Thought of the Day: The fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself
Something I drew based on skype chat with BtK group. A Shakespearean ork. What could go wrong?
Doing a quick check of the army ready for the trip to Nottingham tomorrow. 1,500 points of cheese!
That’s a lot of battlesuits!
Hey, this post may contain adult content, so we’ve hidden it from public view.
Loyalist Primarchs by kabukimodels.com
‘Carcharodons: Red Tithe’ a review by Marc Collins
What can be said about Red Tithe? A masterful full length debut from an author who imbues it with a violent and intense passion, running the gamut between genuine malice and amoral extremism. MacNiven brings the Carcharodons to a brutal life, in a way that only adds to their power and mystery, rather than detracting from it.
Full disclosure; I’ve always been amazed that the Carcharodons work as well as they do. At first glance the concept reeks of gimmick even in a universe of gimmick, and their low gothic name puts me in mind of the old Street Sharks cartoon. Luckily the Chapter is better developed than to fall into the age old trap of relentless Wolf or Blood titles- though this didn’t stop the fact that the dreadnoughts are called the “Whites” from breaking my immersion. Some things in this setting really do make you shake your head.
Lucky for us, MacNiven injects the Chapter with a Polynesian flavour of tattoos and markings, rich coral and savage intensity- including a beautifully realised spear weapon at one point. They are shaped by the predators they ape and the deep black of the galactic void that they inhabit. They feel alien and otherworldly even by Astartes standards, their origins a mystery but their intent clear.
(I counted at least three hints as to their origins; one mechanical, one literary and one from relentless comparison.)
Ranged against them are some beautifully realised Night Lords. There’s a lot of mirror imagery to play with here; the potentially unsuited leader, the psyker with an agenda, the older and experienced doubter…The warband manages to feel alive and vital, rife with internal schisms and politics. They feel very much in media res, with ages of history unseen. What we see of them paints them as somewhat relatable monsters, vastly different from us and yet not as different from our protagonists as they would like.
We get multiple viewpoints from each side and a view from one of the Arbitrators caught in the middle- rounding out the narrative and ensuring it always has the best vantage from which to survey the action. Sharr, our primary protagonist is relatable in his uncertainty and the newness of his position. We also have a useful framing device in the form of an ongoing inquisitorial investigation into the matter. Their interest, coupled with the fate of the warband, provides ample opportunities for sequels.
The writing is slick and engaging, especially when it comes to the application of violence. It is also self-aware enough to draw back and add a bit of context and background to events, an almost knowing, almost historical overview of situations. One criticism I would level is that the text seems to focus overly on the exact how’s and whys of equipment, often breaking the immersion through the full and proper model of the weapon in question. This being tie-in fiction it can be somewhat understood, but it comes across as occasionally slavish.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who hungers to know more about the Carcharodons or who just want a good and vicious romp with Space Marine on Space Marine action. Like the void and the sea, however, this novel has depths that might surprise.
– Marc Collins