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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

James Swallow's BlackTide

I just finished reading James Swallow's Blacktide. This is his fourth Blood Angel's novel and follows chronologically after the last - Red Fury. These books have all been entertaining reads, and this one is no different. Let's face it, I don't expect a Nobel or Pulitzer from a BL author, even the esteemed Dan Abnett (he might be able to pull of a nebula one day). If you are a fan of the Blood Angels and haven't picked up this series you should do so. If you are also a fan of Fabius Bile, pick up Red Fury and Black Tide, those books are quite interesting in regards to the Primogenitor of Chaos Undivided. There are some parts where I found it a bit much, but maybe I am starting to get tired of the cookie cutter villainy of some of the Black Library - and here I'm not referring to Bile. It's amazing that a sub genre that is less than a decade old is already so clique filled. Still, it is good recreation and will definately pass the time.

2 comments:

  1. I'm having trouble getting through Black Tide. *SPOILER ALERT* (well sort of)

    To much has happened and to many races are involved for me to really focus on the story I guess. First something happens and there are Tau (cool I think, BA, Chaos and Tau). Then it changes and suddenly its BA, FT, Chaos, and Ad Mech. Okay I think fine, no more Tau, they look funny without noses anyway. Then it becomes BA, FT, Chaos, Ad Mech, and Tyranids. What? Then Ad Mech disappears and it becomes BA, FT, Chaos, and Tyranids under water. But wait, Ad Mech is still there, hidden. Finally Ad Mech and Nids are removed and the story moves on expect Rafen is now off on his own, sigh. But wait, Nids aren't really gone, there just out for a few chapters.

    All the while there a leadership struggle between BA and FT while Rafen is off on his own now facing Fabius with a bunch of other Kidnapped Marines from other chapters it tow. Sigh. I am about 100 pages from the end and I just want it to be over.

    I really enjoyed Red Fury and the two before it where passable (the 2nd book being the better of the two, but you need to read the first one to understand what is going on in the second one). I am pretty sure this series is going to go on in the future, I just hope James Swallow does not get the Ben Counter disease and try to stuff way to much into his books in the future.

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  2. I didnt have a problem with the scope of the races involved. It gave me a sense of hown widespread Fabius Bile spreads his net.

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