I'm trying to hold off until the Siege of Terra series is finished. I've read almost all of the Horus Heresy, they're almost universally great reads- and i've never played the tabletop, I just enjoy a great story.
I've always said they should make a Horus Heresy TV show. There's so much drama and action and emotion and even political intrigue on a galactic scale, it's like Game of Thrones in space. I feel like the Horus Heresy would be the best time period/tale to cover in a show, since the showrunners would have a clear map of how it's supposed to go- their only job would just be adapting it. They wouldn't have to introduce all the factions of 40k, wouldn't have to go into great detail about the history of the galaxy- it would be Imperium focused (which is what people would want anyway), so it would be easy for even outsiders to get into.
Hm, on this subject, I recently thought of a (probably wrong) theory (SPOILERS FOR HORUS HERESY)... about Sanguinius and his death. I wonder if Horus actually killed him. Sanguinius was an absolute Chad, and we've never seen him go totally berserk, as is in his DNA. I wonder... if Sanguinius actually defeated Horus before the Emperor found them on the Vengeful Spirit. But Sanguinius had lost his mind by this point, maybe given over to Khorne and the black rage... and so he attacked the Emperor.
This would explain why the Emperor was so hesitant to destroy him, taking many "fatal" wounds before he finally zapped Horus. I don't think the Emperor, as he's been presented, would hesitate for one second to destroy Horus at that moment- he'd be well aware of what Horus had become, what he meant to bring to the galaxy... I just don't see him being overcome by fatherly love to the point where he'd allow Horus to fuck him up so badly.
But, Sanguinius? Perhaps the Emperor's favorite son? Ohhh, I think he may struggle to murder him. He may have tried to psychically cure the rage, or any other number of things while Sanguinius ripped him apart. Emperor finally realized "I have to stop him, and I can only do that by killing him", and so he did. This psychic backlash of the massive attack from the Emperor affected all of the Blood Angels at that moment- creating the Black Rage as it is known in modern 40k. This would of course, be a terrible secret, which the Emperor and highest ranked Imperial officials would want covered up.
So, rather than tell the truth: Sanguinius went berserk, defeated the arch-traitor Horus, and then turned on his father, forcing him to put him down- they came up with a pretty lie. Sanguinius fought Horus, but Horus beat him and strangled him to death- but not before Sanguinius damaged Horus's armor just enough that the Emperor would have an opening when he arrived. Emperor confronts Horus, but is so overcome with fatherly love at his fucking daemonic usurper of a son (who the Emperor has known has been in rebellion for a few decades by this point), that he just can't bear to hurt him too badly, even as Sanguinius's body lay cooling on the floor of that very room. And just before the Emperor was struck down, a mortal man leapt in to save him! Horus used warp powers to flay the man alive- and that is what finally motivated the Emperor to destroy Horus.
This just doesn't make sense. The Emperor would've known Horus had been doing shit like this all across the galaxy for, again, decades by now. The Emperor was on Terra as the traitor legions ravaged the planet, literally killing people and grinding them up to make goddamned space drugs out of them. But the Emperor thought their leader, Horus, could be saved/redeemed? Nah... I like my theory better.
Rant over. I had just read a Blood Angels short story so this was on my mind, ignore or engage as you like.
Very interesting theory. Part one of the last siege of terra just came out. Not sure if it gets all the way to the end though. Doubt it.
I haven't read it (or any 30k stuff) but I did buy it just to have a copy.
40k fans who don't delve into the Horus Heresy are missing out!
There are some stinkers among the novels, and there is some really dumb shit (or absurdly convenient) that happens, but largely, it's a far more interesting time period IMO. It's more focused, but it still feels epic as the Legions scour the galaxy in their Great Crusade. The Eldar make an appearance, as do the Orks, but they are rather insignificant on the whole at the time. Again, this was the end of mankind's last golden age, where they were at the peak of their power, minus the horrific technology of the Dark Age of Technology.
It's such a great setting, and knowing more about it makes me appreciate the 40k setting even more. I really suggest reading at least one of the novels...
If I had to pick one, it'd be Galaxy in Flames. This novel has the Istvaan lll Atrocity in it, one of the coolest moments in all of WH IMO. It's also great to see the infighting among the traitor legions- I have an affinity for Space Marines who remained loyalist, even in the face of their own Primarch turning against the Emperor. Saul Tarvitz, a fucking Emperor's Children Captain, is probably the most noble, righteous character in the entire setting. Emperor's Children! You also get to see Ancient Rylanor, an Emperor's Children venerable Dreadnought who remained loyalist after Fulgrim's betrayal- I hope you already know the story of him, because he is the coolest Dreadnought to ever live, and his final stand is legendary. It's amazing that the dreadnought was able to support the weight of his enormous balls.
I'm just not really a huge fan of Space Marines as a whole. I really enjoyed Helsreach (the audio book is absolutely 11/10) and some other Space Marine shorts, but by and large I'm much more of a fan of the regular Joe's keeping the Imperium together. The IG, the Inquisition etc.
Their courage in the face of the horrors of the setting is that much more impressive because they're just regular people.
I tried Horus Rising about a year ago and couldn't get into it. Partly the content, partly a badly formatted e-book. That said I'll probably give it another go as I'm running out of 40k books that peak my interest.
I haven't read them either but hells yeah I love that theory. Would be so fitting to see an/THE angel fall from grace would shatter everything the emperor is trying to achieve.
The symbol so strong for hope of humanity.
I'm sure Abnett will have his own twist on it, surely he wouldn't just write Horus is bad = Sanguinius is kill.
Was it a shortstory from HH? I didn't read much of the anthology books, thought they were getting in the way (taken me well over 10 years to get to end of it)
Only when I was making the list and ordering it in event/chronological order, did I realize I missed a bunch of short stories that linked people to events (Dantioch to Pharos, The Lion to Ultramar )
I recommend reading the Eisenhorn series if you haven't, the 2 Bequin books in that have some humdinger mind-blowing stuff if you like the Blood Angels
I don't know if we'll ever get the full scene of what happened on the Vengeful Spirit. I think some hints of my theory will be dropped all throughout the story, but they have to leave this crucial moment somewhat ambiguous. The results are the same- Horus is obliterated completely, Sanguinius is dead and the Black Rage curse is unleashed, and the Emperor is fatally wounded. This is the result we need to reach- it's just a matter of how we get there, and I just think the story we have been given clashes with the Emperor's personality.
He didn't really have much love for his sons. He manipulated the shit out of them, and views them as tools and weapons. He may have developed some attachment to some of them, and I think if Horus SUDDENLY turned on him out of nowhere, he might have trouble bringing himself to do what he had to do...
But again, decades had passed by the time Horus's forces reached Terra. The Emperor had spent a lot of time planning with Malcador to defend the palace. He would've had plenty of time to come to terms with the fact that his favorite tool, Horus, was completely in the claws of Chaos by now, and not even Russ spearing him with the Emperor's spear was enough to break him out of his madness. Allowing Horus to fatally wound the Emperor was the final nail in the coffin of the Emperor's grand plan, the act that ended humanity's second golden age in space. The Emperor should have the will, the foresight, and the ability to do what needed to be done and kill Horus on sight.
Remember the Thunder Warriors? You know, the precursors to Space Marines who helped the Emperor unify Terra? What'd he do to those loyal warriors? He had them ruthlessly culled by the Custodes and Dark Angels, and then fabricated a story about their glorious deaths fighting against the final holdouts on Terra. If Big E would fabricate that, if he would trick the Mechanicum into believing he's the Omnissiah... why wouldn't he concoct a lie that turns his most noble, most beloved by the people son, a literal angel, into a martyr who died for him and humanity? It's a very similar lie, now that I type it out... would be right in there with the Emperor's past behavior.
The Human Webway Project was already ruined, yes, and it was likely the Emperor would need to sit on the Golden Throne for a very long time at least... but his fatal wounding ensured it. It was also his apotheosis, the turning point that led to the spread of the Imperial Creed. He knew mankind and their history well, he knew the power/dangers of religion... and he would know how to turn a situation like this into his favor, I believe.
There's also a passage in... I think it was Master of Mankind, where he's talking to Malcador, and it's revealed that The Emperor knew all along that whichever Primarch was appointed Warmaster would be the one who ended up betraying him. A lot of fans speculate that this is why the Lion or Sanguinius weren't chosen for the position. Horus was actually the "weakest" opponent he could arrange. He was aware of this inevitability long before even Lorgar fell.
And it was actually a short story I listened to on YouTube while at work today, I believe it was fan-written, on a channel called Vox in the Void. A fantastic audio drama YT channel, I highly recommend any of their work. Great voice actors, great stories- they have some really good horror stories up there (I love 40k horror above all else). Check them out if you get a chance.
> Remember the Thunder Warriors? You know, the precursors to Space Marines who helped the Emperor unify Terra? What'd he do to those loyal warriors? He had them ruthlessly culled by the Custodes and Dark Angels, and then fabricated a story about their glorious deaths fighting against the final holdouts on Terra. If Big E would fabricate that, if he would trick the Mechanicum into believing he's the Omnissiah... why wouldn't he concoct a lie that turns his most noble, most beloved by the people son, a literal angel, into a martyr who died for him and humanity? It's a very similar lie, now that I type it out... would be right in there with the Emperor's past behavior.
Yep the Emperor was a MASSIVE cunt, malcador too (the buried dagger reinforces this)
> The Human Webway Project was already ruined, yes, and it was likely the Emperor would need to sit on the Golden Throne for a very long time at least... but his fatal wounding ensured it.
I thought his intention was for Magnus to take the throne as he was (almost) just as powerful psyker and that was what he was created for, for after the war?
>There's also a passage in... I think it was Master of Mankind, where he's talking to Malcador, and it's revealed that The Emperor knew all along that whichever Primarch was appointed Warmaster would be the one who ended up betraying him. A lot of fans speculate that this is why the Lion or Sanguinius weren't chosen for the position. Horus was actually the "weakest" opponent he could arrange. He was aware of this inevitability long before even Lorgar fell.
Love that, its been a while since I read that book but the fact he knew he was going to lose a son/be betrayed so he had to pick the weak link. I would have guessed he would have maybe gone with Lorgar but maybe at the time his devotion to the Emperor would have outweight the temptation to chaos.
Ive come across Vox in the void's channel before. Are they all fan written or does he do audio for some of the other stories too?
I'm actually reading the 2nd Bequin right now, and have the Eisenhorn trilogy on the shelf ready to go next.
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