Book Review: Legends of the Space Marines
Legends of the Space Marines is the second anthology of space marine stories released by Black Library, and I just so happen to have found a copy lying around.
I didn’t really know what to expect when I cracked this one open. Its got stories from a wide variety of authors, only a few of which I have actually read anything from. Even more so, most of my Black Library experience has been with books about the guard or inquisitors. Regardless, I generally like short stories, so I got down to some serious reading.
Unfortunately, Hell Night, the first story in the book, was mediocre at best. Any criticisms of grammar or prose aside, the story just didn’t feel like it was about space marines. It would have worked pretty well if it had been about an Inquisitor and his retinue, but I did not feel like I was reading about the mighty deeds of the Salamanders.
However, the next story, Cover of Darkness, was reassuringly good. It followed a squad of White Scars on a dangerous mission through inhospitable terrain undertaken not only for its strategic importance, but also for the sake of honor. This was what I was wanting to see.
From there, the stories in the book only get better. The Relic showed me the honor and courage of the sons of dorn, and Twelve Wolves treated me to a legend of the Space Wolves told as an Epic. After that, The Returned was an interesting psychological drama as well as a look into the fluff of the Doom Eagles. Consequences was a short story taking place in between two of the Ultramarines novels by Graham McNeill, and has me interested in reading the rest of the series. The Last Detail is possibly my favorite story of the book, as it shows a battle of the 41st millennium from a perspective rarely seen and gives a glimpse at the kind of mettle the Space Marines are made of.
The Trial of the Mantis Warriors is a cool look into the aftermath of the Badab war, and is followed up by what might be my second favorite story of the book: Orphans of the Kraken follows the exploits of a ‘Salvation Squad’ of the Scythes of the Emperor. For those not in the know, the Scythes were nearly destroyed by Hive Fleet Kraken. The story covers the aftermath of that destruction, and what it means to the chapter. Very cool. The last story in the book, At Gaius Point, gives us some insight into the minds and practices of the Flesh Tearers, and by extension, the Blood Angels. It makes for a satisfying end to the anthology.
All in all, I really liked the book, and if you like Space Marines, you could do much worse than to pick it up.
~Has any one else read this one? What did you think? Also, I haven’t had the chance to read the preceding anthology, Heroes of the Space Marines. Was that one any good?
