Primarchs Book 4, by Guy Haley
The Primarchs stride across the Horus Heresy as giants (both litteral and metaphorical), being the centre piece of many of the books – although often at a distance or through the eyes of others. The Primarch (Horus Heresy) series brings stories from each of these giants and gives more background for each of the Emperor’s children.
From the book:
While crusading to build the Imperium, Perturabo, mercurial primarch of the Iron Warriors, hears ot turmoil on the world where he was raised, and abandons the crusade to return home and save his people.
Born to a life of political conflict, Perturabo was always considered a child prodigy among the people of Olympia – indeed, his philosophical and scientific works were beyond compare. But then, after his rediscovery by the Emperor and decades of thankless military campaigning on the Great Crusade, the primarch begins to resent his Legion’s place in the Imperium. When word reaches him of turmoil on his adoptive home world, he orders the Iron Warriors to abandon their campaign against the alien Hrud and crush this emerging rebellion by any means necessary…
Perturabo is found on Olympia at the age of a young child with no memory, but the ability to just naturally do and understand things. He is seen as a gift from the gods, but doesn’t believe in them himself. Olympia is based off the history of Ancient Greece (with a little Rome scattered in), in which city states and tyrants abound. Before the Emperor finds Perturabo he uses his knowledge to ensure the success of his adopted father over all others … and he does it well.
Meanwhile during the Great Crusade the Iron Warriors are sent to fight the alien Hrud. The Hrud are able to affect time and they age the Warriors of Iron, their weapons, fortresses and starships.
The Hrud definitely make the book a great read – they are a great example of the benefit of writing aliens that will never need rules. It provides a much larger space for design of the aliens, but also design of their weaponry and methods of attack… and allows space for genuine risk to be introduced to the protagonists. So, I’d love to hear more about the Hrud.
And where does that leave me with Perturabo? This was more of a struggle – I liked the introduction to him (partially because of my interest in Ancient Greek history) and his development into a Warlord of Olympia… but he has no redeeming features. Even Konrad had a (twisted) sense of Justice… Perturabo sends and expects his Iron Warriors for no tactical benefit… staying with their ships (or fortresses) as they are destroyed from under him.
So, I’m glad I read the book, it was well written and interesting, but Perturabo won’t be going on my Christmas card list!
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— Declan & Eeyore
