Xathrodox86 reviews: "Echoes of the Long War" by David Guymer

This is the sixth entry in "The Beast Arises" series, and the first 40K novel by David Guymer, a Warhammer Fantasy veteran. So how well does it hold, when compared to the rest of the series?




Pretty well actually, but with some minor problems here and there. Finally we've reached the half of the series, and The Beast is still doing its thing - conquering the entire galaxy. The Imperium's forces are reeling, and with endless politicking and squabbling from the High Lords, the things are looking grim indeed. However "Echoes of the Long War" concentrate on an entirely different matter - the unlikely alliance between the Fists Exemplar and the traitorous Iron Warriors. Most of the book details the interactions between Captain Zerberyn, a lotal son of Dorn, and Kalkator, Warsmith from the IVth Legion. The unlikely duo is presented much better in this book, then Kalkator-Magneric in the Throneworld, since Zerberyn is a much better developed character than the ancient Black Templar. While being a steadfast follower of Rogal Dorn's vision, he also knows that sometimes you need to make a deal with the devil, in order to combat a bigger threat.

Even if his helmet looks kinda goofy

Meanwhile Kalkator quickly became my second favorite character of this series, after Drakan Vangorich, the Grandmaster of Cool. Kalkator is methodical, cruel and cynical to the extreme, but also possesses a strong sense of honor and brotherhood, even with those, who not so long ago stood on the opposite site of the barricade, but are now forced to fight by his side. Him calling Zerberyn "little cousin" is simply delightful, showing a degree of dark humor and irony from the Iron Warrior. Kalkator's disdain for the Imperium in its current state is obvious, and he dosen't shy from pointintg it out to his "brother" at every possible turn. Guymer presents him in a very sympathetic, albeit morbid way - a warrior from out of time, who remembers the grand dream and realises that it was always a lie. There is a real tragedy in here, under all the layers of Warsmith's brutality, cynicism and dry sense of humor.
The author plays upon this sense of nostalgia and loss even more, when the two foes reach the planet of Prax, a stronghold of the Iron Warriors, now taken over by Orks. The Greenskins are doing horrible things to people on the planet, almost as bad as the famed Daemonculaba from Graham McNeill's "Ultramarines" series, but it is what Kalkator and Zerberyn find there, that makes the reader feel the unfairness and cruelty of history in the universe of Warhammer 40,000. Without any spoilers, let's just say that the Iron Warriors betrayal could've been completely avoided, if only the Imperium cared more for all of their sons, even those who were not Angels or Statesmen.

The Orks themsevles are also presented in a way, that empaphises more their hyper evolution. These Greenskins are tactically flexible, capable of outsmarting both the Imperials and Traitors alike, and their methods of waging war are highly unorthodox for Orks. David Guymer really decided to amp the old "Grim&Dark" meter up a bit, when he decided to explain how exactly, the Xenos feed their gargantuan armies. You want to know how? Well, take a look at the picture below and then switch that cow with a human being. Happy nightmares.

On a sidenote: that's pretty fucked up

Aside from the Fists Exemplar/Iron Warriors plot, there is not much going on in the book. Vangorich is still awesome, but his time is seriously limited this time around. He tries to keep tabs on what is going on on Mars, where Mechanicum are still trying to do everything to save their bacon, even at the cost of the wider Imperium. Those red bastards! The High Lords continue to squabble and scheme, especially Mesring, the Ecclesiarch, who continues to be even more unhinged and desperate to avoid his own death from the poison, introduced to his system by the Officio Assassinorum.

Koorland is also developing nicely as a character. Now a Chapter Master, he knows that there will be many tough decisions ahead, and he will not be able to escape from them. The last of the Imperial Fists will have much to do in the coming future, have no doubt about it.

Now a mild spolier, as I believe it is important to mention why I think that the ending is not very good.

WARNING, SPOILERS!

You have been warned

At the end of "Echoes..." it is revealed that the Orks homeworld is... Ullanor! Yup, the same world upon which Horus was named Warmaster by the Emperor. Now my question is: why? Why Ullanor? I mean, I get the symbolism. After all it was the planet where the Imperium crashed the greatest Ork empire of its time, but honestly I was expecting something better. It looks like the Black Library authors can't or don't want to let go off the Horus Heresy, their premier product. Sure, I understand that when HH will (finally) come to an end, there won't be much else to write about, except maybe Scouring, which in all honesty sounds like a very boring series, but come on! Guymer coul've placed the Greenskins homeworld anywhere, he could have developed his own, unique planet. Instead we've got a, not so fresh, leftover. Completely unnecessary.

Aside from that last part, the book itself is very solid. It's not as good as "Throneworld", but then again Guy Haley is a much better 40K author than David Guymer, who still has a long way ahead of him in that department. I'm optimistic tough. With "Echoes of the Long War" he has shown great promise and if he'll continue on this path, I envision many great stories from him in the future.

Just don't return to Ullanor, David. Please.

Pros:

- The relationship between Fists Exemplar and Iron Warriors.
- Kalkator the Warsmith.
- Orks and their sick methods of waging war.
- Martian scheming.

Cons:

- The truth about Greenskins homeworld.
- Too little focus on characters who are not Space Marines.

Until next time!

Xathrodox86

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