Know No fear: The Battle of Calth

[Jmaximum]

Just bought the book, and about 100 pages in.
HOLY FRIKKIN WOW is it awesome! Abnett has outdone himself. The writing is visceral, and you can just feel the despair, shock, and uncertainty oozing from the pages.
No spilers please, as I am nowhere near done with the book.

What has me a little confused is the cover: is that an ultramarine, fighting a word bearer in the open void space without his helmet on? and what the hell is in his hand????

[wittdooley]

You'll find out :-D. It's worth it.

[Jmaximum]

I was more curious as to why he portrayed in the void of space with no helmet on. Seems like there would be some issues there...

[wittdooley]

Without spoiling too much:

The larger Capital Ships have a thin atmosphere around them so that servitors can work on the ships and not die, so breathing isn't the issue. It's the cold that is more the problem. (This is all explained in the novel)

That picture is of Guilliman. And Abnett even has the regular Ultramarines comment incredulously on it. Its a fantastic scene, and I think once you read it, you'll have much less problem with it :D.

[Jmaximum]

Ah. The fact that its a primarch does indeed make it ok. But what is up with the super extended forearm?

[Kaika87]

Ah. The fact that its a primarch does indeed make it ok. But what is up with the super extended forearm?

I was pretty damn sure he was kicking, thus making that his leg.

[Jmaximum]

I guess that cover will be one of the greater mysteries of the 40k universe.


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Now, Henry Zhou, wtf?
Oll Peerson is 44,000+ years old!?!?!?!?? Who the hell is this guy? it is clear he is part of the Cabal, but still...
Is that a warp rift or webway portal he opens at the end? Where did they go?
What happened to Calth: is it now a demon world, is it back with the Imperium?
Loads of questions, but let's start with these.

[imperialsavant]

;) Yes this book just grabbed me by the scruff of the neck & wont let go.
Just got to find more time to read it. I am about 40 pages in & Dan Abnett has written in a totally different way for this novel. Its almost like reading instant Battle reports. AWESOME!

[Jmaximum]

Just want to go on record and say I now realize Henry Zhou DID NOT write Know No Fear. I know Abnett did. I am currently reading Zhou's trilogy (the Bastion Wars), and for some reason got the authors confused in my head. Therefore Im an idiot. Problem solved.
But, would still like some thoughts/answers on what I was asking about for Know No Fear.

[wittdooley]

Just want to go on record and say I now realize Henry Zhou DID NOT write Know No Fear. I know Abnett did. I am currently reading Zhou's trilogy (the Bastion Wars), and for some reason got the authors confused in my head. Therefore Im an idiot. Problem solved.
But, would still like some thoughts/answers on what I was asking about for Know No Fear.

I can see why you'd get it confused. Zhou's books are, IMO, very, very good. Very visceral, very military style. Know No Fear has that same feel.

As for the new Cabal stuff. Holy crap, right? Supposedly, according to 40k Lexicanum, Oll seems to be a sainted human that interjected during Horus' siege of Terra that interjected and helped the Emperor survive. Or something like that.

But more interesting: dude ripped a webway right into space! WTF! All I could think of was, "man, that's some Doctor Who" **** goin on right there. Can't wait to find out more.

Calth is again part of the Ultramarine's domain. I guess the remaining Ultras there eventually purge it, but most of the surface is still a lifeless rock as far as I know. Everyone lives underground.

[Jmaximum]

Insane stuff indeed, Witt!
And apparently he is 44,000+ years old (pg 327, just passed halfway down the page).
When did he intervene on the Emperor's behalf???

[wittdooley]

I had to look it up myself. Old, old fluff: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Ollanius_Pius#.T2GLdxB5mSM

[iheartgrimdark]

Just finished KNF. Loved it. Abnett really did a good job of making the XIII a bit more human and the XVII less whiney and more feral.

[Sindamar]

I loved the bit that explains the origin of a certain part of Space Marine iconography :)

[ArchonPhelps]

But more interesting: dude ripped a webway right into space! WTF! All I could think of was, "man, that's some Doctor Who" **** goin on right there. Can't wait to find out more.

Haha never heard it better put than a Doctor Who reference

[bladeofdeath3]

One of the best HH books i've read in a while. A Thousand Sons was the last good one I read.

[Quattro]

I really enjoyed the book but I really felt that it left me with far more questions than I started the book with.

[Jmaximum]

I loved the bit that explains the origin of a certain part of Space Marine iconography :)


which part are you talking about?

[Kaika87]

which part are you talking about?

I think he means the red helmet for Ultramarines Sergeants.

[FireHazard]

Oll Persson... 44,000 years old... ol' person...?

Sorry, terrible I know, but I couldn't help thinking that as I read the book.

I also think it is a brilliant book and probably my second favourite of the HH series after Legion (which I have signed by Mr. Abnett, yay!).

[Jmaximum]

Oll Persson... 44,000 years old... ol' person...?

Sorry, terrible I know, but I couldn't help thinking that as I read the book.

I also think it is a brilliant book and probably my second favourite of the HH series after Legion (which I have signed by Mr. Abnett, yay!).

Looking back on this, and reading the Lexicanicum fluff, I think it relates more to 'All Persons of this Earth, are truly one.' Some guy who landed on the moon said that. So perhaps he is the embodiment of humanity or something.