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Adeptus Mechanicus #1
Skitarius
The skitarii are the soldiers of the Machine God, the tireless legions of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Holy warriors, they carry the word of the Omnissiah across the galaxy, destroying the impure machines of aliens and renegades and spearheading the Quest for Knowledge. A discovery of ancient technology sends a skitarii legion, commanded by Alpha Primus Haldron-44 Stroika, into battle on a forge world overrun by Chaos. When a cataclysm cuts him off from his tech-priest overseers, Stroika must rally his forces and battle corrupt machines and Chaos Space Marines if he is to achieve victory.
Read it because
This is a fantastic insight into the inner workings of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and a display of their resilience in the face of absolute disaster. Plus, cold, unfeeling cybernetic efficiency in battle against the merciless swirl of Chaos is always a recipe for action.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2015
46 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Rob Sanders
114 books86 followersRob Sanders is the author of twelve novels, as well as numerous anthologised short stories, novellas, audio dramas, computer games and comics. His fiction has won national writing competitions, been featured on the BBC and appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. His poetry has been short listed in national contests. He lives off the beaten track in the small city of Lincoln, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 25, 2015
TL;DR; A book that only my OCD to finish started books kept me from abondoning.
It was one battle scene after the other. I was hoping for a description of the Martian culture like what we got on Lords of Mars but all I got to read was the umpteenth time arc guns or whatever sliding down the arm rails .
It was one battle scene after the other. I was hoping for a description of the Martian culture like what we got on Lords of Mars but all I got to read was the umpteenth time arc guns or whatever sliding down the arm rails .
May 29, 2021
I picked Skitarius up as it was recommended to me by a friend who claimed it was better than your average outing of the Mechanicus. Having found most things related to the Mechanicus to be quite tedious, the thought that something stood out above those got me a little bit excited.
In a sense, Skitarius does, indeed, stand above other works featuring the cog boys ... but not for depth of story or interesting characters (that seems to be something quite out of the question as far as Mars goes). It stands out because it keeps the reader interested with battle scenes. An unfortunate amount of them.
I almost feel like they've tried to boost the appeal by going balls to the walls as far as action goes and, much like your average adept dreams of cutting away their flesh and replacing it with machine parts, Black Library have cut away all thought of a deep, meaningful story and replaced it with lots of gun-fights. I genuinely had high hopes as it started with a good premise, but I lost interest to the extent I forgot what was going on at times. There's only so many battles you can sit through before that happens. Especially when they feel like they're there simply as filler rather than anything of true substance. Any time I tried to hold onto the meat of the story, conversations about in-depth probability calculations etc ... had me tuning out and treating this as background noise for good portions.
I think, other than those in the Horus Heresy series, my hunt for an enjoyable Mechanicum novel may have to be shut down. The characters always seems to be devoid of anything that makes them interesting and possessive of utterly annoying, throwaway names that have a tendency render things pretty meaningless at times.
My overall opinion is that yes, it's pretty good to an extent, but never really threatened to be great. I understand that, with a short novel/novella such as this, you could hardly ask for epic story lines. But a meaningful one that makes the battles feel as though they aren't just Games Workshop battle reports can't be too much to ask?
In a sense, Skitarius does, indeed, stand above other works featuring the cog boys ... but not for depth of story or interesting characters (that seems to be something quite out of the question as far as Mars goes). It stands out because it keeps the reader interested with battle scenes. An unfortunate amount of them.
I almost feel like they've tried to boost the appeal by going balls to the walls as far as action goes and, much like your average adept dreams of cutting away their flesh and replacing it with machine parts, Black Library have cut away all thought of a deep, meaningful story and replaced it with lots of gun-fights. I genuinely had high hopes as it started with a good premise, but I lost interest to the extent I forgot what was going on at times. There's only so many battles you can sit through before that happens. Especially when they feel like they're there simply as filler rather than anything of true substance. Any time I tried to hold onto the meat of the story, conversations about in-depth probability calculations etc ... had me tuning out and treating this as background noise for good portions.
I think, other than those in the Horus Heresy series, my hunt for an enjoyable Mechanicum novel may have to be shut down. The characters always seems to be devoid of anything that makes them interesting and possessive of utterly annoying, throwaway names that have a tendency render things pretty meaningless at times.
My overall opinion is that yes, it's pretty good to an extent, but never really threatened to be great. I understand that, with a short novel/novella such as this, you could hardly ask for epic story lines. But a meaningful one that makes the battles feel as though they aren't just Games Workshop battle reports can't be too much to ask?
June 8, 2024
A good story within the limits of the style imposed, said style being "Dantesque battle on a molten world", but not without its faults either.
To begin with, I simply think that the very concept of Adeptus Mechanicus forces the reader to put aside any attempt to empathise with the protagonists. It's an unstoppable logic, but ultimately a hindrance.
In the same vein, the style is heavy and leaden. Tons of descriptions and dialogues in techno-babble and pseudo-Latin mode contribute to the lore but end up detracting from the pleasure of reading.
That said, Sanders doesn't fall short of the mark, and in the WH40K environment in which he evolves he writes a good story, albeit without any cosmic stakes, but which suffers from the limitations of the said environment. The Adeptus Mechanicus is far too Mechanicus to be coldly appreciated by the flesh-and-blood beings that we are.
To begin with, I simply think that the very concept of Adeptus Mechanicus forces the reader to put aside any attempt to empathise with the protagonists. It's an unstoppable logic, but ultimately a hindrance.
In the same vein, the style is heavy and leaden. Tons of descriptions and dialogues in techno-babble and pseudo-Latin mode contribute to the lore but end up detracting from the pleasure of reading.
That said, Sanders doesn't fall short of the mark, and in the WH40K environment in which he evolves he writes a good story, albeit without any cosmic stakes, but which suffers from the limitations of the said environment. The Adeptus Mechanicus is far too Mechanicus to be coldly appreciated by the flesh-and-blood beings that we are.
May 5, 2022
Perfect for me. lets the reader get a deeper look at the new lore from the latest codex and get a better inlook at the Mechanicus as a whole.
October 30, 2025
++ PRAISE THE OMNISSIAH ++
Книга написана механически. И оказалась лучше ожиданий. Скитариям редко достаются слова. Есть Астартес скованные братскими узами Ордена, генетической наукой и поисками левого тапочка который-может-быть-однажды-надевал Примарх. Есть гвардейцы с какими-то своими историями, смертные люди против бессмертных ужасов галактики и смеха жаждущих богов. А скитарии? Что-то жужжащее, щёлкающие заводные солдатики магосов-жрецов, безликие, безымянные, уже не-люди, ещё не сверх-люди. Чем они отличаются от боевых сервиторов?
И здесь мы видим жизнь от лица одного из скитариев. Точнее Альфа Примуса, командующего небольшого легиона. Механикус, в принципе, не занимаются особым гуманизмом и на мире-кузницу превращение в сервитора вопрос скорее производственной целесообразности. И многими не расценивается негативно: все служат Богу-Машине, шестерёнки великого механизма. Халдрон-44 Стройка сам мечтал стать скитарием и на этом пути выслужился в командующие. Стройка служил у магоса-эксполоратора и в обломках корабля они нашли сокровище Механикус - обломки СШК. Во время отбития Сандерс показал Сикарийских Инфильтраторов: не лучший выбор для боя в замкнутом пространстве, но они справились. В СШК оказался чертёж Бомбы Геллера, которая умеет подрывать варп-шторма. Тут магосам пришло сразу две отличные идеи: собрать бомбу и испытать её на соседнем мире-кузне, который уже сколько-то там веков провел в варп-шторме, дабы забрать местные сокровища. Уже первая часть плана вызывала вопросы. Кто-то серьёзно решит лезть на мир-кузницу Механикум, которая сколько-то веков провела в варпе? Туда единственное можно отправить вирусные бомбы и циклонические торпеды, чтобы простилизовать мир. Там же уже демоны нагадили везде где можно. И где нельзя. Эти соображения не остановили Механикус и они отправили скитариев делать десант на демонический мир-кузню, что и занимает большую часть повествования. Написано бодро, читается легко, на одном дыхании. Показано взаимодействие разных подразделений скитариев с одной стороны и магосов с другой: для магосов Механикус эта кампания похожа на компьютерную игру - сиди себе в космосе и посылай ноосферные команды подразделениям. Всё начиналось не слишком радостно, но оказалось мир-кузня (кто бы мог подумать!) прогнил до железного ядра в буквальном смысле: там поселился демон, так что вся планета, по сути, одержима. Как если этого было мало, из кустов выпрыгнула вар-банда облитераторов (руки-пушки!) Железных Воинов : поскольку железо должно быть не только снаружи, но и внутри. Демон в мире-кузне заскучал с летаргическими Механикум и ему захотелось развернуться, а Железные Воины как раз умели решать такой вопрос. Так что бедняга Халдрон Стройка попал как кур в ощип.
Книга написана механически. И оказалась лучше ожиданий. Скитариям редко достаются слова. Есть Астартес скованные братскими узами Ордена, генетической наукой и поисками левого тапочка который-может-быть-однажды-надевал Примарх. Есть гвардейцы с какими-то своими историями, смертные люди против бессмертных ужасов галактики и смеха жаждущих богов. А скитарии? Что-то жужжащее, щёлкающие заводные солдатики магосов-жрецов, безликие, безымянные, уже не-люди, ещё не сверх-люди. Чем они отличаются от боевых сервиторов?
И здесь мы видим жизнь от лица одного из скитариев. Точнее Альфа Примуса, командующего небольшого легиона. Механикус, в принципе, не занимаются особым гуманизмом и на мире-кузницу превращение в сервитора вопрос скорее производственной целесообразности. И многими не расценивается негативно: все служат Богу-Машине, шестерёнки великого механизма. Халдрон-44 Стройка сам мечтал стать скитарием и на этом пути выслужился в командующие. Стройка служил у магоса-эксполоратора и в обломках корабля они нашли сокровище Механикус - обломки СШК. Во время отбития Сандерс показал Сикарийских Инфильтраторов: не лучший выбор для боя в замкнутом пространстве, но они справились. В СШК оказался чертёж Бомбы Геллера, которая умеет подрывать варп-шторма. Тут магосам пришло сразу две отличные идеи: собрать бомбу и испытать её на соседнем мире-кузне, который уже сколько-то там веков провел в варп-шторме, дабы забрать местные сокровища. Уже первая часть плана вызывала вопросы. Кто-то серьёзно решит лезть на мир-кузницу Механикум, которая сколько-то веков провела в варпе? Туда единственное можно отправить вирусные бомбы и циклонические торпеды, чтобы простилизовать мир. Там же уже демоны нагадили везде где можно. И где нельзя. Эти соображения не остановили Механикус и они отправили скитариев делать десант на демонический мир-кузню, что и занимает большую часть повествования. Написано бодро, читается легко, на одном дыхании. Показано взаимодействие разных подразделений скитариев с одной стороны и магосов с другой: для магосов Механикус эта кампания похожа на компьютерную игру - сиди себе в космосе и посылай ноосферные команды подразделениям. Всё начиналось не слишком радостно, но оказалось мир-кузня (кто бы мог подумать!) прогнил до железного ядра в буквальном смысле: там поселился демон, так что вся планета, по сути, одержима. Как если этого было мало, из кустов выпрыгнула вар-банда облитераторов (руки-пушки!) Железных Воинов : поскольку железо должно быть не только снаружи, но и внутри. Демон в мире-кузне заскучал с летаргическими Механикум и ему захотелось развернуться, а Железные Воины как раз умели решать такой вопрос. Так что бедняга Халдрон Стройка попал как кур в ощип.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2015
The story in Skitarius was very enjoyable, with quite a few twists that really changed the scale of the story. One interesting part of the story was the book's focus on the Skitarii Legions and how they operate, but also what their standing is in the Mechanicus, their relationship to the tech-priests that command them, to the Machine God and exactly how cybernetically augmented these soldiers are, and how that changes who they are as people. We also get a nice glimpse of the split between tech-priests who roam in space and those attached to a Forge World, the former being trailblazing pioneers with a fierce independent streak, the latter being scheming politicians for whom their own advancement is just as important as their God's will. As the battle for Velchanos Magna gets underway the story begins to shift as the truth behind several events is revealed, rather nicely as well with both immediate consequences for the characters and potential consequences that will likely have to be explored in the sequel. The key purpose of this story is to explore the Skitarii as an army, which it quite well, but that doesn't mean that it couldn't be enjoyed as more than product-placement, which while the novel does do, it has to, it is not at all blatant and never so distracting that it made me cringe. The characters are... well the Skitarii are a tricky prospect in my opinion. They are meant to be largely emotionless, which rarely makes for a compelling protagonist, especially when practically every other character is similarly emotionless. But injecting them with emotion that they hide away would defeat the character of them as a faction, they are emotionless for the most part and that is how they should be portrayed, which the novel does, but that means it's hard to particularly like them. But that "for the most part" is where the work is really done, each Skitarii character does have a personality and each character can be defined by a single trait in my opinion. Magos Torquora is independence, Magos Mymidex is ambition, Nalode-Deka-871 is brutality, while Haldron-44 Stroika is Faith. These aspects show through quite clearly as each character's defining trait is what drives them through the story and what makes them perform the actions that send the story to it's conclusion (in this novel at least). The enemy are not explored as much, only two characters for the Dark Mechanicum and Chaos Space Marines actually appear, and the one example of former lasts for a few pages before dying, which I felt was a flaw that made the novel feel unbalanced towards the Skitarii, just a few sections from the POV of the Chaos Marine leader or a more fleshed-out Dark Mechanicum character would have made the character base more rounded, and the latter would shown the contrast between the Mechanicus and their dark counterpart in more detail. The action scenes are very good, all the newly released units for the Skitarii are on full display. Vanguard squadrons with their devastating radiation weaponry, Rangers with their micron-precise galvanic weaponry, the perpetual-motion Sydonian Dragoons and their Ballistarius counterparts, and the especially cool Onager Dunewalkers (I'm a sucker for tanks that have spider-like legs). Again, while the purpose of the book is to sell Skitarii figures, the book is not blatant about it and the action scenes read quite well, the Skitarii methods of warfare are shown in very sharp detail with both their strengths and weaknesses clear to the reader, while the role of the tech-priests in war is also explored a little. The Dark Mechanicum were better explored in battle than they were as characters, their forces featuring hellish daemon-engines and cyber-monstrosities, suicider tech-thralls and corrupted magi with all sorts of bizzare titles and even crazier technology grafted into their bodies and flesh into their machines. The Chaos Space Marines however only appeared in a few of the fight scenes later in the novel, and really only one actually depicted the Skitarii fighting against the CSMs and how their advanced technology yet their weaker human forms would match up against the genhanced superiority of the Astartes, which was a bit of a disappointment, I wanted to see Defilers fighting Dunewalkers and how the weaponry of the Skitarii would work against different kinds of Chaos Marines. But despite the somewhat narrowness of the scenes, the battles were still quite enjoyable and I felt depicted the Skitarii quite well from both a selling stand-point and a novel stand-point. The pacing of the book was done well enough, at 223 pages this is one of the new shorter novels that Black Library has started publishing, in the same vein as Kharn: Eater of Worlds by Anthony Reynolds. Because of that the novel does feel a bit quick, but considering the events of the story and how it goes, that works. One or two scenes could have used expanding a bit, perhaps some events in the story should have actually been shown directly rather than being seen through Stroika's limited perspective, but other then that the book reads well enough and I was never bored by it. The artwork is nicely drawn, an image of Ruststalker Princeps Nalode-Deka-871, a layout showing the various weapons of the Skitarii, and a diagram of a Ranger with points of note explained; sadly since this artwork is all available in the Skitarii codex it feels like a letdown that not one piece of it is unique as the other First Edition novels have featured.
The ending was surprising, a few BL novels have endings similar to this one, but even then they are a minority. The ending also served to make very very clear to the reader a part of the nature of the Mechanicus and it's tech-priests, and exactly how they view the Skitarii and other military arms that serve them. Sanders finishes the events of the novel but also makes it very clear that the story is far from over, the sequel hook is obvious and considering the final few events, quite welcome in my opinion. The final few pages of the novel do a very good job of revealing the real reason everything in this novel happened and why it happened the way that it did, these events turn the novel from a single-entry story about Skitarii fighting on a corrupted Forge World into a full on campaign by the Mechanicus against their dark cousins and the third party that has it's own agenda to achieve in this war.
The real and only problem of this book - is being an advertisement for model range, and sadly, nothing more :(
The ending was surprising, a few BL novels have endings similar to this one, but even then they are a minority. The ending also served to make very very clear to the reader a part of the nature of the Mechanicus and it's tech-priests, and exactly how they view the Skitarii and other military arms that serve them. Sanders finishes the events of the novel but also makes it very clear that the story is far from over, the sequel hook is obvious and considering the final few events, quite welcome in my opinion. The final few pages of the novel do a very good job of revealing the real reason everything in this novel happened and why it happened the way that it did, these events turn the novel from a single-entry story about Skitarii fighting on a corrupted Forge World into a full on campaign by the Mechanicus against their dark cousins and the third party that has it's own agenda to achieve in this war.
The real and only problem of this book - is being an advertisement for model range, and sadly, nothing more :(
August 14, 2023
Finished it.
Barely.
I actually *like* some of the Warhammer 40k stuff. A lot of it is pulpy nonsense, but at least entertaining. Some of it is actually solid sci-fi.
This was.... barely tolerable. It was basically 2/3rds a rambling battle description where my eyes just glazed over. The non-battle parts were actually kind of neat, because it dove into just how freaking weird the "tech-priests" are. Like... take Dune, and make it.... weirder.
Largely it was a snooze fest that didn't go anywhere beyond "Lets have an argument about something then go shooting stuff." Instead of having a story, it was a battle over.... heck, I don't even remember and I just finished the thing.
2 stars.
Barely.
Barely.
I actually *like* some of the Warhammer 40k stuff. A lot of it is pulpy nonsense, but at least entertaining. Some of it is actually solid sci-fi.
This was.... barely tolerable. It was basically 2/3rds a rambling battle description where my eyes just glazed over. The non-battle parts were actually kind of neat, because it dove into just how freaking weird the "tech-priests" are. Like... take Dune, and make it.... weirder.
Largely it was a snooze fest that didn't go anywhere beyond "Lets have an argument about something then go shooting stuff." Instead of having a story, it was a battle over.... heck, I don't even remember and I just finished the thing.
2 stars.
Barely.
March 23, 2021
Adeptus Mechanicus is my favorite part of the Warhammer 40k universe. I crave only the cold, clean certainty of steel.
This books helps to learn more about the Adeptus Mechanicus, such as their quantitative approach to promotion and their overall organization structure.
Alpha Primus Haldron-44 Stroika's skill and dedication to duty makes him a relatable and admirable character.
The book also had a good number of unexpected plot twists.
Wish there were more good books about the Adeptus Mechanicus.
This books helps to learn more about the Adeptus Mechanicus, such as their quantitative approach to promotion and their overall organization structure.
Alpha Primus Haldron-44 Stroika's skill and dedication to duty makes him a relatable and admirable character.
The book also had a good number of unexpected plot twists.
Wish there were more good books about the Adeptus Mechanicus.
July 20, 2023
Started Strong, But Became Bland
I was really enjoying the rare look at the Skitari and Mechanicus operations, their details and politicking and thought I was in for a real treat, especially with the conceit being an interesting use of tech and lore. But once the main mission and action started it became rather a dirge of uninspired or interesting describe 'bolter porn' (or the appropriate Skitari Ordinance).
Longworth is always a great Warhammer narrator.
I was really enjoying the rare look at the Skitari and Mechanicus operations, their details and politicking and thought I was in for a real treat, especially with the conceit being an interesting use of tech and lore. But once the main mission and action started it became rather a dirge of uninspired or interesting describe 'bolter porn' (or the appropriate Skitari Ordinance).
Longworth is always a great Warhammer narrator.
June 12, 2024
Quite dry and boring, full of exhaustive descriptions of how extensively augmented the cybernetic skitarii forces and tech-priests are. I enjoyed the plot about the incursion to a Chaos-corrupted forge world and all the horrors within but the endless descriptions of brutal warfare drag on after a while. Still, it's a short book and it was pretty easy to get through, so I'm going to read the sequel Tech-Priest as well.
May 3, 2024
I found the opening really quite trite and boring, but it clawed its way back. Though, if I'm honest with myself, if it wasn't about a faction I love, I wouldn't recommend this book. It had some decent action scenes, a couple awful ones, and an okay at best plot. There's parts that make 0 sense, and bits that are pretty cool. All in all, pretty standard wh40k novel.
April 28, 2015
Bookworm Speaks!
Adeptus Mechanicus: Skitarius
By Rob Sanders
****
The Story: The Skitarii are the soldiers of the Machine God, the tireless legions of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Holy Warriors, they carry the word of the Omnissiah across the galaxy, destroying the impure machines of aliens and renegades and spearheading the Quest for Knowledge. A discovery of ancient technology sends a Skitarii legion, commanded by Alpha Primus Haldron-44 Stroika, into battle on a forge world overrun by Chaos. When a cataclysm cuts him off from his tech-priest overseers, Stroika must rally his forces and battle corrupt machines and Chaos Space Marines if he is to achieve victory.
The Good: The Adeptus Mechanicus are one of the coolest factions in the Warhammer 40K Universe. Hailing from the planet Mars, they are responsible for maintaining the technology of the Imperium of Man and its primary scientific research institute. Maintaining their own traditions and religious beliefs, they are an empire onto themselves with the Imperium of Man. While there have been several books about the Adeptus Mechanicus such as the Mars series by Graham McNeil, this one has been the first Bookworm has read where they were the main focus of the book and not as side characters. It is also the very first one about the Skitarii Legions, which are oft mentioned but rarely the focus. They have been seen several times but they have been inconsistently portrayed, which is fairly common in Warhammer 40k or in any other franchise that has been around for a long time. It is good that we finally have this book, along with the new codex, to really hammer in what the Skitarii are like.
Perhaps this is only applicable to the special edition that Bookworm has, but we are even given artwork that portrays the Skitarii’s appearance and the type of weaponry they utilize.
Like all Warhammer 40k books, the action is nonstop and a ton of fun. The twisted forge world upon which the Skitarii do battle has a lot of character and perhaps not to the extent it should be but the twisted, possessed machines, mutant servitors and living metal successfully build a world that really does feel like an industrial park from the nine-rings of hell. Which, in effect, is exactly what the tainted forge world is. The world building in this book is excellent and the author constructs it in a way that feels very authentic by using the perspective of Haldron-44 Stroika. He talks about the word as if he was there…about how one would describe coming home after a long journey when he talks about returning to the forge world of Satzica Secundus and how he speaks of the twisted, industrial hell of Velchanus Magna.
It is difficult to put into words but the author does a great job of making this book feel like the Adeptus Mechanicus. The chapter’s are numbered using binary code and look like computer (or cogitator) files. The way the Skitarii both have numbers and names as part of their designations. All of the X’s and K’s mixed with Roman like names. The constant references to technological terms. One can feel the spirit of the Mechanicus in the pages of this text.
Excellent world building aside, the strength of any book is always its characters and this book delivers.
For Bookworm, the biggest appeal of Warhammer 40k, is its humanity. In this nightmare future, where human lives are measured by the ton and it is filled with altered human states such as psychics, cyborgs, and eight foot tall, genetically engineered warriors, humanity still finds solace in things such as honor, faith, and duty. Haldron-44 Stroika is a holy warrior of the Machine God and he believes that with all of his heart. Even though the majority of the his body has been replaced by metal, he is still so very human. He thinks in terms of numbers and mission probabilities but he knows when to trust in his gut.
Haldron-44 Stroika is a great character and Bookworm really hopes that we see him again in future tales of the 41st Millennium. Please let this book be the first in a series.
The Flaws: Again, the reader encounters the forces of Chaos and their tainted selves and again it is very similar to the countless other forces of Chaos seen in other books. The Black Library needs to make an effort to diversify Chaos. Every chapter of the Adeptus Astartes is unique as is almost every regiment of the Imperial Guard. It would do well to make Chaos the same way.
This is not a flaw of the book per se but it does reflect a trend that is kind of annoying in Warhammer 40K literature: It seems as though every other time the forces of the Imperium face the Chaos Space Marines, it is those of the Iron Warriors. There were nine traitor legions of the Adeptus Astartes, why can’t we see more of the Alpha Legion or the Emperor’s Children?
Final Verdict: Adeptus Mechanicus: Skitarius is an excellent book and probably one of the best that has been released by the Black Library in recent memory. The world building, the characters, and the action are all superbly crafted and makes the reader hunger for more.
Rob Sanders: Keep up the good work!
Five out Five Stars
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
Adeptus Mechanicus: Skitarius
By Rob Sanders
****
The Story: The Skitarii are the soldiers of the Machine God, the tireless legions of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Holy Warriors, they carry the word of the Omnissiah across the galaxy, destroying the impure machines of aliens and renegades and spearheading the Quest for Knowledge. A discovery of ancient technology sends a Skitarii legion, commanded by Alpha Primus Haldron-44 Stroika, into battle on a forge world overrun by Chaos. When a cataclysm cuts him off from his tech-priest overseers, Stroika must rally his forces and battle corrupt machines and Chaos Space Marines if he is to achieve victory.
The Good: The Adeptus Mechanicus are one of the coolest factions in the Warhammer 40K Universe. Hailing from the planet Mars, they are responsible for maintaining the technology of the Imperium of Man and its primary scientific research institute. Maintaining their own traditions and religious beliefs, they are an empire onto themselves with the Imperium of Man. While there have been several books about the Adeptus Mechanicus such as the Mars series by Graham McNeil, this one has been the first Bookworm has read where they were the main focus of the book and not as side characters. It is also the very first one about the Skitarii Legions, which are oft mentioned but rarely the focus. They have been seen several times but they have been inconsistently portrayed, which is fairly common in Warhammer 40k or in any other franchise that has been around for a long time. It is good that we finally have this book, along with the new codex, to really hammer in what the Skitarii are like.
Perhaps this is only applicable to the special edition that Bookworm has, but we are even given artwork that portrays the Skitarii’s appearance and the type of weaponry they utilize.
Like all Warhammer 40k books, the action is nonstop and a ton of fun. The twisted forge world upon which the Skitarii do battle has a lot of character and perhaps not to the extent it should be but the twisted, possessed machines, mutant servitors and living metal successfully build a world that really does feel like an industrial park from the nine-rings of hell. Which, in effect, is exactly what the tainted forge world is. The world building in this book is excellent and the author constructs it in a way that feels very authentic by using the perspective of Haldron-44 Stroika. He talks about the word as if he was there…about how one would describe coming home after a long journey when he talks about returning to the forge world of Satzica Secundus and how he speaks of the twisted, industrial hell of Velchanus Magna.
It is difficult to put into words but the author does a great job of making this book feel like the Adeptus Mechanicus. The chapter’s are numbered using binary code and look like computer (or cogitator) files. The way the Skitarii both have numbers and names as part of their designations. All of the X’s and K’s mixed with Roman like names. The constant references to technological terms. One can feel the spirit of the Mechanicus in the pages of this text.
Excellent world building aside, the strength of any book is always its characters and this book delivers.
For Bookworm, the biggest appeal of Warhammer 40k, is its humanity. In this nightmare future, where human lives are measured by the ton and it is filled with altered human states such as psychics, cyborgs, and eight foot tall, genetically engineered warriors, humanity still finds solace in things such as honor, faith, and duty. Haldron-44 Stroika is a holy warrior of the Machine God and he believes that with all of his heart. Even though the majority of the his body has been replaced by metal, he is still so very human. He thinks in terms of numbers and mission probabilities but he knows when to trust in his gut.
Haldron-44 Stroika is a great character and Bookworm really hopes that we see him again in future tales of the 41st Millennium. Please let this book be the first in a series.
The Flaws: Again, the reader encounters the forces of Chaos and their tainted selves and again it is very similar to the countless other forces of Chaos seen in other books. The Black Library needs to make an effort to diversify Chaos. Every chapter of the Adeptus Astartes is unique as is almost every regiment of the Imperial Guard. It would do well to make Chaos the same way.
This is not a flaw of the book per se but it does reflect a trend that is kind of annoying in Warhammer 40K literature: It seems as though every other time the forces of the Imperium face the Chaos Space Marines, it is those of the Iron Warriors. There were nine traitor legions of the Adeptus Astartes, why can’t we see more of the Alpha Legion or the Emperor’s Children?
Final Verdict: Adeptus Mechanicus: Skitarius is an excellent book and probably one of the best that has been released by the Black Library in recent memory. The world building, the characters, and the action are all superbly crafted and makes the reader hunger for more.
Rob Sanders: Keep up the good work!
Five out Five Stars
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
January 5, 2020
Great story. After blasting through the first 5 Horus Heresy books, I needed a nice, short, fluffy book. This was my first Adeptus Mechanicus-centric book and I really enjoyed the look into their interworkings. Nothing too earth-shattering here, but well-written action and great descriptions.
November 23, 2021
While the pretty much non-stop battles were definitely cool. There's little to zero real character development or lore regarding the Mechanicus.
I was hoping for some decent lore or more information about there society....still a fun read though.
I was hoping for some decent lore or more information about there society....still a fun read though.
August 25, 2023
About the frontline soldiers of the Mechanicus. Cool that they show the importance of STC but the big battle does drag a bit. They have radium rounds, I get it. Just okay and therefore disappointing because the AdMech are my favourite faction.
November 22, 2024
This is the first w40k book I've picked up and managed to finish. I am supremely bias in that I love the Adeptus Mechanicus, so I ate up a lot of what this book had to offer.
Then the ending reminded me this is w40k and made my heart hurt.
Still love it but I'm still very sad.
Then the ending reminded me this is w40k and made my heart hurt.
Still love it but I'm still very sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2018
A thoughtful and interesting look into the functions and combat use of the Skitarii. A solid read but nothing earth shattering.
January 7, 2021
I was expecting a novel, with characters and story line. There is non.
January 12, 2021
Pretty grimdark, lays on the tech-atmosphere really well. Nothing life changing but a good time.
February 15, 2021
Loved the concept of the skitarii
September 13, 2021
A average story, which hightlights some aspects of Adeptus Mechanicus. A bit too action(y) given the faction, but earns some credit for being a prologue to the second book Techpriest.
December 1, 2023
Booooooooooooring.....
January 30, 2024
I really really enjoyed this book.
February 5, 2024
Far too many battles
March 6, 2024
Honestly, I found it a bit tedious... Battle scene after battle scene with not enough exposition. I expected more.
February 14, 2025
Overall this book was not too bad. It had the right kind of schlocky sci-fi war I was looking for
February 10, 2024
i listened to this on audiobook in the car on a long drive in its entirety, so it was a nice way to fill that time and get some reading done. i haven't read any other admech books before so i was looking forward to getting a little bit more background and story including them. overall the book was fine, though i think pretty repetitive sometimes (especially some particular words the author reaaaally liked to use to describe things) and mostly combat which, while cool, could be a little hard to picture. also would have been cool to get to know the characters and politics a little deeper? not bad but not entirely compelling. the narrator for the audiobook did a fantastic job with the voices!
April 16, 2015
I'm a sucker for the Adeptus Mechanicus. Fortunately, Skitarius did not disappoint. The main reason I didn't rate it higher was mostly because The rest of this review is going to be relatively minor points.
One thing I didn't want to forget to comment on was a line regarding the Fabricator General's ambassador who had a habit of wearing a copy of the face of whoever he was talking to because "It's hard to hate your own face". No, that's not how I'd react to that. I would be insulted and angry and inclined towards violence over the mockery. I would smash the bottle of liquid metal goo right off his head and send him back to the Fabricator General in pieces. And I don't even have any dislike for the character itself.
You only get to know a few of the TechPriests, and little about any of the Sitarii, limiting the yarn to an action piece. There, it did its job, but the emotionally suppressed Skitarii made it hard to build tension for the reader.
One thing I didn't want to forget to comment on was a line regarding the Fabricator General's ambassador who had a habit of wearing a copy of the face of whoever he was talking to because "It's hard to hate your own face". No, that's not how I'd react to that. I would be insulted and angry and inclined towards violence over the mockery. I would smash the bottle of liquid metal goo right off his head and send him back to the Fabricator General in pieces. And I don't even have any dislike for the character itself.
You only get to know a few of the TechPriests, and little about any of the Sitarii, limiting the yarn to an action piece. There, it did its job, but the emotionally suppressed Skitarii made it hard to build tension for the reader.
March 4, 2019
Warhammer 40,000: Adeptus Mechanicus: Skiterius is decent snack reading, though its very short length and lack of anything beyond moderately exciting action sequences means that it doesn't offer much. As someone whose been a casual fan of Warhammer 40,000 setting for a while now, I was hoping to find something a bit of a more substantive introduction.
The novel follows the command of a cyborg commander named Haldron-44 stroika as he uses a recently rediscovered bomb to retake a heavily industrialised forge world back from extra-dimensional beings known collectively as chaos, and those who have fallen prey to said beings' bizarre manipulative abilities. The novel can be split into two broad halves; Stroika and the rest of the Adeptus Mechanicus plotting their assault, and the invasion invasion itself. Nothing of much consequence occurs in terms of characterisation or plot beyond this.
Due to the novel's lack of content, it may serve as decent snack reading while on a long bus, train or aeroplane journey, as it is moderately enjoyable. But for those who are seeking a truly deep Warhammer 40,000 novel, I would recommend you skip this one.
The novel follows the command of a cyborg commander named Haldron-44 stroika as he uses a recently rediscovered bomb to retake a heavily industrialised forge world back from extra-dimensional beings known collectively as chaos, and those who have fallen prey to said beings' bizarre manipulative abilities. The novel can be split into two broad halves; Stroika and the rest of the Adeptus Mechanicus plotting their assault, and the invasion invasion itself. Nothing of much consequence occurs in terms of characterisation or plot beyond this.
Due to the novel's lack of content, it may serve as decent snack reading while on a long bus, train or aeroplane journey, as it is moderately enjoyable. But for those who are seeking a truly deep Warhammer 40,000 novel, I would recommend you skip this one.
April 23, 2015
Continuing a recent trend of books released to tie in with new Games Workshop miniature ranges, Rob Sanders’ latest novel – Skitarius – is the first Black Library release to feature the new Adeptus Mechanicus forces. It follows the impersonally-named Alpha Primus Haldron-44 Stroika (largely referred to as just Stroika, or occasionally the even more impersonal Stroika-unit) as he leads his Skitarii cohorts into battle, enacting the wishes of his distant Adeptus Mechanicus masters. After a new discovery leads to the invasion of a Dark Mechanicus forge world, Stroika finds himself battling daemon engines and twisted machine cultists in an increasingly desperate battle for survival.
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