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Warhammer 40,000
Titanicus
When the vital forge world of Orestes comes under attack by a legion of Chaos Titans, the planet is forced to appeal for help. The Titans of Legio Invicta respond, committing their own force of war engines to the battle.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a vision of total war in the 41st millennium, from the smallest soldier to the largest God-Machine.
THE STORY
When the vital forge world of Orestes comes under attack by a legion of Chaos Titans, the planet is forced to appeal for help. The Titans of Legio Invicta, although fresh from combat and in desperate need of refit and repair, respond, committing their own force of war engines to the battle. As the god-machines stride to war, the world trembles, for the devastation they unleash could destroy the very world they have pledged to save.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a vision of total war in the 41st millennium, from the smallest soldier to the largest God-Machine.
THE STORY
When the vital forge world of Orestes comes under attack by a legion of Chaos Titans, the planet is forced to appeal for help. The Titans of Legio Invicta, although fresh from combat and in desperate need of refit and repair, respond, committing their own force of war engines to the battle. As the god-machines stride to war, the world trembles, for the devastation they unleash could destroy the very world they have pledged to save.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
245 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
February 13, 2022
Something completely different in the 40K canon; mildly more cerebral than the standard tearing roar of bolters, with a degree of insight into what it's like to plug yourself into an immensely scaled death machine that obeys orders grudgingly.
Abbott's writing is excellent, able to make even the deployment of megadeath weapons on infantry as close to lyrical as it's possible to get:
Probably one of the best works set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. And with giant fighting robots. What more can I say to recommend it?
Abbott's writing is excellent, able to make even the deployment of megadeath weapons on infantry as close to lyrical as it's possible to get:
A turbo- laser on auto sounded like the death scream of a sun. The hailing, incandescent blast pattern overtook Xeres Five PDF like a surge tide as they ran for their lives down the back street. Caught in the rolling blitz, fleeing troopers ignited and evaporated almost instantly. The onslaught levelled the entire length of the thoroughfare and ripped the ground down to fused bedrock.The very best parts relate to the stories of the ground pounders caught under the feet of the Titans; it's an unexpected facet of the book, and the awe-inspiring effects of being under six feet high, and being hunted by engines far larger than you are deftly and effectively put across:
Maki Kiner disintegrated mid- stride in a puff of ash flakes that billowed like confetti. The last thing Goland saw of Tertun was a cooked spine, skull and single shoulder blade, tumbling out of the chasing fire- wash like part of a puppet, still articulated, thrown on by the roasting fury of the attack.
Goland turned, screaming, and hurled the treacherous auspex like a discus at the great engine treading down the street behind him.
He didn’t live long enough to see if it had struck its mark. Mass laser discharge vaporised the flesh off his bones, and then, a millisecond later, over- pressure scattered his skeleton like twigs into the rain.
Cally blinked. Everything had suddenly become very real, especially her fear. She realised that the sight of the Titans had simply frozen her in mortal fascination, like prey before a predator.And as a further mark, Abnett manages to even humanize the Titan crews themselves:
Then the shields started to sing.
‘What the cog is that?’ Fairika started, unnerved.
‘The voids are scouring heavy, famulous,’ said Kalder.
‘What does that mean?’ she snapped back. During the walk out from the finishing silos, Tarses had realised that Famulous Fairika didn’t like it when the veteran crewmen used engine slang, as if she supposed she was being excluded from some engineman’s club by dint of her gender and youth.
‘It means we’re in a dry, high-static environment,’ said Tarses. ‘It charges dust on the shield auras and makes them squeal.’
The noise was indeed dismaying. It sounded as if numberless lost souls were clinging like limpets to their engine frame and bemoaning their plight, while their cold, numb fingernails furtively scratched at the hull to get in.
‘Always a bad portent when the voids sing so, isn’t that right, moderati?’ murmured Kalder ominously, winking at Tarses.
‘Stop it,’ said Tarses.
Kalder grinned and shrugged. Goading Fairika was too easy a game.
Probably one of the best works set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. And with giant fighting robots. What more can I say to recommend it?
January 14, 2016
3,5 stars
A good military sci-fi tale, but not Abnett's best one.
Set in the Sabbat Wars setting, the same of the author's "Gaunt's Ghosts" series, it takes the conflict on an higher and epic scale.
The descriptions of the Titans battles are good, but there are lots of issues in this book: it is too much long and with too many sub-plots and not well developed characters, you forget often who is who and not care at all if they are going to die or not.
The final battle was sadly too short and anti-climax instead, you get just short glimpses about what is happening.
A book for "Gaunt's Ghosts" series, Adeptus Mechanicus, and giant robot wars with a dark setting fans, but if you wanna read better ones W40k tales try Abnett's "Gaunt's Ghosts" series and the awesome Eisenhorn trilogy, good for beginners and Warhammer 4000 die-hard fans too.
A good military sci-fi tale, but not Abnett's best one.
Set in the Sabbat Wars setting, the same of the author's "Gaunt's Ghosts" series, it takes the conflict on an higher and epic scale.
The descriptions of the Titans battles are good, but there are lots of issues in this book: it is too much long and with too many sub-plots and not well developed characters, you forget often who is who and not care at all if they are going to die or not.
The final battle was sadly too short and anti-climax instead, you get just short glimpses about what is happening.
A book for "Gaunt's Ghosts" series, Adeptus Mechanicus, and giant robot wars with a dark setting fans, but if you wanna read better ones W40k tales try Abnett's "Gaunt's Ghosts" series and the awesome Eisenhorn trilogy, good for beginners and Warhammer 4000 die-hard fans too.
October 19, 2025
Abnett continues to impress with Titanicus, which, despite the cover and blurb, digs deeply into Imperial politics and intrigue alongside some killer action. The novel takes place on Orestes, a forge world, which produces 'engines', massive 'titans' of mechanized war. The forces of Chaos landed dozens of their own engines on the planet, way more than the Planetary Defense Force (PDF) can deal with and the leaders call for help; what they get is Titan Legio Invicta, which brings its own war engines to the battle.
For some 10,000 years, the undead/immortal Emperor has sat on the throne on Terra and 'today' is worshiped as a god; it is at his behest the Crusade scours the Sabbat Worlds. The Martians, or more specifically, the Mechanicus, control technology in the Empire and have long partnered with the Throne. Indeed, they see (official dogma) the Emperor as a manifestation of the god they worship; kinda like a Jesus and Mohammad thing. 😎 Well, in researching the Mechanicus archives on Orestes, some documents are uncovered that challenge the official dogma and threaten civil war both among the Mechanicus and between them and the Emperor. Jeez!
Abnett also personalizes this tale with several sets of characters who get wrapped up in the war at hand; some PDF reservists who get stranded in the boonies, the remnants of an armor division that was slaughters by chaos engines, myriad factions among the Mechanicus and more. So, while the battle rages (and Abnett gives us some killer battle sequences!), the politics and potential heresy really steal the show. 3.5 battlestars, rounding up for GR.
For some 10,000 years, the undead/immortal Emperor has sat on the throne on Terra and 'today' is worshiped as a god; it is at his behest the Crusade scours the Sabbat Worlds. The Martians, or more specifically, the Mechanicus, control technology in the Empire and have long partnered with the Throne. Indeed, they see (official dogma) the Emperor as a manifestation of the god they worship; kinda like a Jesus and Mohammad thing. 😎 Well, in researching the Mechanicus archives on Orestes, some documents are uncovered that challenge the official dogma and threaten civil war both among the Mechanicus and between them and the Emperor. Jeez!
Abnett also personalizes this tale with several sets of characters who get wrapped up in the war at hand; some PDF reservists who get stranded in the boonies, the remnants of an armor division that was slaughters by chaos engines, myriad factions among the Mechanicus and more. So, while the battle rages (and Abnett gives us some killer battle sequences!), the politics and potential heresy really steal the show. 3.5 battlestars, rounding up for GR.
February 28, 2023
A unique work from Dan Abnett, showing an enthralling 'engine war' between battle titans as a spin off to the gaunts ghosts series.
This is one of those rare works that shows you a different aspect of the 40k universe. I have seen some reviews criticising some of the storylines as pointless and not adding anything to the plot, but i think that is missing the point entirely. Abnett is trying to show something more than just the main characters and endless war, and paints a rich picture of normal, more regular characters and how the situation affects them. There is much more politics and plotting in this book than in other 40k works, and some might get tired of the mechanicus bent on things, but this is definitely a great book to read if you want to see some different perspectives in a 40k work, and, as always, Abnett delivers and write terrific action sequences, believable characters and masterful scene setting, pacing and execution.
This is one of those rare works that shows you a different aspect of the 40k universe. I have seen some reviews criticising some of the storylines as pointless and not adding anything to the plot, but i think that is missing the point entirely. Abnett is trying to show something more than just the main characters and endless war, and paints a rich picture of normal, more regular characters and how the situation affects them. There is much more politics and plotting in this book than in other 40k works, and some might get tired of the mechanicus bent on things, but this is definitely a great book to read if you want to see some different perspectives in a 40k work, and, as always, Abnett delivers and write terrific action sequences, believable characters and masterful scene setting, pacing and execution.
September 30, 2014
I've read some bad Dan Abnett books, and I'll admit that I was a little scared picking this up; luckily, this is one of his best books, wildly entertaining and only dragged down by some bloat and pacing problems.
Actually, that may be a little too kind; this book quite bloated, weighing in at 600 pages, and containing three absolutely pointless story threads (a old crazy guy watering his garden, a toymaker who, um, makes toys and nothing interesting happens to, and a dockworker who happens to be the husband of another, slightly less pointless character). There's also one story thread that really has nothing to do with anything else in the book that could probably be dropped, all the more so as it's one of two threads about desperate PDF troopers behind enemy lines. (Also, the star of this story thread is the "slightly less pointless character" alluded to above - so if you cut this thread you might as well cut his as a bonus).
So the book's too big and has too many characters, half of whom nothing interesting happens to, but it's also the really only bad thing I have to say about the book, and I guess a novel titled Titanicus being too big at least makes some kind of sense; it's easy to forget some of the boring pages you had to flip past when the Titans come out and start having awesome mech battles. That said there are other little issues - the book wraps up way too quickly, which I chalk up as a symptom of having too many characters. Considering some of the terrible endings I've seen for W40k novels, this could be much worse, as it does at least wrap up the big plot threads competently Also, this is not a book for 40k beginners; I recommend reading Mechanicum first, or you'll be lost trying to keep straight if a Warlord or a Reaver class Titan is larger.
Actually, that may be a little too kind; this book quite bloated, weighing in at 600 pages, and containing three absolutely pointless story threads (a old crazy guy watering his garden, a toymaker who, um, makes toys and nothing interesting happens to, and a dockworker who happens to be the husband of another, slightly less pointless character). There's also one story thread that really has nothing to do with anything else in the book that could probably be dropped, all the more so as it's one of two threads about desperate PDF troopers behind enemy lines. (Also, the star of this story thread is the "slightly less pointless character" alluded to above - so if you cut this thread you might as well cut his as a bonus).
So the book's too big and has too many characters, half of whom nothing interesting happens to, but it's also the really only bad thing I have to say about the book, and I guess a novel titled Titanicus being too big at least makes some kind of sense; it's easy to forget some of the boring pages you had to flip past when the Titans come out and start having awesome mech battles. That said there are other little issues - the book wraps up way too quickly, which I chalk up as a symptom of having too many characters. Considering some of the terrible endings I've seen for W40k novels, this could be much worse, as it does at least wrap up the big plot threads competently Also, this is not a book for 40k beginners; I recommend reading Mechanicum first, or you'll be lost trying to keep straight if a Warlord or a Reaver class Titan is larger.
February 10, 2024
4,5*
Along a very decent plot of religious conspiracy during a full-scale titanic war Abnett develops impressively visual and intense scenes of huge mechas fighting each other.
Granted, there are too many characters. Granted, some subplots drag a bit. Still, Abnett manages to make the reader care about the characters- whether humans or mechanicus- and deftly uses their storylines to show different aspects of the war on different scales.
The Mechanicus pov is particularly enthralling. Being inside the Titans with their crews is as original as it is interesting. There’s definitely a very well rendered submarine vs submarine tension at times.
On ground level the power play and religious schism between faction is perfectly ordained.
Pacing is good, characters exist, battles are obscenely destructive and compelling; all this wrapped in a very pleasant writing style.
Along a very decent plot of religious conspiracy during a full-scale titanic war Abnett develops impressively visual and intense scenes of huge mechas fighting each other.
Granted, there are too many characters. Granted, some subplots drag a bit. Still, Abnett manages to make the reader care about the characters- whether humans or mechanicus- and deftly uses their storylines to show different aspects of the war on different scales.
The Mechanicus pov is particularly enthralling. Being inside the Titans with their crews is as original as it is interesting. There’s definitely a very well rendered submarine vs submarine tension at times.
On ground level the power play and religious schism between faction is perfectly ordained.
Pacing is good, characters exist, battles are obscenely destructive and compelling; all this wrapped in a very pleasant writing style.
September 4, 2025
“Gearhart didn’t know their names, but he knew them all the same. They were the princeps who had commanded Antagonistes down through the ages, an honour roll that dated back ten thousand years to Mars, and the birth of the Imperium, and the death of innocence. They represented a legacy no man, not even Gearhart, could ever fully measure up to. The MIU had summoned them all forth to witness Gearhart’s final action.
“Set and ready, my princeps,” said Lodem Banns.
[Thank you, my moderati,] Gearhart replied.(…)
“Remember, you are the mightiest destroyer in creation,” said Hekate softly. “Even the great Astartes fear us. Arrogance is not a fault. Pride is not a failing. You are a god, a very specific god.”
[A god of war. I know, sir.]
“Then BE a god.”
[I will. I am.]
/////
Abnett you magnificent bastard, I don’t understand how you KEEP getting away with this. Shunting like four novel’s worth of story around one (heh) titanic set piece after set piece that fully captures and violently displays just how fucking over the top cool and hardcore this edition’s focus is. It’s just….its almost overwhelmingly good.
Or maybe just a case of Warhammer nerds not really knowing where the juice really is with the squeeze. Because while giant robot fights are certainly on the menu here that’s like…not even 20% of what this thing is and the other 80% is just like…the coolest and tensest human and transhuman drama imaginable while ALSO giving you all this crunchy, crazy potent detail about how Imperial and Mechanicus interests can and will flint up against one another and how the whole theology between Big E and the Omnissiah is something that could and probably does sustain its OWN novels and probably even some whole series (as I’m sure there is a healthy amount of Cog focuses works throughout the BL canon).
Basically, it rips. And it rips for an entirely different reason than you would expect it to. While also just hammering home the stuff you actually want from what’s the tin. Abnett remains undefeated when it comes to basically most licensed prose work. I can’t imagine anyone else beating him.
And I haven’t even gotten to his “best” stuff yet! Lucky fraggin’ me!
“Set and ready, my princeps,” said Lodem Banns.
[Thank you, my moderati,] Gearhart replied.(…)
“Remember, you are the mightiest destroyer in creation,” said Hekate softly. “Even the great Astartes fear us. Arrogance is not a fault. Pride is not a failing. You are a god, a very specific god.”
[A god of war. I know, sir.]
“Then BE a god.”
[I will. I am.]
/////
Abnett you magnificent bastard, I don’t understand how you KEEP getting away with this. Shunting like four novel’s worth of story around one (heh) titanic set piece after set piece that fully captures and violently displays just how fucking over the top cool and hardcore this edition’s focus is. It’s just….its almost overwhelmingly good.
Or maybe just a case of Warhammer nerds not really knowing where the juice really is with the squeeze. Because while giant robot fights are certainly on the menu here that’s like…not even 20% of what this thing is and the other 80% is just like…the coolest and tensest human and transhuman drama imaginable while ALSO giving you all this crunchy, crazy potent detail about how Imperial and Mechanicus interests can and will flint up against one another and how the whole theology between Big E and the Omnissiah is something that could and probably does sustain its OWN novels and probably even some whole series (as I’m sure there is a healthy amount of Cog focuses works throughout the BL canon).
Basically, it rips. And it rips for an entirely different reason than you would expect it to. While also just hammering home the stuff you actually want from what’s the tin. Abnett remains undefeated when it comes to basically most licensed prose work. I can’t imagine anyone else beating him.
And I haven’t even gotten to his “best” stuff yet! Lucky fraggin’ me!
May 16, 2024
What is sold as a book about giant robots battling it out, unfolds as so much more.
A masterfully interweaving of tales across an embattled world.
The brutal combat of machines the size of buildings battling.
The quiet tensions of political manuvers in dark corridors.
The heart wrenching pain of a loved one called to war unexpectedly
The drive to survive at all costs in face of overwhelming risks.
A chance to turn ones fortunes around in times of war
Secrets that could change your entire empire
And an old man getting glimpses of who he was.
While the jargon may be a little alienating. Most of it seems to flow within the context. The case is vast but well drawn, the stories entertaining, and inter connected in surprising ways.
A fantastic book
A masterfully interweaving of tales across an embattled world.
The brutal combat of machines the size of buildings battling.
The quiet tensions of political manuvers in dark corridors.
The heart wrenching pain of a loved one called to war unexpectedly
The drive to survive at all costs in face of overwhelming risks.
A chance to turn ones fortunes around in times of war
Secrets that could change your entire empire
And an old man getting glimpses of who he was.
While the jargon may be a little alienating. Most of it seems to flow within the context. The case is vast but well drawn, the stories entertaining, and inter connected in surprising ways.
A fantastic book
January 31, 2017
A compelling story told on an epic scale
Having given Gav Thorpe a go and been left wanting, I hedged all my bets on the other big name in Warhammer fiction circles, Dan Abnett. It was up to Abnett to save me after Thorpe had severely burned me. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is a universe I wanted to like. It has all the right ingredients, it just needed the right author to do it justice. Thankfully, Abnett is the man for the job.
Titanicus isn't the type of Warhammer 40,000 story that would normally draw me in. I like Space Marines. (Side note: my version of Titanicus has Space Marines - I think they're Salamanders - on the cover. Not a single Space Marine appears in the 500 plus pages of Titanicus.) Titans never really appealed to me. But a mate lent me Titanicus and I thought I'd give Warhammer 40,000 fiction one last go.
I now appreciate Titans much more.
The story is grand, the prose is impressive, the plot is clever, and the characterisation is believable. Clichés are not completely missing, but sparse enough to forgive. Abnett can also milk his imagery; while a simile might come across as impressive on first use, recycling that exact same phrase loses its appeal the fifth time.
While I really enjoyed this novel, it has a few minor flaws. The most grinding flaw for me was the number of characters. There are so many characters that I only started to really work out who was who with less than a quarter of the novel left to read. Then there is the enemy who were ambiguous to the point that I wasn't even sure at first that the Imperial/Mechanicas forces were fighting against Chaos. I like to get to know the villain of a story, know their motives. Not in Titanicus, though I'm sure that was deliberate in order to make them mysterious and more threatening. Abnett also relies on the reader's knowledge of Warhammer 40,000 background story. More than once I found myself googling Warhammer 40,000 specific terms that were not explained in the novel.
Overall, Titanicus is an impressive read. Towards the end it picked up pace enough for it to become near impossible to put down (and I'm a very disciplined, one chapter a night type of reader). The plot is intriguing with impressive twists. The workings and belief systems of the Mechanicus are explored meticulously, but fluidly (not through painful exposition). I found myself really caring about the fates of the different characters by the end of the novel. The action - and this is what you read a Warhammer 40,000 novel for - is well written, though it does lack a sense of danger in places.
Titanicus is definitely on my list of novels to recommend. At the moment it is number one on my list of recommended Warhammer 40,000 novels. The Black Library should thank Dan Abnett for saving me from turning my back on Warhammer novels (they should subsequently fire Gav Thorpe for nearly causing me to boycott all Warhammer fiction).
If you're a Warhammer 40,000 fan then you should read Titanicus. I think general science fiction fans will also be pleased with this novel.
Having given Gav Thorpe a go and been left wanting, I hedged all my bets on the other big name in Warhammer fiction circles, Dan Abnett. It was up to Abnett to save me after Thorpe had severely burned me. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is a universe I wanted to like. It has all the right ingredients, it just needed the right author to do it justice. Thankfully, Abnett is the man for the job.
Titanicus isn't the type of Warhammer 40,000 story that would normally draw me in. I like Space Marines. (Side note: my version of Titanicus has Space Marines - I think they're Salamanders - on the cover. Not a single Space Marine appears in the 500 plus pages of Titanicus.) Titans never really appealed to me. But a mate lent me Titanicus and I thought I'd give Warhammer 40,000 fiction one last go.
I now appreciate Titans much more.
The story is grand, the prose is impressive, the plot is clever, and the characterisation is believable. Clichés are not completely missing, but sparse enough to forgive. Abnett can also milk his imagery; while a simile might come across as impressive on first use, recycling that exact same phrase loses its appeal the fifth time.
While I really enjoyed this novel, it has a few minor flaws. The most grinding flaw for me was the number of characters. There are so many characters that I only started to really work out who was who with less than a quarter of the novel left to read. Then there is the enemy who were ambiguous to the point that I wasn't even sure at first that the Imperial/Mechanicas forces were fighting against Chaos. I like to get to know the villain of a story, know their motives. Not in Titanicus, though I'm sure that was deliberate in order to make them mysterious and more threatening. Abnett also relies on the reader's knowledge of Warhammer 40,000 background story. More than once I found myself googling Warhammer 40,000 specific terms that were not explained in the novel.
Overall, Titanicus is an impressive read. Towards the end it picked up pace enough for it to become near impossible to put down (and I'm a very disciplined, one chapter a night type of reader). The plot is intriguing with impressive twists. The workings and belief systems of the Mechanicus are explored meticulously, but fluidly (not through painful exposition). I found myself really caring about the fates of the different characters by the end of the novel. The action - and this is what you read a Warhammer 40,000 novel for - is well written, though it does lack a sense of danger in places.
Titanicus is definitely on my list of novels to recommend. At the moment it is number one on my list of recommended Warhammer 40,000 novels. The Black Library should thank Dan Abnett for saving me from turning my back on Warhammer novels (they should subsequently fire Gav Thorpe for nearly causing me to boycott all Warhammer fiction).
If you're a Warhammer 40,000 fan then you should read Titanicus. I think general science fiction fans will also be pleased with this novel.
February 2, 2020
Top shelf mind candy. There are several sides to 40k: the original indie English lulz, the corporate grimdark edginess which misses the irony, and then what the few real writers make of it. (Ian Watson and Abnett are two I know about.)
The first 150 pages here have no giant robots, only the quiet apprehensive horror of a war economy, war emotions. Lovers parted by conscription, blocks of lives traded for nothing, the belligerent joy of a public which hasn't lost its first battle yet. Then you get plenty of omnipotent bots, a conspiracy, and two parties in desperate retreat.
I like the Mechanicus because, unlike the rest of their society they are half-rational, occasionally have to confront the pervasive superstition and noble lies.
Several times you get a unique twist on PTSD, from old men who spent decades inhabiting a war machine:
I struggle a bit with the psychology of the wicked Satanic enemy. Even in thoughtful authors like Abnett their motivations and strategies are too predictably vicious, too unsustainable - they've invaded this planet, fine, but then they blow up half the cities in it. So what's the point of invading?
An enemy who was so haphazard, divided, unstrategic would struggle to threaten a whole organised empire. They could just be terrorists, or value suffering itself, or just be damaging infrastructure for the wider conflict. But this is a flat worldview, one you can't do anything with except backdrop the nobility of your own characters. Which is one reason there's not a lot of literature in this canon. Abnett compensates well as usual, with flawed and distinctive protagonists, rigorous fantasy logistics and tactics, nice setpieces, plenty of humanising nonmilitary detail, and good satisfying betrayals.
The first 150 pages here have no giant robots, only the quiet apprehensive horror of a war economy, war emotions. Lovers parted by conscription, blocks of lives traded for nothing, the belligerent joy of a public which hasn't lost its first battle yet. Then you get plenty of omnipotent bots, a conspiracy, and two parties in desperate retreat.
I like the Mechanicus because, unlike the rest of their society they are half-rational, occasionally have to confront the pervasive superstition and noble lies.
Several times you get a unique twist on PTSD, from old men who spent decades inhabiting a war machine:
Zink hobbled over to his hut at the best full stride his old legs could manage. He took out the worn step ladder that he used for pruning the boughs of the ploin trees, and carried it back to the west wall. This execution took the best part of half an hour, and Zink had to stop and catch his breath twice. More than twice, he forgot what he was about and began to carry the ladder back to the hut. When he reached the wall, he came about, two points, low stride, west rotation, and dragged the ladder into the wet flowerbeds.
I struggle a bit with the psychology of the wicked Satanic enemy. Even in thoughtful authors like Abnett their motivations and strategies are too predictably vicious, too unsustainable - they've invaded this planet, fine, but then they blow up half the cities in it. So what's the point of invading?
The archenemy, in his long experience, often ignored
tactical logic or strategic merit, but this was an odd choice even by the archenemy’s perverse standards.
An enemy who was so haphazard, divided, unstrategic would struggle to threaten a whole organised empire. They could just be terrorists, or value suffering itself, or just be damaging infrastructure for the wider conflict. But this is a flat worldview, one you can't do anything with except backdrop the nobility of your own characters. Which is one reason there's not a lot of literature in this canon. Abnett compensates well as usual, with flawed and distinctive protagonists, rigorous fantasy logistics and tactics, nice setpieces, plenty of humanising nonmilitary detail, and good satisfying betrayals.
May 1, 2024
Really struggled to follow along with the seemingly many storylines happening and keeping track of who's who. I'm not hugely into Warhammer so had no base knowledge going in so perhaps that's why. I only read it at my husbands request as it's one of his favourites. I did enjoy what I could make sense of though.
September 14, 2020
Really pretty awesome sentences
February 3, 2025
War is not simply the act of soldiers on a battlefield, nor the operators of mechs, or even the generals and leaders calling the shots; war is the child starving in the streets when the food supply is cut off, the spouses waiting at home for someone who may or may not ever return, it's seeing your best friend on the other side and the familiarity you once knew replaced with hatred. And in the 41st millennium, the one thing that hasn't changed, is war.
Set on the forge world of Orestes, Titanicus follows the actions of the men and women of the Mechanicum as they defend their home from a Chaos engine attack, and the inner politics that swarm in the far future; every level of soldier is represented here, from the lowest servitor to mighty Gearheart himself, and Abnett is truly a master of this world. The writing, characters, battle, all magnificent, and fist pumping action is met with brutal sacrifice throughout.
One thing people tend to forget about this universe is its brutality; the fantastic history, the factions, even the (sometimes) wacky characters overshadow the fact that everyone is at war with everyone else, all the time, and this is the first book that seriously dives into the ramifications of that. Several points of view center on random citizens, people not at all different from you or I, who not only have to survive, but also contend with literal gods walking the earth. It's gritty, dirty, and hopeless, and yet they fight on.
Be warned: this one is grim. Some people don't make it out, and their sacrifice is in vain. Some villains make it out unscathed, and such is the nature of war in the far future. That aside, Abnett is a talented enough writer that, even though it was slow going, the rising action throughout and the fantastic characters kept me pushing through.
4/5, the Emperor Protects!
Set on the forge world of Orestes, Titanicus follows the actions of the men and women of the Mechanicum as they defend their home from a Chaos engine attack, and the inner politics that swarm in the far future; every level of soldier is represented here, from the lowest servitor to mighty Gearheart himself, and Abnett is truly a master of this world. The writing, characters, battle, all magnificent, and fist pumping action is met with brutal sacrifice throughout.
One thing people tend to forget about this universe is its brutality; the fantastic history, the factions, even the (sometimes) wacky characters overshadow the fact that everyone is at war with everyone else, all the time, and this is the first book that seriously dives into the ramifications of that. Several points of view center on random citizens, people not at all different from you or I, who not only have to survive, but also contend with literal gods walking the earth. It's gritty, dirty, and hopeless, and yet they fight on.
Be warned: this one is grim. Some people don't make it out, and their sacrifice is in vain. Some villains make it out unscathed, and such is the nature of war in the far future. That aside, Abnett is a talented enough writer that, even though it was slow going, the rising action throughout and the fantastic characters kept me pushing through.
4/5, the Emperor Protects!
July 24, 2025
There were a lot of fun parts to this story and some really cool battles, but there was definitely too much going on. There were story lines that just...existed, but didn't get resolved. There was also a staggering amount of details being listed constantly, to the point where I was just chuckling because characters would enter a room and there would be this huge listing of everything that could possibly be in that room. At one point a character goes off in detail about this huge list of people, and mentions that there are ten more people just there that she doesn't know. Only for all of those people to be obliterated in a few sentences a couple pages later. Wild. Not a bad read, but could have been a lot better if it was trimmed up a bit.
June 2, 2017
Túl nagy lehetett az elvárásom a regénnyel szemben – hisz már a címe is telitalálat –, száz százalékban biztos voltam abban, hogy minden tekintetben lenyűgöz majd. Sajnos nem így lett, de ez még mindig csak egy vélemény, ne higgyetek nekem, a többség nem osztja az álláspontomat. Ki-ki döntsön maga – természetesen olvasás után –, melyik véleménynek van igaza. Nekem ez összességében nem tetszett, ráfért volna egy szerkesztő, aki a felét kitörli, vagy értelmesebb tartalommal tölteti meg a szerzővel, de ettől még maradtam rajongó, és újra izgatottan várom a következő Warhammer 40K témájú könyvet.
Jóval bővebben a blogon:
https://profunduslibrum.blogspot.hu/2...
Jóval bővebben a blogon:
https://profunduslibrum.blogspot.hu/2...
January 9, 2017
Bookworm Speaks!
Warhammer 40,000
Titanicus
by Dan Abnett
****
Acquired: Half-Price Books
Series: Sabbat Worlds Series, Book 3
Publisher: The Black Library (November 26, 2009)
Paperback: 608 Pages
Language: English
****
The Story: When the vital forge world of Orestes comes under attack by a legion of Chaos Titans, the planet is forced to appeal for help. Titan Legio Invicta, although fresh from combat and in desperate need of refit and repair, responds, committing its own force of war engines to the battle. As the god-machines stride to war, the world trembles, for the devastation they unleash could destroy the very world they have pledged to save.
Savage action on an apocalyptic scale and dark political intrigue meet head-on in this Warhammer 40,000 epic.
The Review: Warhammer 40,000 is among the richest and most diverse settings in modern day science fiction. The almost endless amounts of factions, individuals, and groups from both friend and foe, all offer an amazing array of storytelling opportunities. Several of those factions stand out among the crowd though, the Adeptus Astartes, the Imperial Guard, and of course, the Titans. Towering, walking, engines of war. The ground shakes with every step they take.
That alone is one of the reasons why this book deserves a spot on the shelf on any servant of the Emperor’s library. The titan’s are among the most badass mechs in all of science fiction. They would eat Gundams for breakfast, Mechwarriors would be crushed under their feet. Jaegers may put up good fight but would ultimately fall victim to the Titan’s many, mighty guns. Epic weapons for an epic franchise. Clever segway into the first positive point…
What makes Warhammer 40k so distinctive is how the fiction is a living juxtaposition between epic, nay mythic levels of storytelling and a remarkable intimate and human level of storytelling. The machine’s level city blocks with every footstep and can destroy armies with one shot of one its several weapons, but the book does not focus on that. We focus on the most important part of any story: the characters. The crews of the Titans and the common folk on the ground are all written with such intimacy juxtaposed with the earth shattering epics
Even the various Titans become characters in their own right. They all have personalities and differences in spite of their lack of scintillating conversations. It is confirmed canon that Titans are sapient but in an erratic, unpredictable, wild way. They can’t talk, to say the least. The Titans are very much a double edged sword, which further adds to the drama. They are as much a threat to the Imperium as they are to the Imperium’s foes. The crews of the God Machines have the wrangle the violent machine spirits lest they go out of control and destroy everything in sight. Some of the most dramatic conflicts in fiction are inner conflicts and almost every story that involves the Titan God Machines involves these battles within.
It is important to remember that the Adeptus Mechanicus are not scientists. They are religious order, to whom gods are machines. The Titans are the holiest machines of the Mechanicus, walking temples to the Omnissiah, (that is such a catchy term) the dichotomy between the absurdly powerful technology and the almost arcane veneration and tribal organization of such machines creates a unique picture for the reader to digest. Unfortunately it may be a little too much to digest and if does not all go down as well as it could. The author probably could have used a harsher editor. The story goes on a little too far and gets bogged down in the interesting but perhaps pointless subplots.
Unlike several other Black Library tomes in his possession, Bookworm has not had much desire to revisit the battlefields of Orestes. Bookworm most likely will someday but this lack of re-readability should be indicative of this story’s idiosyncrasies. Bookworm can really only recall a handful of passages with clarity, those being the subplot of the toymaker who sells toy Titans.
The aforementioned richness of the Warhammer 40k setting can at times work against itself. There are so many details that it is not difficult to get lost in all the unfamiliar terms. Exposition is a double edged sword in writing fiction and there is little to be had here. That does work in the story’s favor though, it doesn’t waste the reader’s time. It draws them in right from the get go and doesn’t let up…not for a page. That can be exciting but it goes a bit fast sometimes and becomes a bit of blur.
The author of this book is often stated as being a good place to start when jumping into the grim darkness of the far future, however, this particular work of the author is not an ideal place to begin.
Final Verdict: Titanicus, while perhaps not the most shining example of the Black Library or Dan Abnett, Titanicus does fall under worthy canon as being a glimpse into the most powerful weapons ever fielded by the Imperium of Man.
Three Symbols of the Collegia Titanica out of Five
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
Warhammer 40,000
Titanicus
by Dan Abnett
****
Acquired: Half-Price Books
Series: Sabbat Worlds Series, Book 3
Publisher: The Black Library (November 26, 2009)
Paperback: 608 Pages
Language: English
****
The Story: When the vital forge world of Orestes comes under attack by a legion of Chaos Titans, the planet is forced to appeal for help. Titan Legio Invicta, although fresh from combat and in desperate need of refit and repair, responds, committing its own force of war engines to the battle. As the god-machines stride to war, the world trembles, for the devastation they unleash could destroy the very world they have pledged to save.
Savage action on an apocalyptic scale and dark political intrigue meet head-on in this Warhammer 40,000 epic.
The Review: Warhammer 40,000 is among the richest and most diverse settings in modern day science fiction. The almost endless amounts of factions, individuals, and groups from both friend and foe, all offer an amazing array of storytelling opportunities. Several of those factions stand out among the crowd though, the Adeptus Astartes, the Imperial Guard, and of course, the Titans. Towering, walking, engines of war. The ground shakes with every step they take.
That alone is one of the reasons why this book deserves a spot on the shelf on any servant of the Emperor’s library. The titan’s are among the most badass mechs in all of science fiction. They would eat Gundams for breakfast, Mechwarriors would be crushed under their feet. Jaegers may put up good fight but would ultimately fall victim to the Titan’s many, mighty guns. Epic weapons for an epic franchise. Clever segway into the first positive point…
What makes Warhammer 40k so distinctive is how the fiction is a living juxtaposition between epic, nay mythic levels of storytelling and a remarkable intimate and human level of storytelling. The machine’s level city blocks with every footstep and can destroy armies with one shot of one its several weapons, but the book does not focus on that. We focus on the most important part of any story: the characters. The crews of the Titans and the common folk on the ground are all written with such intimacy juxtaposed with the earth shattering epics
Even the various Titans become characters in their own right. They all have personalities and differences in spite of their lack of scintillating conversations. It is confirmed canon that Titans are sapient but in an erratic, unpredictable, wild way. They can’t talk, to say the least. The Titans are very much a double edged sword, which further adds to the drama. They are as much a threat to the Imperium as they are to the Imperium’s foes. The crews of the God Machines have the wrangle the violent machine spirits lest they go out of control and destroy everything in sight. Some of the most dramatic conflicts in fiction are inner conflicts and almost every story that involves the Titan God Machines involves these battles within.
It is important to remember that the Adeptus Mechanicus are not scientists. They are religious order, to whom gods are machines. The Titans are the holiest machines of the Mechanicus, walking temples to the Omnissiah, (that is such a catchy term) the dichotomy between the absurdly powerful technology and the almost arcane veneration and tribal organization of such machines creates a unique picture for the reader to digest. Unfortunately it may be a little too much to digest and if does not all go down as well as it could. The author probably could have used a harsher editor. The story goes on a little too far and gets bogged down in the interesting but perhaps pointless subplots.
Unlike several other Black Library tomes in his possession, Bookworm has not had much desire to revisit the battlefields of Orestes. Bookworm most likely will someday but this lack of re-readability should be indicative of this story’s idiosyncrasies. Bookworm can really only recall a handful of passages with clarity, those being the subplot of the toymaker who sells toy Titans.
The aforementioned richness of the Warhammer 40k setting can at times work against itself. There are so many details that it is not difficult to get lost in all the unfamiliar terms. Exposition is a double edged sword in writing fiction and there is little to be had here. That does work in the story’s favor though, it doesn’t waste the reader’s time. It draws them in right from the get go and doesn’t let up…not for a page. That can be exciting but it goes a bit fast sometimes and becomes a bit of blur.
The author of this book is often stated as being a good place to start when jumping into the grim darkness of the far future, however, this particular work of the author is not an ideal place to begin.
Final Verdict: Titanicus, while perhaps not the most shining example of the Black Library or Dan Abnett, Titanicus does fall under worthy canon as being a glimpse into the most powerful weapons ever fielded by the Imperium of Man.
Three Symbols of the Collegia Titanica out of Five
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
May 27, 2018
Captures the sense of a sci-fi war zone on a massive scale.
Unlike many other Black Library books it manages to thread the needle of grimdark without wallowing in it or getting too cheesy.
Unlike many other Black Library books it manages to thread the needle of grimdark without wallowing in it or getting too cheesy.
January 18, 2019
Great novel!
It was much better than I expected it to be. Usually Abnett can be a bit hit-and-miss, but this was fantastic! Well rounded and fleshed out characters, great action.
It was much better than I expected it to be. Usually Abnett can be a bit hit-and-miss, but this was fantastic! Well rounded and fleshed out characters, great action.
January 13, 2025
Gute Arbeit, das Gefühl des Universums komplett geisteskrank zu sein, widerzuspiegeln. Leider etwas zu lang und das Ende dafür sehr abrupt.
July 14, 2025
I was a little hesitant towards this at first because I usually don’t like just full throttle action 24/7 warhammer books, but this definitely wasn’t that.
I don’t think I’ve genuinely read a Warhammer book where the characters felt like characters you’d see in stories set in contemporary times, not that 40k characters arent traditionally relatable or anything but their experiences and goals are so distant because of the world they live in. However, in this book, I feel like since we see the lives of normal civilians to high ranking officials,the characters actually feel 10x more realistic it’s such a unique book just for that. The action is really good too but that’s one quality I really liked
I don’t think I’ve genuinely read a Warhammer book where the characters felt like characters you’d see in stories set in contemporary times, not that 40k characters arent traditionally relatable or anything but their experiences and goals are so distant because of the world they live in. However, in this book, I feel like since we see the lives of normal civilians to high ranking officials,the characters actually feel 10x more realistic it’s such a unique book just for that. The action is really good too but that’s one quality I really liked
June 13, 2024
A nice switch-up from the Gaunt's Ghosts books. While the setting is similar (taking place during the same Sabbat Worlds Crusade), Abnett switches from following a regiment of the Imperium's most expendable infantry to its most treasured and powerful weapons: the Titans, basically the Warhammer 40k version of Mechwarrior-style giant combat robots. Of course, being 40k, these mechs are millennia old (and appropriately quirky), they're treated like demigods (with all the feudal pomp and ceremony you'd expect), and they're terrifyingly brutal in combat. Compared to the Gaunt's Ghosts books, this is also a much more straightforward battle documentary narrative (like "The Longest Day" or "A Bridge too Far" but in 40K and with Mechs), following the crucial political and military events of a campaign from a number of key perspectives.
Anyway, main story-wise, the Forge World Orestes is under attack, forces of the Dark Mechanicum, servants of Chaos, have invaded, and their forces have overwhelmed the titans of Legio Tempestus, itself depleted by deployments to support the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. As such, there is a real danger of the world and its priceless forges being lost to Chaos. Fortunately, in this dark hour, another titan legion, Legio Invcita, a renowned veteran unit led for centuries by a legendary commander known as the Red Fury, comes to their aid, promising the liberation of their world. However, all is not well within the Hives of Orestes, the world is divided between the Mechanicum and the Imperium and within the Mechanicum an ancient doctrinal division, brought to light at the worst possible moment, threatens to not only create a schism at the worst possible time, but to possibly spawn a galaxy-spanning Civil War which would doom humanity. As if that wasn't bad enough, the forces of Chaos have not revealed their full strength and while Invicta and the remnants of Tempestus rally to liberate the world, they remain blind to a greater threat and the fate of Orestes and perhaps the Imperium itself rests in the hands of a handful of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines.
Between some really good action scenes, a fascinating premise, some twisty political/religious machinations, interesting characters, and great world-building, this is Abnett doing what he does best. It's rather a shame this is a one-off, I'd really like another book about Legio Invicta, but given how many other series Abnett has going, I can't really fault him for not having the time.
Anyway, main story-wise, the Forge World Orestes is under attack, forces of the Dark Mechanicum, servants of Chaos, have invaded, and their forces have overwhelmed the titans of Legio Tempestus, itself depleted by deployments to support the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. As such, there is a real danger of the world and its priceless forges being lost to Chaos. Fortunately, in this dark hour, another titan legion, Legio Invcita, a renowned veteran unit led for centuries by a legendary commander known as the Red Fury, comes to their aid, promising the liberation of their world. However, all is not well within the Hives of Orestes, the world is divided between the Mechanicum and the Imperium and within the Mechanicum an ancient doctrinal division, brought to light at the worst possible moment, threatens to not only create a schism at the worst possible time, but to possibly spawn a galaxy-spanning Civil War which would doom humanity. As if that wasn't bad enough, the forces of Chaos have not revealed their full strength and while Invicta and the remnants of Tempestus rally to liberate the world, they remain blind to a greater threat and the fate of Orestes and perhaps the Imperium itself rests in the hands of a handful of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines.
Between some really good action scenes, a fascinating premise, some twisty political/religious machinations, interesting characters, and great world-building, this is Abnett doing what he does best. It's rather a shame this is a one-off, I'd really like another book about Legio Invicta, but given how many other series Abnett has going, I can't really fault him for not having the time.
June 7, 2010
So Dan Abnett's Titanicus now that it has come out in soft back.
So believe it or not, this book deals with a Titan war. A forge world in the Sabbott Worlds area (The same region of the Imperium that Gaunt's Ghosts takes place) has been attack by a chaos Titan legion. The Titians of Legio Invictus are rerouted against orders to defend the forge world.
I am an admitted Abnett fan boy (I think he is the best Black Library author bar none!), but I was not very happy with this book. I think that Abnett was reaching to far when he wrote this book. There are literally twelve plot lines going on in the book. And there are a few of those plot lines that have absolutely nothing to do with the overall story line.
There are so many characters, and so many jumps within each chapter it is hard to remember, was this the tank commander guy, or the commander of the Warlord titan? I am used to authors having multiple plot lines going on and just as you get into one, it jumps to the next one, but this book takes this idea to the extreme. I found it difficult to follow.
I think Abnett was, quite admirably trying to "mainstream" 40k with this book. Unfortunately, he waters down the 40k in this book so much, it doesn't feel like a 40k book.
One of my largest pet-pieves at the moment with a lot of the 40k novels rears its ugly head in this novel as well. There is the "super evil" dude that is supposed to be on the "good guys" side that just F's everything up.
I just don't understand why, when your protagonists are fighting the forces of evil, you need to have the clichéd super evil villain in your own camp shtick.
That being said, no body does action like Abnett. The hawt Titian on Titian action is fan-friggin-tastic. There are a few non-Titian battles, and a lot of battles with the Skitarii (The Mechanicus' infantry) that are pretty awesome, but the Titian battles will blow your socks off! The book is well worth reading just for them!
I know I have bashed the book a bit, but I think that the battles do make up for it a bit. I hate to admit it, but I'd have to say that I think this is my least favorite book that Abnett is written. But I still would give this book 3 starts out of 5. Because Abnetts worst book is still better than a lot of the other authors in the Black Library. He’s just that good.
So believe it or not, this book deals with a Titan war. A forge world in the Sabbott Worlds area (The same region of the Imperium that Gaunt's Ghosts takes place) has been attack by a chaos Titan legion. The Titians of Legio Invictus are rerouted against orders to defend the forge world.
I am an admitted Abnett fan boy (I think he is the best Black Library author bar none!), but I was not very happy with this book. I think that Abnett was reaching to far when he wrote this book. There are literally twelve plot lines going on in the book. And there are a few of those plot lines that have absolutely nothing to do with the overall story line.
There are so many characters, and so many jumps within each chapter it is hard to remember, was this the tank commander guy, or the commander of the Warlord titan? I am used to authors having multiple plot lines going on and just as you get into one, it jumps to the next one, but this book takes this idea to the extreme. I found it difficult to follow.
I think Abnett was, quite admirably trying to "mainstream" 40k with this book. Unfortunately, he waters down the 40k in this book so much, it doesn't feel like a 40k book.
One of my largest pet-pieves at the moment with a lot of the 40k novels rears its ugly head in this novel as well. There is the "super evil" dude that is supposed to be on the "good guys" side that just F's everything up.
I just don't understand why, when your protagonists are fighting the forces of evil, you need to have the clichéd super evil villain in your own camp shtick.
That being said, no body does action like Abnett. The hawt Titian on Titian action is fan-friggin-tastic. There are a few non-Titian battles, and a lot of battles with the Skitarii (The Mechanicus' infantry) that are pretty awesome, but the Titian battles will blow your socks off! The book is well worth reading just for them!
I know I have bashed the book a bit, but I think that the battles do make up for it a bit. I hate to admit it, but I'd have to say that I think this is my least favorite book that Abnett is written. But I still would give this book 3 starts out of 5. Because Abnetts worst book is still better than a lot of the other authors in the Black Library. He’s just that good.
January 14, 2021
Decent enough Warhams fare. The world of titans is different from the usual "how about a World War II infantry story, except with the serial numbers filed off and the words American / Nazi replaced with Imperial Guardsman / Chaos Cultist" stuff that makes up 90% of Warhams fiction.
Titans are walking war machines the size of skyscrapers, and they are fighting for control of a world invaded by the forces of Chaos. We follow the commander of one of these mighty gods of war, as well as some other interesting characters during the apocalyptic conflict as they fight both external and internal threats.
The book manages to convey the scale and spectacle of building-sized walking war machines fighting pretty well, which makes for fun and refreshingly different reading. The characters are not detailed or multi-layered by any means, but what do you expect? It's pulpy Warhams fun. Stuff blows up, buildings fall over, dramatic sacrifices are made and a good time is had by all. Well, maybe not the people who got flattened by the buildings.
Titans are walking war machines the size of skyscrapers, and they are fighting for control of a world invaded by the forces of Chaos. We follow the commander of one of these mighty gods of war, as well as some other interesting characters during the apocalyptic conflict as they fight both external and internal threats.
The book manages to convey the scale and spectacle of building-sized walking war machines fighting pretty well, which makes for fun and refreshingly different reading. The characters are not detailed or multi-layered by any means, but what do you expect? It's pulpy Warhams fun. Stuff blows up, buildings fall over, dramatic sacrifices are made and a good time is had by all. Well, maybe not the people who got flattened by the buildings.
December 19, 2018
I've never been that big to the lore of Warhammer 40,000, nor its literature in general, but I always liked the bizarre techno-organic aesthetics of the techpriests, and especially the colossal semi-divine majesty of the Titans. Therefore, I went to this book expecting that I'd like it.
And I did. Sometimes it's nice to be correct.
That said, it's laid pretty thick on setting information and technobabble and other weird stuff that isn't really explained, probably because most readers would be expected to know these things already. I didn't, though, so it was a bit of a slog sometimes: I kept having to stop to look up what all these things meant.
But I still liked it. If you've read more of the setting to know all this stuff from the beginning, you'll probably like it even more than I did. Feel free to add another star.
And I did. Sometimes it's nice to be correct.
That said, it's laid pretty thick on setting information and technobabble and other weird stuff that isn't really explained, probably because most readers would be expected to know these things already. I didn't, though, so it was a bit of a slog sometimes: I kept having to stop to look up what all these things meant.
But I still liked it. If you've read more of the setting to know all this stuff from the beginning, you'll probably like it even more than I did. Feel free to add another star.
October 18, 2018
3 and a half stars.
It took me a little while to become invested in the book, mainly because I didn't understand the mechanicum structure and how it operates. Several story threads are started and after they have gotten past the introduction stage I enjoyed them all. The last few chapters felt a tiny bit rushed and the endings to some of the stories were quite abrupt. I wouldn't bother reading the last page of 'poetry as I think it detracts from the stories ending.
That being said, the engine fights and the interaction of the crew was great.
It took me a little while to become invested in the book, mainly because I didn't understand the mechanicum structure and how it operates. Several story threads are started and after they have gotten past the introduction stage I enjoyed them all. The last few chapters felt a tiny bit rushed and the endings to some of the stories were quite abrupt. I wouldn't bother reading the last page of 'poetry as I think it detracts from the stories ending.
That being said, the engine fights and the interaction of the crew was great.
February 10, 2019
Not the greatest - 3.5 stars - too many subplots at times (a couple about titans many are not) though the plot does take a couple of interesting turns at points.....
He keeps things moving along and interesting enough with some really good background info/lore around the titans and mechanicus more generally. DOES have some really cool titan on titan battles and for me this is where the book really shines!
He keeps things moving along and interesting enough with some really good background info/lore around the titans and mechanicus more generally. DOES have some really cool titan on titan battles and for me this is where the book really shines!
January 19, 2020
Quick impressions: way too long for what it offers. There are way too many subplots that just take up space. Honestly, you could take a lot out, and the main story would be just fine. Fans of the Mechanicum may appreciate some of the very specific details about them in this book. Borrow it if you must.
(Full review on my blog later).
(Full review on my blog later).
March 29, 2024
The guy who was painting the Mini-Engines should have gotten vaporised or stepped on at least. Didnt really add much to the story in my opinion. Tarses was a great character. Activated 26 kinda dragged on in parts but Cally was a solid enough character to see it through. There seemed to be alot of "extra" all around.
September 11, 2014
Probably the definitive Titan novel for 40k fiction, this book is a wonder. It is thick with atmosphere, and the characters are strong and believable. As always, Mr. Abnett delivers the best military fiction I have ever read. This is an amazing book.
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