Ravenor: The Omnibus (Warhammer 40000) by Dan Abnett (2009-08-03) Paperback

I read Eisenhorn (A Warhammer 40,000 Omnibus) a long time ago and then proceeded to read all kinds of Warhammer 40k books but I never got around to Ravenor.I have to say that I missed out. Ravenor is definitely fantastic. I will tell you that the book is considerably darker, grittier, and more gothic dystopian than Eisenhorn. It's not for the faint of heart.I still think that Eisenhorn is probably the best starter novel for anyone looking at dabbling with Warhammer 40k but I think it's Ravenor where Dan Abnett truly delves into the dystopian aspects of society in the Imperium of Man. This is a dark and opressing book.By now I've read a lot of Warhammer 40k books. I have to say that Eisenhorn is still my #1 book but Ravenor has immediately eclipsed all other works and taken it's place as the solid #2. Both Eisenhorn and Ravenor are not just my two favorites, they're my favorites by a very long long way.This book is set in the Warhammer 40K Universe -- it's vast, rich, dystopian and on a scale as big as Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR. I've been throwing a generic Warhammer40k Universe overview into my WH40K reviews for new reader. Here it is if you're interested:GENERIC WARHAMMER 40K OVERVIEWI'm adding a Warhammer 40K overview to this review to help newcomers get a sense for the Universe. (Warhammer 40K pros, go easy on me - I'm also somewhat of a newcomer to the Universe, hope I got the broad brushstrokes right). Review for book at bottom.HOW I GOT HOOKEDI got this through vine and put it directly on my nightstand. Although I've never gamed Warhammer (Warhammer 40k Space Marines Combat Squad) or any of their many other games, I became a fan of Warhammer 40,000 after a friend in college introduced me to the Warhammer 40k universe back in 1990 I want to say. While browsing through Amazon, I came across Eisenhorn probably the best "starter" novel to get anyone started into the Warhammer Universe. I have to admit, I've gotten hooked on the stories.THE BLACK LIBRARYFrom a company standpoint there is a British company called the Black Library that owns and manages Warhammer 40K. They have some great writers on staff like Dan Abnett and Graham McNiell who write many of the stories. The common thread of the writers is that in my opinion they are very literary people who manage the capture the dark, dystopian, almost opressing vision of this far future. Many of their stories have foundations and parallels in real world history...for example The Flight of the Eisenstein (Horus Heresy) is very similar in my opinion to The Battleship Potemkin. I think the company was founded in 1989 to provide advanced hobbyist game pieces (Games Workshop Space Marine Devastator Squad Box Set) that gamers could paint and decorate and then play in competition based on some rule books called codexes (Warhammer 40K (40,000) Codex Space Marines) very similar to dungeons and dragons.THE SERIESWarhammer 40K takes place about 40,000 years in the future in a neogothic dystopian Universe where the entire galaxy has been colonized. During the 40,000 year history humanity discovers that hyperspace (the mechanism they use to travel faster than light) is filled with ghostly demons and other lifeforms that will not hesitate to invade and infest the real universe. Add to that alien Elves, Orks, intergalactic insectoid invaders, parasites and every other conceivable menace, this makes for a tormented universe that only knows War and suffering for its untold trillions or quadrillions of denizens.In this Universe there is an Empire based on Earth with an Emperor and and a gigantic bureaucracy that manages the Imperium. I'll outline some of the story lines to help you make sense of this (if you're not a pro already):SPACE MARINES - Genetically and Cybernetically augmented warrior monks that form the front line of defense for the Empire. Space Marine novels generally build on the mythology of the space marines and generally describe a chapter of space marines (a monastery) and tell some story of how they fight for the Empire or how they fell from grace. Space Marines are almost not human, they've been augmented genetically stand at 8 to 12 feet tall and wear giant powered armour. They fight in space and in some horrible conditions. For this reason, you don't get much of a feel for the denizens of the Empire (generally) in these novels. Space Marines are Monks and celibate (I think) so you don't get any flavor for interpersonal relationships. Although in a few stories you do get some political intrigue and in one space wolf novel, you even get to see Earth. Expect lots of fighting with these novels in very novel settings.The Ultramarines Omnibus (Warhammer 40,000 Omnibus)TITANS - The giant Mechwarriors (giant walking two legged tanks) that form the heaviest of assault machines of the empire. Titanicus is the only Warhammer 40K novel that I know of that is based on Titans. Because Titans stand at 40 stories and are crewed by a very select group of very religious people, you don't get much of the flavor for the citizens of the Empire although you do get dazzling descriptions of the cities, planets, and how the war machines fight. Expect lots of fighting with these novels.Titanicus (Warhammer 40,000)IMPERIAL GUARD - The Army of the Empire (untold billions serve and die regularly) -- CADIAN BLOOD is an Imperial guard novel. Expect down and dirty grunt fighting and warfare in these novels with a healthy does of intrigue and plot machinations. Because Imperial Guard are human, you get more of a sense for the Empire than you do with Titan or Space Marine novels.Cadian Blood (Imperial Guard)INQUISITORS - The Emperor's inquisition carries the Empire's complete support as they go out and seek out evil in any form (Einsenhorn, Ravenor, and Innocence Proves Nothing are Inquisition novels). Expect more intrigue and deceipt in these novels and expect to see some of the more opulent aspects of the Empire because many times Inquisitors walk among the citizens of the Empire. I find that I get a better flavor for the Warhammer Universe from Inquisitor Novels. They are my personal favorites.Eisenhorn (A Warhammer 40,000 Omnibus)Ravenor: The Omnibus (Warhammer 40000)Innocence Proves Nothing (Warhammer 40000)MECHANICUM - The Mechanicum is almost like a pseudoreligion based on Mars who has a very close alliance with the Emperor (although sometimes you wonder). The Mechanicum makes most of the technology for the Empire. So many things have been invented and forgotten in the 40K universe that technology is more of technomagic and technology use is almost ritual-like.Mechanicum (Horus Heresy)HORUS HERESY NOVELS - When the Warhammer 40K Universe was invented (mostly for gaming purposes), a backstory was developed that tells how the Galaxy was brought under the Emperor. It used to be a fairly short story but has been expanded broadly now that Warhammer 40K is so popular. Here are some Heresy books in no particular order but there is an order (there are too many of them for me to track and I haven't read them all).Horus Rising (The Horus Heresy)The Flight of the Eisenstein (Horus Heresy)False Gods: The Heresy Takes Root (The Horus Heresy)This is a Warhammer 40K book so it takes place in the 41st millenium, just FYI.

Started off a bit slow but picked up quick. Loved the cast of characters and lots of non stop adventure. Somewhat of a sad ending but it is the warhammer universe. Almost as good as eisenhorn.

Well, I have read the Eisenhorn series before, and I find this book to be a natural progression to read. It is interesting how the book made a man inside a box so interesting and believable.However, at times I feel that the book jumps from scene to scene a little awkwardly and thus this made it a little frustrating for me to understand some of the interactions between the characters at times.

Action, mystery, deceit, and a daemon! What else do you want from a Warhammer book? Abnett knows what he's doing, despite the handful of typos in this edition.

*Only read this after EisenhornThis was a reread for me and boy, on the 2nd time do you notice to much more. Abnett is the best black library writer in my humble opinion. All I can do is sing the praises of Abnett's plot and character development.

I am an avid & unabashed reader. Every day, I relax with a book.Over the past 2 years, I've been on a fiction kick, and probably read 80% fiction now.At this point, I've read about 50 Black library (Games Workshop's says all their books come from there or something, I haven't tried to figure it out yet.)I've been enjoying the world of Warhammer 40,000 for the most part and even started getting heavily into the board game.Personally, I prefer to read books in order, so I'd recommend reading these books in order. Einsenhorn is the first and Ravenor is the 2nd in the series.From what I can tell, Dan Abnett, the author, is considered the Steven King of the Warhammer/Black Library writers. My favorite aspect of his writing is the incredibly vivid characters, worlds, and battle scenes he creates.This book brings one aspect of the Warhammer world, I had not seen yet: Psychic powers.This was meant to be a quick review, so I didnt carefully consider every aspect, but I hope it was helpful.

While most heros or heriones are able to complete feats of great physical prowess, Ravenor gives us a hero who is physically crippled and thus an interesting look at the different ways to be a hero. The one critique one might have is that given all of Ravenor's mental prowess, he always seems to be one step behind the competition and it would have been nice to hear stories on how he outwit his opponents rather than just wear them down.

Excellent work! After first reading Eisenhorn by the Dan Abnett, I read this. Absolutely love the author and the gritty future he describes. You'll love the detail and the action is very well balanced with plot progression. Sci-Fi and Mystery combine to a series of adventures that never go as you predict. As soon as you think you figured out the plot and try to tie a bow on it, a Chain-Sword or Las-Pistol rips the story right back open. Boys notice girls, but nothing more than PG-13. The violence and gore are shockingly well done and aren't a distraction, but scare the heck out of you and makes you really worry about the safety of your band of heroes. I'm really not the kind of guy who likes gore and such, but this is awesome! You can "see" the action as...just buy it already!