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A Horus Heresy Short Story
READ IT BECAUSE
Catch up with Eidolon, the infamous Lord Commander of the Emperor's Children, as he deals with political intrigue during the Age of Darkness.
THE STORY
Lord Commander Eidolon exalts in his new power, yet even he is subject to the whims of court politics. Bereft of their primarch in the aftermath of Fulgrim's ascension, the Legion has begun to fracture. Eidolon is one of many delegates summoned to a feast to celebrate, to mourn the primarch’s apotheosis, and to discuss what comes next. Eidolon is well aware that most of his rivals consider him to be stunted, broken, and a symbol of the past – but the ambitious Lord Commander holds the support of the Kakophoni, and has ambitions of swelling his ranks further…
READ IT BECAUSE
Catch up with Eidolon, the infamous Lord Commander of the Emperor's Children, as he deals with political intrigue during the Age of Darkness.
THE STORY
Lord Commander Eidolon exalts in his new power, yet even he is subject to the whims of court politics. Bereft of their primarch in the aftermath of Fulgrim's ascension, the Legion has begun to fracture. Eidolon is one of many delegates summoned to a feast to celebrate, to mourn the primarch’s apotheosis, and to discuss what comes next. Eidolon is well aware that most of his rivals consider him to be stunted, broken, and a symbol of the past – but the ambitious Lord Commander holds the support of the Kakophoni, and has ambitions of swelling his ranks further…
ebook
First published February 20, 2023
About the author
Marc Collins
30 books75 followersMarc Collins is a speculative fiction writer from Glasgow, Scotland, covering diverse topics from Norse werewolves to the grim darkness of the far future. When not working in Pathology, he enjoys a dram and pondering our transhuman future, inspired by writers such as Iain M Banks.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 27, 2024
May 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order (https://www.heresyomnibus.com) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras - Now in Immaterium of everything outside the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project working on the Primarchs and other stories, beige the Siege of Terra.
Collins has done the impossible; I actually care about and want more Eidolon adventures, and making it so. Eidolon is the least insufferable guy in the room.
Taking place between Angel Exterminatus and Amor Fati, and The Soul-Severed and Slaves to Darkness, Primacy sees the ranking commanders and their retinues hold a conclave on a warp agri-station on the leadership of the Legion in the absence of their ascended Primarch...
I said this in my review of Eater of Dreams, but it's worth repeating. Collins gives me hope for the future of the Horus Heresy, alongside veterans like the always glorious different, French, and the recently ascended to Veteran status and always horrifically beautiful Annandale.
This didn't absolutely knock my socks off, but I am warming to the new Slaaneshi vibes, and this does genuinely have me chomping at the bit for Collins' Eidolon Characters novel. It's a true testament to the writing of Haspil and Collins that I find myself fascinated by and kinda actually rooting for the Lord Captain, which is a hell of an endeavour.
Eidolon entered the series in Horus Rising and maintained consistent in his foulness for the vast majority of this series, being a character I just hated, rather than loved to hate, like Erebus. The recent stories have elevated him to the Fabius Bile level of hating, but with a morbid fascination, a touch of empathy, and genuinely just enjoying seeing what they get up to among characters around them I only hate a lot more.
The descriptions of the ways the venue has been altered and decorated with Chaotic abandon and Slaaneshi excess are a beautiful nightmare.
This is just a creepy, horrible good time and wririnf this review has pushed me so very close to giving this full marks, but it's so nearly there.
***
I enjoyed this a lot, even more than Amor Fati by Michael F. Haspil, which was still good fun, and they both have me excited for Eidolon's Auric Hammer Horus Heresy Characters novel later this year.
I'll do a proper review when I am less tired and hopefully my shoulder has stopped screaming, but the relief I feel at enjoying a Horus Heresy short story published last year is colossal.
Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), 25 novellas (+2 repeats), Cthonia's Reckoning, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels 1 Primarchs anthology, 3 Characters novels, and 171 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 11+ repeats). Plus, 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).
*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best.
Collins has done the impossible; I actually care about and want more Eidolon adventures, and making it so. Eidolon is the least insufferable guy in the room.
Taking place between Angel Exterminatus and Amor Fati, and The Soul-Severed and Slaves to Darkness, Primacy sees the ranking commanders and their retinues hold a conclave on a warp agri-station on the leadership of the Legion in the absence of their ascended Primarch...
I said this in my review of Eater of Dreams, but it's worth repeating. Collins gives me hope for the future of the Horus Heresy, alongside veterans like the always glorious different, French, and the recently ascended to Veteran status and always horrifically beautiful Annandale.
This didn't absolutely knock my socks off, but I am warming to the new Slaaneshi vibes, and this does genuinely have me chomping at the bit for Collins' Eidolon Characters novel. It's a true testament to the writing of Haspil and Collins that I find myself fascinated by and kinda actually rooting for the Lord Captain, which is a hell of an endeavour.
Eidolon entered the series in Horus Rising and maintained consistent in his foulness for the vast majority of this series, being a character I just hated, rather than loved to hate, like Erebus. The recent stories have elevated him to the Fabius Bile level of hating, but with a morbid fascination, a touch of empathy, and genuinely just enjoying seeing what they get up to among characters around them I only hate a lot more.
The descriptions of the ways the venue has been altered and decorated with Chaotic abandon and Slaaneshi excess are a beautiful nightmare.
This is just a creepy, horrible good time and wririnf this review has pushed me so very close to giving this full marks, but it's so nearly there.
***
I enjoyed this a lot, even more than Amor Fati by Michael F. Haspil, which was still good fun, and they both have me excited for Eidolon's Auric Hammer Horus Heresy Characters novel later this year.
I'll do a proper review when I am less tired and hopefully my shoulder has stopped screaming, but the relief I feel at enjoying a Horus Heresy short story published last year is colossal.
Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), 25 novellas (+2 repeats), Cthonia's Reckoning, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels 1 Primarchs anthology, 3 Characters novels, and 171 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 11+ repeats). Plus, 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).
*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best.
February 25, 2023
This week we got a nice treat with the Black Library Celebration 2023 in the form of the short story Primacy
This is a little short story from Marc Collins previous known for Eater of Dreams in The Horus Heresy, which was another short story, that I thought was quite good!
Anyway this story is set in the aftermath of Fulgrims accession to Deamon Princedom that we saw in Angel Exterminatus, as the IIIrd Legion gather to discuss what they want to do now, do they follow the Primarch, or seek to serve The Warmaster.
Lord Commander Eidolon, the Soul-Severed is considered a bit of a joke by the rest of the Legion, broken and a symbol of the Legions past, but he has given himself fully to the Dark Prince, and presents a third way, another choice, but he will have to prove his way is the best for the Legion.
So this is a nice little story, full of political intrigue and the machinations of the issues the Emperors Children are facing after Fulgrim leaves to join the Great Game, and they find themselves at a crossroads.
There is some action, but its not a great amount, and it works, it compliments the story perfectly.
The descriptions of the IIIrds feats are perfectly disgusting and really show how far they have fallen.
I really hope that the Horus Heresy is kept around as a book setting, because I think Marc could write an amazing novel if given the chance.
5 stars from me!
This is a little short story from Marc Collins previous known for Eater of Dreams in The Horus Heresy, which was another short story, that I thought was quite good!
Anyway this story is set in the aftermath of Fulgrims accession to Deamon Princedom that we saw in Angel Exterminatus, as the IIIrd Legion gather to discuss what they want to do now, do they follow the Primarch, or seek to serve The Warmaster.
Lord Commander Eidolon, the Soul-Severed is considered a bit of a joke by the rest of the Legion, broken and a symbol of the Legions past, but he has given himself fully to the Dark Prince, and presents a third way, another choice, but he will have to prove his way is the best for the Legion.
So this is a nice little story, full of political intrigue and the machinations of the issues the Emperors Children are facing after Fulgrim leaves to join the Great Game, and they find themselves at a crossroads.
There is some action, but its not a great amount, and it works, it compliments the story perfectly.
The descriptions of the IIIrds feats are perfectly disgusting and really show how far they have fallen.
I really hope that the Horus Heresy is kept around as a book setting, because I think Marc could write an amazing novel if given the chance.
5 stars from me!
March 3, 2023
This is *exactly* the sort of thing I want to read in the heresy going forward now that the narrative arc is nearing it’s conclusion; a short that fills in some of the gaps between earlier books, adding depth to important but under-explored characters as well as being very well-written and engaging.
In this short Collins manages to nail the ethos of the III legion, both before, during and beyond the Heresy, no mean feat considering the page count.
In this short Collins manages to nail the ethos of the III legion, both before, during and beyond the Heresy, no mean feat considering the page count.
March 1, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable short story following some of the most interesting Emperors Children characters. The interactions between each is the real joy of the piece and I could happily read plenty more. Hopefully we get more like this.
January 26, 2024
Oh Eidolon, no one likes you. Just accept that. Internalize the fact that everyone cheered and you'll be better off for it.
September 9, 2025
This continues the story of Lord Eidolon. Killed by his father in “The Reflection Crack’d”. Restored to life but left broken and suffering in "Angel Exterminatus", he embraced the pain in “Amor Fati”. And now after seeing his Primarch embrace godhood in “Angel Exterminatus”, he is ready to take charge of his Legion. But there are many who seek to lead the Emperor’s Children in their father’s absence.
Shattered and broken, Eidolon is a disgusting villain of the Heresy, but he is an increasingly fun villain to follow as he rebuilds his strength and asserts himself as leader of the III Legion.
Shattered and broken, Eidolon is a disgusting villain of the Heresy, but he is an increasingly fun villain to follow as he rebuilds his strength and asserts himself as leader of the III Legion.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews