Dan Abnett, "Horus Rising" summary

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Practically every fan of the science fiction genre is familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Today, this world is represented by just a huge number of board and computer games, a lot of books and even a full-length cartoon. At the same time, Warhammer 40,000 is a universe that was created by completely different people, supplementing it with their understanding, fantasy and new characters. That is why it is sometimes very difficult to catch the order of events and make a certain chronology.

Space Marine Universe

The world of Warhammer 40,000 is so huge that it contains the entire universe. At the same time, it is inhabited not only by people, but also by representatives of other civilizations. Naturally, various conflicts constantly arise between them, which develop into whole wars. However, the most terrible evil in this world are the creatures of Chaos. It is with their arrival that the most interesting events begin to develop, and it is thanks to them that the beginning of the storyline of this world was laid.

Writer Dan Abnett put the most effort into creating this universe. He not only created an interesting and exciting cycle of books, but also described in detail all the subtleties and details of the life of different classes and races, withwith which he introduces the reader. It was this approach to trifles and details that allowed the author to gain immense popularity, and his sequence of presentation made it possible to get acquainted with this universe in a certain chronology.

Space Knights of the Future

In the work "The Rise of Horus" the reader gets acquainted in detail with the main characters of the cycle. He learns about their way of life, traditions, rituals and origin. It is this book that reveals the secret of creating powerful warriors who know no fear and have great physical strength.

Also, this work shows the way of life and thinking of other classes of earthlings. It describes the process of the birth of a religion that nominates the Emperor as its god. A great and powerful ruler, possessing immortality and vast knowledge, far ahead of his time. It is he who is the creator of the Space Marines, and it was thanks to him that the Long March was launched.

Chorus

In the book, Dan Abnett introduces the reader to the great commander Horus. It was he who was entrusted with the management of the huge fleet of the empire, which was sent into the depths of space to establish the power of the Earth and unite all mankind.

But great power also implies great responsibility. The writer shows us that sometimes even the most loyal subjects can betray and become proud. At the same time, people who are already familiar with the described universe get the opportunity to learn about the formation of a warrior who later crossed to the other side of the barricades andturned into the most important enemy of his former master, whom he once called "Father".

Start

In the novel "Warhammer: Rise of Horus" all events are shown from the side of secondary characters, which are subsequently brought to the fore. We can meet a lucky space marine, a journalist and other people participating in the campaign.

Everything that happens is described from their point of view and allows the reader to look at the same events from different angles. This approach allows us to understand what actually caused the betrayal, what were the prerequisites for this and how it later affected the fate of the entire universe.

Details

The book "The Rise of Horus" is very interesting because the author describes in detail the purpose and principle of operation of certain devices and mechanisms. It vividly and colorfully gives an idea of where the events are taking place, what this or that character looks like, and creates a realistic atmosphere of everything that happens. Such a narrative makes the reader believe that all this is happening or actually happened. Abnett simply immerses his fans in a fantasy world that begins to change before our eyes, continuing to grab attention.

Also, the book "The Rise of Horus" describes in great detail the social component of the world and the hierarchy of power. It displays the relationship of different classes to each other, their capabilities and methods of influencing events. It is in it that the nature of worship of higher powers and the ascension of a person, even a genetically modified one, to the status of a celestial being are first revealed.

The birth of a legend

It is believed that "The Horus Heresy", "The Rise of Horus" and other books of this cycle should be read the very first, since they formed the basis of the depicted world. However, some fans of the genre do not agree with this opinion.

They believe that Abnett simply described the process of becoming a great commander, his life path, the process of climbing to the top of power and falling from there. And in fact, the whole cycle simply tells the legend that fans of the genre knew from legend or from the game.

However, a newcomer to the Warhammer 40,000 universe should start with this work.

Characters

The book "The Rise of Horus" introduces the reader to the characters who will accompany him throughout the cycle. Some of them are found in the works of other authors, and some have long become an integral part of the fantasy world.

Given this, it is worth paying special attention to the study of all the characters. That is why the writer at the beginning of the book describes in detail each character, indicating his place in the universe, sphere of influence and social affiliation. At first, this is even a little annoying, but as you continue reading, you want to return to the list in order to understand the meaning of some actions or words.

Backstory

At the beginning of the book"Horus Rising" the reader is invited to briefly familiarize themselves with the events that preceded the further description. The Great Emperor creates a whole army of mighty warriors who are superior to an ordinary person in all respects. He equips them with the most modern weapons and armor. As a result, he himself leads a campaign to the edge of the universe on huge ships that can fit an entire city. His goal is to unite humanity under a single command and prepare it for the upcoming war against the forces of Chaos.

However, after a certain time, the Emperor is removed from participation in the campaign for reasons that are not really clear to anyone. He transfers all control of the mighty fleet to his primarch Horus, who is not only a space marine, but also far surpasses them in his physical data. It is after these events that we plunge into the magical and exciting world of Warhammer.

Summary

Almost the entire plot of Horus Rising revolves around a Space Marine named Loken. Thanks to his courage and courage, which stood out even against the background of genetically modified warriors, he gains access to the leadership of the entire campaign. At the same time, Loken becomes a member of a certain cult that existed even before the formation of his legion. He begins to be embarrassed by some actions based on the prejudices of the brothers, and the reader becomes embroiled in his personal confrontation and struggle both with himself and with the entire system created by the old paratroopers.

It was thanks to Loken that the author was able to show the life of warriors, training and various details of weapons. It is also worth noting that the reader sees everything that happens through his eyes, and since he becomes part of the council and has access to Horus himself, all events can be seen in the first person.

In the first book of the series, we will learn about the methodology of warfare. Abnett describes some of the battles in detail, filling the narrative with colorful fights. Also, the reader is given an understanding of the principles of colonization that the Empire introduces, and its methodology for resolving social issues.

In this book we learn about the power of the Space Marines, their devotion, endurance and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the common cause. We are shown the path of Horus' ascension to his power and the principles of his management of the huge fleet of the empire. At the same time, special attention is paid to the religious background of some moments that became at the head of the beliefs of the whole universe and led to the fall of a mighty army entangled in heresy.

The style of writing and the sequence of narration capture literally from the first minute of reading. The story itself is so interesting that you want to read the book again. It is worth noting that this work breathed new life into the admirers of this saga. It was thanks to Abnett that aspiring writers noticed the Warhammer universe and dedicated their work to it. He can now be confidently called the chronicler of the Space Marines and the ancestor of a whole separate cycle.