Dawn of War
by C S Goto
Review by James R.Cain
C S Goto's other novels include the Necromunda novel 'Salvation' and the books 'Warrior Coven' and 'Warrior Brood'. Readers may know his short fiction from the Inferno! magazine.
'Dawn of War' is a militaristic SF novel, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, based on the hit game from THQ. The story follows the Third Company of Blood Ravens Space Marines as they attempt to save the planet Tartarus from orks. The local Imperial Guard defence is falling to the green-skin invasion, and even as the Space Marines are bolstering their battle-lines, chaos renegades and the alien eldar show their hand.
Captain Gabriel Angelos of the Blood Ravens leads his Space Marines along a bloody trail tracking the eldar as they engage the chaos forces of the Alpha Legion. Why are the eldar on Tartarus? What are chaos marines doing on the planet, and is it coincidence that their presence coincides with the invasion of greenskins? Captain Gabriel Angelos has too many questions, and not enough answers it seems, and time is running out. Imperial inquisitor Mordecai Toth arrives on Tartarus and orders the Blood Ravens to withdraw. A warp storm is descending and the space marines are in danger of being trapped on the planet. But why is an inquisitor on Tartarus at all? What is the mystery of Tartarus's past?
'Dawn of War' is a solid story of battle-driven action as the Blood Ravens progress from one fight to the next. My only criticism would be that I never felt any real threat to the Blood Ravens; the marines pretty-much progress from one victory to another. Sure they take the odd loss here or there, but in the most part the true extent of their casualties in implied rather than shown. That aside though, the story has layers of complexity and it's enjoyable watching it unfold. As far as action goes, C S Goto delivers. It's a book that will appeal to fans of the computer game, Warhammer 40,000 and militiaristic SF.
Publisher: Black Flame
ISBN: 1-84416-152-8 - Paperback (412 pages)