Acsension

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'.  'Ascension' is the sequel to the C S Goto book 'Dawn of War'

In 'Ascension', Captain Gabriel Angelos leads the Blood Ravens space marines to the planet Rahe's Paradise in search of new recruits following their losses in the Tartarus campaign.  There the marines once again find the eldar from the Biel-Tan craftworld led by their nemesis from Tartarus, Farseer Macha.

On Rahe's Paradise, the Blood Ravens have a monastery-outpost under which Father Librarian Jonas Urelie is conducting an archeological dig to learn the secrets of Blood Raven's history.  But has he uncovered something more?  Why do the eldar assassinate the Blood Raven's own Librarian, and kill promising recruits in the marine's Blood Trials?  Then the situation is complicated by the arrival of Sister Ptolemea of the Adepta Sororitas.  It is well known that the Sisters of Battle could be called upon by inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus to investigate charges of heresy.  Who is Sister Ptolemea investigating, and what is the secret of the eldar artefacts uncovered beneath the Blood Raven's outpost?   

I found 'Ascension' to be a worthy sequel to 'Dawn of War'.  In many ways, the book was superior to the previous edition in the series.  C S Goto makes a noteworthy contribution to the eldar lore, and this serves to enrich the confrontation between the eldar and marines.  But the story is about more than a fight between these two adversaries.  Rahe's Paradise has a lost history and the Blood Raven's have a responsibility that they have forgotten.  The necron sleep within the planet and the necron have begun to awake.  

I recommend this book to fans of the 'Dawn of War' computer game, Warhammer 40,000 and militiaristic SF.  It was an enjoyable read.   

Publisher: Black Flame

ISBN: 1-84416-285-0 - Paperback (413 pages)