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Space Marine Conquests #6
Fist of the Imperium
Book 6 in the much loved Space Marine Conquests series. For fans of huge and epic battles waged in the far future!
‘By their noble sacrifice is our world made mighty’
Deep within the Segmentum Solar, an Imperial Fists Honour Guard lies slaughtered upon the very world they swore to protect. The mysterious cult responsible grows in power by the day. Their malevolent tenets poisoning the hearts of Ghyre’s citizens, from its lowliest miner to its arrogant ruling class.
To purge this threat, the Imperial Fists send Primaris Librarian Aster Lydorran and his tenacious brothers. These masters of siegecraft face an insurgent foe beyond any they have fought before. As dark omens proliferate, Lydorran finds himself embroiled in a battle of wits and wills with an enemy whose psychic might may surpass even his own. But this is a patient enemy, and with every passing hour, Ghyre’s doom grows closer. The stoic Sons of Dorn must leave their walls and embrace new allies, or risk unleashing the apocalypse itself upon the very doorstep of Terra.
‘By their noble sacrifice is our world made mighty’
Deep within the Segmentum Solar, an Imperial Fists Honour Guard lies slaughtered upon the very world they swore to protect. The mysterious cult responsible grows in power by the day. Their malevolent tenets poisoning the hearts of Ghyre’s citizens, from its lowliest miner to its arrogant ruling class.
To purge this threat, the Imperial Fists send Primaris Librarian Aster Lydorran and his tenacious brothers. These masters of siegecraft face an insurgent foe beyond any they have fought before. As dark omens proliferate, Lydorran finds himself embroiled in a battle of wits and wills with an enemy whose psychic might may surpass even his own. But this is a patient enemy, and with every passing hour, Ghyre’s doom grows closer. The stoic Sons of Dorn must leave their walls and embrace new allies, or risk unleashing the apocalypse itself upon the very doorstep of Terra.
416 pages, ebook
First published February 4, 2020
39 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Andy Clark
47 books49 followersAndy Clark is a background writer for Games Workshop.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Andy^^^^^Clark
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Andy^^^^^Clark
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 22, 2020
!!Spoilers Ahead!!
For a long time now, I have been holding out hope for a truly great Imperial Fists novel.
A book that shows them as being something more than the punching bags they are often portrayed as in most stories while capturing the nuance of the Fists and really exploring just what makes them great and different than other Chapters. A deep dive into the Imperial Fists if you will, the likes other Chapters have received and do receive on a semi-regular basis.
‘Fist of the Imperium’ by Andy Clark is NOT that book.
It’s miles and miles away from that book. In fact, it’s miles away from even good book. Holy crap this book is bad.
I’d like to say that I went into this novel with an open mind. I’d like to say that I was able to leave my reservations about Andy Clark being the one to tell this story at the door.
But sadly that wasn’t the case, despite desperately wishing I could have. Clark’s previous and frankly pitiful portrayal of the Imperial Fists in his novel ‘Shroud of Night’ was very much on my mind going into ‘Fist of the Imperium’.
It's taken me longer than planned to finish because the book is just so difficult to get through.
With that said let’s jump in...
Bland, one-dimensional and frankly unlikable Space Marine characters once again typify Clark’s Imperial Fists to the degree that it makes ‘Sons of Dorn’ by Chris Roberson look like the heights of literature. Say what you will about that book, at least Roberson managed to capture a finer interpretation of the character of Imperial Fists instead of meandering from one chapter stereotype to the other.
The book starts off by introducing us to an honor guard squad of previously unknown characters who are immediately killed. Once things begin in earnest we are introduced to the host of Imperial Fists who make up the sizable strike force, numbering roughly at least a company (predominately the 5th Company with a detachment from the 1st Company) of mostly Primaris with several squads of 1st Generation Astartes mixed in sent to Ghyre and one by one the majority are all similarly killed off. Including right up top, the company Captain.
I have to wonder, did Clark come up with all new characters simply so he could kill them off? It sure does seem like it. I guess Space Marines are super duper easy to kill and drop like flies in Andy Clark’s world.
Thank god the entire Chapter isn’t present because the son of a bitch would have probably fucking killed them all.
Enter Lydorran, our self-doubting, arrogant and self admitted inexperienced main character. It’s difficult to imagine a more unlikable character to be this story’s lead.
A uninspired, unoriginal story full of obvious twists that Clark all but beats you over the head with his unsubtle and haphazard dialogue lacking in any discernible substance.
“Yes, Brother-Librarian. No, Brother-Librarian. Brother this. Brother that Brother Brother Brother blah blah blah” On and on. It’s like he’s never read what good Space Marine dialogue sounds like. The whole book reads like bad fan fiction.
The battle is going and surprise, it’s a trap!
The battle is going and surprise, it’s a trap!
The battle is going and surprise once again, it’s a trap!
The battle is going annnnnd you guessed it, ITS A TRAP!
Space Marines are idiots meanwhile the genestealer cultists are savants.
Let’s back up a second and first address the larger issue with Imperial Fists stories. No one (meaning Black Library authors) can seem to agree on a consistent portrayal of the Imperial Fists. Who they are, how they behave, how they conduct themselves etc etc. With the exception of stories written by the same author, no two Imperial Fists books even feel like they’re about the same Chapter. What I mean by that is yes, of course not every book about a Chapter written by different authors is going to feel the same. No one is naive enough to believe that that isn’t going to happen. The issue is when new authors attempt to “reinvent” the Chapter and put their own stamp on them thus undermining, running rough shod over or even ignoring all together everything that has been written about them before.
Let’s call it...hmmm, the Guy Haley method of writing.
Now, back to this shitty story.
The Imperial Fists act as if they've have never encountered a Genestealer cult (which they have - cannon lore) or even had to fight a Guerrilla war (undoubtedly countless times, virtually half of all enemies the Imperium faces employ such tactics) for that matter. So Clark’s inability to write a story that doesn’t disregard the fact that the modern Imperial Fists (or any 1st founding Chapter for that matter) are the product of 10,000+ yrs worth of distilled battle lore is staggering. They’ve dealt with similar foes uncountable times. But no, all the Imperial Fists hard fought experience is cast to the wind as our main characters bumble around making the most idiotic mistakes that belittles a Chapter of their standing and experience.
The book once again reinforces the stereotype that the Imperial Fists time and again fall into which is that they seemingly cannot adjust their tactics accordingly to the nature and tactics of the foe they face. They can only fight a siege.
Which is utter garbage.
It’s like he read a summary of the new supplement and was like ‘I got this’.
If you have to dumb down your characters to an uncharacteristic level in order to progress your story and/or create conflict and tension then buddy, you’re a shit writer. At times it feels like Clark goes out of his way to make the Imperial Fists, and Space Marines in general seem unbelievably inept.
That will no doubt sound like to some that I think the Imperial Fists are infallible or incapable of making mistakes or errors in judgement. And perhaps some will not believe me when I say that that is not the case. My problem is not that mistakes are made, it’s the nature of those mistakes. There are certain mistakes that living weapons whose sole purpose in life is successfully navigating the chaos of apocalyptic war are beyond making, such as being lead into trap after trap after trap AFTER TRAP.
And in the end, the Imperial Fists prove unequal to the task, and it takes the intervention of the Deathwatch to somewhat salvage the campaign.
In conclusion, the Imperial Fists deserve better than the amateur scribblings of this no talent hack as ‘Fist of the Imperium’ takes its place as the worst Imperial Fists centric story that has yet been written by a wide margin.
For a long time now, I have been holding out hope for a truly great Imperial Fists novel.
A book that shows them as being something more than the punching bags they are often portrayed as in most stories while capturing the nuance of the Fists and really exploring just what makes them great and different than other Chapters. A deep dive into the Imperial Fists if you will, the likes other Chapters have received and do receive on a semi-regular basis.
‘Fist of the Imperium’ by Andy Clark is NOT that book.
It’s miles and miles away from that book. In fact, it’s miles away from even good book. Holy crap this book is bad.
I’d like to say that I went into this novel with an open mind. I’d like to say that I was able to leave my reservations about Andy Clark being the one to tell this story at the door.
But sadly that wasn’t the case, despite desperately wishing I could have. Clark’s previous and frankly pitiful portrayal of the Imperial Fists in his novel ‘Shroud of Night’ was very much on my mind going into ‘Fist of the Imperium’.
It's taken me longer than planned to finish because the book is just so difficult to get through.
With that said let’s jump in...
Bland, one-dimensional and frankly unlikable Space Marine characters once again typify Clark’s Imperial Fists to the degree that it makes ‘Sons of Dorn’ by Chris Roberson look like the heights of literature. Say what you will about that book, at least Roberson managed to capture a finer interpretation of the character of Imperial Fists instead of meandering from one chapter stereotype to the other.
The book starts off by introducing us to an honor guard squad of previously unknown characters who are immediately killed. Once things begin in earnest we are introduced to the host of Imperial Fists who make up the sizable strike force, numbering roughly at least a company (predominately the 5th Company with a detachment from the 1st Company) of mostly Primaris with several squads of 1st Generation Astartes mixed in sent to Ghyre and one by one the majority are all similarly killed off. Including right up top, the company Captain.
I have to wonder, did Clark come up with all new characters simply so he could kill them off? It sure does seem like it. I guess Space Marines are super duper easy to kill and drop like flies in Andy Clark’s world.
Thank god the entire Chapter isn’t present because the son of a bitch would have probably fucking killed them all.
Enter Lydorran, our self-doubting, arrogant and self admitted inexperienced main character. It’s difficult to imagine a more unlikable character to be this story’s lead.
A uninspired, unoriginal story full of obvious twists that Clark all but beats you over the head with his unsubtle and haphazard dialogue lacking in any discernible substance.
“Yes, Brother-Librarian. No, Brother-Librarian. Brother this. Brother that Brother Brother Brother blah blah blah” On and on. It’s like he’s never read what good Space Marine dialogue sounds like. The whole book reads like bad fan fiction.
The battle is going and surprise, it’s a trap!
The battle is going and surprise, it’s a trap!
The battle is going and surprise once again, it’s a trap!
The battle is going annnnnd you guessed it, ITS A TRAP!
Space Marines are idiots meanwhile the genestealer cultists are savants.
Let’s back up a second and first address the larger issue with Imperial Fists stories. No one (meaning Black Library authors) can seem to agree on a consistent portrayal of the Imperial Fists. Who they are, how they behave, how they conduct themselves etc etc. With the exception of stories written by the same author, no two Imperial Fists books even feel like they’re about the same Chapter. What I mean by that is yes, of course not every book about a Chapter written by different authors is going to feel the same. No one is naive enough to believe that that isn’t going to happen. The issue is when new authors attempt to “reinvent” the Chapter and put their own stamp on them thus undermining, running rough shod over or even ignoring all together everything that has been written about them before.
Let’s call it...hmmm, the Guy Haley method of writing.
Now, back to this shitty story.
The Imperial Fists act as if they've have never encountered a Genestealer cult (which they have - cannon lore) or even had to fight a Guerrilla war (undoubtedly countless times, virtually half of all enemies the Imperium faces employ such tactics) for that matter. So Clark’s inability to write a story that doesn’t disregard the fact that the modern Imperial Fists (or any 1st founding Chapter for that matter) are the product of 10,000+ yrs worth of distilled battle lore is staggering. They’ve dealt with similar foes uncountable times. But no, all the Imperial Fists hard fought experience is cast to the wind as our main characters bumble around making the most idiotic mistakes that belittles a Chapter of their standing and experience.
The book once again reinforces the stereotype that the Imperial Fists time and again fall into which is that they seemingly cannot adjust their tactics accordingly to the nature and tactics of the foe they face. They can only fight a siege.
Which is utter garbage.
It’s like he read a summary of the new supplement and was like ‘I got this’.
If you have to dumb down your characters to an uncharacteristic level in order to progress your story and/or create conflict and tension then buddy, you’re a shit writer. At times it feels like Clark goes out of his way to make the Imperial Fists, and Space Marines in general seem unbelievably inept.
That will no doubt sound like to some that I think the Imperial Fists are infallible or incapable of making mistakes or errors in judgement. And perhaps some will not believe me when I say that that is not the case. My problem is not that mistakes are made, it’s the nature of those mistakes. There are certain mistakes that living weapons whose sole purpose in life is successfully navigating the chaos of apocalyptic war are beyond making, such as being lead into trap after trap after trap AFTER TRAP.
And in the end, the Imperial Fists prove unequal to the task, and it takes the intervention of the Deathwatch to somewhat salvage the campaign.
In conclusion, the Imperial Fists deserve better than the amateur scribblings of this no talent hack as ‘Fist of the Imperium’ takes its place as the worst Imperial Fists centric story that has yet been written by a wide margin.
September 2, 2020
This is the single worst Warhammer 40k novel I have ever read.
I've never done a review for a book on Goodreads before but I felt compelled to write one here. This is an AWFUL book. It is long and boring. it adds nothing to the canon. It is truly crap in every way I can describe.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
Do yourself a favour and go read Dan Abbnets "Saturnine" that's how Imperial Fists should be written. Not as the dullards that they are portrayed as here.
I wish I could give this book zero stars.
I've never done a review for a book on Goodreads before but I felt compelled to write one here. This is an AWFUL book. It is long and boring. it adds nothing to the canon. It is truly crap in every way I can describe.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
Do yourself a favour and go read Dan Abbnets "Saturnine" that's how Imperial Fists should be written. Not as the dullards that they are portrayed as here.
I wish I could give this book zero stars.
September 4, 2024
Released around the time that the people behind a little tabletop game called Warhammer 40,000 were pushing their new Genestealer Cult and Primaris Space Marine model lines, here we have a tale of (mostly) Primaris Space Marines facing off against - you guessed it - Genestealer Cults.
This means the obligatory overuse of the terms 'insidious' and 'Rubicon', but more pleasingly leads to the Self-Importance Marines taking a bit more of a beating than can sometimes be the case in these novels. It is, in my view, the Emperor's greatest folly that he got around to genetic modifications that allow his pseudo-grandchildren to spit poison before but never considered teaching or conditioning them to play nicely with one another. This manifests in yet another pissing contest as leaders of allied factions completely fail to listen to one another until it becomes narratively convenient for them to suddenly develop common sense.
Credit to Clark though for the much stronger cultist perspective. There's not really much here to recommend for anyone not a big Imperial Fists fan or the most ardent of 40k completionists, but the cultist perspective on the evils of the Imperium is strong, even if it is undermined by the ending.
Throwaway fun, but doesn't do enough to stand out in the crowded market of Marine novels. More xenos focus in future please.
This means the obligatory overuse of the terms 'insidious' and 'Rubicon', but more pleasingly leads to the Self-Importance Marines taking a bit more of a beating than can sometimes be the case in these novels. It is, in my view, the Emperor's greatest folly that he got around to genetic modifications that allow his pseudo-grandchildren to spit poison before but never considered teaching or conditioning them to play nicely with one another. This manifests in yet another pissing contest as leaders of allied factions completely fail to listen to one another until it becomes narratively convenient for them to suddenly develop common sense.
Credit to Clark though for the much stronger cultist perspective. There's not really much here to recommend for anyone not a big Imperial Fists fan or the most ardent of 40k completionists, but the cultist perspective on the evils of the Imperium is strong, even if it is undermined by the ending.
Throwaway fun, but doesn't do enough to stand out in the crowded market of Marine novels. More xenos focus in future please.
February 1, 2020
3.5
The mining world of Ghyre is protected by an Imperial Fists honour guard, but when rising unrest prompts a call for reinforcements from the Chapter, a cult worshipping the mysterious ‘Father’ rises up in planet-wide rebellion. Forced by circumstance into taking command of the Imperial forces, Primaris Librarian Aster Lydorran has to contend with not just a coordinated and well-equipped insurgency driven by a prodigious psychic presence, but also Ghyre’s pampered, dithering, divided ruling elite.
It’s a book which puts the Imperial Fists front and centre, but at the same time takes them out of their element, ably demonstrating that they’re about more than just defending fortresses. Key protagonists not knowing that they face a genestealer cult does require a slight additional suspension of disbelief, but it also emphasises the overarching (very 40k) theme of characters coming to understand the cost incurred by the Imperium’s determination to do whatever it takes to find victory. If it’s a little predictable in some respects, it gleefully confounds expectations in others, and while it and doesn’t quite capture the fun factor of some of Clark’s other stories, it’s nevertheless an enjoyable and satisfying story which should make a good entry point to the more action-oriented 40k novels.
Read the full review here: https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/01/...
The mining world of Ghyre is protected by an Imperial Fists honour guard, but when rising unrest prompts a call for reinforcements from the Chapter, a cult worshipping the mysterious ‘Father’ rises up in planet-wide rebellion. Forced by circumstance into taking command of the Imperial forces, Primaris Librarian Aster Lydorran has to contend with not just a coordinated and well-equipped insurgency driven by a prodigious psychic presence, but also Ghyre’s pampered, dithering, divided ruling elite.
It’s a book which puts the Imperial Fists front and centre, but at the same time takes them out of their element, ably demonstrating that they’re about more than just defending fortresses. Key protagonists not knowing that they face a genestealer cult does require a slight additional suspension of disbelief, but it also emphasises the overarching (very 40k) theme of characters coming to understand the cost incurred by the Imperium’s determination to do whatever it takes to find victory. If it’s a little predictable in some respects, it gleefully confounds expectations in others, and while it and doesn’t quite capture the fun factor of some of Clark’s other stories, it’s nevertheless an enjoyable and satisfying story which should make a good entry point to the more action-oriented 40k novels.
Read the full review here: https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/01/...
February 26, 2020
There needs to be more frequent Space Marines Conquests or whatever faction books that focuses on large scale Apocalypse warfare. I would happily pay for campaign books with fluff and crunch like the Horus Heresy format. I get so tired with small scale or oddly introspective Warhammer stories. I want blood and thunder! More blood and thunder like this book! This was a rousing story of Imperium forces against a huge genestealer cult. The characters, plot, pace and action were great!
May 19, 2023
I think this was a pretty decent entry from Andy Clark, I know some people might have criticised the complacency of the Imperial Fists before but then again I'm pretty sure the speed at which Genestealer Cults rise is never one to take for granted.
There were plenty of times for the Marines complacency to be called into question which I think really helped humanise them, especially when they clashed with another faction they entered half way through the book.
There were plenty of times for the Marines complacency to be called into question which I think really helped humanise them, especially when they clashed with another faction they entered half way through the book.
January 31, 2020
This was an excellent read! Focused on the Imperial Fists fighting a genestealer cult. I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast in tactics and goals between the two sides, as well as the way the characters were presented. The action was excellent, the book was well paced, and I would recommend it to any 40k fan. A fun and light read!
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC!
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC!
January 12, 2020
More space marine delights, I am newcomer to the Warhammer universe and am by no means knowledgeable of the lore, each book I read helps expand my understanding and this book continues with my education, as well as being a really good read
May 10, 2021
Librarian Aster Lydorran fought the cults and destroyed their breeding grounds to root out their chaotic mutations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
Астартес бесполезны. Шахтёрский мир густо поросший хищными джунглями с несколькими городами-ульями, плотно обсижен генокультом. Приехали Имперские Кулаки толком ничего не сделали. Капитана сразу убили из снайперки. Библиарий принял на себя обязанности капитана в обход Капеллана. Эээ, у Кулаков нет чётких протоколов действий на случай гибели командира? Они, что орки? На место бесполезных Кулаков, которые зачищают ульи-ловушки прилетают Караул Смерти во главе с Космоволком и... оказываются столь же бесполезны. Дэзвотчеры уже хотят бомбировать планету экстерминатусом , хотя к тому моменту там уже мало чего осталось целого. Внезапно местные власти находят рояль в кустах, то есть папу-генокрадов и астартес его поддвзрывают с корабля а затем выносят в рукопашной (чтобы уж точно, а то с орбиты это как-то неспортивно). Мир в труху, тираниды отвернули, астартес бесполезны.
April 27, 2020
As someone who wasn't a big fan of Primaris Marines before and how they were written. This book nailed it believe. You have a good mix of classic Marines and Primaris fighting and Clark writes them pretty well were their for a lack of words balanced. And besides that the book has an engaging plot showing just how dangerous the enemy can be. They never let up and that leaves you worried for the main cast because you never know when the next attack (both physical and mental) will come.
Highly recommend for any fan of sci-fi or Warhammer in general. A genuine good read and great time.
Highly recommend for any fan of sci-fi or Warhammer in general. A genuine good read and great time.
February 7, 2025
A book finally based on my little yellow boys the Imperial Fists. With the Fists taking on those pesky Genestealer Cults, it was always going to be a good book with plenty of action.
My only grumble is (and it’s very nerdy) The Imperial Fists are known to be one of the Chapters most known for (some would say boring) planning operations. Yet in the book they stumble into ambush and trap after ambush and trap.
Other than that definitely worth a read if you like the boys in yellow or the sneaky cults
My only grumble is (and it’s very nerdy) The Imperial Fists are known to be one of the Chapters most known for (some would say boring) planning operations. Yet in the book they stumble into ambush and trap after ambush and trap.
Other than that definitely worth a read if you like the boys in yellow or the sneaky cults
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February 20, 2020Proofread
June 12, 2020
A great depiction of a Genestealer Cult with depth and characterization rather than just a faceless evil.
February 17, 2021
Absolute garbage. I put it down after one hundred pages.
Poorly written characters, mediocre writing.
Poorly written characters, mediocre writing.
June 11, 2021
My first time reading a Warhammer book and I'm not disappointed.
January 11, 2025
3-stars.
Pretty standard WH40k stuff, thought to be fair you don't often see the match-up of Space Marines versus Genestealer Cult.
Pretty standard WH40k stuff, thought to be fair you don't often see the match-up of Space Marines versus Genestealer Cult.
February 3, 2020
Another great WH40k novel. Clark has a flair for combat, unfolding each scene with empathetic prose and turmoil. I always enjoy getting to explore the ideas of the various chapters of the Adaptus Astartes, and the Imperial Fists provide a great canvas for this story. All in all, a great addition to the Black Library's collection of tales.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews