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Gaunt's Ghosts #3
Necropolis
On the world of Verghast, a grinding war between two hive cities – one loyal to the Imperium, the other fallen to the worship of the Dark Gods – is bolstered by the forces of the Astra Militarum, spearheaded by the Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First and Only. But bitter rivalries and treachery threaten to derail the defence of Vervunhive, and it falls to Gaunt to take command of the Imperial forces and forge victory from an almost certain defeat. This edition includes the additional short story 'In Remembrance', in which Gaunt's Ghosts hunt down enemy guerrilla forces in the ruins of a once-great city.
The return of a classic Gaunt’s Ghosts novel! The Tanith First deploy to Verghast to help break the Chaos siege of Vervunhive. Tanks clash with daemon engines, Imperial Guardsmen make brave last stands and Colonel-Commissar Gaunt steps up and takes control of the war effort, showing for the first time the command abilities that will go on to make him a legend.
The return of a classic Gaunt’s Ghosts novel! The Tanith First deploy to Verghast to help break the Chaos siege of Vervunhive. Tanks clash with daemon engines, Imperial Guardsmen make brave last stands and Colonel-Commissar Gaunt steps up and takes control of the war effort, showing for the first time the command abilities that will go on to make him a legend.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
July 15, 2019
OK hear me out.
I don't often give out perfect ratings, and I'd like to stress that this book has flaws: as usual Abnett rushes the ending, the geography can be confusing, and sometimes it takes itself far too seriously. But for military science fiction this is as good as it gets. Just the right level of cliches, some incredibly imaginative imagery, and a huge amount of action. In fact if I was to isolate one aspect of the book to put on a pedestal, the scale of the action is unlike anything I've read before. This is a story about a city five times the size of London, stacked and rising to a peak several kilometres high, undergoing total, total war. And yet the small details of the war - the civilians, the dispossessed, the ammunition supplies, the sleeping arrangements of the soldiers - are rendered with just enough care to flesh out the whole world.
It's peak Abnett, and peak 40k. I loved it, and if you're already a fan of the 40k universe, you'd be a fool to not check it out. Definitely the high point in my re-read of the entire series so far.
I don't often give out perfect ratings, and I'd like to stress that this book has flaws: as usual Abnett rushes the ending, the geography can be confusing, and sometimes it takes itself far too seriously. But for military science fiction this is as good as it gets. Just the right level of cliches, some incredibly imaginative imagery, and a huge amount of action. In fact if I was to isolate one aspect of the book to put on a pedestal, the scale of the action is unlike anything I've read before. This is a story about a city five times the size of London, stacked and rising to a peak several kilometres high, undergoing total, total war. And yet the small details of the war - the civilians, the dispossessed, the ammunition supplies, the sleeping arrangements of the soldiers - are rendered with just enough care to flesh out the whole world.
It's peak Abnett, and peak 40k. I loved it, and if you're already a fan of the 40k universe, you'd be a fool to not check it out. Definitely the high point in my re-read of the entire series so far.
May 19, 2022
The Warhammer 40k setting, in addition to being as bleak as anything you might come up with, is also purposely anachronistic and unique (in equal measure). Consider: this takes place roughly 39,000 to 40,000 years in the future, but tanks (as massive and destructive as they are portrayed here) still run on diesel. Melee weapons, such as swords, often feature in combat. Mining on distant colony planets is reliant on manual labour, and so on and so forth.
This essentially sets the scene for the slaughterfest that is Necropolis. It is a rough and dirty and bloody business. Not totally dissimilar, I suppose, to the kind of Total War scenario of the Second World War, but condensed into roughly a month or so, and centered on a single (albeit incredibly large) city. The carnage depicted here is quite appalling. Now, I know there are Sci-Fi novels with higher body counts, but these usually revolve around space warfare and planet-klling weaponry, whereas Necropolis deals with infantry tactics, close quarter combat and tank warfare. Boots on the ground, so to speak.
It's powerful stuff, and Abnett is quite adept in dealing with multiple viewpoints and getting the reader to care for the different role players. Having said that: this is also where the novel gets challenging. There is quite a large number of divisions and regiments and units and companies and the like being shuffled around the board here, and trying to keep track of exactly what is going on can be a bit troublesome.
Add in some intrigue, back-stabbing between factions, politics, etc, and you get what is probably the best Gaunt's Ghosts novel thus far (this being the third book in the series, but the first (it seems) that was actually conceived as a stand-alone novel).
This essentially sets the scene for the slaughterfest that is Necropolis. It is a rough and dirty and bloody business. Not totally dissimilar, I suppose, to the kind of Total War scenario of the Second World War, but condensed into roughly a month or so, and centered on a single (albeit incredibly large) city. The carnage depicted here is quite appalling. Now, I know there are Sci-Fi novels with higher body counts, but these usually revolve around space warfare and planet-klling weaponry, whereas Necropolis deals with infantry tactics, close quarter combat and tank warfare. Boots on the ground, so to speak.
It's powerful stuff, and Abnett is quite adept in dealing with multiple viewpoints and getting the reader to care for the different role players. Having said that: this is also where the novel gets challenging. There is quite a large number of divisions and regiments and units and companies and the like being shuffled around the board here, and trying to keep track of exactly what is going on can be a bit troublesome.
Add in some intrigue, back-stabbing between factions, politics, etc, and you get what is probably the best Gaunt's Ghosts novel thus far (this being the third book in the series, but the first (it seems) that was actually conceived as a stand-alone novel).
October 14, 2025
Necropolis, the third book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, proves Abnett is anything but formulaic. Each book in the series so far varies dramatically in presentation, content and narrative style. Here, Abnett starts oscillating among various people living in Vervunhive, a massive hive city in the Sabbat System (Gaunt's Ghosts do not even make an appearance until more than a third of the way in). A normal day gets interrupted by warning sirens. A test? What gives? The command structure of the city soon fears a new 'trade war' has started with a rival Hive on the planet. Yet, this is no ordinary trade war!
Some 90 years ago, a trade war did occur between the two hive cities, but the shear mass of the opposing army gives pause-- the rival hive could not foot such a huge force! Well, it turns out the rival hive became tainted by Chaos, and you know what that means! Vervunhive does manage to contact the Imperium and the Warmaster in the Sabbat system sends a few ships their way; at the time they were sent, however, they did not realize the taint...
Dark and grim, the grizzly battle on Vervunhive stands out as a masterful set piece by Abnett. So many moving parts! Abnett also tosses in some intrigue here, both among the ruling class in Vervunhive and among the Imperial forces, as bluebloods arrive along with the Tanith. Who should be in charge of the city's defenses? What should the battle plan be? What happens when the excrement hits the spinning blades? Good stuff and I am primed for more! 4 dark stars.
Some 90 years ago, a trade war did occur between the two hive cities, but the shear mass of the opposing army gives pause-- the rival hive could not foot such a huge force! Well, it turns out the rival hive became tainted by Chaos, and you know what that means! Vervunhive does manage to contact the Imperium and the Warmaster in the Sabbat system sends a few ships their way; at the time they were sent, however, they did not realize the taint...
Dark and grim, the grizzly battle on Vervunhive stands out as a masterful set piece by Abnett. So many moving parts! Abnett also tosses in some intrigue here, both among the ruling class in Vervunhive and among the Imperial forces, as bluebloods arrive along with the Tanith. Who should be in charge of the city's defenses? What should the battle plan be? What happens when the excrement hits the spinning blades? Good stuff and I am primed for more! 4 dark stars.
May 29, 2019
-Entre combate y combate, muchos y de todo tipo, despliegue de nuevos personajes.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Necrópolis (publicación original: Necropolis, 2000) nos lleva hasta el planeta Verghast donde la Fábrica Ferrozoica de La Colmena, antiguo enemigo de La Colmena Vervun en los tiempos de la Guerra del Comercio y ahora socio, ataca de manera súbita a su colmena comercial hermana. La vanguardia de la ofensiva hace daño, pero las tropas que vienen detrás son tantas, una cantidad casi imposible, que los augurios no son buenos. Como La Colmena Vervun es un proveedor estratégico de material militar para las fuerzas imperiales que combaten en la Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat, el Señor de la Guerra Macaroth esquiva las voluntades del gobierno planetario local y manda las fuerzas más cercanas, las desplegadas en Monthax. Entre los seis regimientos de Infantería de la Guardia Imperial y los tres grupos blindados que llegan al planeta de inmediato para oponerse a la ofensiva de Zoica, se encuentran el coronel-comisario Ibram Gaunt y sus Fantasmas. Tercer libro de la serie Los Fantasmas de Gaunt.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Necrópolis (publicación original: Necropolis, 2000) nos lleva hasta el planeta Verghast donde la Fábrica Ferrozoica de La Colmena, antiguo enemigo de La Colmena Vervun en los tiempos de la Guerra del Comercio y ahora socio, ataca de manera súbita a su colmena comercial hermana. La vanguardia de la ofensiva hace daño, pero las tropas que vienen detrás son tantas, una cantidad casi imposible, que los augurios no son buenos. Como La Colmena Vervun es un proveedor estratégico de material militar para las fuerzas imperiales que combaten en la Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat, el Señor de la Guerra Macaroth esquiva las voluntades del gobierno planetario local y manda las fuerzas más cercanas, las desplegadas en Monthax. Entre los seis regimientos de Infantería de la Guardia Imperial y los tres grupos blindados que llegan al planeta de inmediato para oponerse a la ofensiva de Zoica, se encuentran el coronel-comisario Ibram Gaunt y sus Fantasmas. Tercer libro de la serie Los Fantasmas de Gaunt.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
August 4, 2011
It is funny that Abnett states that he really got his groove writing about the Tanith Regiment by this novel in his introduction to the first Omnibus, The Founding. Funny because it is so true. Here the characters are matured and defined and stuck in Hell. The Ghosts don't show for the first 50 pages of the book, and when they do it is unheralded and anonymously as per usual.
Necropolis is a story of a knock dawn, drag out, to the last man defense of a city. The body count is in the 100,000s and Abnett makes you care about each one. This is the last novel of the first Founding Tanith, much like the third book in the series about the Soul Drinkers Space Marines, another orphaned army group, the Tanith are given new troopers from the people of the very city they defended with their lives.
If you like movies like the Alamo, and Zulu, you will love this book of an epic siege.
Necropolis is a story of a knock dawn, drag out, to the last man defense of a city. The body count is in the 100,000s and Abnett makes you care about each one. This is the last novel of the first Founding Tanith, much like the third book in the series about the Soul Drinkers Space Marines, another orphaned army group, the Tanith are given new troopers from the people of the very city they defended with their lives.
If you like movies like the Alamo, and Zulu, you will love this book of an epic siege.
August 26, 2021
I listened to the audiobook and just didn't find the story enjoyable or interesting. It's not atrocious and Abnett is a fine writer, but I just didn't find anything here to hold my interest. The scene: set in the grim dark Warhammer 40K universe, a tremendous hive-city is under assault by the forces of Chaos from an adjacent hive city on the same continent. There are some interesting pieces to that setup - the hive cities are enormous self-sufficient factories that produce people and materials for the Imperium of Man. And Chaos, as a malevolent force lurking in all societies, is one of the things that drew me to the 40K setting.
But none of that is too well-explored or utilized in any depth. The setup is also the plot: will the city survive the onslaught? The plot is just a series of "and then" items as attacks are repulsed or ground lost and various battles are won/lost and lots of people die on both sides. A lot happens, but none if it is grounded in anything particularly meaningful. The hive city is theoretically enormous, but really it doesn't feel that different from a large medieval walled city/fortress: a few gates and walls to protect and select number of habitations/dungeons within. The size is remarked upon, but isn't actually important to the structure of the plot, other than the fact that different bits of the battle happen in different places. And a lot of people die because it's war in a crowded city, but again, that's not unique to the hive city, it's just how wars work. Nothing in the book capitalizes on the setting's hyperbolic scale.
Similarly, the forces of Chaos are both mindless zombies and terrifying tacticians. Modern warfare (or this brand of future warfare which is written in a style mimicking 20th century warfare with tanks and artillery and infantry charges) relies heavily on advanced technology, logistics, and coordination. The forces of Chaos are at once an unthinking mob who don't surrender and fight with no regard to their own lives and who are also immaculately coordinated and able to pull off complicated strategies with advanced technology over and over. There's an evil "mary sue" quality to them in their seeming perfection. But then at the end, (spoiler) they are defeated because of a decapitation strike that kills the enemy commander, leaving the remaining forces unable to communicate properly and also seemingly somewhat pacified without the direct influence of the one directing the evil spirit animating them.
We don't particularly care for the city because it's filled with civilians (who we are never introduced to) and fighting feudal lords who are half corrupt, half short-sighted and a bunch of whom actively hinder the war effort. Towards the 60% mark or so of the book, the "High Master" of the city falls to a psychic attack by Chaos and lowers the shields protecting the city, resulting in an artillery assault that is described in rich, gory detail as it kills many named characters. I didn't remember who basically any of them were because the cast of characters was too large and the things they did were not particularly meaningful.
Did Gaunt do much character growth? Did anyone else? Did we as leaders learn anything interesting about the forces of Chaos or see how such a warping of the mind takes place? Were there any engaging plot twists or even curves? No on all counts. A bunch of people fought, a lot of them died, the bad guys were defeated, but too many of the good guys died to call it a victory since the city was destroyed. That's it, the end. A couple women were introduced and inducted into the set of characters which is nicer than the 100% male previous book I read in the series, but that doesn't really give too much depth/a fuller context. I accidentally read this out of order reading Gaunt's Ghosts 1 and now this one, and I'm not motivated to go back and read the second one anytime soon.
But none of that is too well-explored or utilized in any depth. The setup is also the plot: will the city survive the onslaught? The plot is just a series of "and then" items as attacks are repulsed or ground lost and various battles are won/lost and lots of people die on both sides. A lot happens, but none if it is grounded in anything particularly meaningful. The hive city is theoretically enormous, but really it doesn't feel that different from a large medieval walled city/fortress: a few gates and walls to protect and select number of habitations/dungeons within. The size is remarked upon, but isn't actually important to the structure of the plot, other than the fact that different bits of the battle happen in different places. And a lot of people die because it's war in a crowded city, but again, that's not unique to the hive city, it's just how wars work. Nothing in the book capitalizes on the setting's hyperbolic scale.
Similarly, the forces of Chaos are both mindless zombies and terrifying tacticians. Modern warfare (or this brand of future warfare which is written in a style mimicking 20th century warfare with tanks and artillery and infantry charges) relies heavily on advanced technology, logistics, and coordination. The forces of Chaos are at once an unthinking mob who don't surrender and fight with no regard to their own lives and who are also immaculately coordinated and able to pull off complicated strategies with advanced technology over and over. There's an evil "mary sue" quality to them in their seeming perfection. But then at the end, (spoiler) they are defeated because of a decapitation strike that kills the enemy commander, leaving the remaining forces unable to communicate properly and also seemingly somewhat pacified without the direct influence of the one directing the evil spirit animating them.
We don't particularly care for the city because it's filled with civilians (who we are never introduced to) and fighting feudal lords who are half corrupt, half short-sighted and a bunch of whom actively hinder the war effort. Towards the 60% mark or so of the book, the "High Master" of the city falls to a psychic attack by Chaos and lowers the shields protecting the city, resulting in an artillery assault that is described in rich, gory detail as it kills many named characters. I didn't remember who basically any of them were because the cast of characters was too large and the things they did were not particularly meaningful.
Did Gaunt do much character growth? Did anyone else? Did we as leaders learn anything interesting about the forces of Chaos or see how such a warping of the mind takes place? Were there any engaging plot twists or even curves? No on all counts. A bunch of people fought, a lot of them died, the bad guys were defeated, but too many of the good guys died to call it a victory since the city was destroyed. That's it, the end. A couple women were introduced and inducted into the set of characters which is nicer than the 100% male previous book I read in the series, but that doesn't really give too much depth/a fuller context. I accidentally read this out of order reading Gaunt's Ghosts 1 and now this one, and I'm not motivated to go back and read the second one anytime soon.
May 3, 2021
4.5 Stars.
Still absolutely shamelessly enjoying these books. Solid characters and great sense of scale but can be a little tough to follow exactly whats happening at some fast moving points. That's probably an issue caused by the audiobook though to be fair.
Still absolutely shamelessly enjoying these books. Solid characters and great sense of scale but can be a little tough to follow exactly whats happening at some fast moving points. That's probably an issue caused by the audiobook though to be fair.
February 10, 2016
Great read. Review to follow soon.
September 25, 2025
In August, I began reading The Founding, the Gaunt’s Ghosts Omnibus by Dan Abnett. Prior to picking up this book I was unfamiliar with the Warhammer 40,000 world and its novels. That is no longer the case. ‘The Founding’ Omnibus contains 3 novels and 1 short story about the charismatic, rock-em sock-em Commisar-General Ibram Gaunt and his own personal regiment of Imperial army specialists: The Tanith First and Only, a specialized group of mercenaries who are skilled in the art of war. The Empire sends in Gaunt’s Ghosts (GG) for the really dirty jobs that no one else wants or asks for, as they engage in battle after battle throughout the Sabbat Worlds, a war plagued theater, where intergalactic war is being waged against the evil plague known simply as ‘Chaos,’ an evil army full of half-man, half-robot zealots bent on destroying humanity.
Plain and simple, these are Science Fiction war books, with a little bit of character work sprinkled in for good measure. They are fast paced, exciting to imagine, and fun to read. Book 1 was ‘First and Only.’ It focused on how the Ghosts got their name, and how Ibram Gaunt came to be in charge of them. It’s engaging and fun. The author says in the Prelude that it was his first ever novel, and it shows a little, but for the most part it didn’t keep me from enjoying the story or from falling in love with Gaunt’s Ghosts.
Book 2: ‘Ghostmaker’ is more like a series of short stories, 10-12 page chapters, with each focusing on one of the Ghosts, their personality, something interesting that makes them different than each other, and some tidbit on what they really think about the boss Ibram Gaunt. I really liked this one, and it helps you build attachments to each of the Ghosts and their unique and quirky personalities. Some Ghosts you love, like Milo, Try Again Bragg, and Corbec. Others you hate, like Rawne. And some are just strange or sad, like Larkin and Dorden. But through all of the Ghost biographies, the one who is the common thread for these men, is Commisar Ibram Gaunt, and by the end of this book, you’ll end up loving him and rooting for him and his Ghosts. If you don’t, then maybe these books aren’t for you.
Book 3: ‘Necropolis’ is the final novel of the Omnibus. This story is by far the most well rounded book of the 3. It feels like a well thought-out, full fledged epic novel. Verghast (a massive industrial bee-hive shaped city with a huge spine tower) is under attack by their fellow city Ferrozoica, due to a trade war. Things get dicey in the city so they call for Imperial help, which includes Gaunt’s Ghosts, and several other army regiments. Political intrigue, trench warfare, war time tactics, and back stabbing chicanery ensue. This book was really great. And that’s with Gaunt’s Ghosts not even showing up until like page 50, because the author is setting up all the other characters, world building, and setting the stage for what ends up being a wonderfully told story. It was also very intense and hard to read at times. War is hell, and Dan Abnett does not hold back in describing the atrocities of war. It can get a little overwhelming at times reading about innocent citizens, women and children being shot, blown up, burned, drowned, lasered, cauterized, and even vaporized into red mist. The carnage takes it toll on the reader and on the characters in the story. But Dan Abnett does break up the carnage with excellent character moments and creative side stories that make Necropolis and the battle for the city of Verghast a real page-turner.
Book 4 is a short story: ‘In Remembrance.’ This is tacked on to the end of the book, and takes place a few days after Necropolis. It wraps up some loose threads and provides a change of pace from all of the death and destruction. It’s very thoughtful provoking, and well written, albeit short.
Overall, I highly recommend picking up ‘The Founding’ Omnibus of Gaunt’s Ghosts. People online rave about the next 10 books. Apparently the rest of the books are available in Omnibus form as well. I look forward to reading them next. But for now, if you’re toying with picking up a Dan Abnett book, do it, he knows what he is doing, and I am shocked I haven’t heard of him before now.
########################################
Edit::So I have since discovered that the Warhammer 40K Universe is based out of the United Kingdom in Nottingham, England. All of the stories/books are published through and by The Black Library, which is a division of Games Workshop; all located in the UK. So that’s a big reason why many of these novels are hard to find in the US and why I had never heard of them until recently. Always a joy to discover a new author from a different country who writes my favorite genre of books.
Plain and simple, these are Science Fiction war books, with a little bit of character work sprinkled in for good measure. They are fast paced, exciting to imagine, and fun to read. Book 1 was ‘First and Only.’ It focused on how the Ghosts got their name, and how Ibram Gaunt came to be in charge of them. It’s engaging and fun. The author says in the Prelude that it was his first ever novel, and it shows a little, but for the most part it didn’t keep me from enjoying the story or from falling in love with Gaunt’s Ghosts.
Book 2: ‘Ghostmaker’ is more like a series of short stories, 10-12 page chapters, with each focusing on one of the Ghosts, their personality, something interesting that makes them different than each other, and some tidbit on what they really think about the boss Ibram Gaunt. I really liked this one, and it helps you build attachments to each of the Ghosts and their unique and quirky personalities. Some Ghosts you love, like Milo, Try Again Bragg, and Corbec. Others you hate, like Rawne. And some are just strange or sad, like Larkin and Dorden. But through all of the Ghost biographies, the one who is the common thread for these men, is Commisar Ibram Gaunt, and by the end of this book, you’ll end up loving him and rooting for him and his Ghosts. If you don’t, then maybe these books aren’t for you.
Book 3: ‘Necropolis’ is the final novel of the Omnibus. This story is by far the most well rounded book of the 3. It feels like a well thought-out, full fledged epic novel. Verghast (a massive industrial bee-hive shaped city with a huge spine tower) is under attack by their fellow city Ferrozoica, due to a trade war. Things get dicey in the city so they call for Imperial help, which includes Gaunt’s Ghosts, and several other army regiments. Political intrigue, trench warfare, war time tactics, and back stabbing chicanery ensue. This book was really great. And that’s with Gaunt’s Ghosts not even showing up until like page 50, because the author is setting up all the other characters, world building, and setting the stage for what ends up being a wonderfully told story. It was also very intense and hard to read at times. War is hell, and Dan Abnett does not hold back in describing the atrocities of war. It can get a little overwhelming at times reading about innocent citizens, women and children being shot, blown up, burned, drowned, lasered, cauterized, and even vaporized into red mist. The carnage takes it toll on the reader and on the characters in the story. But Dan Abnett does break up the carnage with excellent character moments and creative side stories that make Necropolis and the battle for the city of Verghast a real page-turner.
Book 4 is a short story: ‘In Remembrance.’ This is tacked on to the end of the book, and takes place a few days after Necropolis. It wraps up some loose threads and provides a change of pace from all of the death and destruction. It’s very thoughtful provoking, and well written, albeit short.
Overall, I highly recommend picking up ‘The Founding’ Omnibus of Gaunt’s Ghosts. People online rave about the next 10 books. Apparently the rest of the books are available in Omnibus form as well. I look forward to reading them next. But for now, if you’re toying with picking up a Dan Abnett book, do it, he knows what he is doing, and I am shocked I haven’t heard of him before now.
########################################
Edit::So I have since discovered that the Warhammer 40K Universe is based out of the United Kingdom in Nottingham, England. All of the stories/books are published through and by The Black Library, which is a division of Games Workshop; all located in the UK. So that’s a big reason why many of these novels are hard to find in the US and why I had never heard of them until recently. Always a joy to discover a new author from a different country who writes my favorite genre of books.
December 7, 2024
Necropolis had me hook line and sinker the whole way through. I completely devoured the last 150 pages (one day of the siege) in one afternoon. It hit all the right notes of what Warhammer is to me. Warfare, warp abominations slain with lasguns/boltguns/powerswords and courage in the face of an uncaring and horrific world.
September 25, 2017
Welll isn't this the best Ghost novel so far !
This book is about heroism heroism cowardice cowardice heroism cowardice HEROISM HEROISM HEROISM.
Great female characters too, much needed.
This book is about heroism heroism cowardice cowardice heroism cowardice HEROISM HEROISM HEROISM.
Great female characters too, much needed.
May 30, 2024
From the beginning of the book all the way through, I wondered if there was the genre "war-opera" or "millitary-opera". I went with the former for shelving it, because that really represents best what's going on here. There is a war and you got a pretty big cast of characters, telling the tale from many different perspectives. I think this is a wonderful, powerful device to relate the scale of a war and the sheer size of hive cities.
December 27, 2021
Necropolis
At my parent's house for the holidays and with a stack of new books around me, instead I picked up up a dog eared and yellowing paperback bought in 2003. I'm not at all surprised. In all the ways that coming home is a reversion to childhood with all the comforts and quarrels that entails, picking up Necropolis is like rewatching a favorite action movie for the umpteenth time.
Which is fitting given the subject matter. For those of you who don't know, Gaunt's Ghosts is essentially Sharpe's Rifles IN SPAAAAAACE. Stuck in the grim dark world of the 41st Millennium, Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and his plucky regiment of survivors from the destroyed planet of Space Scotland travel from battlefield to battlefield.
Vervunhive finds them trapped in a city wide siege that blends tactics and trappings from a medieval castle, World War II, and science fiction/near fantasy given the presence of actual demons and whatnot. Since that's pretty much the Warhammer 40k setting in a nutshell, you probably already know if you're into that kind of thing or not. It's all bombast, grim dark spectacle, and explosions as far as the eye can see. The kind of book one should read with a good thumping orchestra or the Red Army Choir blaring in the background.
Such a spectacle it is too. While plenty of authors have written for the 40k setting, none have ever brought it to life so well as Dan Abnett. What gives Abnett's work such staying power isn't just the punchy, meaty action sequences. Especially in Necropolis that's certainly a part of it though. But for all of the weird techno babble Vervunhive feels lived in. Every weird detail just pulses with life, and it feels like Abnett's got an entire backstory for each character or suburb just tucked up his sleeve. As one example, the energy shield over the city walls almost has moods. At times crackling with green light, at times rippling in a haze, or just blocking out rainstorms as they pass through. When the shield turns on or off, ambient temperatures swing wildly. Abnett really hones this to perfection in the Eisenhorn books, but here it's just window dressing on the warzone.
If I've got some qualms, it's that the book's ending is a little too neat, which is often Abnett's problem. Also, while this book won't clear the Bechdel Test, it's also the first to have any female characters with some development. It's an incremental improvement.
But those are minor. If you ever wanted to pick up a book from the Warhammer franchise, this isn't a bad one to start with at all.
At my parent's house for the holidays and with a stack of new books around me, instead I picked up up a dog eared and yellowing paperback bought in 2003. I'm not at all surprised. In all the ways that coming home is a reversion to childhood with all the comforts and quarrels that entails, picking up Necropolis is like rewatching a favorite action movie for the umpteenth time.
Which is fitting given the subject matter. For those of you who don't know, Gaunt's Ghosts is essentially Sharpe's Rifles IN SPAAAAAACE. Stuck in the grim dark world of the 41st Millennium, Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and his plucky regiment of survivors from the destroyed planet of Space Scotland travel from battlefield to battlefield.
Vervunhive finds them trapped in a city wide siege that blends tactics and trappings from a medieval castle, World War II, and science fiction/near fantasy given the presence of actual demons and whatnot. Since that's pretty much the Warhammer 40k setting in a nutshell, you probably already know if you're into that kind of thing or not. It's all bombast, grim dark spectacle, and explosions as far as the eye can see. The kind of book one should read with a good thumping orchestra or the Red Army Choir blaring in the background.
Such a spectacle it is too. While plenty of authors have written for the 40k setting, none have ever brought it to life so well as Dan Abnett. What gives Abnett's work such staying power isn't just the punchy, meaty action sequences. Especially in Necropolis that's certainly a part of it though. But for all of the weird techno babble Vervunhive feels lived in. Every weird detail just pulses with life, and it feels like Abnett's got an entire backstory for each character or suburb just tucked up his sleeve. As one example, the energy shield over the city walls almost has moods. At times crackling with green light, at times rippling in a haze, or just blocking out rainstorms as they pass through. When the shield turns on or off, ambient temperatures swing wildly. Abnett really hones this to perfection in the Eisenhorn books, but here it's just window dressing on the warzone.
If I've got some qualms, it's that the book's ending is a little too neat, which is often Abnett's problem. Also, while this book won't clear the Bechdel Test, it's also the first to have any female characters with some development. It's an incremental improvement.
But those are minor. If you ever wanted to pick up a book from the Warhammer franchise, this isn't a bad one to start with at all.
October 18, 2022
This is my third ever Warhammer book, and I still wouldn't consider myself a 40k fan exactly, but I love the more grounded, somewhat realistic approach to the Gaunt's Ghosts series, so I keep coming back for more.
I cannot overstate how important it is that you listen to this as an audiobook rather than read it. Toby Longworth is incredible at narrating this (and most of the other books in the series), and he really does the Warhammer setting justice.
The writing style is great, and the characters and overall plot are fantastic. I especially love how it's set on one planet for the entire book, a far cry from the planet-hopping from the previous two books. I found it sometimes a bit confusing in the previous two books to try to remember what each planet they mention was like, so keeping this grounded to one planet, and one mega city was a great idea.
My biggest gripe is the massive plot hole surrounding Salvador Sondar, the High Master of the city of Vervunhive.
SPOILERS INCOMING:
When the enemy city attacks, Sondar kills Marshal Gnide and stops him from activating the shield surrounding the city.
I find it odd that nobody really seems to do anything about this, even when the city is being bombed and they do ask why the shields not up, but don't go to see why for themselves.
For the next 30ish days as the war rages on, Sondar is still in control of the city defences, but is corrupted by Chaos, leading him to eventually turn off the shield and allow the city to be almost destroyed.
It's only at this point that Gaunt and some others decide to confront Sondar and remove him from power - WHY HAS THIS TAKEN A MONTH?!
To allow a barely coherent old man who is being kept alive by machines to have full control over the city defences during a war, not to mention after he has murdered the Marshal, and to ignore or forget about this for approximately a month is a massive oversight and plot hole.
I still really enjoyed this entry and will continue to listen to Gaunt's Ghosts, but that was bugging me the entire time.
I cannot overstate how important it is that you listen to this as an audiobook rather than read it. Toby Longworth is incredible at narrating this (and most of the other books in the series), and he really does the Warhammer setting justice.
The writing style is great, and the characters and overall plot are fantastic. I especially love how it's set on one planet for the entire book, a far cry from the planet-hopping from the previous two books. I found it sometimes a bit confusing in the previous two books to try to remember what each planet they mention was like, so keeping this grounded to one planet, and one mega city was a great idea.
My biggest gripe is the massive plot hole surrounding Salvador Sondar, the High Master of the city of Vervunhive.
SPOILERS INCOMING:
When the enemy city attacks, Sondar kills Marshal Gnide and stops him from activating the shield surrounding the city.
I find it odd that nobody really seems to do anything about this, even when the city is being bombed and they do ask why the shields not up, but don't go to see why for themselves.
For the next 30ish days as the war rages on, Sondar is still in control of the city defences, but is corrupted by Chaos, leading him to eventually turn off the shield and allow the city to be almost destroyed.
It's only at this point that Gaunt and some others decide to confront Sondar and remove him from power - WHY HAS THIS TAKEN A MONTH?!
To allow a barely coherent old man who is being kept alive by machines to have full control over the city defences during a war, not to mention after he has murdered the Marshal, and to ignore or forget about this for approximately a month is a massive oversight and plot hole.
I still really enjoyed this entry and will continue to listen to Gaunt's Ghosts, but that was bugging me the entire time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2025
I've seen this book the best of all books in the series. It has a rating of 4.38. Usually the ratings go up , as the disgruntled people stop reading and the ratings go down as less people are reading them. In this case this book is anomaly, but a good anomaly. This is the first book that doesn't feel like a collection of short stories band together. It's a story about a siege from the Chaos Forces against a Hive that began as a kind of civil war - or as they call it Trade Wars.
First thing I am going to say, it's a near perfect book. Let's start there. You've got dozens of characters but if you read continually without breaks of days without reading I bet you won't be confused. It has Ghosts, Volpone & People from the Hive - from nobles, to PDF & people that got in the middle of the war.
Each character is well defined and flesh out. You see the hate (and respect) from Volpone towards Ghosts (see previous books) you see the hate (no respect) from PDF against Imperium forces. You've got commissars. You've got brave nobles and officers and you got bad and coward as well.
Since there are dozens of divisions, regiments, characters it can be a bit daunting - and that's where reading in a couple of sittings is preferable. Each chapter has multiple parts, with politics involved but also brutal fighting. How can this guy really do what he does within 300 pages. It's truly amazing.
If I have a complain, may be what Abnett lacks in previous books and double eagle which I've read. They are fighting chaos as we all know but it's just them because the author tells us. He doesn't waste time talking about them, making like a cameo etc. Nada. They are just there - which is a shame.
But it's not that bad to be fair. IT's a bleak novel fill with honour and fighting for the Emperor. Also the ending was a bit rushed. I will read the fourth one this year without any doubt. 99/100
Top 50 book of all time. Favourite and top contender for book of the year.
First thing I am going to say, it's a near perfect book. Let's start there. You've got dozens of characters but if you read continually without breaks of days without reading I bet you won't be confused. It has Ghosts, Volpone & People from the Hive - from nobles, to PDF & people that got in the middle of the war.
Each character is well defined and flesh out. You see the hate (and respect) from Volpone towards Ghosts (see previous books) you see the hate (no respect) from PDF against Imperium forces. You've got commissars. You've got brave nobles and officers and you got bad and coward as well.
Since there are dozens of divisions, regiments, characters it can be a bit daunting - and that's where reading in a couple of sittings is preferable. Each chapter has multiple parts, with politics involved but also brutal fighting. How can this guy really do what he does within 300 pages. It's truly amazing.
If I have a complain, may be what Abnett lacks in previous books and double eagle which I've read. They are fighting chaos as we all know but it's just them because the author tells us. He doesn't waste time talking about them, making like a cameo etc. Nada. They are just there - which is a shame.
But it's not that bad to be fair. IT's a bleak novel fill with honour and fighting for the Emperor. Also the ending was a bit rushed. I will read the fourth one this year without any doubt. 99/100
Top 50 book of all time. Favourite and top contender for book of the year.
November 3, 2012
Necropolis
The beginning of the novel is told from many perspectives - ranging from the rich nobility to low-class civilians - and tells of the opening phases of the siege on Vervunhive. The mega-city's neighbouring hive, Ferrozoica, amasses an army and marches on their former rival with an unknown agenda. The Vervun Primary militia prepares to repel the invasion forces, but as Vervunhive's High Master refuses to believe that Ferrozoica has mobilised against them, they are not given permission to arm their defence batteries before the Zoicans fire the opening salvoes. Much of Vervunhive is plunged into panic and thousands perish in the first few days, and aid from the Imperial Guard is called for.
The Tanith First-and-Only is deployed as part of the reinforcement army sent by Warmaster Macaroth. They learn that Ferrozoica, whom Vervunhive had fought in the Trade War ninety years before, had silenced communications with its neighbours in recent months and began arming. The influence of Chaos is evident. Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and his Ghosts face opposition from not only the enemy, but also their fellow Guard regiments and the local politicians.
Necropolis is a significant point in the series; at the end of the novel, the under-strength Tanith First receives an influx of replacement soldiers from the militia and general populace of Vervunhive. A number of major characters are introduced in the novel. A short story titled 'In Remembrance' directly follows the siege of Vervunhive, and is included in The Founding (the first Omnibus).
The beginning of the novel is told from many perspectives - ranging from the rich nobility to low-class civilians - and tells of the opening phases of the siege on Vervunhive. The mega-city's neighbouring hive, Ferrozoica, amasses an army and marches on their former rival with an unknown agenda. The Vervun Primary militia prepares to repel the invasion forces, but as Vervunhive's High Master refuses to believe that Ferrozoica has mobilised against them, they are not given permission to arm their defence batteries before the Zoicans fire the opening salvoes. Much of Vervunhive is plunged into panic and thousands perish in the first few days, and aid from the Imperial Guard is called for.
The Tanith First-and-Only is deployed as part of the reinforcement army sent by Warmaster Macaroth. They learn that Ferrozoica, whom Vervunhive had fought in the Trade War ninety years before, had silenced communications with its neighbours in recent months and began arming. The influence of Chaos is evident. Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and his Ghosts face opposition from not only the enemy, but also their fellow Guard regiments and the local politicians.
Necropolis is a significant point in the series; at the end of the novel, the under-strength Tanith First receives an influx of replacement soldiers from the militia and general populace of Vervunhive. A number of major characters are introduced in the novel. A short story titled 'In Remembrance' directly follows the siege of Vervunhive, and is included in The Founding (the first Omnibus).
July 6, 2020
A return to form for the Gaunt's Ghosts series. This one is sort of like the battle of Stalingrad, with of course a lot of political drama in the background. Sometimes Dan Abnett is very fanciful in his combat, especially in the climactic scene, but also hey it's Warhammere 40k. Other than that I don't understand Gaunt's shtick of "I'm just a common soldier" when he's from a storied military family and is also from the commissarial unit which presumably means he should understand the political implications of war better. Anyway it was nice, ratchets up the pressure until 85% of the way through at which point it releases and you get your Deus Ex Machina.
March 10, 2019
This book is about an assault by chaos, on a giant city. Gaunt's regiment and a few others are brought in to solve the problem, but they're facing ridiculous odds and a chaos warleader. This one is about a siege. Most of these books seem to concentrate on a particular aspect of warfare. They're all great so far.
March 19, 2015
Reviewed this in the omnibus The Founding
July 28, 2025
Ahh nu klikt de serie wat beter in elkaar. Dit is de eerste serieuze novelle in deze serie waar de rest aan elkaar getapete korte verhalen zijn. De pewpews zijn gecentraliseerd rondom scifi New York. Gaunt en zijn regiment verdedigt de stad van een invasie van geheel Sci-Fi Los Angeles wat onder de invloed van de duivel is gevallen. De pure militaire propaganda van heldhaftige bonkige mannen die andere mannen vertellen dat ze niet heldhaftig en bonkig genoeg zijn/de verkeerde soort heldhaftig en bonkig zijn/ze even heldhaftig en bonkig zijn en ze hen daarom met tegenzin respecteren blijft het goed doen voor mijn apenbreintje. Worden ook een hoop sympathieke nieuwe heldhaftige bonkige mannen geintroduceerd, (en zelfs (stoere bonkige) vrouwen!) dus ik ben erg benieuwd waar de andere 15 boeken heen gaan. Deze omnibus is gelezen, maar als ik de kans krijg om een nieuwe op de kop te tikken ga ik dat zeker doen.
June 6, 2024
The Gaunt's Ghosts series is always a delight to hop into as Abnett knows how to tell a war tale.
I especially adore the implementation of disability in this series as despite being trapped in the hellscape of the 41st Millennium people come together more often than fall apart.
Gaunt has some real 'Oh right Commisars are monsters' moments in this one too which is an important level of self awareness for writing a book of this ilk.
Good action with a right scope showcasing people big and small with survivors from all walks of life.
I especially adore the implementation of disability in this series as despite being trapped in the hellscape of the 41st Millennium people come together more often than fall apart.
Gaunt has some real 'Oh right Commisars are monsters' moments in this one too which is an important level of self awareness for writing a book of this ilk.
Good action with a right scope showcasing people big and small with survivors from all walks of life.
March 22, 2020
A definite highlight of the series!
Love this novel
Love this novel
April 11, 2022
I would struggle to think of a book I enjoyed more than this. The evolution of the ghosts continue and you get introduced to a cast of excellent support characters too.
July 4, 2024
"-¿Cómo podremos saber cuándo no eres sarcástico?-preguntó Yael
-Quizá podrías levantar una mano cada vez que seas sarcástico de verdad-sugirió Mktag- Como una señal
-Oh, vaya, qué buena idea-exclamó Feygor
Todo el mundo lo miró. Alzó de forma lenta y reticente una mano."
Este es el meu “plaer culpós”, per tant cap comentari es pot fer, perquè de vegades una persona no necessita històries sofisticades sobre la autoexploració dels límits de l’esser humà, de vegades sols necessita conflictes a nivells planetaris per a ser feliç.
-Quizá podrías levantar una mano cada vez que seas sarcástico de verdad-sugirió Mktag- Como una señal
-Oh, vaya, qué buena idea-exclamó Feygor
Todo el mundo lo miró. Alzó de forma lenta y reticente una mano."
Este es el meu “plaer culpós”, per tant cap comentari es pot fer, perquè de vegades una persona no necessita històries sofisticades sobre la autoexploració dels límits de l’esser humà, de vegades sols necessita conflictes a nivells planetaris per a ser feliç.
September 15, 2024
Update 9/15/2024 - Still a banger
Original Review at Journey to Nowhere: https://journey2nowhere.com/2019/09/1...
My epic reread of the Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett continues with the third installment, Necropolis. Coming off a victory on Monthax, the Ghosts, along with a number of other imperial guard regiments, are redirected from the next Crusade push to help resolve an inter-hive conflict on an industrial world known as Verghast. This world’s manufacturing facilities are one of the major suppliers of war resources for Wamaster Macaroth’s forces, so when Ferrozoica attacks Vervunhive – both of these being massive cities called hives – the Warmaster deems it necessary to send in the guard units to help the imperial citizens of Vervunhive and safeguard the valuable manufacturing capabilities they possess. The Tanith First and Only get their first taste of siege warfare as the enemy sends colossal siege engines, thousands of armored tanks and endless waves of infantry at the walls of the hive city. Can they outlast the deadly onslaught and save the city, along with its millions of inhabitants, from annihilation?
This is the first five star rating I have given to a novel in this series, and it was well deserved. Abnett had clearly found his rhythm by the time he wrote this book. The imagery he evokes is quite astounding given the scale of the setting; a hive city is a colossal collection of human existence that spans out and up, with an immense spire in the center. These cities are built up over thousands of years and can reach upwards of 6-7miles high, housing countless millions of people. The action packed story sees Ghosts, along with many other imperial units, fighting on the walls and in the streets against the Chaos infected troopers of the enemy hive. Abnett delivers yet again – he is, as I have said before, a master when it comes to writing clear battle scenes and with each successive novel his skills improve. I was constantly on the edge of my seat as my favorite characters fought for their lives in the smoke clogged streets of the city.
Our main characters are all back, as devoted to the Emperor and the memory of their lost home world as ever. They will need that devotion as the siege defense proves to be their most bitter battle yet. We also get to see things from the POV of many Vervunhive citizens; the novel begins with a couple chapter solely devoted to Vervunhive and as such, we don’t see an inkling of Gaunt or his Ghosts until the war between hives is well underway. Those early chapters were some of my favorite of the book as they really helped give character to the setting and they set things up for a coupe of new main characters coming to the series. Once the devastation ends the Ghosts might have some boots to fill. On that note, one of the best things about Necropolis is that we finally have some women characters! I know it is a common complaint I have seen about the first two books in the series. I don’t know if those same complaints made it to Abnett back in the early 2000s when these we written and this was him responding or it was just coincidence, but it is nice to see the gender pool widen a bit for the series.
In my opinion, the best part of this novel, and the part that probably nudged me to add that fifth star, is that Gaunt grows so much between his arrival on the world and the ending. Reading his part in this story was an absolute blast as he finally embraces his role as a Commissar in light of the staggering level of political bullshit he has to wade through to ensure his regiment and the city make it through the war in one piece. There is no denying that up to this point, Gaunt has certainly proven his courage and valor on the battlefield and proven himself a sound commander. What shines through here, though, is his heroism in the political arena of the commissariat. It is what makes him such an interesting character – he holds the title of Colonel-Commissar and in Necropolis we finally see his heroics evolve into a form that embodies both titles, not just the former.
Overall, this was a very solid ending to the first arc of the series and I can’t wait to move ahead because the next arc is arguably my favorite. For any fans of Warhammer 40K and Gaunt’s Ghosts, this book is a must read. I cheered, I cried and I smelled the discharge of las-weapons. This novel swept me away and I didn’t reach out for support.
Original Review at Journey to Nowhere: https://journey2nowhere.com/2019/09/1...
My epic reread of the Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett continues with the third installment, Necropolis. Coming off a victory on Monthax, the Ghosts, along with a number of other imperial guard regiments, are redirected from the next Crusade push to help resolve an inter-hive conflict on an industrial world known as Verghast. This world’s manufacturing facilities are one of the major suppliers of war resources for Wamaster Macaroth’s forces, so when Ferrozoica attacks Vervunhive – both of these being massive cities called hives – the Warmaster deems it necessary to send in the guard units to help the imperial citizens of Vervunhive and safeguard the valuable manufacturing capabilities they possess. The Tanith First and Only get their first taste of siege warfare as the enemy sends colossal siege engines, thousands of armored tanks and endless waves of infantry at the walls of the hive city. Can they outlast the deadly onslaught and save the city, along with its millions of inhabitants, from annihilation?
This is the first five star rating I have given to a novel in this series, and it was well deserved. Abnett had clearly found his rhythm by the time he wrote this book. The imagery he evokes is quite astounding given the scale of the setting; a hive city is a colossal collection of human existence that spans out and up, with an immense spire in the center. These cities are built up over thousands of years and can reach upwards of 6-7miles high, housing countless millions of people. The action packed story sees Ghosts, along with many other imperial units, fighting on the walls and in the streets against the Chaos infected troopers of the enemy hive. Abnett delivers yet again – he is, as I have said before, a master when it comes to writing clear battle scenes and with each successive novel his skills improve. I was constantly on the edge of my seat as my favorite characters fought for their lives in the smoke clogged streets of the city.
Our main characters are all back, as devoted to the Emperor and the memory of their lost home world as ever. They will need that devotion as the siege defense proves to be their most bitter battle yet. We also get to see things from the POV of many Vervunhive citizens; the novel begins with a couple chapter solely devoted to Vervunhive and as such, we don’t see an inkling of Gaunt or his Ghosts until the war between hives is well underway. Those early chapters were some of my favorite of the book as they really helped give character to the setting and they set things up for a coupe of new main characters coming to the series. Once the devastation ends the Ghosts might have some boots to fill. On that note, one of the best things about Necropolis is that we finally have some women characters! I know it is a common complaint I have seen about the first two books in the series. I don’t know if those same complaints made it to Abnett back in the early 2000s when these we written and this was him responding or it was just coincidence, but it is nice to see the gender pool widen a bit for the series.
In my opinion, the best part of this novel, and the part that probably nudged me to add that fifth star, is that Gaunt grows so much between his arrival on the world and the ending. Reading his part in this story was an absolute blast as he finally embraces his role as a Commissar in light of the staggering level of political bullshit he has to wade through to ensure his regiment and the city make it through the war in one piece. There is no denying that up to this point, Gaunt has certainly proven his courage and valor on the battlefield and proven himself a sound commander. What shines through here, though, is his heroism in the political arena of the commissariat. It is what makes him such an interesting character – he holds the title of Colonel-Commissar and in Necropolis we finally see his heroics evolve into a form that embodies both titles, not just the former.
Overall, this was a very solid ending to the first arc of the series and I can’t wait to move ahead because the next arc is arguably my favorite. For any fans of Warhammer 40K and Gaunt’s Ghosts, this book is a must read. I cheered, I cried and I smelled the discharge of las-weapons. This novel swept me away and I didn’t reach out for support.
March 7, 2023
One of his best books. Awesome action and sets up some good relationships between characters.
December 12, 2017
Supplying the vast armies of the Imperium with their weapons of war are the hive worlds, industrialised planets consisting of huge city-states called hives which churn out the hundreds of thousands of vehicles, millions of weapons and billions of munitions required for the Imperium to wage war on its foes. The individual hives on any one world are very competitive with one another, sometimes even to the point of open conflict.
On Verghast, the hive-states of Vervunhive and Ferrazoica, vital supply posts for the Sabbat Worlds Liberation Crusade forces, have long been bitter rivals, fighting a brief but bloody conflict called the Trade War ninety years earlier before settling down into an uneasy peace. When the Zoicans launch a surprise assault on Vervunhive, destroying its offensive army in the field and besieging the city, the hive's proud leaders are forced to call for aid from the Crusade fleet. As elements of the Imperial Guard arrive to reinforce the city, it becomes clear that this is more than just a small-scale planetary feud, and the Siege of Vervunhive will become one of the greatest and most legendary battles of the entire Crusade, especially for the Tanith First-and-Only and their commander, Gaunt.
Necropolis is the third novel in the Gaunt's Ghost sequence and, according to Abnett's introduction to the omnibus edition, is where he 'got it' in terms of what he could do with the Warhammer 40,000 universe and his characters. He's not kidding. The book opens in a rather unusual manner, with the first 50 pages (almost a full sixth of the book) taking place in Vervunhive as the war begins. We meet numerous characters, from city administrators to nobles to industry-workers to gang members, and see how their lives are thrown into tumult by the attack, and how the outnumbered defenders manage to hold off the enemy long enough for a few Imperial Guard regiments to reach them. This gives us a battery of different POV characters, including children, women and civilians (people not well-catered for by the first two books), who give us a very different viewpoint on the setting and world to that of the Guard or Space Marines who are the normal focus for WH40K fiction.
Needless to say, things kick off big time and Abnett unleashes what can only be called the closest science fiction has ever come to its own version of the Battle of Stalingrad. Vast armoured engagements and ferocious artillery bombardments precede a desperate battle for the city and its millions of inhabitants, with Gaunt and his Ghosts, but also numerous other, new characters, in the thick of the action.
Necropolis is, hands down, one of the best purely military SF novels I've ever read. Between the moments of carnage Abnett also delivers some solid character development for the likes of Gaunt, Rawne, Milo, Bragg and erstwhile antagonists like Gilbear and the other Bluebloods. The battles are violent and vivid, and those who have studied Stalingrad will find some interesting points of comparison in the desperate battles between men armed with just grenades and mines and heavily-armoured main battle tanks in industrial wastelands, tightly-packed streets and bombed-out commercial buildings. Abnett also makes some interesting points here about the sheer wastefulness of war, particularly in the maudlin ending, which is unusual in a military SF novel. The book manages to be based around an epic and violent battle without glorifying it, which is an impressive balancing act to achieve.
Necropolis (****½) is a thunderously readable, page-turning and smart military SF novel, available now in the UK and USA as part of the omnibus volume, The Founding.
On Verghast, the hive-states of Vervunhive and Ferrazoica, vital supply posts for the Sabbat Worlds Liberation Crusade forces, have long been bitter rivals, fighting a brief but bloody conflict called the Trade War ninety years earlier before settling down into an uneasy peace. When the Zoicans launch a surprise assault on Vervunhive, destroying its offensive army in the field and besieging the city, the hive's proud leaders are forced to call for aid from the Crusade fleet. As elements of the Imperial Guard arrive to reinforce the city, it becomes clear that this is more than just a small-scale planetary feud, and the Siege of Vervunhive will become one of the greatest and most legendary battles of the entire Crusade, especially for the Tanith First-and-Only and their commander, Gaunt.
Necropolis is the third novel in the Gaunt's Ghost sequence and, according to Abnett's introduction to the omnibus edition, is where he 'got it' in terms of what he could do with the Warhammer 40,000 universe and his characters. He's not kidding. The book opens in a rather unusual manner, with the first 50 pages (almost a full sixth of the book) taking place in Vervunhive as the war begins. We meet numerous characters, from city administrators to nobles to industry-workers to gang members, and see how their lives are thrown into tumult by the attack, and how the outnumbered defenders manage to hold off the enemy long enough for a few Imperial Guard regiments to reach them. This gives us a battery of different POV characters, including children, women and civilians (people not well-catered for by the first two books), who give us a very different viewpoint on the setting and world to that of the Guard or Space Marines who are the normal focus for WH40K fiction.
Needless to say, things kick off big time and Abnett unleashes what can only be called the closest science fiction has ever come to its own version of the Battle of Stalingrad. Vast armoured engagements and ferocious artillery bombardments precede a desperate battle for the city and its millions of inhabitants, with Gaunt and his Ghosts, but also numerous other, new characters, in the thick of the action.
Necropolis is, hands down, one of the best purely military SF novels I've ever read. Between the moments of carnage Abnett also delivers some solid character development for the likes of Gaunt, Rawne, Milo, Bragg and erstwhile antagonists like Gilbear and the other Bluebloods. The battles are violent and vivid, and those who have studied Stalingrad will find some interesting points of comparison in the desperate battles between men armed with just grenades and mines and heavily-armoured main battle tanks in industrial wastelands, tightly-packed streets and bombed-out commercial buildings. Abnett also makes some interesting points here about the sheer wastefulness of war, particularly in the maudlin ending, which is unusual in a military SF novel. The book manages to be based around an epic and violent battle without glorifying it, which is an impressive balancing act to achieve.
Necropolis (****½) is a thunderously readable, page-turning and smart military SF novel, available now in the UK and USA as part of the omnibus volume, The Founding.
December 26, 2015
I have morbid fascination of dark future of Warhammer 40K. I am tempted to count the Ghost looses trough the book, because after reading several books about them I have strange feeling that the body count is slightly larger then proclaimed size of the First and only. However if you are not nitpick you may enjoy yourself. The huge warning of this book is that Ibram Gaunt had sex, like actual one with woman. Mercifully it was like kiss in the evening and morning with naked lady, so it is on your imagination if they talked or doing something else.
The plot is centered on killing as many as possible by the waves of suicidal heretics and spawns of Chaos in style "we are many, you are little, we walk over you and our comrades corpses". This time author decided to do a psychological impact on the reader and named character and after page or several pages he snuffed that character in some very bloody manner. The characters were very generic, so their deaths are like oh well, why? Alright lets continue reading.
Vervunhive (the mega industrial city) was attacked by neighboring hive, Ferrozoica, which was affected by chaos and full of heretics and one Chaos spawn. The plot is ...fight and predictable characters included.
Author decided to put some females in to the unit...I think the rumors of the space gay celts would not be very helpful for maintaining macho regiment reputation, plus the looses need some new men/women to replace it.
1. Ibram Gaunt - sexy as hell in his uniform, with scars which push the sexy over 9000, brave, impossible to kill, carrying but strict with his surroundings and despite lady one night friend one would question his preferences....of course he is very pious and devoted to the Emperor.
2. Elim Rawne - sexy, dark, dangerous tattooed major who is going after commissar Gaunt's ass...to kill him folks, well at least he said that many times, but he has not killed him yet but turned to be one of his trusted officers despite the proclamation of getting Gaunt's ass...killing him...
3. Hlaine Larkin - schizoid personality, occasional desillusions, but neither of that little thingies affects his ability to be superb sniper and had problems with females in his unit, but got smacked by females from time to time. I am still wondering how those ladies survived taunting him.
4. Other commissars - Kowle plus bunch of others : batshitcrazy back stabbing ruthless folk meant to be killed in some creative manner or by Gaunt himself after some moralistic speech
5. Brave general/captain/colonel - those men were entering the survival of the fittest contest. Like put twenty at the start line and pick five from the finishing line. Mostly dying in some heroic and self sacrificing manner of author choice,which included blood, gore and flamethrowers.
6. idiotic and cowardly general/captain/commissar - did lot of harm and one would say that this person was enemy agent, many The first and only dies in the process of getting rid of that person, which included blood, gore, explosion, Gaunt's bolted, being ruined over by armored vehicle of author choice
7. civilians aka necessary supplements for blood and gory scenes of author sadistic choice
The plot is centered on killing as many as possible by the waves of suicidal heretics and spawns of Chaos in style "we are many, you are little, we walk over you and our comrades corpses". This time author decided to do a psychological impact on the reader and named character and after page or several pages he snuffed that character in some very bloody manner. The characters were very generic, so their deaths are like oh well, why? Alright lets continue reading.
Vervunhive (the mega industrial city) was attacked by neighboring hive, Ferrozoica, which was affected by chaos and full of heretics and one Chaos spawn. The plot is ...fight and predictable characters included.
Author decided to put some females in to the unit...I think the rumors of the space gay celts would not be very helpful for maintaining macho regiment reputation, plus the looses need some new men/women to replace it.
1. Ibram Gaunt - sexy as hell in his uniform, with scars which push the sexy over 9000, brave, impossible to kill, carrying but strict with his surroundings and despite lady one night friend one would question his preferences....of course he is very pious and devoted to the Emperor.
2. Elim Rawne - sexy, dark, dangerous tattooed major who is going after commissar Gaunt's ass...to kill him folks, well at least he said that many times, but he has not killed him yet but turned to be one of his trusted officers despite the proclamation of getting Gaunt's ass...killing him...
3. Hlaine Larkin - schizoid personality, occasional desillusions, but neither of that little thingies affects his ability to be superb sniper and had problems with females in his unit, but got smacked by females from time to time. I am still wondering how those ladies survived taunting him.
4. Other commissars - Kowle plus bunch of others : batshitcrazy back stabbing ruthless folk meant to be killed in some creative manner or by Gaunt himself after some moralistic speech
5. Brave general/captain/colonel - those men were entering the survival of the fittest contest. Like put twenty at the start line and pick five from the finishing line. Mostly dying in some heroic and self sacrificing manner of author choice,which included blood, gore and flamethrowers.
6. idiotic and cowardly general/captain/commissar - did lot of harm and one would say that this person was enemy agent, many The first and only dies in the process of getting rid of that person, which included blood, gore, explosion, Gaunt's bolted, being ruined over by armored vehicle of author choice
7. civilians aka necessary supplements for blood and gory scenes of author sadistic choice
September 7, 2017
Feth yeah, this is the Warhammer 40k book I was waiting for! Even though all WH40k novels I've read so far have had their fair share of interesting characters, action, Chaos plots, Imperial politics, blood, guts, bravery and duty, it was finally here in "Necropolis" where all those elements really meshed together, and combined with an exciting last stand story, to provide a completely engaging and meaningful experience for the reader.
When massive industrial city of Vervunhive is suddenly attacked by the hordes of Chaos, and when their lines of defense, communication and the will to fight start to wear down and break under the unrelenting assault, it is up to Commissar Ibram Gaunt to assert his authority and take charge of the entire war effort. Squared off against one of the most formidable Chaos warlords, Gaunt will need every bit of his diplomatic, organizational, combat (and seductive) skills to stop the impending disaster, and come up with a plan for a Hail Mary style counterattack...
It was great to finally see Gaunt get out of his shell of being just a brave and honorable battalion commander, with a big chip on his shoulder, and start to kick ass and run out of bubblegums on a much bigger stage. This is the Gaunt that I want to read more about: a guy who has the powers of Commissariat at his disposal, as well as many human character qualities, and is not afraid to use either of them, and run over anyone who gets in his way, for the ultimate benefit of the Imperium of Man. It was also cool to see that Gaunt's beloved Ghosts, despite numerous casualties, were actually coming out stronger from this mission, as they were able to expand their ranks and include many new Vervun recruits, who have just lost their homes in this terrible and glorious endevour.
Current score: 61/100
Current ranking: 263rd on my all time list, 75th on my list of SF novels, and 1st (out of 5) on my list of Warhammer40k books.
When massive industrial city of Vervunhive is suddenly attacked by the hordes of Chaos, and when their lines of defense, communication and the will to fight start to wear down and break under the unrelenting assault, it is up to Commissar Ibram Gaunt to assert his authority and take charge of the entire war effort. Squared off against one of the most formidable Chaos warlords, Gaunt will need every bit of his diplomatic, organizational, combat (and seductive) skills to stop the impending disaster, and come up with a plan for a Hail Mary style counterattack...
It was great to finally see Gaunt get out of his shell of being just a brave and honorable battalion commander, with a big chip on his shoulder, and start to kick ass and run out of bubblegums on a much bigger stage. This is the Gaunt that I want to read more about: a guy who has the powers of Commissariat at his disposal, as well as many human character qualities, and is not afraid to use either of them, and run over anyone who gets in his way, for the ultimate benefit of the Imperium of Man. It was also cool to see that Gaunt's beloved Ghosts, despite numerous casualties, were actually coming out stronger from this mission, as they were able to expand their ranks and include many new Vervun recruits, who have just lost their homes in this terrible and glorious endevour.
Current score: 61/100
Current ranking: 263rd on my all time list, 75th on my list of SF novels, and 1st (out of 5) on my list of Warhammer40k books.
December 28, 2020
Abnett finally hits his stride in the third Gaunt’s Ghost novel. Part of the reason he’s so successful here may be that this is the first true novel of the series. The others are braided collections of short stories. Yet in Necropolis, Abnett takes the time to fully develop a great hive manufacturing world falling before the onslaught of chaos and he puts his imperial armed forces—especially the Ghosts—smack in the middle of it.
The Ghosts are light infantry who specialize in infiltration, but keep getting put in shock troop or hold-the-line style engagements. As a result their numbers are dwindling rapidly and they can’t be reinforced since their home world has been destroyed. Their commanding general despises them and has already purposefully subjected them to friendly fire from artillery. It’s an unfortunate situation to say the least, especially in their new mission where Gaunt, their commanding officer, and a tank commander want to use their mobility to slow an overwhelming enemy down and the general insists on squandering their advantages to depend on supposedly impregnable siege fortifications. It’s not hard to imagine that the walls are not nearly as durable as the general hopes.
This is a book about courage and honor and surprisingly human caring. It’s about leadership—the good and the bad. And it’s about people pushed beyond human endurance learning ultimately what they stand for.
One of the things Abnett does well is introduce an impossibly large cast and make them shine for a few pages. He does this mostly so that it hurts when huge numbers of them get killed off, but here he has an additional reason which I think every reader will appreciate in the next novel.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
The Ghosts are light infantry who specialize in infiltration, but keep getting put in shock troop or hold-the-line style engagements. As a result their numbers are dwindling rapidly and they can’t be reinforced since their home world has been destroyed. Their commanding general despises them and has already purposefully subjected them to friendly fire from artillery. It’s an unfortunate situation to say the least, especially in their new mission where Gaunt, their commanding officer, and a tank commander want to use their mobility to slow an overwhelming enemy down and the general insists on squandering their advantages to depend on supposedly impregnable siege fortifications. It’s not hard to imagine that the walls are not nearly as durable as the general hopes.
This is a book about courage and honor and surprisingly human caring. It’s about leadership—the good and the bad. And it’s about people pushed beyond human endurance learning ultimately what they stand for.
One of the things Abnett does well is introduce an impossibly large cast and make them shine for a few pages. He does this mostly so that it hurts when huge numbers of them get killed off, but here he has an additional reason which I think every reader will appreciate in the next novel.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
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