo o sempre. Que as nossas existências sejam vazias. Pela Natureza e o Equilíbrio. Pela Vingança.

“Humanes Resistentes Superavit.” (3)

Um novo Terror emerge… Um Avatar. E ele chama-se Nyx, o Destruidor.

“Elficidium!”

Esta história foi escrita 25/12/2008. Uma altura muito negra da minha vida... algumas das frases aqui foram retiradas de musicas que influenciaram a minha vida...

1. “Uma dúzia de abomináveis (Élficas) ímpias criaturas…

(O) Pânico espalha-se pelos perdidos humanos que não teem tempo de escapar”

2. “Erradicando tudo sobre o seu caminho

Ai vem ele revelando-se todo o seu grandioso poder

Encharcando de sangue o chão entre os gritos das bestas.”

3. “Resistência Humana Cai.”



Review: The Hour of Shadows – C.L. Werner

Title - The Hour of Shadows

Author - C.L. Werner

Year - 2011

Stand Alone or Series - Stand Alone (Part three of three indepedent novellas about Storm of Magic)

Pages - 126

Reading Time - August 2011

Synopsis

“For thousands of years, the Golden Pool has been a source of malignant energy within the forest of Athel Loren. The wood elf spellweaver Ywain, secretly entrusted with the stewardship of this magical fulcrum, prophesises the coming of a terrible enemy to the ancient realm – even now, the undead hordes of the Black Seer Huskk Gnawbone approach. As the elves marshal their forces against him, the power of the pool grows and an eternal evil rises to corrupt even the very forest itself.”

Review

This was the third book released commissioned for the game expansion called Storm of Iron. The first's book review can be read here and the second here.

As you all are aware (the ones following warhammer) the storm of magic is a time when the winds of magic blow at their strongest and strange things happened. Mythical beast roam the lands, unholy alliances are formed (summoned) and magic-users are able to cast the most powerful spells.

This is the third novella and it was the best. It has briefly Tomb Kings and Bretonians and later and more importantly Skavens versus and Wood Elves.

The story begins as a aftermath of a battle that put wood elves, aided by Bretonia, against the Tomb Kings. They eventually win and parted ways. Skavens for a lower faction plundered the battlefield. Huskk Gnawbone, encounters on the battlefield a powerfull artifact that will eventually made him a powerful Black Seer. After two hundred years we follow a Grey Seer as he is tasked to encounter and kill Huskk. Of course being Skaven nothing happens as it should happen and he is captured and used by Huskk who wants the tap the power of the Golden pool deep within Athel Loren. Here a spellweaver (Ywain) receives a promonition that an attack his under way and asks for the help of the Guardian of the Golden Pool who tells how she must act and who she must ask for help. Here we learn more about Ywvain and a noble she is in love but being what she is, can’t happen without consequences. The ending is unpredictable and the battle between the skaven necromancer and his undead horde against the Wood elves and Athel Loren inhabitants (Treeman, Giant Warhawks, etc) is quite interesting. C L Werner weave a powerful tale and again we are presented a reason to make him the best writer in the Warhammer world.

Another thing that I enjoyed and just for that it’s a must have is the ways of Athel Loren. The author really knows how to make it alive and almost a being in his own right. He also talks about the balance that exists with the wood elves with other beings that make the forest their home. I thought that the wood elves rule supreme but that’s not true. The Wood Elves are considered with the denizens that they are the protectors but they do not own the forest.

Summary

The Third installment finish the story arc beautifully. Very good Herr Werner. 9/10

Review: Dragonmage - Chris Wraight

Title - Dragonmage

Author - Chris Wraight

Year - 2011

Stand Alone or Series - Stand Alone (Part two of three indepedent novellas about Storm of Magic)

Pages - 124

Reading Time - July 2011

I've read Masters of Magic (here) by Chris and two short stories (here) and (here) and to me I think he is an excelent writer, and one that I enjoy reading.

This is the second book on the trilogy of novellas penned by three of the most interesting writers noawadays writing for Warhammer (Fantasy). The first was reviewed here These novellas links to the new expansion on the warhammer tabletop game called Storm of Magic where magic is running amok. Wizards are more powerful, giant beasts ravage the lands and everything can happened..

This tale is set on a island (Ulthuan) and on the Sea. Razumov was on plains/forest (Empire)and the sands (Tomb King lands), and the Hour of Shadows was in a forest/mountain (Athel Loren).

 

As the Phoenix King of the high elves nears death there are war on the horizont. After a disastrous battle both participants try to achieve the goal to become the next Phoenix King. Lord Rathien of Caledor seeks the aid of the dragon (even if he is not a dragon lord) and in other end Prince Valaris of Ellyrion aided by a naïve mage wants to harness the power of magic that will allow him win.

It's interesting as the chapters go and we see what each party is seeing. I really enjoy reading about the dragons and dragon fighting. We've got here some interesting battle scenes and the epilogue was very good.

In overall another great tale and in my opinion of the three there isn't one that is all that above other. They are equivalent and I enjoy reading them. Chris Wraight is great writer. 8.5/10

Review: The Langoliers - Stephen King

Title - The Langoliers
Author - Stephen King
Year - 1980
Stand Alone or Series - Stand Alone
Pages - 235
Reading Time - Started on March and ended on August.

Review
How can anyone say that this is a novella is strange to me. This is not a full lengthen book but with 235 pages it stands wrongly in the novella department. Now for the review... Of course, I've watch the movie and I enjoy it. I thought that reading the novel I would learn more about the Langoliers and personages. The Langoliers is a story about a flight that goes astray and when 10 people wake up they find out that anyone else is gone. First they try to reason what happen and after bouncing ideas they stop to fuel in Maine (where most stories King wrote take place).

 

The story behind the Langoliers is about a flight that goes wrong and 10 people wake up and find that everyone else is gone. First they try to reason what happen and after bouncing ideas they stop to fuel and that's where they found out about the Langoliers. There are some interesting characters. The blind girl and Mr. Toomey are both excellent characters. Besides them two the others are not that interesting. There are almost no twists but something’s are pretty good. The effects of being on the past are quite good. The food tasting wrong, the smell and even the effects on things like gasoline or even a pistol. This story reminds me of something that I watch on the Twilight Zone and that was something good. Being a story that I had already watched the book I knew what was happening. There are some parts that the movie doesn’t tell us and some of them are quite important to make the book be better.

 

Mr Toomey and Dinah characterizations are what saved this book in my view but I also think that this is a solid tale by Stephen King. This book that I am reading has four novellas so in due time I am going to read the next three. Unfortunately I’ve watch some criticisms toward the latter three… let us hope they are unfounded.

Summary

Why should I read it? If you fail to watch the movie then go right ahead. But, if you have watch them movie I advise to keep away. 6.5/10

Review: Population Zero - Wrath James White

Title -Population Zero

Author - Wrath James White

Year - 2009

Stand Alone or Series - Stand Alone

Pages - 105

Reading Time - August 2011

Synopsis

An intense sadistic tale of how one man will save the world through sterilization. When Todd was just a child, he learned that sometimes it was necessary to sterilize or euthanize animals in order to keep their population from growing too rapidly. It was the humane thing to do, the best thing for the environment. Yet, every day at his job at the Welfare Department, Todd sees the dregs of humanity multiplying unchecked, overburdening the earth with a tidal wave of waste, abuse, and cruelty. But if he can convince them not to reproduce, if he can convince everyone to voluntarily sterilize themselves, then he might just prevent the coming population explosion. And those who can't be convinced... Population Zero is the story of an environmental activist named Todd Hammerstein who is on a mission to save the planet. In just 50 years the population of the planet is expected to double. But not if Todd can help it. From Wrath James White, the celebrated master of sex and splatter, comes a tale of environmentalism, drugs, and genital mutilation.

Review

From time to time I read a novel that suprises me. I read Drachenfels and I was suprised by the tale. I cursed myself why I didn't read it before because it's excelent. The Mark of Chaos or even Pawn of Chaos are another examples. These were nice books that I would recommend to anyone who like fantasy or a good book. But this novel I wouldn't reccommend to many people... mayhaps my girlfriend.

To summarise, this book got blood, sadism, castration, force abortion, psychopaths, world problems and dozen other things. Each chapter would scare someone that I know. From the first killing, to the first "birth" procedure or even the killing of the infants. Most people I know would burn this book with each passing chapter.

I like the book but I don't want to read it again any time soon. The novel (novella) is divided in twenty-four chapters each with four of five pages. We follow the descent of Todd to dementia as he tries to "help" society. First is just words as he tries to make men and woman from lower society of america become sterile, sugestion abortation an such. Then he goes up another level as he begins to makes the procedures himself. Then the killing began... Then comes the crazy part.

This novel is quite good as we watch him transform, as he struggles with his past and present and questions his actions.

One thing that made it more interesting is that this book was written by a african-american guy and even if Todd is white, he talks about the lower society of america as he tells us the problems with it such as overpopulation, people applying for funds instead of working, abortation and other such things.

The ending of this tale was my least favourite part. I didn't enjoy how it ended. I really hoped for more and it was anti-climatic. But it didn't spoil the all reading experience.

Summary

To whom I advice? As I said. to my girlfriend and to anyone who enjoys gore, bizarre and isn't easily touch by some graphic images of babies being cutten from their mother wombs and such... 8/10

Book Review: Let the Galaxy Burn - Warhammer 40k Anthology

Title - Let the Galaxy Burn

Author - Several

Year - 2006

Stand Alone or Series - 38 Short Stories

Pages - 766

Reading Time - August and Setempber 2011

Rating - 8/10

Summary

Featuring stories by Barrington J Bayley, Mark Brendan, Andy Chambers, Ben Counter, Jonathan Curran, Robert Earl, Matthew Farrer, CS Goto, Alex Hammond, Jonathan Green, Simon Jowett, William King, Graham McNeill, Andras Millward, Chris Pramas, Neil Rutledge & Gav Thorpe.

By popular demand, we’ve gathered up the best SF short stories ever written for the Black Library into one massive volume, and added some brand new tales! Warhammer 40,000 fans will be keen to get their hands on classic stories that have been unavailable for some time, and all readers will enjoy the exciting and varied range on offer in this high-value volume

Contents

Almost of these stories were presented on the first anthologies they printed (Dark Imperium, Words of Blood and Into the Maelstrom. I have yet to read Words of blood but I won't be reading it from here because the font is too small for my feeble eyes. Of course they added a few so everyone needed to buy. They are divided not in books but on themes which is nice.

1 WE ARE THE SPACE MARINES, THE CHAMPIONS OF HUMANITY

Words of Blood (from Words of Blood)

The Black Pearl  (here)

Angels  (here)

Unforgiven

In the Belly of the Beast  (here)

2 SUFFER NOT THE ALIEN TO LIVE

Hellbreak  (here)

Small Cogs  (here)

The Fall of Malvolion

Children of the Emperor  (here)

Deus ex Mechanicus (from Words of Blood)

Business as Usual (from Words of Blood)

3 ONLY IN DEATH DOES DUTY END

Salvation (here)

Hell in a Bottle  (here)

Tenebrae  (here)

Daemonblood  (here)

Know Thine Enemy  (here)

4 INNOCENCE PROVES NOTHING

Nightmare  (here)

Ancient History  (here)

The Tower

Loyalty's Reward (from Words of Blood)

Raptor Down (from Words of Blood)

5 FOR THE EMPEROR!

Defixio (from Words of Blood)

Ancient Lances  (here)

Ork Hunter (from Words of Blood)

The Raven's Claw  (here)

Emperor's Grace  (here)

Acceptable Losses  (here)

6 BURN THE HERETIC, KILL THE MUTANT, PURGE THE UNCLEAN

Pestilence

Barathrum (from Words of Blood)

Suffer Not the Unclean to Live

The Lives of Ferag Lion-Wolf  (here)

Playing Patience

7 KILL THEM ALL!

Snares & Delusions  (here)

Apothecary's Honour (here)

Unthinking Justice  (here)

Battle of the Archaeosaurs  (here)

The Wrath of Khârn  (here)

Into the Maelstrom  (here)

Unforgiven - Graham McNeill is another story about the neverending hunt for the fallen dark angels. As you all know they hunt their fallen brethern fervoulsy and above about anything else. That's what make them interesting. This story is nice but it's nothing from out of this world 6.5/10

The Fall of Malvolion - Dan Abnett - Now this is a story. It's one of those stories that can make you buy a book just for it. It's a story about some imperial forces who are trying to evacuate the world of Malvolion. The last two pages are one of the best written pages I've read from 40k. 30 space marines from the Lamenters chapter fall on the planet to help the imperial guard and if in the beginning they start to turn the tide the end if beautifully portraited. Nothing can stop the Great Devourer. It was nice to see the image that the IG have of Space Marine. God-like unstopabble killing machines. The ending is perfect. This is another story that tells us why Dan Abnett is the best writer in Black Library and shouldn't never stop writing fiction for it. 10/10.

The Tower - C S Goto - This tale as odd but suprising good. In one part we follow a sanitiser in his day by day at the tower where he works. It's another good detective/psycological story. It was interesting to see the daily life and also how the system works. 8/10

Pestilence - Dan abnett - Another great tale by Mr Abnett. In these tale we follow Higher Administrator Medica Lemual Sark as he travells to an asylum hoping to find a cure to a plague. This is another great tale and I don't know why but as I read it I was reminded of Shutter Island. 9.5/10

 

Suffer Not the Unclean to Live - Gav Thorpe - This was an different story. We follow the life of a preacher in a world were slaves are mutants. This preacher goes to the settlements to help the needed and there he makes aquaintence with an rebel who wants to make a revolt because they are dying of a plague. It's quite nice story and the ending was also quite good. One think that I wonder is that all other books the preachers, holy man of the Imperium, are always distrustful of mutants and even ogryn are seen with suspicious. It's nice to see that here that don't apply. In the end this story was nice reading. 7.5/10 

 

Playing Patience - Dan Abnett (Whem I read Ravenor)

Summary

Would I advice this book to anyone? Yes. This book is a good start to anyone who want to enter the warhammer 40k world. It's got Imperial Guard, space marines, chaos marines, inquisitors, eldars, tyranids, orks etc... Almost ever single race is presented here. And one thing is for sure... you can make your own asset if the Imperium of Man are the good guys, bad guys or... grey. That's the real treat to anyone reading warhammer 40k. Everyone thinks something different of it....