This collection combines two novellas into one volume, exploring different aspects of the Siege of Terra – one from the gene-manipulation labs that ultimately produced the Space Marines, and another about Magnus and his fall to Chaos.
READ IT BECAUSE
These two tales shed light on the Horus Heresy, adding important context to both the creation of the Space Marines and the plight of Magnus, a tragic figure if ever there was one. Both of them offer new insight into the greater war, and feature their own fascinating, if grim, narratives that you won't want to miss.
THE STORY
In Sons of the Selenar, a ship carrying members of the Shattered Legions is diverted to Luna, where they face the harsh reality of what it took to create the original Space Marines.
In Fury of Magnus, the Crimson King seeks a fragment of his soul trapped in the most defended place on Terra – the inner sanctum of the Imperial Palace. While the war rages around him, he must decide for himself if the risk is worth the prospect of restoring himself.
CONTENTS
– Sons of the Selenar (novella) – Fury of Magnus (novella)
Hailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.
I preferred the Magnus storyline to the first one; not sure why they were bundled together as they don't relate thematically other than being Siege of Terra stories but it was nice to explore Magnus even though the symbolism of Alpharius' statue being left up because he might be loyal, who knows? in Fury of Magnus is a bit heavy-fisted by McNeill.
Magnus you big dumb boy liked this a lot, definitely suffers from the issue the whole series has ala having to explain what the crap is going on because you can't remember the previous threads of all these characters