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The Horus Heresy #Enhanced Audio Edition
The Lightning Tower
Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists Legion, faces a stark reality – he must tear down the magnificence of the Emperor¹s Palace, a shining beacon in a galaxy of darkness, and turn it into a fortress. With the army of Horus drawing ever closer Dorn must face a difficult question, 'What are you afraid of?'
Our enhanced audio editions are a new type of eBook incorporating audio elements and work best on certain types of ereader. To enjoy the full experience we recommend using the following ereaders:
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Our enhanced audio editions are a new type of eBook incorporating audio elements and work best on certain types of ereader. To enjoy the full experience we recommend using the following ereaders:
iPad
Android (using epub3 compatible software)
PC
Mac
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First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 13, 2024
April 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XV Scale and Stone (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
I think I said everything in my last review, but listening to this again and just enjoying the rich detail and the way it cuts to the heart of the matter I'm just nudging this over into full marks, especially taking into account just how good this is for one of the debut pair of Horus Heresy audio dramas.
This is a really interesting look into the mind of a character we don't actually get to see or hear from that much and when he does show up in other places it's usually very terse and closed off, as well as a bit of history of the Imperial Palace and the bad blood between the Primarch's of the Night Lords and Imperial Fists.
The discussion of fear and ignorance and their alluding to Dorn, very understandbly, likely having PTSD from when Nighthaunter almost killed him and the vaunted place ignorance will have in the Imperial Creed is some really good stuff.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 27 Horus Heresy novels, 14 novellas (including 1 repeat), 92 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
***
Initial Review 4/5
The Lightning King by Dan Abnett
“What are you afraid of? What are you really afraid of?”
This was the first Horus Heresy audio drama (possibly the first one from the Black Library?), released as a double CD: The Dark King and The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill (2007). This was a year after the opening trilogy and the same year as The Flight of the Eisenstein, so word had literally just reached Terra or maybe Magnus had already sent his naughty message, the release order and timeline are wild, but the point I'm making is that it's interesting that this story jumps to Dorn preparing the Palace of Terra for the eventual siege (as well as The Dark King jumping back to pre-Heresy tensions with Curze, referenced in this story). This really marked the beginning of jumping around in time.
Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, has been recalled to Terra to prepare for the impending siege as building things up is his Special Son Skill (as knocking things down is Perturabo's). He is very sad about making the pretty palace ugly, worries about what made Horus turn and how he would fair against the Warmaster, and cringes at the memory of that time Curze nearly beat him to death. Evil Eliminster has a weird little chat with him and pokes the memory of getting curb-stomped, flashing Nighthaunter's fancy tarot deck. Symbolism!
I wrote a really scathing review on Twitter a few years ago when I attempted a re-read of the series, while going through a tenderqueer phase brought on by everything already wrong with my brain and Twitter brain rot, which I don't disagree with in spirit. I'll be folding elements of that in with this review, albeit somewhat tempered.
I enjoyed the conversation between Dorn and Malcador. There is an interesting play of their respective positions and personalities, as well as the portentous discussion of the tarot and Curze's visions (which the Emperor gaslit him about, lest we forget). This has the drama, tragedy, and mythos I want from the Horus Heresy.
The writing is great, which I have come to expect from Abnett, weird misogynistic, puritanical inner-monologues aside, but it is presenting a lot of bleak stuff as positive at face value. This is because it's Dorn's perspective, admittedly, but in this story he is cast as the honourable, if afraid and questioning, son doing his duty. There is no question of his perspective being wrong, so it's a big ask for the casual reader and those unaware of, or flatly refute, the satirical nature of the Warhammer 40K (and 30K) galaxy. It's not quite the portrayal of Guilliman and war crime apologia that we see in some later Primarch stories and the Ultramarines’ Primarch's return to 40K, but there is unquestioned veneration of brutal authoritarianism, long before it explicitly ‘justified as necessity’ (within the Imperium's lore). More satire or telehgraphing of fucked perspectives please, you know there is a depressing amount regressive and reactionary
Warhammer fans (which is funny as another huge chunk of the community is us big ole Queer transes).
Past me spitting:
So he converted the gilded palace from a shrine to opulence of feudal fascism into a brutalist shrine to the militarism of galactic fascism because of the coming siege? Like, I know which one I'd rather look at, but I'd rather tear them both down and use their valuables to help the subjugated populace.
Old me spitting, but cringe:
"It's ugly." You know what Dorn? War and fascism are ugly, and people in bright yellow ceramite houses... Oh, and so is using slave labour to build your defences. Ugly, abhorrent and evil.
The architect's slaves described as “following him...like timorous litter of young following their mother" is proper fucked though.
Dorn's fears of Horus' reasons for treachery and his fear of Kurze showing his humanity and how fallible even primarchs are highlights, though the additional details of Kurze's condition and visions that Fulgrim shared with him make his treatment of his brother even more unconscionable. In exploring these elements, introducing Malcador and showing us the Sigillite and the Praetorian's relationship, this story does a good enriching the Horus Heresy saga, despite its problems.
Having encountered a lot more of the Sigillite, especially since smashing through the Errant Knights collection, I have a better perspective on the Bastard Blackstaff and how much of a glorious prick he's being in this. His line, "salvation in ignorance" truly shows how much the Imperium of the 41st millennium is founded on this Dogcunt Dumbledore. Of course he has the Mona Lisa in his chambers. Webb's Malcador voice puts me in mind of an old version of Hamill's Joker, which feels appropriate.
I enjoyed the glimpse of the Siege of Terra and the unimaginable scale of the battle, even if it slips away as only a simulation. But the idea of a simulator that you can just plug in the idea of Legions and Primarchs into is FASCINATING.
I really the great connection to The Dark King by Graham McNeil, especially through the tarot, which speaks to the planning and collaboration at play at the beginning of this saga. It would have been great to see more connected double audio dramas as connected as these two.
I think I said everything in my last review, but listening to this again and just enjoying the rich detail and the way it cuts to the heart of the matter I'm just nudging this over into full marks, especially taking into account just how good this is for one of the debut pair of Horus Heresy audio dramas.
This is a really interesting look into the mind of a character we don't actually get to see or hear from that much and when he does show up in other places it's usually very terse and closed off, as well as a bit of history of the Imperial Palace and the bad blood between the Primarch's of the Night Lords and Imperial Fists.
The discussion of fear and ignorance and their alluding to Dorn, very understandbly, likely having PTSD from when Nighthaunter almost killed him and the vaunted place ignorance will have in the Imperial Creed is some really good stuff.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 27 Horus Heresy novels, 14 novellas (including 1 repeat), 92 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
***
Initial Review 4/5
The Lightning King by Dan Abnett
“What are you afraid of? What are you really afraid of?”
This was the first Horus Heresy audio drama (possibly the first one from the Black Library?), released as a double CD: The Dark King and The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill (2007). This was a year after the opening trilogy and the same year as The Flight of the Eisenstein, so word had literally just reached Terra or maybe Magnus had already sent his naughty message, the release order and timeline are wild, but the point I'm making is that it's interesting that this story jumps to Dorn preparing the Palace of Terra for the eventual siege (as well as The Dark King jumping back to pre-Heresy tensions with Curze, referenced in this story). This really marked the beginning of jumping around in time.
Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, has been recalled to Terra to prepare for the impending siege as building things up is his Special Son Skill (as knocking things down is Perturabo's). He is very sad about making the pretty palace ugly, worries about what made Horus turn and how he would fair against the Warmaster, and cringes at the memory of that time Curze nearly beat him to death. Evil Eliminster has a weird little chat with him and pokes the memory of getting curb-stomped, flashing Nighthaunter's fancy tarot deck. Symbolism!
I wrote a really scathing review on Twitter a few years ago when I attempted a re-read of the series, while going through a tenderqueer phase brought on by everything already wrong with my brain and Twitter brain rot, which I don't disagree with in spirit. I'll be folding elements of that in with this review, albeit somewhat tempered.
I enjoyed the conversation between Dorn and Malcador. There is an interesting play of their respective positions and personalities, as well as the portentous discussion of the tarot and Curze's visions (which the Emperor gaslit him about, lest we forget). This has the drama, tragedy, and mythos I want from the Horus Heresy.
The writing is great, which I have come to expect from Abnett, weird misogynistic, puritanical inner-monologues aside, but it is presenting a lot of bleak stuff as positive at face value. This is because it's Dorn's perspective, admittedly, but in this story he is cast as the honourable, if afraid and questioning, son doing his duty. There is no question of his perspective being wrong, so it's a big ask for the casual reader and those unaware of, or flatly refute, the satirical nature of the Warhammer 40K (and 30K) galaxy. It's not quite the portrayal of Guilliman and war crime apologia that we see in some later Primarch stories and the Ultramarines’ Primarch's return to 40K, but there is unquestioned veneration of brutal authoritarianism, long before it explicitly ‘justified as necessity’ (within the Imperium's lore). More satire or telehgraphing of fucked perspectives please, you know there is a depressing amount regressive and reactionary
Warhammer fans (which is funny as another huge chunk of the community is us big ole Queer transes).
Past me spitting:
So he converted the gilded palace from a shrine to opulence of feudal fascism into a brutalist shrine to the militarism of galactic fascism because of the coming siege? Like, I know which one I'd rather look at, but I'd rather tear them both down and use their valuables to help the subjugated populace.
Old me spitting, but cringe:
"It's ugly." You know what Dorn? War and fascism are ugly, and people in bright yellow ceramite houses... Oh, and so is using slave labour to build your defences. Ugly, abhorrent and evil.
The architect's slaves described as “following him...like timorous litter of young following their mother" is proper fucked though.
Dorn's fears of Horus' reasons for treachery and his fear of Kurze showing his humanity and how fallible even primarchs are highlights, though the additional details of Kurze's condition and visions that Fulgrim shared with him make his treatment of his brother even more unconscionable. In exploring these elements, introducing Malcador and showing us the Sigillite and the Praetorian's relationship, this story does a good enriching the Horus Heresy saga, despite its problems.
Having encountered a lot more of the Sigillite, especially since smashing through the Errant Knights collection, I have a better perspective on the Bastard Blackstaff and how much of a glorious prick he's being in this. His line, "salvation in ignorance" truly shows how much the Imperium of the 41st millennium is founded on this Dogcunt Dumbledore. Of course he has the Mona Lisa in his chambers. Webb's Malcador voice puts me in mind of an old version of Hamill's Joker, which feels appropriate.
I enjoyed the glimpse of the Siege of Terra and the unimaginable scale of the battle, even if it slips away as only a simulation. But the idea of a simulator that you can just plug in the idea of Legions and Primarchs into is FASCINATING.
I really the great connection to The Dark King by Graham McNeil, especially through the tarot, which speaks to the planning and collaboration at play at the beginning of this saga. It would have been great to see more connected double audio dramas as connected as these two.
September 28, 2023
Ierindota The Horus Heresy sērijā ar kārtas numuru #22, Shadows of Treachery interesantā veidā iekļauj sevī stāstus, kuri norisinās vēl pavisam īsi pēc fakta, kad Horus atklāj visiem, kam rūp, savu nodevību. Kā arī krājumu noslēdzošā novele krietni labāk tematiski iederētos iepriekšējā krājumā šajā sērijā Primarchs, ka gandrīz ir vēlēšanās aplūkot šo krājumu sastādītājus.
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...
December 12, 2016
A very emotive and deep look into the mind of the Primarch Regal Dorn and his paranoia as Horus' armada approaches holy Terra. Definitely recommend it.
December 17, 2020
For the full review, please visit Bits & Pieces - https://bitsandpieces.games/2020/12/1...
The Lightning Tower follows the Primarch, Rogal Dorn, as he prepares the Earth’s defences for his brother’s invasion. This is an introspective look at Dorn and the defences without any action, but full of character. The Lightning Tower is a melancholic story of Dorn tearing down the majesty and beauty of the Imperial Palace, to turn it into a fortress. There’s a sadness throughout as Dorn considers the price of this war and what is expected of him as a son and warrior. We see the doubt and worry within the Lord of the Imperial Fists and this goes a long way to humanise him for the events we know are coming.
The Lightning Tower follows the Primarch, Rogal Dorn, as he prepares the Earth’s defences for his brother’s invasion. This is an introspective look at Dorn and the defences without any action, but full of character. The Lightning Tower is a melancholic story of Dorn tearing down the majesty and beauty of the Imperial Palace, to turn it into a fortress. There’s a sadness throughout as Dorn considers the price of this war and what is expected of him as a son and warrior. We see the doubt and worry within the Lord of the Imperial Fists and this goes a long way to humanise him for the events we know are coming.
February 1, 2019
El primarca de los puños imperiales recorre el palacio imperial planeando como como fortificar las inmediaciones del palacio, la duda que le asalta, a quien puede temer un primarca tan poderoso como Dorn.
No me esperaba para nada que repasara los nombre de sus hermanos traidores. Quien debería temer más? A Angron,Fulgrim,Horus o al acechante nocturno...
No me esperaba para nada que repasara los nombre de sus hermanos traidores. Quien debería temer más? A Angron,Fulgrim,Horus o al acechante nocturno...
February 24, 2022
Short story insight into Rogal Dorn, one of the Primarch I’m fond of but who doesn’t get much of the limelight in most of the Heresy since he’s back on Terra fortifying for the eventual climatic battle. And that’s what we see him doing here, and get a look into his thoughts and anxieties about the coming battle that is inevitable.
August 31, 2024
What motivates a primarch? What makes him afraid?
We get to have a glimpse into a more personal side of Rogal Dorn. This short story, with fortifications of Imperial Palace in the background, is a joy to get through.
We get to have a glimpse into a more personal side of Rogal Dorn. This short story, with fortifications of Imperial Palace in the background, is a joy to get through.
December 25, 2025
3.5 Stars
I liked the reflective insight into Dorn prepping for what's to come on Terra. Good dialogue between him and Malcador.
This one felt an appropriate length for the subject matter and paired well after The Dark King
I liked the reflective insight into Dorn prepping for what's to come on Terra. Good dialogue between him and Malcador.
This one felt an appropriate length for the subject matter and paired well after The Dark King
February 19, 2020
BK NOT AUDIO
April 30, 2023
Primera vez que leo al emperador hablar! Una frase pero con gran significado en la historia. Relato breve pero que deja ciertos atisbos de todo el proceso de refortalecimiento del palacio imperial.
February 2, 2024
Abnett writes a good story. Excellent performances in this one too. Not as intense a character study as its companion but that Abnett flavor is unmistakable and impossible to dislike.
May 23, 2024
An essential character study of Rogal Dorn and his grim task of transforming Terra into a state of war readiness. Highly recommended as far as Heresy short stories go.
November 14, 2024
This short story helped flesh out and realize Rogal Dorn in quick, and punchy fashion. It also expanded up and created an interesting relationship between him and his much-loathed sibling.
January 25, 2025
Some good scenes between rogal dorn and konrad curze. Collected in shadows of treachery anthology.
April 25, 2025
A nice exploration into fear during the quiet, anxious months before the Siege of Terra.
May 20, 2025
A good early look at Dorn before the siege of terra. He's a conflicted guy and he's afraid of evil batman who almost tore his heart out. I mean who wouldn't be?
November 1, 2025
Really really good. Abnett the goat.
August 1, 2025
Fantastic short story focusing on the Imperial Palace and Rogal Dorn. Very atmospheric short story.
I think Abnett did a fantastic job developing Dorn as a character, showing his doubts and fears as he carries the weight of the Imperium on his back like some sort of Atlas. His uncertainty of his own actions makes him feel more well-rounded and sympathetic. He will do whatever it takes to protect the Imperium, but his actions come at a cost that eats away at him.
I think Abnett did a fantastic job developing Dorn as a character, showing his doubts and fears as he carries the weight of the Imperium on his back like some sort of Atlas. His uncertainty of his own actions makes him feel more well-rounded and sympathetic. He will do whatever it takes to protect the Imperium, but his actions come at a cost that eats away at him.
Read
August 10, 2020A short story about Dorn and his thoughts about fortifying the grace of the imperial palace which turns into an introspective look at Dorn himself. A great quick read with a lot of interesting insights into the heresy itself, Dorn and my favourite enigmatic character Malcador.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews