'Dark Imperium' – Guy Haley (Black Library)

I've been deep in 'Empire of Grass' this week (and it's a big book so when I say 'deep'...) so I haven't had a lot of time to read anything else. And that's before we get onto work and how that's been... It's at times like this then that I'm glad I have an HBR (Have Been Read) pile that I can dip into and keep things ticking over ;o) I had a little root around and 'Dark Imperium' was the book that popped out. It's been a while since I read 'Dark Imperium' so I thought I'd better post something before I forget it entirely (easily done these days...) And so here we are.

Fell times have come to the galaxy. Cadia has fallen, destroyed by the onslaught of Chaos. A Great Rift in the warp has opened and from its depths spew daemons and the horrors of Old Night.

But all hope is not lost… A hero, long absent, has returned, and with him comes the wrath of the Ultramarines reborn. Roboute Guilliman has arisen to lead the Imperium out of darkness on a crusade the likes of which has not been seen since the fabled days of the Emperor. 

But never before have the forces of Ruin amassed in such numbers, and nowhere is safe from despoliation. From the dreaded Scourge Stars come the hordes of the Plaguefather, Lord Nurgle, and their pustulent eye is fixed on Macragge. As the Indomitus Crusade rages on, Guilliman races to Ultramar and a confrontation with the Death Guard.

Just when you think things can't get any grimmer or dark in this wartorn far future universe, said universe literally splits in two and starts filling up with the denizens of the Warp. It's a good job then that one of my favourite Primarch's has come back from the grave (well, stasis but close enough) to put it all right then, but can he do this when everything has changed so much…?

What a great question to open a series on, where a hero of the Imperium must fight wars on two fronts, as much against the stagnant bureaucracy of the Imperium (and its hostility towards change) as against the hordes of foes attacking from without. What this means for the reader is a good mix of straight up warfare and examination of Guilliman’s character as he seeks to navigate a landscape that is heartbreakingly familiar but at the same time, so different now. I’d say that Haley strikes a good balance here. The warfare is as good as you’ve come to expect and provides a fresh shot of impetus for the plot exactly when it’s needed. I’m always a little behind on these things but it was great to see the Primaris Marines finally get to fight; the Imperium may not like it but these guys are just what is needed.

It was Guilliman that I picked up the book for though and Haley does a brilliant job of portraying the inner conflict of a demi-god doing what he was born to but starting to really question his gene-father’s motives. There is a lot of pressure on this Primarch’s shoulders and you know that he can take it but every so often, you can’t help but wonder if he will stumble; especially as he is (currently) the last loyalist Primarch left standing.

Talking of which… It wouldn’t be 40K without at least one Chaos god making their presence felt and this time round it’s Nurgle, another favourite of mine because, well… his daemons are just so happy aren’t they? They are certainly the only daemons who seem to enjoy their work 😉  There’s a nice counterpoint running throughout the book of the Death Guard applying brute force while the more daemonic followers go for a more subtle approach. Again, it’s that mix of fresh impetus and moments that push the narrative forward through a sense of sheer dread. You know something foul is lurking just beneath the surface of the plot and you find yourself hanging on, just to see how it comes about.

There was a lot to enjoy in ‘Dark Imperium’ then and once Amazon/Black Library get their act together (with the release dates), I’ll definitely be picking up the next two book in the hope of more of the same. Warhammer 40K fans have doubtless read this already but if you haven’t, Haley is in fine form once more so you could really do a hell of lot worse than pick this book up.